You've found yourself facing the formidable Tiger Vanguard in Black Myth: Wukong, haven't you? Don't worry, you're not alone! This boss is a true skill check and has humbled many a player. But with the right strategy, preparation, and a bit of patience, you'll turn this beast into a mere stepping stone on your journey. Let's break down exactly how to conquer the Tiger Vanguard, step by challenging step!
Mastering the Hunt: A Step-by-Step Guide to Defeating Tiger Vanguard
The Tiger Vanguard is an agile, relentless foe who will test your dodging, timing, and resource management. Unlike the slower, more telegraphed attacks of some previous bosses, the Tiger Vanguard demands precision and quick reflexes. But fear not, for within this guide lies the path to victory!
Step 1: Engage and Assess – Understanding Your Foe
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's talk about what makes the Tiger Vanguard so challenging. He's a martial arts master, using a blend of quick punches, kicks, and even a sword. His movements are fluid and aggressive, often chaining multiple attacks together.
- Initial Engagement: When you first enter the arena (the blood-soaked temple), the Tiger Vanguard will often dash, then leap into the air for a slam. This is your first opportunity to practice dodging! Get used to his initial approach.
- Key Traits:
- Agility: He moves very quickly and can cover ground in an instant.
- Combo-Heavy: He loves to chain attacks, often with delayed follow-ups that can catch you off guard.
- "Rock Solid" Form: This is his signature defensive ability, where he turns to stone. Attacking him during this state will stagger you, leaving you vulnerable.
- Sword Attacks: While he primarily uses his fists, he will draw his sword for devastating slashes and even summon blood tornadoes.
Step 2: Preparation is Paramount – Gearing Up for the Fight
You wouldn't go hunting a tiger with a twig, would you? Proper preparation can significantly ease this fight.
Sub-heading: Essential Equipment and Stats
- Armor: If you've already defeated the Stone Vanguard (which is highly recommended before this fight), you should be able to craft the Galeguard Armor Set. This set provides excellent defense and can even grant increased Focus gain and spell cooldown reduction on perfect dodges – invaluable for this fight. If not, equip your best defensive armor available.
- Weapons: Your primary weapon, the staff, is your key. The Cloud Pattern Stone Staff is noted for increasing charged smash heavy attack damage, especially when combined with a high-level Smash stance.
- Curios:
- Backcratcher: Increases maximum stamina, which is crucial for dodging.
- Agate Jar: Boosts your defense.
- Consumables (Medicaments/Pellets): Do not underestimate these! They can provide temporary but powerful buffs. Stock up on:
- Evil Repelling Medicaments: Increases damage reduction.
- Tiger Subduing Pellets: Increases your attack power.
- Amplification Pellets: Increases your critical hit chance.
- Apply these right before engaging or during a safe opening.
- Spirit Summon:
- Wandering Wight: Offers a defense boost and its headbutt can stagger the Tiger Vanguard, providing openings.
- Guangmou: Its poisonous effect combined with Immobilize can deal significant damage over time.
Sub-heading: Understanding Stances and Spells
- Stances:
- Smash Stance: Excellent for dealing burst damage, especially with charged heavy attacks.
- Thrust Stance: Can be useful for maintaining distance and poking.
- Focus on mastering your chosen stance's light and heavy attack timings.
- Spells:
- Immobilization Spell: This is your best friend in this fight. It will hold the Tiger Vanguard in place, allowing you to unleash a flurry of attacks. Time it well, ideally when he's on the ground or recovering from a major attack. Avoid using it when he's mid-air.
- Rock Solid Spell: (Obtained after defeating him, but useful to know for future encounters if you're struggling) can be used to negate damage or counter specific attacks.
- Cloud Step: Very valuable for quickly escaping aggressive combos or dealing with his teleporting "Rock Solid" move.
- A Pluck of Many (Clone Spell): Can distract the Tiger Vanguard and provide openings for damage. Some players even recommend getting this spell before the fight.
Step 3: The Dance of Death – Learning Attack Patterns and Punishing Openings
This is where the real fight begins. The Tiger Vanguard is a boss about learning his rhythms and reacting accordingly. Patience is key; don't get greedy!
Sub-heading: Core Melee Combos
- Single Horizontal Slash: Easy to avoid by dodging in any direction.
- Roar and Smash: He gets on all fours and roars, followed by a single punch. Dodge as he gets on all fours. The follow-up punch is linear and slow, so dodge or move out of the way.
- Sword Slash Combo (4-hit): A quick kick into two slashes, with a very delayed final slash. This delay often catches players. Dodge all attacks, being particularly mindful of that last, delayed hit. He may follow up with another 3-hit sword combo.
- Stance Combo (4-hit): Assumes a martial arts stance and rushes for a combo. Easily avoided by dodging. The final hit is slow, giving you a chance even if your dodge timing is slightly off.
- Hit and Ground Smash (2-hit): Throws a fist, then smashes the ground with the other. Both are slow and easy to dodge. You can also sprint away from the second hit.
- Tackle Into Smash: A short tackle followed by a jump and landing smash. Avoid by creating distance or dodging backward. The second hit is similar to his other jumping smashes.
- Quick Slash: Can be used at close or range. Dodge exactly when he swings.
Sub-heading: The "Rock Solid" Mechanic – A Trap and an Opportunity
- Standard Rock Solid: He turns to stone, spreading his arms wide or crouching. If you attack, you'll stagger. Do NOT attack him here! Instead, use this time to heal, use consumables, or charge a heavy attack. When he comes out of this form, he'll often retaliate with a large punch. Hit him with your charged heavy attack the moment he breaks out to potentially knock him out of the stone form and open him for further punishment.
- Teleporting Rock Solid: After roughly half his health is gone, he'll turn to stone, speak, and disappear. He'll reappear elsewhere in the arena and launch a quick, high-damage attack. The trick is to wait. As soon as you see him reappear, immediately dodge. He'll often follow this with a Quick Slash.
Sub-heading: Ranged and AoE Attacks
- Blood Tornado: When he has his sword out, he may summon multiple tornadoes of blood that follow you. Dodge forward just as they are about to hit you to pass through them. They dissipate once they pass you.
- Blood Slashes: Often used after blood tornadoes. He'll launch three linear projectile slashes. Easily avoided by repeatedly dodging forward.
Step 4: Strategic Offensive – When to Attack and What to Use
- Short Combos: The Tiger Vanguard is extremely agile. Longer combos will often be interrupted. Stick to 2-3 light attacks and then be ready to dodge.
- Punish Openings: His attacks often have clear recovery animations. This is your chance to strike. Look for:
- After his uppercut and downward fist slam, he'll pause, giving you an opening.
- After dodging the final hit of his long sword combos.
- When he's recovering from a jump or a heavy slam.
- After his "Rock Solid" form breaks.
- Immobilize Strategy: This spell is your biggest damage window. Use it when he's on the ground or just finished a combo to get several free hits in. Keep hitting him until the spell's effects wear off.
- Stay Close: Counter-intuitively, staying close to him can prevent him from using his long-range blood attacks. If you create too much distance, he'll spam those harder-to-avoid projectiles.
- Focus Points & Heavy Attacks: Build up your focus points with light attacks. Unleash charged heavy attacks when you have a clear opening, especially after a successful dodge or an Immobilize.
- Red Tides (Wolf Transformation): If you have this, it can be a powerful tool to deal significant damage and potentially tank some hits. Use it when you have a good opening.
Step 5: Patience, Persistence, and Learning from Defeat
This boss will likely take multiple attempts. Don't get discouraged! Each death is a learning opportunity.
- Observe and Adapt: Pay close attention to his tells and animations. The more you fight him, the more his patterns will become ingrained in your muscle memory.
- Don't Spam Dodge: This is a common mistake. Dodging wildly will deplete your stamina and leave you vulnerable. Time your dodges precisely. Think of it as a dance rather than a brawl.
- Manage Stamina: Always keep enough stamina for a dodge or two.
- Heal Smart: Only heal when you have a clear opening, ideally after dodging a major attack or when he's in his "Rock Solid" state (and you're not attacking him).
- Relish the Victory: When you finally fell the Tiger Vanguard, the satisfaction will be immense. You'll have earned the Rock Solid Spell, Keeness of Tiger, a Mind Core, Silk, and experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about fighting the Tiger Vanguard, with quick answers to help you on your way:
How to best prepare my character for the Tiger Vanguard fight?
Equip the Galeguard Armor, Backcratcher and Agate Jar curios, and stock up on Evil Repelling Medicaments and Tiger Subduing Pellets.
How to know when to dodge Tiger Vanguard's attacks?
Focus on his attack animations; most have clear wind-ups. For delayed attacks, wait for the last possible second before dodging. Practice makes perfect!
How to counter Tiger Vanguard's "Rock Solid" ability?
Do NOT attack him when he turns to stone. Instead, use this time to heal or charge a heavy attack, then unleash it the moment he leaves his stone form.
How to avoid Tiger Vanguard's teleporting "Rock Solid" attack?
Wait for him to reappear, then immediately dodge as soon as you see him. Be ready for a follow-up Quick Slash.
How to deal damage to Tiger Vanguard effectively?
Use short light attack combos (2-3 hits) after dodging his attacks, and exploit openings with charged heavy attacks, especially after an Immobilize spell.
How to use spells against Tiger Vanguard?
The Immobilization spell is highly effective for creating damage windows. Cloud Step can be used for quick escapes or dodging his teleport move. Use buffs like Pluck of Many for distraction and damage.
How to handle Tiger Vanguard's ranged blood attacks?
For Blood Tornadoes, dodge forward just as they're about to hit you. For Blood Slashes, repeatedly dodge forward to avoid the linear projectiles.
How to avoid getting caught in Tiger Vanguard's long combos?
Don't get greedy with your own attacks. After 2-3 light hits, be prepared to dodge. Learn the specific combo patterns and their deceptive delays.
How to manage stamina during the Tiger Vanguard fight?
Avoid spamming dodge. Only dodge when necessary to conserve stamina, ensuring you always have enough for a crucial evasion.
How to learn Tiger Vanguard's moveset quickly?
Treat early attempts as learning opportunities. Focus solely on dodging and observing his patterns without worrying about dealing damage. Once you understand his tells, then integrate your offense.