Early Black Myth: Wukong Secrets You Don't Want To Miss

From "Palworld" to "Helldivers 2," 2024 has been full of unexpected super-hit games, and "Black Myth: Wukong" is the latest title on the scene to blow everyone away, breaking Steam records and challenging players with its intricate combat and obtuse storyline. Millions of players are installing the game, but the one problem everyone has starting "Black Myth: Wukong" is that the game basically tosses players into the deep end and forces them to figure things out for themselves. Aside from the basic controls, the game tells players almost nothing about what they're supposed to do. On top of that, "Black Myth: Wukong" is arguably even more packed with secrets and hidden areas than "Elden Ring." By the time most players wrap their heads around the actual goals of the game, they might've already missed some of its most valuable items.

Don't let the lack of a true open world fool you; "Black Myth: Wukong" is as much of a scavenger hunt as it is an action game. Gathering every secret in the game requires more than just exploring every nook and cranny. You've got to talk to NPCs, pay close attention to the environment, and even backtrack to previous areas from time to time. To help you make the most of your early game experience, we've gathered the most important secrets from the first three chapters of "Black Myth: Wukong." Don't miss out!

The Ancient Guanyin Temple is one of the first big secrets that you can find in "Black Myth: Wukong," and the process of unlocking it teaches you a lot about how the game sets up hidden areas to be discovered. Throughout the first chapter of the game, you'll fight a few bosses who are guarding giant bells. Guangzhi and Guangmou guard the first two, and you'll find the final one in Whiteclad Noble's boss arena. After ringing the third bell, back out of the arena, and you'll find a new path be waiting for you, just to the left of where you first entered.

Once you're transported to the Ancient Guanyin Temple, you'll have to square off against Elder Jinchi. He's very similar to the Wandering Wight boss that can be encountered earlier in Chapter 1, but he has an extra healing ability and will occasionally call on his disciples to attack you. Make sure to grab Guanyin's Prayer Beads from a treasure chest outside the boss arena, which will grant you a quick heal when you need it — and knock out all of Jinchi's zombified minions when they start to converge around him, so he can't heal himself. 

All of this is worth conquering. The temple looks amazing and the boss fight is great, but also players will want to complete the fight to earn a Vessel called the Fireproof Mantle. You can use its ability during the Black Bear Guai fight at the end of Chapter 1 to help you overcome his devastating second phase.

In Chapter 2, you can find the entrance to a secret kingdom of gold, where bosses and riches await clever travelers. Getting there is no easy task, but the process starts by talking to the Drunken Boar, who you'll find resting near the bottom of a massive stone staircase by the Rockrest Flat shrine. He'll ask you for a Sobering Stone. After you give it to him, he'll move to Crouching Tiger Temple. Once you meet him there, you'll need to give him a Jade Lotus, and then you'll need to collect the Arhat Gold Piece by defeating the First Prince of Flowing Sands in Sandgate Village.

With this gold in your possession, you can go back to where you first met the Drunken Boar, and he'll try to fight you for the piece. Once you win the fight, the Drunken Boar will climb the staircase and slip through the metal doors at the top. If you follow him, you'll be transported to the Kingdom of Sahali, but your struggle isn't over yet. The realm contains an alternate version of the Tiger Vanguard boss and a massive beetle boss called Fuban. It won't be easy, and your best bet in this fight is to take it slow and steady, getting in a few hits between their combos and then creating some serious distance. Thankfully, there are plenty of rewards to get for beating those two, including the Wind Tamer Vessel that can give you a leg up during the Wind Sage fight that closes Chapter 2.

One of the most valuable secret items in "Black Myth: Wukong" is hidden in a boss arena in Chapter 2. First, travel to Sandgate Village, where the First Prince of Flowing Sands boss fight takes place. The arena is fairly small and the giant rat you're fighting can use devastating charge attacks to hit you from way across the map. If you can bait him into hitting the brown stone wall in the cave with his charging attack, a secret entrance will appear that you can crawl through after the fight.

If you didn't know about this trick before the fight, don't worry. If you've already beaten the First Prince, you can also hit the wall with a heavy attack of your own — using the Wandering Wight's spirit, for instance — and it will break apart all the same. Inside the wall is a chest with the Loong scales, which can be used to unlock four secret Loong bosses.

The Red Loong is hidden behind a waterfall in the forest of Chapter 1. The Black Loong is hidden behind the swirling sand wall in Rockrest Flat in Chapter 2. The Cyan Loong is posing as a statue on Turtle Island in Chapter 3, and the final Yellow Loong is hidden in the imprint of a fallen dragon in the Webbed Hollow of Chapter 4. These are some of the coolest and most rewarding boss fights in the game, but you can't access them without the Loong Scales.

The Zodiac Village is a hub area where all the NPCs you meet go to hang out. Once you meet them there, you have a central place to visit for upgrades. Traveling to the Zodiac Village also unlocks a new boss fight, as well as a way to get some much-needed resources and medicine for free. Unfortunately, this secret area can be fairly tricky to unlock. And yes, it absolutely involves a hectic boss fight.

First, you need to find the Basement shrine in Chapter 2's Crouching Tiger Temple. This is where you'll meet Xu Dog, who can craft pills and medicines. After that, continue through Chapter 3 until you reach the shore of Bitter Lake. You'll be able to find a cabin near the water, and standing in the water nearby will be an old Loong named Chen. This boss has a tendency to fill the entire arena up with his lightning attacks, so using Cloud Step to swirl your merry way around his devastating abilities will be your best bet during this fight. Beat him in a fight and then exhaust his dialogue, which is all about preserving his immortality.

Now it's time for Xu Dog to step back in. Return to the Cellar, and Xu Dog will give you the Special-made Bone-Strengthening Pellet. Take that back to Chen at the cabin, and the old Loong will give you an item called the Ruyi Scroll in exhange. The scroll will transport you to the Zodiac Village, where a shrine and all your best NPC friends are waiting for you.