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One of the highly anticipated new games that many of us have been waiting for is finally here, andBlack Myth: Wukongdelivers a unique adventure based on the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West. As you play as the Monkey, you’ll explore various regions and engage with the different stories each chapter has to offer.
The world is filled with enemies and bosses to encounter, but it also presents opportunities to meet NPCs, complete quests, and discover treasures. While the game incorporates mechanics from soulslike titles, it leans toward the easier side, though it can still pose challenges from time to time. So why not buckle up and get some handy tips and tricks to give you a head start on your journey?
Stamina Management
During the first few hours of playing Black Myth: Wukong, it becomes abundantly clear thatthe core gameplay revolves around combat, withconstant boss battles as you progress.
Every action you take in the gameconsumes stamina, whether you’re running, attacking, or dodging. If you’ve played other soulslike games before, you’re already familiar with this mechanic.
However, if you’re new to this genre, it’s crucial to learn how to manage your stamina effectively.Overextending yourself by dodging or attacking too frequently can leave you vulnerable, as a depleted stamina meter makes you susceptible to enemy attacks.
This is why it’s highly advisable toget comfortable with this system, and don’t stress too much about low stamina in the early stages of the game.
As you progress, you’ll have opportunities to increase your stamina through specific skills and items you discover throughout the world.
Get Comfortable Dodging
Another aspect you need to master in this game isdodging. Since there’s no block or parry mechanic,dodging becomes your primary method for avoiding enemy attacks, making it an invaluable skill.
Getting comfortable with dodging is essential, as many bosses will unleash their full arsenal against you. With limited uses of theGourd,your only source of healing, you’ll want to conserve it for critical moments.
Fortunately, there’s no weight penalty in this game, so you don’t have to worry about slower dodges.
There are particularskills in the stamina skill tree that can improve your dodging abilitiesandlower the stamina costassociated with it.
Prioritizing these skills may be beneficial if you’re struggling with basic dodging in the game, as they can help you master this crucial mechanic more easily.
Experiment With Skills
At first glance, the skill tree in Black Myth: Wukong appears quite extensive, andit can be overwhelming to decide which skills to unlock first. While focusing on specific skills from the stamina or survival skill trees can be beneficial, we highly recommend that youdon’t overthink it and allocate skill points to whichever abilities suit your gameplay style.
The game allows you toreset all your skills at no cost, making it ideal for experimenting with the various skills available, especially in the early stages.
If you find that your current skills aren’t working for you or you’re struggling with a specific boss fight, simplyhead to the nearest Keeper’s Shrine, select theSelf-Advance option, and then chooseReignite the Sparks.
This will enable you to reclaim all your Sparks, which serve as skill points, allowing you toredistribute them as you see fit.
You can repeat this processas many times as you want,free of charge, so there’s no need to stress.
Certain combat situations will definitely require different skills, so have fun experimenting with all the options available!
Check On Keeper’s Shrine Frequently
The Keeper’s Shrine functions similarly to bonfires in souls games, serving asa save point where you can rest to replenish your health, mana, and Gourd uses.
However, resting at the shrine also respawns enemies, so keep that in mind. If you die, you’ll be sent back to the last Keeper’s Shrine you interacted with.
you may also use the Keeper’s Shrine to fast travel to other shrines that you’ve unlocked.
Additionally, the shrine offers various features that become available as you progress through the story of Black Myth: Wukong. The two main options you shouldregularly check are the Craft option and the Store option.
The Store allows you topurchase different items and crafting materialswhile also providing a place tosell the treasures you find forWill. Although the store may seem somewhat limited at first,more items will unlock for purchase as you advance in the game.
On the other hand, the Craft menu follows a similar pattern. Here,you can craft new weapons or armor pieces, but you might not have many options initially. As you progress or discover specific crafting materials dropped by bosses or found in the world, you’ll be able to use them tocreate new gear that strengthens your monkey character.
These two options will regularly be updated with new items to purchase from the store and new gear to craft,depending on your progress in the game and any new materials you acquire. It’s essential not to miss out on these updates.
From our gameplay experience, we noticed that the store receives new items in each chapter you complete, but new offerings can also appear midway through a chapter.
Whenever there’s a new item available in either the Store or Craft options,a red dot will appear on the left side of the relevant option, notifying you that there’s something new to check out.
Destroy Jars To Get Additional Will
Will is the primary currency in this game, and you’ll need a substantial amount to craft new gear or purchase items from the store. You can mainly accumulate Will bydefeating enemiesand bossesas you explore the world.
Another way to gain Will isby selling treasures you find, such as pieces of gold from looted chests, which can provide a decent amount.
In addition to defeating enemies and selling treasures, you can easilycollect some extra Will by breaking jars scattered throughout the world. While they may not yield a significant amount, every little bit counts when you’re trying to afford that new item you’ve been eyeing. It’s a simple and satisfying way to boost your currency!
Green Orbs Will Replenish Gourd Charges
Yes, there’s another way to acquire Will, though it may not be as consistent, but it offers a hidden benefit that the game doesn’t explicitly mention. As you explore the different regions of Black Myth: Wukong,you’ll encounter what appear to be green orbs that you can interact with using your Gourd. Doing so will grant youa good amount of Will, depending on how many orbs are there.
What the game doesn’t tell you is thateach of these green orbs will replenish one Gourd chargewhich can be an excellent way to gain extra healing without needing to rest at a Keeper’s Shrine, which would cause enemies to respawn and disrupt your exploration.
Additionally,absorbing new spirits will fully replenish your Gourd charges, so be sure to heal your health to the max before absorbing.
Make The Best Out Of Medicines
While the Gourd is your primary source of healing,Medicinesin this game serve as supplements thatprovide various effects, boosting your damage output, damage reduction, or even enhancing your stats for a limited time. These usable items are especiallyvaluable during boss fights,which, let’s be honest, you will encounter so often.
Early in the game, you’ll be able toacquire different Medicines as you explore and open chests. Later on, you’ll have the opportunity tocraft your own after encountering a specific character, which we won’t spoil.
You’ll need ingredients to craft Medicines, but thankfully, they are scattered throughout the world and can beeasily identified by their distinctive shine, so be sure to collect everything you come across.
Sothere’s no need to hoard these itemsand think, “I’ll save them for later,” as you’ll be constantly facing bosses, and some of them will pose a significant challenge. Equip these Medicines anduse them as neededsince different bosses will require different Medicines and you’ll have the chance tocraft more later in the game, so there’s no reason to hold onto them.
As you progress, you’ll also be able to acquirenew Formulasthatunlock new recipesfor higher-tier Medicines, which offer even better effects.
Adjust Your Build To The Situation
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all build for the numerous bosses you’ll encounter, especially considering the game features over 80 bosses, each with unique attacks and strategies required to defeat them. This is whyyou shouldn’t rely on a specific weapon or gear for the entire game. Most gear has aunique effectthat can enhance your combat abilities in different manners.
Your gear consists of your weapon, armor set, Curios and your Gourd, which you may enhance by adding both a Drink and some Soak to it. There are plenty of these items to find as you explore, soselecting the right ones for the boss fights you’re struggling with can make those encounters more manageable. Some bosses can be particularly challenging, so you’ll want to be prepared for any situation.
It’s often more beneficial to havea full set of a specific armor to gain all its unique effects, rather than focusing solely on stats. In certain boss fights, the unique effects may prove to be far more helpful.
The same principle applies to Curios and your Gourd and its components. There are various options thatgrant different effects, such as increasing your fire resistance to help you withstand bosses that constantly spit fire, or boosting your defense to absorb more damage.
The bottom line is toalways be prepared to adaptto the situation and the boss if you find yourself struggling.
Exploration Is Rewarding
Black Myth: Wukong is not an open-world game, but that doesn’t mean it lacks the exploration you enjoy. The game is divided intosix chapters, each featuringa region filled with new enemy types, bosses, and NPCs to encounter. While following the main path will advance your progress, you’ll miss out on a wealth of valuable loot.
Rushing through the main storycan lead to struggles in boss fightsdue to being under-leveled or having weaker gear compared to the bosses you face. This often forces you to backtrack and explore more, so why rush?
Take your time to explore every nook and cranny in the game. This will allow you to find new items for crafting better gear, gather more Will to spend, collect Sparks to unlock new and powerful skills, and potentially discover new Spells or Transformations that will significantly aid you on your journey.
