Early in Black Myth: Wukong, players eager to absorb powerful Spirits from defeated foes may be stopped by the cryptic message: “Cannot absorb Spirits without guidance.” This roadblock isn’t a bug, but a key part of the journey-requiring you to progress through Chapter 1 until you meet the Blessed Gourd Master near the Bamboo Grove’s Snake Trail Shrine. Once you receive the Blessed Gourd from this sage, you unlock the ability to capture and wield Spirits, granting you unique transformations and powerful abilities to turn the tide of battle. Missed Spirits from earlier fights? No worries-you can retrieve them later at any shrine, ensuring no power goes to waste on your quest to master the Spirits.
Where to find Spirits to absorb in Black Myth: Wukong
In Black Myth: Wukong, Spirits are primarily found by defeating powerful enemies such as bosses and elite foes scattered throughout the game’s chapters. There are a total of 54 Spirits to collect, each granting a unique and powerful attack that can be unleashed in combat. These Spirits are located across various areas, from early zones like Outside The Forest and Snake Trail in Chapter 1 to more challenging locations like the Estate Of The Zhu in Chapter 4 and the Fallen Furnace Crater in Chapter 5. To find Spirits, players should explore thoroughly and take on key enemies in each chapter, as many Spirits are dropped by specific bosses or elite enemies guarding distinct locations.
Certain enemies will drop these blue orbs of energy when you defeat them. The first place you might (might) find a Spirit that triggers the “cannot absorb Spirits without guidance” message is when you’re fighting the Wandering Wight.
We should note that this is different from the Red Tides spell you pick up when you defeat Guanghzi.
If you get the “cannot absorb Spirits without guidance message,” it’s because you haven’t met the right NPC yet. Once you gain the ability to absorb Spirits, return to any shrine and you can claim any Spirits you might’ve missed.
Meet the wise old man to get the Blessed Gourd in Black Myth: Wukong
In Black Myth: Wukong, to obtain the Blessed Gourd, you need to meet a wise old man located in the Bamboo Grove area near the Snake Trail Keeper’s Shrine, accessible after defeating the Lingxuzi boss. Climb the stairs next to the shrine, and at the top, you will find the old man who will give you the Blessed Gourd. This special gourd allows you to absorb the spirits of defeated bosses, unlocking their abilities for use in combat. If you missed any spirits earlier, you can revisit shrines to recover them once you have the Blessed Gourd. This ability is essential for enhancing your combat skills and progressing through the game.
After you defeat the giant wolf, Lingxuzi, in chapter 1, continue to the Bamboo Grove Snake Trail Shrine. From there, head up the stone stairs.
At the top, take a right to meet a wise master. He’ll upgrade your gourd to The Blessed Gourd and unlock the ability to absorb the Wills of Spirits.
How do Spirit Skills work in Black Myth: Wukong
Spirit Skills in Black Myth: Wukong are special abilities that players can unlock and use by absorbing the Spirits of defeated mini-bosses and elite enemies. To start using Spirit Skills, you must first meet the Elder Sage near the Snake Trail Shrine in Chapter 1, who grants you the Blessed Gourd-an item that allows you to absorb these Spirits. After defeating certain enemies that drop blue flames, you can collect their Spirits and equip them in your inventory. Each Spirit Skill requires Qi to activate, which you build up by attacking enemies. Using a Spirit Skill temporarily transforms you into the Spirit, granting unique attacks and passive bonuses. Spirits can also be upgraded at Keeper’s Shrines to enhance their effects and Qi cost.
Not far from there, you can find the giant frog Baw-Li-Guhh-Lang in a swampy area. Defeat him, and you’ll be able to take his Spirit with your new Blessed Gourd.
This unlocks a new ability type called Spirit Skills. You can equip one Spirit Skill at a time and it gives you two benefits. First, you’ll gain a unique passive bonus while you have that Spirit equipped, like increased defense. Second, you’ll be able to build up Qi while adventuring and fighting in the world, which you can spend to do a special ability that very briefly transforms you into the Spirit you have equipped.
There are a wide range of Spirits for you to collect in Black Myth: Wukong, including minibosses like the Wandering Wight. But you can also collect Spirits from certain basic enemies. When you approach some enemies, you’ll see them glowing with blue fire. If you manage to defeat them – they’re more difficult than normal versions of that enemy – they won’t respawn again and they’ll drop their Spirit for you to absorb.
How to upgrade Spirit Skills in Black Myth: Wukong
To upgrade Spirit Skills in Black Myth: Wukong, visit any Keeper’s Shrine and access the Self-Advance menu, then select the Cultivate Spirits option. From there, choose the Spirit you want to enhance and begin upgrading it. The first upgrade only requires Will, which is the game’s currency earned by defeating enemies and bosses, but subsequent upgrades will also need specific materials found throughout the game world, some of which are rare and obtained from bosses or exploration. Upgrading Spirits increases their damage output and reduces their Qi consumption, making them more effective in combat.
Like most mechanics in Black Myth: Wukong, Spirits have their own upgrade track and materials. Go to any shrine and select the Cultivate Spirits option under the Self-Advance menu. This will pull up a complete list of Spirits you’ve collected. Each Spirit – both rare and epic – has six tiers, and they all start at tier 1. Each upgrade tier increases both their passive bonus and the power of their active skill. It also, however, increases the upgrade cost.
At the start, most Spirits just require Will to upgrade. As they grow in power, you’ll need additional resources, like the Blood of the Iron Bull that you find from powerful enemies. The final tiers require a resource called Knot of Voidness, which is extremely rare and found in a few chests in chapter 2 and beyond.
How do I unlock the ability to absorb Spirits early in Black Myth Wukong
To unlock the ability to absorb Spirits early in Black Myth: Wukong, you need to progress through Chapter 1 until you reach the Bamboo Grove area, specifically the Snake Trail Keeper’s Shrine. From there, ascend the stairs and take a right to meet an Elder Sage or Blessed Gourd Master. After a short cutscene, he will upgrade your gourd to the Blessed Gourd, granting you the power to absorb Spirits from defeated enemies.
If you defeated Spirit-bearing enemies like the Wandering Wight before unlocking this ability, you can later retrieve their Spirits at any Keeper’s Shrine by selecting the “Retrieve Spirits” option. Once unlocked, you can equip and upgrade these Spirits to gain unique skills and passive bonuses.
What specific location in Chapter 1 unlocks Spirit absorption early on
The specific location in Chapter 1 where you unlock the ability to absorb Spirits early in Black Myth: Wukong is the Bamboo Grove area at the “Snake Trail” Keeper’s Shrine. From this shrine, you need to ascend the stairs and then head to a small clearing on the right just before a bridge, where you will meet a wise master working at a table. Interacting with this master triggers a cutscene after which you receive the Blessed Gourd, enabling you to absorb Spirits from defeated enemies.
