Feeling that primal fear as the Tiger Vanguard's roar echoes through the arena? You're not alone. This formidable foe in Black Myth: Wukong is a true test of skill, patience, and preparation. Many have fallen to its relentless martial arts and devastating swordplay. But fear not, brave warrior! With this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, you'll learn to anticipate its every move, exploit its weaknesses, and emerge victorious. Let's turn that fear into triumph!
How to Defeat the Tiger Vanguard: A Comprehensive Guide
The Tiger Vanguard is a required boss in Chapter 2 of Black Myth: Wukong, located in the Crouching Tiger Temple. It's known for its aggressive, martial arts-inspired combat style, blending fast punches, kicks, and even a dangerous sword. This guide will break down everything you need to know to take it down.
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| How To Defeat Tiger Vanguard |
Step 1: Preparation is Key – Arm Yourself for Battle!
Before you even step foot into the Tiger Vanguard's arena, strategic preparation can significantly tip the scales in your favor. Don't rush in unprepared, or you'll quickly become tiger food!
Sub-heading 1.1: Gear Up – Armor and Weapons
- Armor: Your defensive capabilities are paramount here.
- Galeguard Armor Set: If you've already defeated the Stone Vanguard (which is highly recommended to do first), you should have access to crafting the Galeguard armor set. This set offers excellent defense and is a significant advantage. Prioritize crafting and upgrading this if possible.
- Serpentscale Battlerobe: This is a game-changer for this fight! The arena often has blood on the ground, which the game treats as "water." The Serpentscale Battlerobe grants health regeneration when you're in water, effectively providing passive healing throughout the fight. This can drastically reduce your reliance on consumables.
- Weapons:
- Cloud Pattern Stone Staff: Many players find success with this staff due to its synergy with charged heavy attacks, which can be crucial for staggering the Tiger Vanguard.
- Twin Fang Staff: Another viable option, particularly if you've invested in its specific playstyle.
- General Rule: Ensure your chosen weapon is fully upgraded for your current stage of the game. Higher damage output means shorter fights and fewer opportunities for the Tiger Vanguard to punish you.
Sub-heading 1.2: Skill Tree & Sparks – Invest Wisely
The Tiger Vanguard fight demands agility and strategic use of your abilities.
- Stamina is King: You will be dodging a lot. Invest a significant portion of your sparks into the Stamina section of the foundation skill tree, especially "Simian Agility" and "Deft Evasion." This will allow you to maintain consistent pressure and escape dangerous combos.
- Focus on Damage & Stagger:
- Smash Stance: Many guides recommend focusing on the Smash Stance, particularly for its charged heavy attacks, which are excellent for breaking the Tiger Vanguard's "Rock Solid" stance and dealing burst damage. Maxing out relevant skills here is beneficial.
- Immobilization Spell: This spell can be a lifesaver. It temporarily freezes the Tiger Vanguard, providing a precious window for you to unleash a flurry of attacks or heal. Leveling this up is a smart move.
- "Pluck of Many" Spell (Clones): If you have this, it can significantly help by drawing the Tiger Vanguard's aggro, allowing you to get in free hits or reposition.
- Spirit Companions:
- Wandering Wight: Offers a defense boost, which is always welcome. It can also help break the Tiger Vanguard out of its "Rock Solid" state.
- Earth Wolf: Can be used to stagger the boss and deal significant damage, especially when timed correctly.
Sub-heading 1.3: Consumables – Don't Be Shy!
Medicines and pellets can provide crucial buffs that make a noticeable difference.
QuickTip: Skim first, then reread for depth.
- Evil Repelling Medicament: Reduces incoming damage. Pop this before the fight or during an opening.
- Tiger Subduing Pellets: Increases your attack power. Another excellent pre-fight or in-combat buff.
- Amplification Pellets: Increases your critical hit chance. More criticals mean faster health depletion for the boss!
- Health Gourd: Always ensure your Health Gourd is fully upgraded and topped off. Learn when to use it effectively – often during the Tiger Vanguard's "Rock Solid" phase or after a successful dodge of a long combo.
Step 2: Understanding the Beast – Learning Attack Patterns
The Tiger Vanguard is a "learn-by-doing" boss. Its attacks are relentless and agile, requiring precise dodging and an understanding of when to counter. Your first few attempts should be solely focused on observing and dodging, not on dealing damage.
Sub-heading 2.1: Common Fist and Kick Combos
The Tiger Vanguard primarily uses martial arts attacks with its fists and legs.
- Quick Strafe to Flying Punch: The Tiger Vanguard might quickly strafe to your side before launching a flying punch. This often leaves it momentarily recovering, providing an excellent opening for a light combo.
- Right Hook into Delayed Left Punch & Leg Sweep: This combo is deceptive. After the right hook and delayed left punch, it will always follow up with a quick leg sweep as it bounds away. Do NOT try to counter during this sequence unless you have a long-ranged jab from Thrusting Stance. Dodge backwards or to the side.
- Uppercut into Ground Slam: If the Tiger Vanguard uses an uppercut followed by a downward fist slam, it will pause to shake off its fist. This is your prime opportunity for a counter-attack.
- Martial Arts Stance (Spinning Kick, Punches, Leaping Slam): When it assumes a martial arts stance with one fist in front, be ready. It will often approach with a spinning kick (dodge late!), followed by two quick punches, and then leap high into the air for a twisting, body-crashing slam. After the slam, it will slowly pull its fist back up, giving you some room to fight back.
- Tackle into Air Slam: A short tackle followed by a jump into an air slam. The tackle itself doesn't deal much damage, but you should dodge backwards or create distance. The slam is slow and easily dodged.
Sub-heading 2.2: The Sword Attacks – Deadly and Swift
While it primarily uses its fists, the Tiger Vanguard's sword attacks are extremely dangerous and can quickly end your run.
- Single Horizontal Slash: At close range, it might unleash a single, swift horizontal slash. Easy to dodge in any direction.
- Sword Stance & Swift Strike: When you see it adopt a stance with one hand reaching for its blade and the other raised towards its eyes, be prepared for a very swift and deadly strike. The audio cue is distinct. This is a prime candidate for a perfect dodge.
- Four-Hit Sword Combo (Kick into Slashes): This is one of its most punishing combos. It starts with a quick kick into two quick slashes, with the final slash being very delayed. This delay can trick you, so be patient with your final dodge. It might follow up with another 3-hit combo of quick succession slashes. Repeatedly dodge backwards or away from this.
- Blood Tornadoes & Blood Slashes: When it has its sword, it can summon tornadoes of blood that track you. Dodge forward just as they are about to hit you. It often follows this with three ranged projectile slashes. Again, dodge forward repeatedly to avoid these linear projectiles.
Sub-heading 2.3: The "Rock Solid" Ability – A Key Mechanic
The Tiger Vanguard's ability to turn to stone is both a defensive measure and a baiting tactic.
QuickTip: Reading carefully once is better than rushing twice.
- Don't Attack! When it spreads its arms wide, crouches down, or otherwise transforms into stone, do NOT attack it. Your hits will either do no damage, bounce off, or stun you, leaving you vulnerable to a powerful counter-attack.
- Exploit the Opening: This is your chance to heal, use consumables, or charge a heavy attack. If you successfully charge a heavy attack and hit it just as it comes out of its stone form and shakes off the dust, you can often knock it out of the form and stagger it, providing a significant damage window.
- Teleporting Rock Solid: After half its HP is depleted, it will sometimes turn to stone, speak something, and then teleport to another part of the arena to launch a quick, high-damage attack. Wait for it to reappear, and then dodge immediately as you see it. This is usually followed by a quick sword slash.
Step 3: Combat Strategy – When to Attack, When to Defend
Patience and precise timing are the hallmarks of defeating the Tiger Vanguard.
Sub-heading 3.1: Embrace the Dodge
- Perfect Dodges are Gold: Mastering perfect dodges (dodging just before an attack lands) will open up significant counter-attack opportunities and help you build Focus points.
- Dodge into Attacks: For many of its melee combos, dodging towards or behind the Tiger Vanguard can put you in a prime position for a quick counter.
- Don't Get Greedy: After dodging a combo, land short, controlled combos (2-3 hits, or a single heavy attack if it's a longer opening). Overcommitting will often lead to you taking damage from the next attack in its sequence.
Sub-heading 3.2: Capitalize on Openings
- Post-Slam Recovery: After flying punches or body slams where the Tiger Vanguard takes a moment to recover, unleash a light combo.
- Uppercut/Downward Fist Slam: This is a clear opening for a counter-attack.
- Rock Solid Counter: As mentioned, hitting it with a charged heavy attack just as it exits its stone form is highly effective.
- Immobilization Spell: Use this when you have a clear shot and want to unleash maximum damage with no interruption. Timing it right after a long dodge sequence can be devastating.
- Transformation Spells: If you have a powerful transformation (like the Fire Rat or Earth Wolf), consider using it when the Tiger Vanguard is vulnerable or you need to tank some hits while dealing burst damage.
Sub-heading 3.3: Managing Distance
- Stay Close, but Not Too Close: The Tiger Vanguard's long-range attacks (like blood tornadoes) are harder to manage. Staying relatively close prevents it from using these as often.
- Create Distance for Healing/Buffing: When it enters its "Rock Solid" form, use that time to create a little distance if you need to pop a healing gourd or a buffing pellet.
Sub-heading 3.4: Focus Management
- Build Focus with Light Attacks: String together successful light attacks to build your Focus meter.
- Unleash Focus Attacks: Use your Focus attacks (often tied to heavy attacks or specific skills) during longer openings or after a successful stagger to deal significant damage.
- Air Heavy Attack: If you have the skill, an air heavy attack after a dodge can be very effective and sometimes even heal you.
Step 4: Phase Two – The Increased Aggression
Once the Tiger Vanguard's health drops significantly (around 50%), its aggression increases, and it introduces new, faster variations of its attacks.
- Faster Combos: Expect quicker follow-ups and less recovery time on its part. Your dodge timing needs to be even more precise.
- Teleporting Rock Solid: This becomes a more frequent and dangerous move. Always anticipate it and be ready to dodge the moment it reappears.
- Unpredictable Sequences: While its core patterns remain, it might mix and match attacks more fluidly, making it harder to predict. Maintain your focus on its tells.
- Don't Panic! It's easy to get overwhelmed when its health is low and it's going all out. Stick to your strategy: observe, dodge, then counter. If you have your Immobilization spell, this is the time to use it to secure the victory.
Step 5: Post-Victory – The Rewards
Congratulations, brave warrior! Defeating the Tiger Vanguard is a monumental achievement in Black Myth: Wukong. Your efforts will be rewarded handsomely:
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- Rock Solid Spell: A powerful spell that can turn your own body to stone, allowing you to tank hits or create openings.
- Keenness of Tiger: A valuable item.
- Mind Core x1: Essential for upgrading your character.
- Silk x3: Crafting material.
- 1652 Experience: For leveling up.
- 1362 Will: Another crucial resource.
Take a moment to savor your victory! You've overcome one of the toughest challenges in Chapter 2.
Tip: A slow, careful read can save re-reading later.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to Prepare for the Tiger Vanguard?
To prepare for Tiger Vanguard, focus on crafting the Galeguard armor set (if you've beaten Stone Vanguard) or the Serpentscale Battlerobe for passive healing. Invest skill points heavily in Stamina and the Smash Stance, and gather consumables like Evil Repelling Medicament and Tiger Subduing Pellets.
How to Dodge Tiger Vanguard's Fist Combos?
For Tiger Vanguard's fist combos, observe the delays. For quick strafe/flying punches, dodge and counter. For the right hook/delayed left punch/leg sweep, dodge backwards. For the uppercut/ground slam, dodge and counter during its recovery. For the martial arts stance, dodge the spinning kick at the last moment.
How to Deal with Tiger Vanguard's "Rock Solid" Ability?
When Tiger Vanguard turns "Rock Solid," do not attack it. Instead, use this time to heal, apply buffs, or charge a heavy attack to release just as it exits the stone form for a stagger.
How to Avoid Tiger Vanguard's Sword Attacks?
Tiger Vanguard's sword attacks are swift. For single slashes, dodge any direction. For its sword stance and swift strike, be ready for a perfect dodge based on the audio cue. For the 4-hit combo (kick into slashes), dodge repeatedly backwards as the final slash is delayed.
QuickTip: Skim for bold or italicized words.
How to Counter Tiger Vanguard's Blood Tornadoes?
When Tiger Vanguard summons blood tornadoes, dodge forward just as they are about to hit you. They track, so consistent forward dodging is key.
How to Optimize Damage Output Against Tiger Vanguard?
Optimize damage output by landing short combos after its recoverable attacks, utilizing charged heavy attacks when it exits "Rock Solid," and deploying your Immobilization spell or transformation abilities during prime openings.
How to Manage Stamina Effectively in the Fight?
Manage stamina by only dodging when necessary and avoiding excessive rolling. Investing in stamina-focused skill tree nodes helps, and remember the Serpentscale Battlerobe can grant infinite stamina for dodging in the "water" (blood) of the arena.
How to Use Spells Against Tiger Vanguard?
The Immobilization spell is highly effective for creating damage windows. The "Pluck of Many" (clones) can draw aggro. Time your spells when the Tiger Vanguard is vulnerable or recovering.
How to Identify Tiger Vanguard's Attack Tells?
Identify Tiger Vanguard's attack tells by careful observation of its stance, movements, and audio cues. For instance, the martial arts stance precedes a spinning kick, and reaching for its sword signals a swift sword strike.
How to Recover Health During the Tiger Vanguard Fight?
Recover health during the Tiger Vanguard fight primarily by using your Health Gourd during the "Rock Solid" phase or immediately after successfully dodging a long, punishing combo. The Serpentscale Battlerobe is also a passive healing source when standing in the arena's blood.
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