Greetings, brave adventurer! Are you ready to face one of the most formidable challenges in Black Myth: Wukong, the dreaded Tiger Vanguard? Prepare yourself, for this is no ordinary foe. This isn't just about finding a boss; it's about mastering your skills, understanding the environment, and perhaps, even helping a drunk boar along the way!
This extensive guide will walk you through every step, from locating this ferocious Yaoguai King to finally claiming victory over him. So, buckle up, take a deep breath, and let's begin this epic journey!
Understanding the Challenge: Who is the Tiger Vanguard?
The Tiger Vanguard is a required boss fight in Chapter 2 of Black Myth: Wukong, found within the Crouching Tiger Temple. He's a relentless, agile combatant who primarily uses martial arts moves with heavy punches, kicks, and devastating slams. Don't let the sword on his back fool you; his fists are his deadliest weapons, at least initially. He's known for quick strafing, flying punches, and tricky sweep kicks. Later in the fight, he will draw his sword, adding a new layer of danger with swift, powerful slashes and even blood tornadoes.
Defeating him is crucial, as he holds one half of the key items needed to progress further into Chapter 2's Yellow Wind Ridge.
Step 1: Charting Your Course to the Crouching Tiger Temple
Alright, intrepid warrior, before you can even think about confronting the Tiger Vanguard, you need to know where he lurks. His lair, the Crouching Tiger Temple, is nestled deep within Chapter 2.
Sub-heading: The Main Path to the Temple
- From Sandgate Village to Valley of Despair: Your journey likely begins after you've dealt with the King of Flowing Sands (and potentially the Second Prince). From Sandgate Village, proceed through the winding paths. You'll eventually reach the Valley of Despair.
- Through the Crack in the Wall: Within the Valley of Despair, keep your eyes peeled for a crack in the wall. This subtle opening leads you further into the region.
- Reaching the Crouching Tiger Temple: Once through the crack, continue on, and you'll find yourself at the Crouching Tiger Temple. The nearest shrine to the boss arena is typically the "Temple Entrance" shrine. From there, it's a straightforward path up the stairs to the boss.
Sub-heading: The Secret Path (Involving a Drunken Boar!)
This alternative, and highly recommended, route allows you to access a secret area (the Kingdom of Sahali) and potentially gain an advantage before facing the main Tiger Vanguard. This path is tied to a questline involving a peculiar character.
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Locate the Drunk Boar (Yellow-Robed Squire):
- Head to the Rockrest Flat part of the Fright Cliff region in Chapter 2.
- Go straight to the back of the area from the shrine. You'll find a small breakable wooden fence guarded by a Spearbone enemy.
- Beyond this fence, in a large open field, you'll discover a friendly, inebriated boar-like Guai resting on a rock. This is your "Yellow-Robed Squire." Talk to him! He needs something to sober up.
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Find the Sobering Stone:
- The Boar will hint at "Windrest." To find the stone, traverse through the Yellow Wind Formation to the Windrest Hamlet. This hamlet is across the Windrest Bridge, up the road past the Crouching Tiger Temple.
- Once in the hamlet, take a left. You'll find a large building guarded by a Rat Soldier and Rat Imperial Guard.
- On the left side when looking at the large building, defeat a Blazebone monster. Then, look to the right for a small alcove. Inside, you'll spot a glowing pot. Break it to obtain the Sobering Stone.
- Alternative: If you've completed the Man-in-Stone's questline, he might even sell you a Sobering Stone!
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Return to the Drunk Boar:
- Give the Sobering Stone to the Drunk Boar. He'll thank you and declare he's off to find a "meaty meal."
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Encounter the Boar at Crouching Tiger Temple (Again!):
- The Boar will relocate to the Crouching Tiger Temple entrance. Head up the stairs, then turn right before the top (opposite the Meditation Spot). You'll find him resting against a far wall under one of the giant tiger sculptures.
- He'll complain about the meat quality and ask for a Jade Lotus. You can find these in most ponds and bodies of water (like the one at the start of the chapter, if you need to backtrack).
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The "Realm of Gold" and the First Prince:
- Give the Boar the Jade Lotus. He'll share information about a "Realm of Gold" he seeks and leave the temple.
- This "senior brother" he mentions is the First Prince of Flowing Sand, the giant rat Yaoguai Chief you might have fought in the Valley of Despair. If you haven't defeated him, the Boar will summon him. Otherwise, you can use a "Pungent Flesh Chunk" to summon and defeat him yourself.
- Defeating the First Prince of Flowing Sand rewards you with the Arhat Gold Piece, the gold the Boar needs.
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Unlocking the Secret Kingdom of Sahali:
- The Boar will return to near where you first met him at the Rockrest Flat area. This time, he'll be standing by stairs leading to a large door that was previously inaccessible.
- Follow him through the large gate with the small crawlspace. You'll find yourself overlooking an ancient, forgotten kingdom – and then be transported into the past, into the Kingdom of Sahali. This is where you might encounter a "secret" Tiger Vanguard, distinct from the main story one.
Step 2: Preparing for the Brawl – Gear Up!
Facing the Tiger Vanguard requires more than just knowing his location. Proper preparation is half the battle!
Sub-heading: Essential Gear and Upgrades
- Armor: Ensure you have crafted and equipped the latest armor available to you. The Galeguard armor set is highly recommended if you've already defeated the Stone Vanguard (a good preliminary challenge if you haven't).
- Weapons: Make sure your primary weapon is fully upgraded with the best materials you have. Consider weapons that offer good damage and perhaps a useful defensive or offensive perk.
- Spirits: The Wandering Wight spirit is an excellent choice for this fight, offering a significant defense boost.
- Consumables:
- Evil Repelling Medicament: Reduces incoming damage. A must-have!
- Tiger Subduing Pellets: Increases your own damage output. Combine this with the damage reduction for maximum effect.
- Healing Gourd/Potions: Always stock up on your primary healing items. You'll need them.
- Consider crafting other medicines that buff health, mana, or defense, though their boost might be subtle unless you've truly mastered the Tiger Vanguard's patterns.
Sub-heading: Spark Points and Stance Selection
- Stamina Tree: Investing heavily in the Stamina tree is highly beneficial. This reduces stamina cost for rolls and attacks, and can even grant free damage on perfect rolls. Given the Tiger Vanguard's relentless attacks, dodging will be key.
- Martial Tree (Light Attacks): If you primarily rely on light attack combos, putting a few points into the Martial tree to boost their damage is a good idea.
- Thrust Stance: Many players find the Thrust Stance useful due to its longer reach on heavy attacks and the tactical retreat option during light attack combos. This can help create space against the aggressive Vanguard.
- Smash Stance: For pure burst damage, the Smash Stance with 3 focus points can be incredibly effective, especially after a stagger or during a window of vulnerability.
Step 3: Mastering the Battlefield – The Fight Itself!
The Tiger Vanguard is a tough nut to crack. His moves are swift, powerful, and often deceptive. Learning his attack patterns is paramount to victory.
Sub-heading: Understanding His Moveset
The Tiger Vanguard employs a variety of martial arts attacks. Here's a breakdown of common moves and how to counter them:
- Opening Lunge/Slam: He often starts the fight by dashing right, then leaping into the air for a powerful slam.
- Counter: Dodge out of the way as he leaps. This usually provides an opening for a light attack combo.
- Two-Hit Combo followed by Leg Sweep: He'll throw two quick punches, then a slightly delayed low sweep kick as he cartwheels away.
- Counter: Focus on dodging the entire combo. The leg sweep is deceptive; don't try to counter too early. Dodging towards his back can be effective.
- Martial Arts Stance into Spinning Kick & Punches: He'll assume a stance with one fist forward, then approach with a spinning kick, followed by two quick punches, and finally a high leap into a twisting body slam.
- Counter: Be ready to dodge the spinning kick at the last moment. The follow-up punches and the final slam are also dodged by timing. There's usually a window to counter after he lands and slowly pulls his fist back.
- Charged Punch (after turning to stone): When at half health, he might turn to stone, then teleport back with a heavy charged punch.
- Counter: This is tricky due to camera shifts. Activating Cloud Step (a spell) can help you entirely escape this situation. Otherwise, be ready to dodge just as he reappears.
- Sword Attacks (Late Fight): Once his health is lower, he'll start using his sword, sometimes in a four-hit combo (kick, two slashes, delayed fourth slash) or a charged, swift strike. He can also summon blood tornadoes if you create too much distance.
- Counter: For sword combos, repeatedly dodge back to get out of range. For the charged sword strike, it's very distinct visually and audibly, making it easier to perfect dodge. If he summons tornadoes, dodge forward through them as they get close to avoid damage. Stay close to him to prevent him from using ranged attacks.
- Rock Solid State: The Tiger Vanguard can temporarily turn his body hard like rock, becoming immune to damage and stunning you if you attack him.
- Counter: When he's in this state, do not attack! Wait for him to stagger out of it.
Sub-heading: Battle Strategies & Tips
- Stay Agile and Keep Your Distance (Initially): The Tiger Vanguard is fast. Learn his initial attack patterns and focus on dodging. Don't overcommit to long combos.
- Short Combos, Quick Dodges: Most of his attacks leave you a small window for a short light attack combo (e.g., 2-3 hits). Get your damage in, then be ready to dodge again. Avoid heavy attack finishers unless you're absolutely sure it's safe.
- Utilize Focus Points: Build up your focus points with successful light attacks and perfect dodges. A charged heavy attack with 3-4 focus points can deal significant damage when you find a safe opening (e.g., after he lands a slow attack or after a successful Immobilize).
- Immobilize is Your Friend: The Immobilize spell is incredibly potent in this fight. Use it to freeze him in place, allowing you to unleash a flurry of attacks or a fully charged heavy attack. Be careful not to use it when he's mid-jump, as you won't be able to hit him effectively.
- Don't Panic!: When his HP is low, it's easy to panic and make mistakes. Stick to your learned patterns.
- Listen for Cues: Many of his attacks have distinct audio cues or visual tells. Pay attention to these to anticipate his moves.
- Perfect Dodges for Focus: Mastering perfect dodges will not only keep you safe but also quickly build your focus bar, allowing for more powerful attacks.
- Don't Be Baited: Some of his combos look like they end, but have a quick follow-up (like the leg sweep). Be patient and wait for the true opening.
- Consider Summoning Allies (A Pluck of Many): If you have the "A Pluck of Many" spell, it can be incredibly useful to summon allies to distract and damage him, creating more openings for you.
Step 4: Claiming Your Rewards and Moving On
Congratulations, brave adventurer! You've faced the might of the Tiger Vanguard and emerged victorious!
Sub-heading: The Spoils of War
Upon defeating the Tiger Vanguard, you will be rewarded with:
- Rock Solid Spell: A powerful defensive spell that will surely aid you in future encounters.
- Keenness of Tiger: A key item crucial for progression.
- Mind Core x1: Essential for character progression.
- Silk x3: Valuable crafting material.
- 1652 Experience: For leveling up your character.
- 1362 Will: Another crucial resource.
Sub-heading: Continuing Your Journey
With the "Keenness of Tiger" in hand, and assuming you've also defeated the Stone Vanguard (another required boss), you can now progress further into Chapter 2 by interacting with the small statue located in the Tiger Vanguard's boss arena.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tiger Vanguard
Here are 10 common questions and quick answers to help you on your journey:
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How to find the Tiger Vanguard's exact location? The Tiger Vanguard is found inside the Crouching Tiger Temple, which is at the end of Sandgate Village, taking a left after defeating the King of Flowing Sands and through a crack in the wall in the Valley of Despair.
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How to prepare for the Tiger Vanguard fight? Craft the latest armor (like Galeguard), upgrade your weapons, equip the Wandering Wight spirit for defense, and stock up on Evil Repelling Medicament and Tiger Subduing Pellets.
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How to dodge the Tiger Vanguard's initial lunge? As he leaps into the air at the start of the fight, simply dodge out of the way. This is a good opportunity for a counter-attack.
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How to deal with the Tiger Vanguard's "Rock Solid" form? Do NOT attack him when he turns into stone. Your attacks will bounce off, and you'll be stunned. Wait for him to stagger out of it.
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How to counter the Tiger Vanguard's sword attacks? When he draws his sword, focus on dodging backwards to avoid his swift slashes. His charged sword attack has a clear visual and audio cue, making it ideal for a perfect dodge.
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How to avoid the Tiger Vanguard's blood tornadoes? If he summons tornadoes, dodge forward through them as they approach. Staying close to him can also prevent him from using these ranged attacks.
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How to use the Immobilize spell effectively against him? Use Immobilize when he's on the ground and vulnerable, allowing you to unleash a full combo or charged heavy attack. Avoid using it when he's mid-air.
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How to gain more focus points quickly during the fight? Performing perfect dodges is an excellent way to rapidly build your focus bar, enabling more powerful heavy attacks.
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How to access the secret Tiger Vanguard encounter? Follow the entire questline of the Drunk Boar (Yellow-Robed Squire) in Fright Cliff, which involves finding a Sobering Stone and a Jade Lotus, and defeating the First Prince of Flowing Sand to unlock the Kingdom of Sahali.
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How to maximize damage against the Tiger Vanguard? Combine Tiger Subduing Pellets, fully charged Smash Stance heavy attacks after staggers or Immobilize, and strategic use of your spirit and spells like "A Pluck of Many" to create openings.