Welcome, brave adventurer, to the treacherous world of Black Myth: Wukong! Are you ready to face a truly formidable foe, one that embodies the fiery wrath of the mountains? Then you've come to the right place! This comprehensive guide will equip you with all the knowledge you need to find and conquer the elusive Flint Vanguard. Get ready to delve into the heart of Chapter 5, for this stony adversary awaits!
Step 1: Prepare for the Perilous Journey (and Engage with Your Inner Monkey King!)
Before we even think about setting foot in the Flaming Mountains, let's take a moment. Feel the thrill of the hunt! Imagine the challenge ahead, the intense battle, and the valuable rewards that await. This isn't just about finding a boss; it's about mastering your skills, understanding your environment, and emerging victorious.
Now, let's get down to the practicalities. The Flaming Mountains are no joke, teeming with fire-based enemies. To survive and thrive, you'll need to prepare.
- Gear Up: Ensure your equipment is up to par. Focus on fire resistance! The Fireproof Mantle is an absolute must-have; it will significantly reduce the burn damage you take, especially when traversing lava-filled areas. Consider any armor or talismans that boost your
Scorch ResistanceorBurn Resistance. - Consumables are Key: Stock up on
Body-Cooling Powderto quickly mitigate burn effects andAntimiasma Powderif you anticipate encountering any poison-inflicting foes in the area (though the Flint Vanguard itself isn't primarily a poison threat, it's always good to be prepared). - Skill Synergy: Think about your chosen skills. Abilities that offer crowd control or area-of-effect damage, like
A Pluck of Many, can be incredibly useful for dealing with the Flint Vanguard's annoying minions. If you have any transformations that grant temporary invulnerability or significant damage buffs, plan to utilize them strategically.
Step 2: Navigating the Flaming Mountains - The Path to the Vanguard
The Flint Vanguard is a mini-boss found in Chapter 5, specifically within the Cooling Slope area of the Flaming Mountains. Its location is intrinsically linked to overcoming a prior environmental puzzle.
Sub-Step 2.1: Conquering the Rolling Menace (The Iron Ball Challenge)
Your journey to the Flint Vanguard begins by tackling a rather infamous obstacle: a large, spiked golden ball that relentlessly rolls along the main path in the Ashen Pass III section. This ball, later revealed to be "Top Takes Bottom, Bottom Takes Top," is a major roadblock.
- Patience is a Virtue: This isn't a direct combat encounter. You need to strategically avoid the rolling ball by moving from safe spot to safe spot along the sides of the path.
- Triggering the Cutscene: Continue to progress and evade the ball until you reach the end of the
Ashen Pass IIIsection and unlock the Fallen Furnace Crater Keeper's Shrine. Reaching this Shrine and triggering the associated cutscene will stop the spiked ball's reign of terror and open up new pathways. This is your crucial prerequisite.
Sub-Step 2.2: Locating the Newly Opened Passage
Once the spiked ball is dealt with and the Fallen Furnace Crater Keeper's Shrine is active, you can now backtrack.
- Retrace Your Steps: Turn back from the Fallen Furnace Crater Shrine and descend the path you just came from.
- The Fork in the Road: Continue along this path until you notice it clearly splits into two distinct routes.
- Take the Left Path: The passage leading to the Flint Vanguard is the left-hand path. Follow this newly opened route.
Sub-Step 2.3: Awakening the Flint Vanguard
As you follow the left path, keep your eyes peeled for your target.
- Glowing Rocks: A short way along this path, you'll encounter a cluster of glowing rocks in a large clearing. These aren't just any rocks; they are the Flint Vanguard in its dormant state.
- Approach to Engage: Simply approaching these rocks will awaken the Flint Vanguard, initiating the boss fight. Be prepared, as the fight often begins with immediate aggression from the boss and its accompanying minions.
Step 3: Engaging the Flint Vanguard in Combat
The Flint Vanguard is a formidable opponent, often accompanied by Searing Fire and Scorching Fire enemies. These minions can quickly overwhelm you if not dealt with.
Sub-Step 3.1: Prioritizing the Minions (The Smart Approach)
While your main target is the Flint Vanguard, do not underestimate its companions.
- Clear the Clutter First: As soon as the fight begins, focus on clearing out the Searing and Scorching Fire enemies. These creatures can make the fight incredibly difficult by constantly interrupting your attacks and adding to the overall damage you take.
- Strategic Baiting: A good tactic is to run around the outskirts of the Flint Vanguard to bait the smaller enemies into attacking you. Once they are engaged, you can then focus on eliminating them.
- Area-of-Effect Abilities: This is where skills like
A Pluck of Manyshine. Use them to quickly thin out the horde, allowing you to focus on the main threat.
Sub-Step 3.2: Understanding the Flint Vanguard's Attack Patterns
The Flint Vanguard is essentially a flame-based variant of the Stone Vanguard. It possesses similar attack patterns but with added fire damage and lava effects.
- Close-Range Punches: When you're close, the Flint Vanguard will primarily use combo punches with its thick, rocky arms. These are typically ground slams, sometimes with both arms simultaneously.
- Dodge and Weave: These attacks are telegraphed and dodgeable. Focus on dodging into or around its attacks to create openings.
- Lava Pools: Be wary, as where its arms land, pools of lava will erupt. Dash away from these immediately to avoid continuous burn damage.
- Ranged Fireballs: If you try to create distance, the Flint Vanguard will resort to single-shot fireballs.
- Easy to Dodge: These are generally easy to dodge with a simple side-step or roll.
- Leaping Slam: It will also attempt to close the gap by flying over to you and smashing down.
- Anticipate and Evade: Watch for its wind-up and prepare to dodge the landing impact.
Sub-Step 3.3: Striking at the Heart of Stone (Damage Strategy)
Once the minions are dealt with, or at least significantly reduced, you can focus on the Flint Vanguard.
- Stick Close, But Be Mobile: Generally, the best strategy is to stick close to the Vanguard. This encourages it to use its melee attacks, which are often easier to dodge than trying to avoid fireballs while also dealing with its movement.
- Build Focus for Heavy Attacks: Dodge its punches, and when you see an opening, build up your focus to unleash heavy attacks.
- Stagger and Punish: With enough heavy attacks, you can knock the Flint Vanguard over, causing it to be vulnerable on all fours. This is your prime opportunity to deal significant damage. Unleash your most powerful combos and skills during this downed state.
- Utilize Elemental Weaknesses (if applicable): While the Flint Vanguard is fire-based, see if any of your abilities or weapons deal
WaterorIcedamage. These might have an increased effect.
Step 4: Claiming Your Rewards
Upon defeating the Flint Vanguard, your efforts will be richly rewarded!
- Flint Vanguard Spirit: The most significant drop is the Flint Vanguard Spirit. Absorbing this allows you to take on the form of the rocky beast yourself for a short time, enabling you to use its powerful ground slams to inflict
Scorch BaneandBurn Damageon enemies. The equipped effect of the spirit also increases your Scorch Damage and Burn Resistance, making it a great asset for future encounters in the Flaming Mountains. - Samadhi Fire Crystal: The Flint Vanguard is one of three specific mini-bosses in Chapter 5 that drops a Samadhi Fire Crystal. These are crucial crafting materials.
- Other Loot: You may also find other valuable items, such as
Essence,Divine Essence, and various crafting materials or consumables. Always check the area thoroughly after a boss fight!
Step 5: Leveraging the Samadhi Fire Crystal (Crafting the Staff of Blazing Karma)
The Samadhi Fire Crystals are not just for show; they are vital components for crafting a powerful legendary weapon.
- Collect All Three: To craft the Staff of Blazing Karma, you'll need a total of three Samadhi Fire Crystals. The other two bosses that drop these are the Flint Chief (found in Furnace Valley) and the Mother of Flamlings (also in Cooling Slope, summoned by depositing Flame Ore).
- Crafting the Legendary Staff: Once you have all three crystals, head to any Keeper's Shrine where you can craft. The Staff of Blazing Karma is a powerful weapon with unique abilities that enhance your charged heavy attacks with a bursting lava effect. Its equipped effects moderately increase Scorch Damage and Burn Resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to find the Flint Vanguard's exact location in Black Myth: Wukong?
The Flint Vanguard is located in the Cooling Slope area of Chapter 5, accessible after completing the spiked rolling ball challenge in Ashen Pass III and then taking the left path when backtracking from the Fallen Furnace Crater Keeper's Shrine.
How to prepare for the Flint Vanguard boss fight?
Equip the Fireproof Mantle and stock up on Body-Cooling Powder and Antimiasma Powder. Focus on gear that boosts Scorch Resistance and Burn Resistance.
How to defeat the minions accompanying the Flint Vanguard?
Prioritize them immediately at the start of the fight. Use area-of-effect (AoE) abilities like A Pluck of Many to clear them out quickly before focusing on the main boss.
How to dodge the Flint Vanguard's attacks?
Its close-range punches are telegraphed, so dodge into or around them. Be sure to avoid the lava pools they create. Its ranged fireballs are single shots and easy to side-step.
How to deal maximum damage to the Flint Vanguard?
Stick close to it to bait melee attacks, dodge effectively to create openings, and build up focus for heavy attacks. Knocking it over by sustained heavy attacks will create a large window for significant damage.
How to use the Flint Vanguard Spirit?
Absorbing the Flint Vanguard Spirit allows you to transform into the beast, enabling powerful ground slams that inflict Scorch Bane and Burn Damage. It also passively boosts your Scorch Damage and Burn Resistance.
How to get Samadhi Fire Crystals?
The Flint Vanguard is one of three bosses that drop Samadhi Fire Crystals. The others are the Flint Chief (Furnace Valley) and the Mother of Flamlings (Cooling Slope).
How to craft the Staff of Blazing Karma?
You need to collect three Samadhi Fire Crystals from the Flint Vanguard, Flint Chief, and Mother of Flamlings. Once you have them, you can craft the staff at any Keeper's Shrine.
How to get past the spiked rolling ball in Ashen Pass III?
You need to evade the rolling ball by moving between safe spots along the path until you reach the Fallen Furnace Crater Keeper's Shrine, which will trigger a cutscene that stops the ball.
How to summon the Mother of Flamlings?
After defeating the Flint Vanguard, continue through the area. You'll find a glowing spot on the ground where you can deposit four Flame Ore to summon the Mother of Flamlings.