Black Myth: Wukong: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Black Myth: Wukong

You play the Destined One, a monkey sent to recover the relics of Sun Wukong. The first chapter takes place on Black Wind Mountain, where the Keeper gives you the Immobilize spell after the Bullguard fight. Keeper's Shrines are your rest points: resting there restores resources, but most basic enemies respawn while bosses stay dead. At a shrine you can also change spells, reallocate Sparks, craft, brew and trade.

Core Mechanics to Master

Focus is a resource built by landing attacks and by Perfect Dodges (dodging right as an attack would hit), or by holding heavy attack to charge. Extra Focus points are unlocked by spending Sparks in the stance trees. Smash Stance is the only stance in which you can charge a heavy attack while moving; Pillar (level 5) is defensive; Thrust (level 20) has long reach and can instantly release a charged heavy attack once you reach 4 Focus points (per Maxroll). Immobilize is a Mysticism spell with a 50 mana cost and a 50 second cooldown (Fextralife); stronger enemies may break free sooner, so cast it when a foe is staggered or downed.

Early Build Notes

Sparks come from levelling and from meditation spots, and you can respec them at a shrine, so experimenting is cheap. Wearing several pieces of the same gear set gives extra bonuses. Rock Solid is an Alteration spell you learn after defeating Tiger Vanguard in Yellow Wind Ridge (Chapter 2); if an enemy hits the rock right after you transform, the attack is deflected and you get a counterattack opening. Transformations give a separate health bar, and if it runs out you simply revert to normal form.

Essential Tips

1. Look for transformations off the main path — they come from optional bosses, quests and secret areas.
2. Use Perfect Dodges — dodging has a short invulnerable window and rewards Focus.
3. Mind the gourd — healing has a long animation and limited charges, so avoid drinking mid-combo. You can change the gourd's effect at a shrine.
4. Spend Will on gear and on cultivating Spirits at shrines and vendors.
5. Check Spirits and vessels — equipped Spirits give passive bonuses and active skills.

Early Boss: Guangzhi (Forest of Wolves)

Guangzhi is a boss in the Forest of Wolves in Chapter 1 (not to be confused with the Black Wind King or Black Bear Guai, who are separate bosses). According to the Fextralife wiki, he fights with a fire spear: a spear-swing combo ending in a thrust, a spinning spear, a double thrust, and a spear throw. Its strategy notes say to dodge rather than counterattack in the middle of his long combos, and to dodge several times in a row to put out the fire if you start burning. Immobilize works as an opener, followed by a quick combo. Defeating him gives the Red Tides spell, 567 Will and a Stone Spirit (per Fextralife, whose page for this boss is marked incomplete).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I change the difficulty?
A: No. There is no manual difficulty setting, according to Wikipedia.

Q: Is there New Game Plus?
A: Yes. New Game Plus and a boss battle mode unlock after you finish the story.

Q: Is there co-op?
A: No. It is single-player only.

Q: Is there DLC?
A: No paid DLC has been released. A December 2024 free update added the boss battle mode and a Chinese New Year armour set, among other things (per Wikipedia).