Do you find yourself dreading the Stone Vanguard boss fight in Black Myth: Wukong? Are you tired of its relentless attacks and seemingly endless health bar? Well, what if I told you there's a way to skip it almost entirely and still reap the rewards? Yes, you read that right! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various methods to bypass or significantly ease the Stone Vanguard encounter, allowing you to progress through Chapter 2 with less frustration and more Monkey King swagger!
The Stone Vanguard is a formidable foe, serving as one of the two key bosses in Chapter 2, alongside the Tiger Vanguard, to acquire the "Sternness of Stone" and "Keenness of Tiger" items needed to open the grand gate in the Valley of Despair. While a direct confrontation is always an option, these "skipping" strategies can save you precious time and effort.
Let's dive in and make that rocky monstrosity a distant memory!
The Grand Bypass: Getting Shigandang to Do Your Dirty Work
This is by far the most popular and effective method to "skip" the Stone Vanguard fight. It involves a clever manipulation of game mechanics, leading to an epic showdown between two massive stone entities while you observe from a safe distance.
Step 1: Gathering the Eyes of Buddha
"Alright, Guardian (or rather, Destined One in this case!), before we even think about stepping into the Stone Vanguard's arena, we need to do some detective work. Our goal is to collect six Buddha Eyeballs scattered throughout the Fright Cliff region."
These are crucial for awakening a powerful ally who will handle the Stone Vanguard for you. Think of it as a side quest with a very rewarding payoff!
Sub-heading: Where to Find Those Elusive Eyeballs
- Explore Thoroughly: The Buddha Eyeballs are typically found near various statue heads and points of interest within the Fright Cliff. Leave no stone unturned (pun intended!).
- Visual Cues: Keep an eye out for glowing interactions or subtle visual cues that indicate an eyeball's presence. They're often tucked away but not impossible to spot.
- Consult Community Maps/Guides (Optional but Recommended): If you're really struggling to find them all, a quick search for "Black Myth Wukong Buddha Eyeballs location" will provide excellent visual aids and detailed descriptions from the community. Don't be afraid to use external resources to save time!
Step 2: Approaching the Arena (with Caution!)
"With all six eyeballs in your possession, it's time to head to the Stone Vanguard's arena. This is where precision and careful movement become absolutely critical."
Sub-heading: The Path to the Arena and the Secret Interaction
- Locate the Stone Vanguard Arena: This arena is typically found by taking a right after traversing through Sandgate Village and defeating the King of Flowing Sand and Second Rat Prince. Cross the bridge into the Fright Cliff region until you reach Rockrest Flat. Look for an archway on the left wall to find the arena.
- DO NOT ENGAGE THE STONE VANGUARD DIRECTLY! This is the most important part of this entire skip. As you enter the arena, you'll see the Stone Vanguard, but resist the urge to approach it or initiate combat.
- Find the Large Stone Pile: Instead of heading towards the boss, look to the left side of the arena, near the entrance you came through. You'll find a large stone pile with many carved heads. This is your target.
- Interact with the Stone Pile: When you get close enough to this stone pile, you'll see an interaction prompt. This is where you'll offer the six Buddha Eyeballs.
Step 3: Unleashing the Destroyer: Shigandang's Grand Entrance
"Prepare for a spectacle! Once you interact with the stone pile and offer the eyeballs, you'll trigger a cinematic and witness something truly epic."
Sub-heading: The Clash of Titans
- Shigandang Rises: The mighty Shigandang, a secret boss, will emerge from the stone pile you interacted with.
- Immediate Confrontation: Crucially, Shigandang will immediately engage the Stone Vanguard in battle. You will not need to fight the Stone Vanguard yourself.
- Observe and Stay Safe: During this epic clash, your primary goal is to stay out of the way. These two titans will duke it out, dealing massive damage to each other. Keep your distance and observe the chaos unfold.
- Loot the Victor: Once Shigandang defeats the Stone Vanguard (which they inevitably will), you'll still receive all the rewards and experience points for the Stone Vanguard, including the Sternness of Stone.
- Be Prepared for Shigandang: A very important caveat: After defeating the Stone Vanguard, Shigandang will then turn their attention to you. Shigandang is an extremely tough boss, especially early in the game. You'll need to decide if you want to attempt to fight them immediately or come back later when you are stronger. Many players choose to run away after getting the Stone Vanguard loot and return for Shigandang later.
Alternative Easing Strategies (If the Skip Isn't Your Style)
While the Shigandang method is the ultimate "skip," there are other ways to make the Stone Vanguard fight significantly easier if you prefer to tackle it yourself, or if you haven't collected all the Buddha Eyeballs.
Step 1: Optimizing Your Build and Preparation
"Before you even step foot into the arena, consider how you're geared up. A well-prepared Monkey King is a successful Monkey King!"
Sub-heading: Gear, Spells, and Stance Selection
- Craft the Latest Gear: Ensure you've crafted the best possible armor and weapons available to you at this point in Chapter 2. The Ebongold set and Twin Serpent Staff are often recommended.
- Utilize Your Spells Wisely:
- Immobilize: This spell can be a game-changer for holding the Stone Vanguard in place, allowing you to unleash a flurry of attacks. Time it when the boss is stationary or recovering.
- Wandering Wight: Can provide additional damage or create distractions.
- Cloud Step: Excellent for quick evasions, especially when the Stone Vanguard uses its wide-area attacks.
- Azure Dust (Transformation): If you have it, transforming can significantly boost your defense and offense, helping you tank hits and deal more damage.
- Stance Selection:
- Thrust Stance: This stance's heavy attack offers good range, allowing you to land hits from a safer distance and avoid immediate counter-attacks.
- Pillar Stance: Its charged hit can often stagger the Stone Vanguard, opening up attack windows.
Step 2: Mastering the Movement and Attack Patterns
"The Stone Vanguard, despite its size, has predictable attack patterns. Learning them is key to minimizing damage and maximizing your own offensive opportunities."
Sub-heading: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge Again!
- Recognize Slam Attacks: The Stone Vanguard frequently uses leaping strikes and ground slams. Dodge away as it jumps or raises its arms.
- Watch for Glowing Arms (Delayed Detonation): A critical tell! When its front arms begin to glow, it signals a delayed detonation with rocky spikes. Don't rush in after the initial slam. Instead, hang back or use a well-timed dodge backward.
- Circular AOE: Sometimes, it will slam with both arms straight up, indicating a wider circular area of effect. Again, distance and a well-timed dodge are your friends.
- Repeated Stabs & Ground Burst: If it raises both arms to the side in a half-swing and begins stabbing the ground repeatedly, be prepared for a final ground-bursting blast. Backpedal rapidly or use Cloud Step to get out of range.
- Summoning Minions: The Stone Vanguard may summon smaller rock minions that jump towards you. Dodge these, but be aware that the Stone Vanguard itself might bound towards you after the last few minions.
- Stay Behind It (When Possible): Shigandang is slow to turn. If you can get behind it after an attack, it provides a brief safe zone to land some hits.
- Don't Rush In: This boss is designed to punish aggressive, reckless play. Patience is a virtue here. Wait for its attacks to finish before committing to your own.
- Focus Points for Heavy Attacks: Build up your focus points by landing successful dodges and light attacks, then unleash powerful heavy attacks. A heavy attack with two focus points can often temporarily stagger the boss.
Step 3: Leveraging the Environment (Limited Utility)
"While not as impactful as other boss fights, there are minor environmental considerations."
Sub-heading: The Arena Layout
- Open Space: The arena is relatively open, which allows for good maneuverability. Use the space to your advantage for dodging.
- No Obvious Cover: Unlike some other encounters, there isn't much in the way of significant cover to hide behind. Your evasion skills are paramount.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to prepare for the Stone Vanguard fight in Black Myth: Wukong?
- Quick Answer: Prioritize crafting the best available gear (like the Ebongold set and Twin Serpent Staff), allocate Spark Points to relevant stats (Stamina, Stance proficiency), and equip useful spells such as Immobilize and Cloud Step.
How to avoid the Stone Vanguard's ground slams?
- Quick Answer: Dodge away or through the boss as it jumps or raises its arms for a slam. Watch for glowing arms indicating a delayed area-of-effect.
How to deal with the Stone Vanguard's rock spike attack?
- Quick Answer: When its arms glow after a slam, that's your cue for delayed rock spikes. Either dodge backward to get out of the radius or use the Pillar Stance's charged attack to gain temporary invulnerability if timed correctly.
How to stagger the Stone Vanguard?
- Quick Answer: Landing charged heavy attacks, especially with two or more Focus Points, can often stagger the Stone Vanguard, providing a valuable window for further attacks.
How to use spells effectively against the Stone Vanguard?
- Quick Answer: Immobilize is excellent for freezing the boss in place. Cloud Step provides quick invincibility frames for dodging tricky attacks. Azure Dust transformation can be used for bursts of damage and defense.
How to find the Buddha Eyeballs for the Stone Vanguard skip?
- Quick Answer: Explore the Fright Cliff region thoroughly. The eyeballs are typically found near various stone statue heads and interactive points of interest. Consult online guides or maps if you're stuck.
How to trigger Shigandang to fight the Stone Vanguard?
- Quick Answer: After collecting all six Buddha Eyeballs, go to the Stone Vanguard arena but do not engage the boss. Instead, find a large stone pile with carved heads on the left side near the entrance and interact with it to offer the eyeballs.
How to survive after Shigandang defeats the Stone Vanguard?
- Quick Answer: After Shigandang defeats the Stone Vanguard and you receive the loot, Shigandang will turn to fight you. If you are not ready for a very tough battle, immediately run away from the arena to disengage and return later when you are stronger.
How to tell the difference between Stone Vanguard and Tiger Vanguard?
- Quick Answer: The Stone Vanguard is a large, rocky, four-legged creature, while the Tiger Vanguard is a more agile, bipedal, tiger-like entity that uses a sword and can turn to stone periodically.
How to get the "Sternness of Stone" item?
- Quick Answer: The "Sternness of Stone" is a guaranteed drop upon defeating the Stone Vanguard. This can be achieved by fighting it directly or by successfully triggering Shigandang to defeat it for you.
