Even two years after its release, Black Myth: Wukong continues to humble me. I thought I’d seen it all—every boss, every upgrade, every cinematic finisher—but then a friend casually asked, “Did you ever find the secret village that gives you a third Curios slot?” I nearly choked on my tea. Turns out, there’s an entire thread of missable content woven so deeply into the fabric of this game that even seasoned Destined Ones are still asking “Wait, you can fight a different version of Tiger Vanguard?” So let me take you on a personal tour of the 15 hidden bosses and secrets I almost missed, and that you probably haven’t found either—even in 2026.
1. Venom Daoist, Round Two
Chapter 4 had me feeling pretty cocky after stomping the dual-bladed Venom Daoist in the Temple of the Yellow Flowers. But the devs at Game Science are devious. If you go back to the Court of Illumination shrine and take the archway behind it, then hug the left through winding stairs until you spot a dark cave, you’ll find the Venom Daoist waiting for a rematch. Defeat him again, and he’ll point you toward a painting on a wall. That’s the key to an even bigger secret.
2. Purple Cloud Mountain & The Scorpionlord
Interact with that painting, and suddenly you’re in Purple Cloud Mountain—Chapter 4’s secret area that most players blitz right past. The scenery is breathtaking, but don’t get too comfortable. Right past the Bounds of Deity’s Abode shrine, there’s a colossal scorpion just chilling. That’s the Scorpionlord. Smash the barrels beneath him to start the fight. I learned the hard way that his poison damage can melt your health bar in seconds.
3. Duskveil
If the Scorpionlord made you rage-quit, here’s a gentler (but still brutal) challenge at the peak of Purple Cloud Mountain: the Duskveil. Defeating it nets you the Double-combed Rooster Blood Soak, which cleanses poison when you use the Gourd and boosts movement speed and critical hit chance—a godsend for later encounters.
4. Yellow Robed Squire & 5. Alternate Tiger Vanguard
Remember the Drunken Boar NPC in Chapter 2’s Fright Cliff? That boar has a whole soap opera of a side quest. After finding a Sobering Stone at Windrest Bridge and feeding him a Jade Lotus at Crouching Tiger Temple, you need to defeat the First Prince of Flowing Sands in the Valley of Despair. Only then will the boar in Fright Cliff transform into the hostile Yellow Robed Squire. Beat him, and a giant gate opens to the Kingdom of Sahi. Inside, you’ll face an alternate Tiger Vanguard with a moveset that’ll make you rethink every dodge timing you thought you’d mastered.
6. Fuban
The Kingdom of Sahi doesn’t stop handing out surprises. After the Tiger Vanguard, you’ll find an NPC near a colossal drum on a cliff. Pound that drum, and Fuban rises from the sands—a titanic desert beast that rewards you with the Wind Tamer vessel and the Sky-Piercing Horn material.
7. Red Loong & 8. Black Loong
Here’s where things get sneaky. Remember the arena where you fought the First Prince of Flowing Sands? Face the wall you jumped from and use the Wandering White Spirit skill to smash it, revealing the Loong Scales. These scales let you interact with waterfalls. In the Forest of Wolves, a waterfall leads to Red Loong, who drops the Boshan Censer Curio for damage reduction when your Gourd is empty.
Up in Fright Cliff’s Rockrest Flat, a sand waterfall hides Black Loong. Beat him for the Tridacna Pendant, which reduces Spirit Skill cooldowns. Combine their materials to craft the Loongwreathe Staff—its Unique Effect boosts Pillar Stance moves. Pricey at 21,000 Will, but absolutely worth it.
9. Elder Jinchi
You might have seen this metallic monstrosity in trailers and wondered, “Where is he?” He’s hiding in Chapter 1’s Ancient Guanyin Temple Grand Chamber, but you need to ring three bells in separate boss arenas: Guangzhi’s, Guangmou’s, and Whiteclad Noble’s. Ring all three, and you’ll teleport to Elder Jinchi’s arena. Survive the onslaught, and you’ll earn the Fireproof Mantle.
10. Shigandang
After beating the Stone Vanguard in Chapter 2, don’t leave the arena yet. Hunt down six Buddha’s Eyeballs scattered across Rockrest Cliff and Flat, then deliver them to the rock with human faces. Shigandang will erupt from the ground, and beating it grants a Mind Core and the Skandha of Feeling.
11. Mad Tiger
First, defeat the Tiger’s Acolyte at Windrest Hamlet to get the Old-Rattle Drum. You must use this drum in three specific locations in Yellow Wind Formation: Windseal Gate, Windrest Hamlet, and the entrance to Sandgate Village. A cutscene will reveal a well—jump in, and the Mad Tiger awaits. It’s a claustrophobic brawl that tests your patience.
12. Green-Capped Martialist & 13. Non-Void
In Chapter 3, keep an eye out for the Treasure Hunter shivering on the North Shore of Bitter Lake. Use the Ring of Fire spell to warm him up, then track him to the Forest of Felicity. From there, a series of cliff drops and monoliths leads to the Melon Field shrine and the Green-Capped Martialist boss. Defeat him to get the Spell Binder.
But that’s not the end. Chat with a fox-like individual near the Forest of Felicity shrine to obtain the Snow Fox Brush transformation. Progress to the New Thunderclap Temple, use the brush to transform near a glowing red object, and you’ll face Non-Void. Returning the brush turns it into a Curio that extends Transformation duration—sweet revenge.
14. Mother of Flamlings
Fast-travel to the Fallen Furnace Crater in the Flaming Mountains, and farm four Flame Ore from magma worms. Then take the path near the giant ball that leads to Flint Vanguard, but instead of fighting him, continue until you see a glowing red area. Offer the ores to summon the Mother of Flamlings. Her Samadhi Fire Crystal and Knot of Voidness are indispensable for any fire-based build.
15. Zodiac Village & a Third Curios Slot
I saved the biggest quality-of-life secret for last. In Chapter 3, near the shores, you’ll face Chen Loong. After defeating him, exhaust his dialogue, then visit Xu Dog for medicinal pellets. Return to Chen, and he’ll whisk you away to Zodiac Village—a hub with every merchant in one place. Talk to the blacksmith there, and he’ll grant you a third Curios slot. If you’re feeling brave, defeat him to unlock the Ebon Flow Transformation. Honestly, why is this so easy to miss? I wish I’d known about it 50 hours earlier.
There you have it: 15 secrets that still make Black Myth: Wukong feel fresh in 2026. How many did you already discover? And more importantly—which one are you going to hunt down tonight?