The ending of Black Myth: Wukong is both intriguing and complex, revolving around themes of rebirth and legacy. This action-adventure game, based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, is packed with mythological and folklore elements. As players progress through the game, they encounter a story full of twists, leading to an ending that may surprise many.
In this article, we will break down two possible endings for Black Myth: Wukong. It’s important to note that this discussion includes major spoilers. While it’s believed the game may have multiple endings, we’ve only uncovered two so far. We will update this article if more endings are discovered.
Reincarnation and Breaking the Cycle: Understanding the Endings
Black Myth: Wukong seems to have two main endings. To unlock the true ending, you must fight Erlang Shen and the Heavenly Kings.
This secret battle, known as the “Erlang Rematch,” is key to fully understanding the story. Experiencing it in the game will give you a better grasp of the deeper themes.
The Secret Battle: Rematch with Erlang Shen and the Heavenly Kings
The fight against Erlang Shen and the Heavenly Kings is optional, but it’s crucial if you want to unlock the true ending of Black Myth: Wukong. Without completing certain actions, this battle won’t be triggered, so you need to be careful in your gameplay.
After you defeat Erlang Shen, a cutscene plays where the two of you return to Mount Huagao. Erlang Shen reflects on the events and says:
“My brothers tested you at my behest, all for this day. And only now do I understand that fight. No prestige can shackle him. No band can keep him caged. A mortal death for an unbound mind and will. May you not fail him.”
This dialogue hints at a deeper conspiracy between Erlang Shen and Sun Wukong. It seems that the headband, which historically bound Wukong, was a way to suppress his freedom. The cutscene implies that Erlang Shen may have actually helped Wukong break free from this bondage.
The next scene shows a mural depicting Wukong’s life. During this sequence, an NPC asks:
“Say, what’s to come of destiny if he steps out of that mural?”
This question is a significant hint at the true ending, where Wukong defies his destiny and gains freedom. This cutscene concludes the secret sequence, leading to the revelation of Wukong’s true fate.
The Final Chapter of Black Myth: Wukong
In the final chapter, players dive into the mind palace of Sun Wukong, exploring his memories that reside within a stone on Mount Huagao.
Retrieving the Five Senses of the Monkey King
During a boat journey in the final cutscene, the Old Monkey says:
“Five of the six relics call for one.”
As the Destined One, you’ve been collecting Sun Wukong’s relics throughout your journey. When you reach the stone that holds Wukong’s remains, it becomes clear that you’ve inherited his mind.
The Old Monkey explains:
“After Wukong died, five of his six senses were stolen by the yaoguai kings. Only his mind was lost. Mind is the first of the six. It’s the essence unique to every life. Therefore, it’s destined to fade away at life’s end.”
This confirms that Wukong truly died in the first cutscene of the game.
The Destined One: The Universe’s New Champion
Upon hearing the truth, Bajie is angry and calls the Old Monkey a trickster. However, the Old Monkey clarifies:
“That Wukong you knew will never return. But what made him remains. The universe will always bear him a successor, one who shall carry on his name and nature. This chosen successor is the Destined One.”
This suggests that the Destined One’s journey to recover the relics was a test, training him to take on Wukong’s legacy.
In the final scene, you see a silhouette of a monkey meditating on the horizon. This scene represents your final challenge, where you must fight a shell of Wukong’s former self. By merging the six senses in your possession, you will emerge as the new Wukong. The Old Monkey advises:
“If you truly are the one destined, you must cast aside his soulless shell and merge the six into one. Then, you shall be the one to begin the journey anew.”
The Final Battle
In the last battle, the Destined One already has all six of Wukong’s senses, but he cannot fully use their power until they are merged. Wukong’s shell, the final foe, uses all the senses except the mind during the battle. However, without the mind, Wukong is ultimately defeated, and the five senses return to the Destined One. The foe then disintegrates, leaving behind the headband, also known as the Golden Loop or Tightening Band.
One interesting detail is that after Wukong’s shell is broken, he turns black. This transformation might explain the game’s title, Black Myth: Wukong.
Throughout the game, we hear negative things about the Monkey King, indicating that many disapproved of him. The title could reflect the “dark” myth of Wukong. The final scene implies that Wukong’s old self has completely disappeared, and he has passed on his power to the Destined One, acknowledging the new Monkey King.
Also Read: Black Myth: Wukong – Why Is This Chinese Video Game Making Waves?
Understanding the Black Myth Wukong Endings
Black Myth: Wukong has two possible endings — a bad ending and the true ending. The ending you get depends on whether you complete the secret battle with Erlang Shen.
The Bad Ending
In this ending, the Destined One becomes the new Sun Wukong and takes his place in the stone, continuing the punishment that Buddha originally imposed. The headband, symbolizing Wukong’s obedience, is placed on the Destined One by the Old Monkey, indicating that he is still under the gods’ control. The protagonist is imprisoned in the stone, just like Wukong, and the cycle may continue with a new Destined One in the future.
The True Ending
The true ending is unlocked only if you complete the secret Erlang Shen sequence. After the final battle with Wukong’s shell, the Old Monkey does not place the headband on you. Instead, you see flashbacks of Wukong’s life before he was punished by the Celestial Palace.
In these scenes, Wukong says to Erlang Shen:
“Keep those eyes wide open. Watch me rip it off and break free!”
This indicates that Wukong’s death was planned to free him from the headband’s curse, with Erlang’s help.
The Destined One finally breaks the curse and rises from the stone as a new, free Sun Wukong. This marks the beginning of a new era for Wukong, one where he is no longer bound by the Celestial Palace’s rules.
