Ready to turn that hulking rock into rubble? The Stone Vanguard in Black Myth: Wukong is a tough nut to crack, but with the right strategy and a little bit of patience, you'll have him reduced to a pile of pebbles in no time. This isn't just about smashing your staff; it's about learning his rhythms, exploiting his weaknesses, and fighting smart.
Let's break down this beast and show you how it's done, step by agonizing, yet rewarding, step.
Step 1: Preparation is Your Best Friend
Before you even step foot into the arena, you need to be prepared. This isn't a fight you can just button-mash your way through. So, let's get you geared up.
Upgrade Your Gear: Make sure your gear is as good as it can be for this stage of the game. If you have the materials, craft the Ebongold armor set and upgrade your Twin Serpent Staff. These will give you a significant advantage in both defense and offense.
Skill Up Your Stances: Your staff stances are crucial. For this fight, the Thrust Stance is highly recommended. Its charged heavy attack has excellent range, allowing you to hit the Stone Vanguard from a safer distance. You should also consider leveling up your Pillar Stance to deal with his AoE attacks.
Equip the Right Spirit: Consider equipping the Wandering Wight spirit for a valuable defense boost. This will help you survive some of the Vanguard's devastating hits.
Unlock Key Spells: The Immobilize spell is a game-changer for this fight. It can stun the Stone Vanguard, giving you free hits and a chance to recover. Don't be afraid to use your mana on it when you see an opening. Another useful spell is Cloud Step, which is fantastic for quickly evading his large, leaping attacks.
Gather Buddha Eyeballs (Optional but Recommended): This is a secret, but a very cool one. Around the Fright Cliff region, you can find six Buddha Eyeballs. If you collect them, you can interact with a large rock in the arena before the fight to summon a secret boss, Shigandang, to fight the Stone Vanguard for you. While this makes the fight much easier, be warned: after the Stone Vanguard is defeated, Shigandang will turn on you, and he is a very difficult boss. Use this if you're struggling, but be prepared for a bigger challenge afterward.
Step 2: Understand the Stone Vanguard's Moveset
The Stone Vanguard is a large, slow-moving boss, but don't let his size fool you. His attacks are powerful and can catch you off guard with their delayed effects. Learning his attack patterns is the single most important part of this fight.
Sub-heading: Main Attacks and How to Counter Them
Leaping Strike: He will leap a surprising distance and slam down with one of his front arms.
Counter: This is a straightforward attack. Simply roll to the side just before he lands. Cloud Step is also very effective for this.
Ground Slam & Delayed Detonation: This is his signature move. He'll rear up and slam both arms down, often causing his arms to glow. This glow signals a delayed detonation that creates a circular or conical area-of-effect (AoE) explosion with rocky spikes.
Counter: This is where things get tricky. Do not rush in after the initial slam. Instead, hang back and observe the glowing hands. The explosion will follow a moment later. You can use your Pillar Stance to get on top of your staff, which will allow you to ignore the tremor and land a charged attack from a safe distance. Alternatively, a well-timed dodge roll will also work, but the Pillar Stance is much safer and more reliable.
Repeated Ground Stabs: He will repeatedly stab the ground with alternating arms, four times in a row, before a final, large ground-bursting blast.
Counter: This is a good opportunity to stay close and dodge to the side. After his final stab, he will be vulnerable. You can use this window to get in a few quick hits.
Boulder Toss: If you keep your distance, he'll start hurling giant rocks at you.
Counter: These are relatively easy to dodge. Simply roll to the side as they are thrown. However, don't get complacent, as he can sometimes throw multiple rocks in a row.
Rock Guai Summon: He will tap the ground repeatedly with one arm, summoning a horde of small, exploding Rock Guai to burrow up and launch themselves at you.
Counter: This can be a chaotic attack. You need to backpedal and take evasive action, constantly rolling to avoid the exploding minions. Be warned: as the last two Guai leap, the Stone Vanguard will join in with a leaping attack of his own.
Backhand Attack: If you get behind him, he may perform a wide backhand sweep.
Counter: This attack is easily dodged with a simple roll to the side or backward.
Step 3: The Battle Plan - Patience and Punish
Now that you know his moves, let's put it all together into a winning strategy.
Sub-heading: Phase 1: The Initial Dance
When the fight begins, the Stone Vanguard will likely start with a leaping strike. Your first move should be to dodge this initial attack and then immediately try to get to his side or back. His front is a death trap due to the delayed detonations.
Sub-heading: Phase 2: Bait and Punish
Your main strategy will be to bait out his heavy, telegraphed attacks, like the Ground Slam. Wait for him to slam his arms down, then observe for the glow. As he starts the delayed detonation, either use your Pillar Stance or dodge away. Once the explosion is finished, that is your window. Rush in and get in a charged heavy attack from your Thrust Stance, followed by a few quick hits. His recovery time after these heavy attacks is quite slow, making him vulnerable.
Sub-heading: When to Use Spells
Immobilize: Use this spell when you have a good opening, preferably after he finishes a combo or a heavy attack. Immobilizing him will give you a huge window to land a full combo and deal significant damage.
Cloud Step: Use this as a last resort to escape tricky situations, especially during the Rock Guai summon attack or to reposition yourself quickly behind him. Remember, mana is limited, so use it wisely.
Sub-heading: Don't Get Greedy!
This is a classic souls-like lesson. Do not get greedy. After you land a few hits, back away and get ready to dodge his next attack. A single mistake can cost you a significant chunk of health, or even the fight. Observe, attack, and retreat. Repeat this cycle until he's defeated.
Step 4: The Finishing Blow
As his health gets low, he may become more aggressive. Keep your cool and stick to the plan. Patience and punishment are the keys to victory. When you see your opportunity, unleash your most powerful combo or a charged heavy attack to finish him off.
Once the Stone Vanguard crumbles, you will be rewarded with valuable resources and, more importantly, the satisfaction of overcoming a formidable foe.
10 FAQ Subheadings with Quick Answers
How to find the Stone Vanguard?
You can find the Stone Vanguard in the Fright Cliff region, past the Sandgate Village. Look for an archway in the Rockrest Flat area that leads to his boss arena.
How to prepare my character for the fight?
Focus on upgrading your gear, particularly the Ebongold armor set and Twin Serpent Staff. Level up your Thrust Stance and Pillar Stance, and equip the Wandering Wight spirit for a defense boost.
How to deal with the Stone Vanguard's ground slams?
Wait for the initial slam and then look for his arms to glow. This indicates a delayed AoE explosion. Either dodge the detonation or use your Pillar Stance to become invulnerable to the tremor and attack from above.
How to avoid the Rock Guai minions he summons?
When he starts tapping the ground, backpedal and roll continuously to avoid the exploding minions. Be prepared to dodge his leap attack, which he will perform with the last few minions.
How to use the Immobilize spell effectively?
Use it to stun him after a heavy attack combo, giving you a large opening for a full combo of your own. Avoid using it when he's airborne, as you won't be able to reach him.
How to deal damage from a safe distance?
Use the charged heavy attack from the Thrust Stance. Its long reach allows you to hit him after he finishes a move without being too close to his dangerous AoE attacks.
How to deal with his boulder toss attack?
Roll to the side as he throws the boulders. They are slow and easily avoidable, but he can throw more than one, so be ready to dodge multiple times.
How to activate the secret boss fight with Shigandang?
Collect all six Buddha Eyeballs from around the Fright Cliff region. Interact with the large rock in the arena before the fight to summon Shigandang to fight the Stone Vanguard for you.
How to get the most out of my Might bar?
Build up your Might by dodging and landing hits, then use your powerful Might abilities when you have a good opening, preferably after you've immobilized him or he's recovering from a heavy attack.
How to know when to attack and when to wait?
Attack only after he has finished a combo or a heavy attack and is in his recovery animation. Otherwise, focus on dodging and staying in a safe position. Patience is key.