Black Myth Wukongand its developer, Game Science, werevery keen to separate this game from the Souls genre. As this game isn’t atraditional Souls-Like.
It’s much more in line with a hack-and-slash title and, generally speaking, is a lot less punishing than most Souls games. This difference is perhaps best illustrated by the Skill Tree present in the game.
As the player earns XP and Sparks,they can spend these Sparks toawaken unique skills, buffs, stances, and more.
15 Essential Black Myth Wukong Beginner Tips
Monkey see, Monkey do!
However, you may be looking at this jam-packed skill tree and wondering which skills are best to unlock first. Well, in a bid to help you hit the ground running, we’re going to list our picks of the bunch right now.
To be clear, we will only be listing skills that players will have access to within the first chapter of the game, which essentially means your first 15–20 levels.
10Mobile Spin
Twirl That Baton!
Description
Allows player to move forward while using deflecting spin
Cost To Fully Upgrade
Our wooden spoon entry is rather situational, but one that becomes more and more necessary as the game goes on. Players will have access to a Staff Spin skill right from the beginning of the game. This skill can block incoming projectiles like arrows,but it’s a very limited skill as you need to stand static to use it.
But, if you unlockMobile Spin, you’ll be able to spin your staff like a baton, block projectiles while you close the gap between you and the enemy, and this will allow you to take them out without needing to time your runs awkwardly between shots.
You can largely get away without this in the first chapter, but be sure to have it unlocked by the time you enter the second chapter.
9Deft Evasion
Dodge, Dip, Duck, Dive & Dodge
Makes the first dodge in a string of dodges much more agile.
As you may have noticed, the combat inBlack Myth: Wukongis akin to a hack-and-slash title, and this means being agile and reactive usually yields the best results.
Initially, your dodges will feel a little sluggish, but if you unlock theDeft Evasionskill,you will be able to leap away from most attacks with ease.
This skillmakes the first dodge in a string of dodges much more agile, meaning you get further out of the way, whether that be a roll to the side, or a step back away from danger.
This can be a real asset when avoiding ranged attacks and lengthy combos, so consider spending your Sparks on this one.
8Pillar Stance
Sitting In The Nosebleeds
UnlocksPillar Stance
One of the biggest ways to shake things up inBlack Myth: Wukongis by unlocking and experimenting with a new Stance, as this opens up a whole new way to utilize your focus and charged heavy attacks.
You won’t be able to unlock theThrust Stancefor some time, but you’ll be able to unlock thePillar Stanceearly on, and it’s a very helpful skill to learn.
This stance allows players to stand on their staff and climb above enemies, which can be a real asset in the first chapter of this game.
This is because bosseslike Guangmouandthe Whiteclad Noblemainly use physical grounded attacks, and this skill will allow you to lord above them, stay out of the firing line and choose when to enter the fray once again. It takes some getting used to, but it’s worth having as an option.
7Swift Engage
Touch, Pause, Engage
Increase your engage distance, allowing you to start combos from distance
With combat inBlack Myth Wukongbeing as dynamic as it is, players will find it hard to stay up close and personal with the various enemies in this game. And this can lead to missed attacks and combo finishers you’d rather be connecting with.
If this is a problem you’ve been having early in the game, theSwift Engageskill can help curb this issue.
This skill increases the range that you’re able to begin a melee comboand have the attack snap to the enemy’s position. Against more agile enemies, this is an essential skill to have unlocked, as otherwise, they will give you the runaround. So consider awakening this one when you have a Spark to spare.
6Robust Constitution
Made From Sterner Stuff
Increases Your Health Pool By A Moderate Amount
In a brutal game such as this, staying alive is the aim of the game, and while strong weapons,armor,and curios can help with that, there’s no substitute for having more HP.
Having more health allows you to make more mistakes, and survive moves from enemies that would one-shot more fragile monkeys. So, for this reason,Robust Constitutionshould be a skill that you immediately gravitate towards.
This skill has six notches, with each one raising your HP bar by a moderate amount.
This can be further enhanced with the use of Celestial Lotus Pills, but seeing as you won’t have access to thoseuntil you defeat the Tiger Vanguard, it’s best to spend a few Sparks early on to enhance your HP.
5Rampant Vigor
I Could Do This All Day
Increases Your Stamina Pool By A Moderate Amount
While health is great to have, I would argue that inBlack Myth: Wukong, Stamina is slightly more important, as having enough stamina to consistently dodge to avoid taking damage is better than having the HP needed to survive that hit.
Being able to chain dodges one after the other allows you to dictate the pace of the fight, and for that reason,Rampant Vigoris a vital skill to power up.
Much likeRobust Constitution, this one has six notches, and each will increase your stamina by a moderate amount. This can also be further enhanced with the use ofCelestial Nonary Pill.
4Simian Agility
Can’t Touch This
Lowers The Stamina Cost Of Dodging
Keeping with the notion that being able to dodge frequently and consistently is directly linked to survival. Players should consider awakening theSimian Agilityskill.
This skill lowers the amount of stamina that committing to a dodge roll costs, and this skill has two notches, allowing you to cut down the stamina cost early on.
Running out of stamina and being unable to dodge in this game makes you a sitting duck. At least until you haveevasive spells likeCloud StepandRock Solidto bail you out.
So, in the early game, it’s best to give yourself as many potential dodges as possible because the stamina this skill saves per dodge could make all the difference.
Make The Most Of Your Free Hit
Increases Damage Output When Enemies are Immobilized
Our next two early-game skills relate to the Immobilization spell, an incredibly powerful spell that players will gain early in proceedings.
This spell freezes your enemy and allows you to attack them freely while they sit there and take it. It’s a spell that remains useful right into the end game, and this is why you should spend some sparks leveling it up early on.
TheCrashskill is a great one to do just that,as this will increase your overall damage output when attacking any enemy that is under the effect of the Immobilisation spell.
Plus, this has two notches, so you can double down on this one to seriously up the damage dealt when the enemy is frozen. It’ll be your only spelluntil you fight the Black Wind King,so it’s best to embrace this spell early on.
2Stagnation
Don’t Move A Muscle
Each Light attack when an enemy is Immobilized Increases the Duration of the Next Immobilization Spell
Then we have our runner-up,Stagnation, my preferred early-game Immobilization skill. This is because this skill stacks over the course of a battle, making it a brilliant one to have active against bosses.
This skill will ensure that every time you land a light attack on an enemy, this will increase the duration of your nextImmobilizecast,and this effect can stack up to five times.
This,when combined with something likeEvanescence, is a wonderful skill, as you may keep strong enemies frozen and helpless for long periods of time, allowing you to melt their health bar in complete safety.
This strategy does mean that you may’t land finishers and heavy blows as this breaks the spell, but if you can adapt to this, you can keep them trapped for what will feel like forever.
1Composure
Achieving A True Flow State
Allows Players to Dodge Without Interrupting Melee Combos
As you get comfortable withBlack Myth Wukong’scombat, you come to find that there is a real benefit to creating windows where you can commit your entire melee combo uninterrupted.
This is because each melee combo ends with a powerful jump attackthat will usually knock back or stagger enemies. However, when an enemy does attack, and you dodge, this tends to break your combo, forcing you to start from scratch.
However, if you unlock theComposurespell,you can dodge incoming attacks, but vitally, you will not lose your combo when you do.This means you can keep your flow, dictate the pace of the fight, and stagger the enemy more consistently without needing to abandon attacks before they reach their destructive conclusions.
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Black Myth: Wukong
WHERE TO PLAY
An action-RPG set against the backdrop of Chinese mythology, Black Myth: Wukong is a Soulslike adventure game retelling the story of Journey to the West.
