Quick Links
InBlack Myth: Wukong, the Destined One has a long, arduous journey ahead of them across breathtaking landscapes filled with formidable adversaries. While many bosses stand as major roadblocks, some of the most intriguing and challenging ones lie off the beaten path, hidden behind side quests.
Chapter Two’s Yellow Wind Ridge is home to several hidden bosses, including the imposing Mad Tiger. This raving beast lurks at the bottom of a well you’ll encounter rather early. However, the well remains unremarkable until you’re guided into it as part of a detailed quest. Here’s how to find and overcome the Mad Tiger’s brute strength.
To access the Mad Tiger’s hideout at theBottom of the Well area, you’ll have tocollect theOld Rattle-DrumKey Item from theTiger’s Acolyte optional bossnearWindrest Hamlet. After acquiring the instrument, theOld Rattle-Drum queststarts, and a child’s voice will beckon you to play it at three different spots.
Once you play the Old Rattle near the well, theboy’s spirit will appearandinvite you to the secret Bottom of the Well area. Follow him to the well, and the Mad Tiger boss fight will ensue after a cutscene.
Unlike his older sibling, the Tiger Vanguard, who favors refined martial arts combos, theMad Tiger uses sheer brute strengthto get the job done. Hisslam attacks are so powerful they shatter the groundbeneath him. Also, don’t be fooled by his bulk, though, as he’s anything but sluggish. In fact, he’s moreexplosive and aggressivethan his brother.
How To Counter
Double Claw Slash
This is theMad Tiger’s basic combo, which involves adelayed but heavy double paw swing. The right paw comes first from below, followed by a left overhead paw swing.
The delayed swings areeasy to avoid with two simple rolls.
Rapid Claw Slash
He follows the delayed swings into atwo-hit rapid swing attackthat ends with anoutward cross slash.
This combo is very similar to Promised Consort Radahn’s cross slash. To counter the combo,dodge the initial two slasheswith awell-timed single rolland immediately follow up withanother roll to evade the final cross slash.
Somersault Slam
After the cross slash, the Mad Tigerperforms a somersaultandslams the ground upon landing.
Move away from his rearwhen he’s gearing up for the Somersault. As he lands,dodge to the sides to avoid the slam.
AoE Roar
The Mad Tigerunleashes a roar that shakes the arena, causingboulders to fall from the cavern’s ceiling. If you don’t see the boulders falling, he’ll likelyfollow it with a basic combo.
Theroar and falling boulders can damage you, and the best advice to avoid both is torun away as far as possible. Besides that,dodge through the comboas best as you can.
Stomp and Slam
After the roar, theMad Tiger stomps the ground, thenperforms a flying kickfollowed by aheavy swing that propels him into the air, finishing the combo with apowerful slam.
Thestomp won’t hit you if you’re far away, but avoid the remaining attacks withdodge rolls.
Rock Slam
The Mad Tigerunearths a massive rockfrom the ground and leaps into the air,attempting to flatten the Destined Onewith it.
Roll in any directionwhen he’sabout to slam youwith the giant chunk of rock.
Grab Attack
The Mad Tiger has agrab attack that begins with the beast leapingtoward the Destined One andswinging his left arm to grab them. If caught, the Destined One istossed into the airandslammed three times.
You can offset the grab attack bysimply avoiding his swinging left armwith a dodge roll.
Earthquake
After an initial jumping slam, theMad Tiger grips the ground with his paws, causing it toshake violently. With a powerful pull, herips the ground apart, creating amassive shockwave and tearing the ground below, inflicting massive area-of-effect damage.
Avoid the initial slam, andrun as far as you canwhen the ground starts rattling.
Earth Rend
A more focused version of Earthquake, the Mad Tiger unleashes a ground-splitting shockwave in a straight line. This attack occursafter two horizontal swingsorfollowing a jump slam combined with two rapid claw slashes.
As this is a directional attack, you mustdodge to either sideto avoid it properly.
Theinitial clash with the Mad Tigermight leave you dumbstruck. After the cutscene, hesurprises you with a grab attackthat quickly spells doom for the Destined One.
Expect to die some more, but with each attempt, you’lllearn more about his movesand come back stronger. You alsorespawn at the Bottom of the Well Keeper’s Shrine, and you’ll have plenty of time toprepare and strategizefor another go.
It’s essential toprepare yourself for the Mad Tigerbyequipping your best gear uptill now. The Mad Tiger isexceptionally fast, andeach attack packs a hefty wallop. As such, it goes without saying thatbolstering your defenses is crucial. Here are some recommendations:
Start the fight by popping anEvil Repelling Medicament to reduce incoming damagefor some time. Equipping theBack Scratcher Curios will help conserve stamina, while theAgate Jar Curios will boost your defense, but theGale Guardian set offers the best protection available.
While the incomplete Insect set could be the better option if you’vebeaten Fuban, the complete Gale Guardian set providesincreased Focus gainandspell cooldown reductionwith eachPerfect Dodge. The Wind Tamer Vessel and Wandering Wight Spirit willenhance your defense further. The Spirit’s headbutt also dealssignificant damage and can stagger the Mad Tiger, allowing you to punish him.
Playing it safe is key to winning the duel against the Mad Tiger. Keep a sharp eye on hisgrab attack,roar, andearthquake move, as these are his trickiest attacks to predict. Therest of his slams and swingsare more straightforward and easily countered.
Rock Solid, a spell with a short cooldown, can help you parry his attacks if you master the timing.
Start the battle with the upper hand bysummoning your doppelgangers usingA Pluck of Many. After the Mad Tiger opens with his delayed swings, you shouldfreeze him on the spotto overwhelm him early on.
Along with your doppelgangers, you’ll quicklychip away a quarter of his health, but beready for his roaronce he reaches that threshold. When he shouts,“I am wounded, not dead!“or something similar, you’ll know it’s time to keep your distance.
For the rest of the fight, he’ll signal another roar when heraises both arms and his head. If running away isn’t an option,dodge just as he lifts his head, and you’ll avoid taking damage. Or you’re able to alsouse a well-timed Rock Solid.
The Mad Tiger is also weak to theBurn Bane, which you can easilyinflict with theRed Tidestransformation. This transformation alsocomes in clutchwhen you’veexpended your healing gourd completelyand aredown to taking one last hitbefore dying.
While theMad Tiger is also crippling weak to stagger damagefrom the full weight of your light combo, you’ll need totime your attackscarefully. Instead of trying to land full combos, punish him with afew well-placed hitsat the end of his combos, thenback off and repeat.
Some crafting materials, includingone Blood of the Iron Bull,twoYarn, andtwo pieces ofSilk, are yourreward for besting the Mad Tiger. Additionally, the Mad Tigerleaves behind his Spirit, which you can absorb and equip to take his form.
While equipped, theMad Tiger’s Spirit grants amoderate damage boostbut comes at the cost ofreducing your health by a whopping 75 points. You’ll also find achest in the boss arena containing thePlaguebane Gourd. This itemreduces the health you replenish by halfbutincreases your damagefor a short duration, offering a similar risk-reward scenario.
Defeating the Mad Tiger also gets you theBuried in the Sandachievement. You’ll also receiveThe Tiger Family achievementif you’ve also defeated his brother at theCrouching Tiger Templeand his father in theKingdom of Sahali secret area.
