As a dedicated player of Black Myth: Wukong, I still vividly recall the adrenaline rush of facing Erlang Shen in the game's secret ending. This 2024 masterpiece by Game Science pushes players to their limits with over 90 boss battles, but none compare to the dual-stage showdown against this Daoist deity. Erlang, known in Chinese mythology as a demon-subduing water god, serves as the celestial enforcer trying to prevent me from escaping my destiny as the next Monkey King. The battle isn't just about reflexes—it's a strategic marathon requiring perfect timing, smart spell usage, and mental endurance through two distinct forms of Erlang plus the chaotic Four Heavenly Kings gauntlet.

🌀 Dominating Erlang's First Form: The Sacred Divinity

During my first encounter with Erlang in his Sacred Divinity form, I quickly learned aggression backfires. Instead, I focused on staggering him using the my-journey-to-defeat-erlang-shen-and-the-four-heavenly-kings-in-black-myth-wukong-image-0 A Pluck of Many spell. Creating clones provided continuous pressure that filled his stagger meter efficiently. Once stunned, I unleashed heavy combos with my staff. His lightning attacks proved particularly dangerous, inflicting Shock status that amplifies damage taken. I always kept Shock-Quelling Powder in my quick slots and invested in Bane Mitigation for resistance. Patience proved essential—I dodged his full combos using Cloud Step and only counter-attacked during recovery frames.

👑 Surviving the Four Heavenly Kings Onslaught

Just when I thought I'd triumphed, Erlang summoned the Four Heavenly Kings: Duōwén (North), Chíguó (East), Guǎngmù (West), and Zēngzhǎng (South). Facing all four simultaneously felt overwhelming initially, but I noticed their movesets were simplified versions of earlier bosses. My winning strategy involved isolating one king while evading others' attacks. I prioritized light strikes to build focus, then unleashed charged heavies when openings appeared. Mobility became paramount—constantly repositioning to avoid encirclement. When struggling, I swapped to armor with higher stagger resistance. Each defeated king triggered a brief cutscene, gradually reducing the chaos until the path to Erlang's final form cleared.

🔥 The Climactic Duel: Stone Monkey vs Celestial Lion

In the ultimate showdown, I transformed into the mighty Stone Monkey while Erlang became a gigantic flaming lion. This phase demanded aggression—the Stone Monkey's heavy attacks healed me, countering Erlang's increased damage output. I experimented with different staves between attempts since this unscripted battle allows loadout adjustments. His fiery sword sweeps required precise dodges, but the Stone Monkey's enhanced abilities made exchanges satisfying. Though no physical rewards dropped, the victory unlocked the secret ending—a true badge of honor for any Black Myth player.

🤔 People Also Ask: Key Strategies

During my playthrough, I noticed recurring questions about this gauntlet:

  • What's the optimal spell rotation against Erlang?

I cycle between clone generation (A Pluck of Many) and defensive spells like Rock Solid during his enraged phases.

  • How to manage multiple Heavenly Kings?

Focus on one while tracking others' wind-up animations—audio cues help identify off-screen attacks.

  • Is Shock resistance mandatory?

Absolutely. Without Shock resistance, his lightning combos become lethal.

💎 Essential Preparations Checklist

Item/Ability Purpose Priority
Shock-Quelling Powder Remove lightning debuff Critical
Bane Mitigation Skill Reduce elemental damage High
Cloud Step Evasion & positioning Essential
High-Stagger Weapon Break enemy poise Recommended
Elemental Resist Armor Survive AoE attacks Medium

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I skip the Four Heavenly Kings fight?

A: Unfortunately no—it's mandatory for accessing Erlang's final form and the secret ending.

Q: What's the recommended level for this encounter?

A: I suggest level 85+ with +7 weapons minimum. Under-leveled attempts often fail during phase transitions.

Q: How long does the full gauntlet take?

A: Skilled players clear it in 15-20 minutes, but newcomers should budget 30-45 minutes for learning mechanics.

Q: Does armor choice significantly impact this fight?

A: Absolutely. I switched to the Mountain-Steadfast set for its lightning resistance and poise protection.

Q: Is the Stone Monkey transformation temporary?

A: Yes—it only activates during the final Erlang fight and can't be used elsewhere.

Q: What's the biggest mistake players make?

A: Over-committing to attacks. This fight rewards patience and deliberate actions over button-mashing.

Ultimately, conquering Erlang Shen and the Four Heavenly Kings stands as my proudest Black Myth: Wukong achievement. The multi-stage battle tests every combat skill—from precise dodging and status management to target prioritization and adaptability. While grueling, the satisfaction of toppling this celestial challenge remains unmatched in recent RPG memory.