Abstract Accurate wind forcing is essential for modeling extreme wave conditions. This study evaluates how wind resolution influences the representation of maximum wind speeds and the simulation of maximum significant wave heights across two cyclone environments: extratropical cyclones in Australia and tropical cyclones in the Philippines. Using an event‐based approach, the SWAN wave model was forced with five wind data sets derived from BARRA‐R2 (0.11°, 0.25°, 1°) and ERA5 (0.25°, 1°) reanalyses. Coarse‐resolution winds exhibit larger biases in maximum wind speeds and wave heights, with greater sensitivity near the coast. Resolution effects were more consistent under extratropical cyclones and more spatially variable under tropical cyclones, with coastal geometry and topography also influencing differences. These biases arise from the inability of coarse wind fields to resolve steep wind gradients near cyclone cores and coastal zones. The results highlight the importance of high‐resolution wind forcing for improving wave extreme simulations at the coastal boundary.