Category: Games
August 18, 2025
Five Tips to Help You Get Started with Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox Series X|S
By Rodney King
This week Xbox players can take up their staffs and assume the role of the Destined One as Black Myth: Wukong launches for Xbox Series X|S on August 20! Inspired by the classic Chinese literary novel, “Journey to the West,” Wukong tells the story of the Destined One as they travel across various mythical lands, seeking to understand an ancient mystery while dispatching many challenging foes along the way.
Wukong unravels this tale by pulling from multiple genres, namely Soulslikes, but also RPGs and boss rush types to deliver an engaging, high-quality, and challenging experience. And like all good Soulslikes, Wukong follows many of the genre’s staples like resurrection at Shrines, respawning enemies, and… oh yeah… it can make you want to throw your controller through the screen at times.
So far I’ve had a chance to play about five hours of Wukong, recently wrapping up the first Chapter of the game. To help get your monkey paws ready for this wonderous and engaging world, I’ve put together five tips to help get you situated in this mythical land.
Focus on a Balanced Character Build at First
Just one look at the ability tree can be quite daunting. For Chapter 1, it’s best to focus on leveling up your base stats before you really start to experiment with a variety of advanced skills. The Foundation section is full of some of the key areas you want to invest in early on, like Stamina (Simian Agility to improve dodge), Martial Arts (grab Mobile Spin to help deflect projectiles), and Survival (putting at least three points each into Health and Stamina). After that, put Sparks into upgrading Smash Stance, your heavy attack. You can learn a few other stances, like Thrust and Pillar, but Smash was so dang effective I never went back to the others.
Stay on the Move
One of the first things I had to get my head around was that The Destined One has no block or parry abilities – pretty wild for a Soulslike to throw us out there like that. That means you need to lean into his agility abilities like dodging and sprinting. And while there are no well-timed parries you need to try and perfect, you can be rewarded with a well-timed Perfect Dodge which refills a portion of your Focus Points (used to charge up heavy attacks). As I mentioned above, as long as you’re investing Sparks into your Foundational stats, like putting points into your Stamina tree (Simian Agility, Endurance, Deft Evasion, and Everlasting Vigor), you’ll greatly increase your chances of survival here in the early phase of the game.
Search Out the Yaoguai Chiefs
Despite what your linear in-game map might imply, there are many hidden side paths for you to uncover — some of which may lead you to a Yaogui Chief, mini-bosses who you can absorb their power from once defeated. This can become super useful when you start to square off against the Yaogui Kings — being able to temporarily summon a Chief’s spirit to help unleash powerful attacks could help you turn the tide of battle. Two of my favorites were Guangzhi with his flaming dash attack, and Baw-Li-Guhh-Lang’s giant frog tongue that slaps groups enemies around a bit.
Take Some Time and Meditate
Like the Chiefs, it’s worth seeking out Meditation Spots that are just slightly off the beaten path. Not only do they play a nice cinematic that lets you appreciate how good this game looks, but it will reward you with a Spark which you can feed into your character build. There are three to find in Chapter 1: the Forest of Wolves, the Bamboo Grove, and the Black Wind Cave.
Ring the Three Bells
As you venture across the opening zone of Black Wild Mountain, you may have stumbled across a giant bell and taken the opportunity to ring one or two of them. Well, we recommend venturing out and finding all three as it unlocks a special, hidden area that once completed will award you with a Legendary Vessel, the Fireproof Mantle, which grants burn immunity (this will come in handy for the Chapter 1 boss encounter). You can find the three bells in the northeastern part of the map, the southeastern corner, and the southern area (follow the river to find this one hiding in the mist).
I hope these tips help set you up for success in the early going as you embark on your epic journey through Black Myth: Wukong, available August 20 for Xbox Series X|S.
Black Myth: Wukong Digital Deluxe Edition Pre-Order
Game Science
$69.99
Pre-order to receive the Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd.
※ This item can also be obtained through progressing in the game.
※ Pre-order either the Standard Edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition of Black Myth: Wukong to directly claim it at the Keeper's Shrine (Respawn Point) during the early stages of the game.
The Black Myth: Wukong Digital Deluxe Edition includes:
– Black Myth: Wukong Full Game
– Weapon: Bronzecloud Staff
– Equipment: Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, and Folk Opera Buskins
– Curio: Wind Chimes
– Selected Digital Soundtrack
※ The included weapon, equipment, and curio can be claimed from the Trailblazer's Gift menu at the Keeper's Shrine (Respawn Point) during the early stages of the game.
※ By activating "Music Library" on the game's Title Screen, or downloading "Black Myth: Wukong Soundtrack Selection" through the platform, you can enjoy a curated list of tracks from the game. We highly recommend that you first experience these pieces as you journey through the game as the Destined One, then return here to relive them to your heart's content.
Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. The story is based on Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. You shall set out as the Destined One to venture into the challenges and marvels ahead, to uncover the obscured truth beneath the veil of a glorious legend from the past.
• Explore a Land of Vast Wonders
"A world unseen, where wonders gleam,
And with each stride, a new scene streams."
Enter a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology!
As the Destined One, you shall traverse an array of breathtaking and distinctive landscapes from the classic tale, composing an epic of adventure that is seen anew.
• Confront Mighty Foes, Old and New
"Heroic Monkey, might and fame,
Adversaries rise, to test his name."
One of the major highlights of Journey to the West is its diverse cast of adversaries, each with their unique strengths.
As the Destined One, you will encounter powerful foes and worthy rivals throughout your journey. Fearlessly engage them in epic battles where surrender is not an option.
• Temper Your Mastery of Varied Spells
"Spells unbound, talents in play,
Unleashed abilities seize the day."
Spells, transformations, and magic vessels of all manifestations, in which some counteract while others amplify, have long been iconic combat elements of Chinese mythology.
As the Destined One, aside from mastering various staff techniques, you can also freely combine different spells, abilities, weapons, and equipment to find a winning strategy that best suits your combat style.
• Discover Heartfelt Tales Behind Every Facade
"Within all souls, both wild and tame,
There thrives a tale of life's fierce flame."
Beneath the ferocity and craftiness of your foes lies an engaging tapestry of their origins, personalities, and motivations waiting to be revealed.
As the Destined One, you will uncover the stories behind a variety of characters, delving beyond your battles with them to taste the love, hate, greed, and fury they once held and still carry within.
Black Myth: Wukong
Game Science
Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. The story is based on Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. You shall set out as the Destined One to venture into the challenges and marvels ahead, to uncover the obscured truth beneath the veil of a glorious legend from the past.
• Explore a Land of Vast Wonders
"A world unseen, where wonders gleam,
And with each stride, a new scene streams."
Enter a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology!
As the Destined One, you shall traverse an array of breathtaking and distinctive landscapes from the classic tale, composing an epic of adventure that is seen anew.
• Confront Mighty Foes, Old and New
"Heroic Monkey, might and fame,
Adversaries rise, to test his name."
One of the major highlights of Journey to the West is its diverse cast of adversaries, each with their unique strengths.
As the Destined One, you will encounter powerful foes and worthy rivals throughout your journey. Fearlessly engage them in epic battles where surrender is not an option.
• Temper Your Mastery of Varied Spells
"Spells unbound, talents in play,
Unleashed abilities seize the day."
Spells, transformations, and magic vessels of all manifestations, in which some counteract while others amplify, have long been iconic combat elements of Chinese mythology.
As the Destined One, aside from mastering various staff techniques, you can also freely combine different spells, abilities, weapons, and equipment to find a winning strategy that best suits your combat style.
• Discover Heartfelt Tales Behind Every Facade
"Within all souls, both wild and tame,
There thrives a tale of life's fierce flame."
Beneath the ferocity and craftiness of your foes lies an engaging tapestry of their origins, personalities, and motivations waiting to be revealed.
As the Destined One, you will uncover the stories behind a variety of characters, delving beyond your battles with them to taste the love, hate, greed, and fury they once held and still carry within.
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