Black Myth Wukong endings explained

Black Myth Wukong has two endings, and each of them drastically affects the Destined One's life after the incidents of the game. The endings revolve primarily around the resurgence and passing on of the legacy, tying together the pieces from Sun Wukong's past. Black MythWukong is based on the Journey to the West novel, and the game takes place after the events of the book.

Both the endings of Black Myth Wukong have twists and turns, taking you on a journey explaining Sun Wukong's actions and the tragic master plan to break free from fate. In this article, we will explain the two endings of Black Myth Wukong, where the Monkey King's legacy will live on through the Destined One.

Note: This article contains major spoilers regarding the plot of Black Myth Wukong. Proceed with caution.

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Black Myth Wukong endings: Reincarnation and breaking the cycle

Journeying into the final battle (Image via GameScience)

There seem to be two Black Myth Wukong endings. To get the true one, you need to Fight with Erlang and the Heavenly Kings⁠.

This secret sequence, including the cutscenes that play in between and after the fight, is called the Erlang rematch. To get the true ending and understand Black Myth Wukong better, you need to experience it in-game.

The secret sequence: Rematch with Erlang Shen and the Heavenly Kings

The battle with Erlang Shen and the Heavenly Kings is entirely optional, and unless you complete specific actions, it will not be triggered. However, accessing it is necessary to unlock the true ending of Black Myth Wukong, which is explained later.

Conversation with Erlang Shen after defeating him (Image via GameScience)

Towards the latter end of a rather long action sequence, after you defeat Erlang Shen, both of you spawn back on Mount Huagao. Here, the character tells you:

"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."

For those of you who are familiar with the story of Journey to the West, the headband of Sun Wukong was actually a shackle that bound him, suppressing his freedom and forcing him to obey the Celestial Palace.

At this game's beginning in the first cutscene, Erlang Shen seems to have killed the Monkey King. However, this cutscene suggests otherwise. It seems that Erlang had conspired with Sun Wukong and killed him to give him a chance to break free from the cage (the headband) that shackled him.

The mural with Wukong's life (Image via GameScience)

The next cutscene shows a mural where Wukong's destiny is recorded. During it, in conversation with an NPC, he asks:

"Say, what's to come of destiny, if he steps out of that mural?"

This, in fact, is a huge hint of the true ending, where Wukong will actually break free from his destiny and attain his freedom. And with this cutscene, the secret sequence is completed.

Most players might have already guessed that the final boss in Black Myth Wukong is Sun Wukong himself, and they are not wrong. However, this battle's implications are a little bit complicated.

Despite the two different Black Myth Wukong endings, what remains constant is that Sun Wukong is dead. The Destined One is the universe's chosen champion to carry his legacy forward so that the Monkey King lives on through him.

The final chapter of Black Myth Wukong

Black Myth Wukong's final chapter dives into the mind palace of Sun Wukong inside the stone on Mount Huagao, where his memories live on.

Retrieving the five senses of the Monkey King

The five senses leave Sage Wukong's body and enter the Destined One (Image via GameScience)

In the final cutscene, the Old Monkey says during the boat journey:

"Five of the six relics call for one."

On your journey as the Destined One, you collect the relics of Sun Wukong. In the final cutscene, as you enter the world of the stone that has the Monkey King's remains, it gradually becomes evident that you have actually inherited his mind.

Since the Destined One has acquired all the five senses (relics), along with Wukong's mind, that should complete his resurgence, right? This is exactly what Bajie had asked, which is also when we get a definitive answer from the Old Monkey:

"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."

With that, it is now confirmed that Wukong died in the first cutscene that we witnessed at the very beginning of the game.

Also read: Black Myth Wukong Review

Destined One, the universe's chosen successor of Sun Wukong

The old Wukong is indeed dead (Image via GameScience)

Upon learning the truth, Bajie is furious and calls the Old Monkey a trickster. However, the sage corrects him by saying:

"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."

From a layman's perspective, it can be considered that the Destined One's journey to recover the relics was a test that was also meant to train him. Failing it would have deemed him unworthy of the title and power that Wukong had.

Shell of Wukong on the horizon (Image via GameScience)

By now, you should also be seeing the silhouette of a monkey meditating on the horizon. The Black Myth Wukong endings have the perfect setting, and this beautiful scene is your final test, where you need to fight a shell of Wukong's former self where he is stripped of all his senses.

It's your task to break through this shell, combine all the six senses in your possession, and emerge as the new Wukong. The Old Monkey gives his final words:

"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."

Read more: Best Spirits you should equip in Black Myth Wukong

The Final Battle

The Destined One already has all the six senses of Wukong. However, he is not able to unleash their full power without merging them. In the final fight with Sage Wukong, the foe takes all the senses but one — the mind.

Wukong utilizes all five senses to battle the Destined One. However, in the end, he fails since he does not have a mind, an essence of life. After being defeated, all five senses make their way back to the Destined One. This is when the foe disintegrates, leaving behind the one item that signified Wukong's Buddhahood — the headband (known as the Golden Loop or Tightening Band).

Black Wukong in the Black Myth Wukong ending (Image via GameScience)

An interesting aspect here is that the Great Sage Wukong, after having his shell broken, turns black. This might be dubbed as a "Black Wukong" and can potentially be a reason behind the game being titled "Black Myth Wukong."

Throughout the story, we have heard many not-nice things about the Monkey King, hinting at how many were displeased by him. Even in the Black Myth Wukong endings, the Old Monkey bashes Wukong for his selfish deeds. To that effect, the "dark" myth of Wukong can also be a reason for the game's title.

Wukong's shell lost all the five senses that it took from the Destined One after being defeated. In a way, this can be interpreted as the former Monkey King merging all of them and handing the power off to the Destined One. This would also suggest the old Wukong's remnants have completely faded from the universe and that he has acknowledged the new Monkey King.

Black Myth Wukong endings explained

The Destined One essentially becomes the new Sun Wukong in the Black Myth Wukong endings. Although the Destined One is not exactly the reincarnation of the Monkey King, he is more of a vassal that Wukong's spirit chose. The Destined One inherits the title of Sun Wukong, rather than becoming Sun Wukong himself.

How many endings are there in Black Myth Wukong?

There are two endings in Black Myth Wukong. They are drastically different from each other, which has led to them being termed as the bad ending and secret ending.

Most of the game's sequence remains the same, however, one crucial hidden boss fight with Erlang Shen is the trigger sequence to getting the secret ending of Black Myth Wukong.

How to get the bad ending of Black Myth Wukong?

To get the bad ending, you simply need to complete the game without defeating Erlang Shen. You do not need to complete the secret areas or any hidden quests. You can simply speedrun the entire game by defeating bosses, and simply reach the end. Once you defeat Erlang Shen, you will only be able to get the secret ending of Black Myth Wukong.

What is the bad ending of Black Myth Wukong?

The Destined One is now the true Sun Wukong at the Black Myth Wukong ending (image via GameScience)

In the bad Black Myth Wukong ending, the Destined One emerges as the new Sun Wukong and takes his place in the Stone. This signifies his being imprisoned and continuing the punishment that Buddha had placed him under.

The headband, a symbol of Sun Wukong's obedience, was also dropped by Wukong's shell, which the Old Monkey then put on the Destined One's head, completing his journey and signifying that he is still under the gods' control. The protagonist simply takes his place as intended by the Celestial Palace.

He will stay imprisoned here for ages to come, as evidenced by the monkey getting old while still trapped in the rock. Wukong's fate stays the same, and perhaps the cycle will continue again someday with a new Destined One.

How to get the secret ending of Black Myth Wukong?

You must complete all the secret areas and defeat Erlang Shen in Mount Mei to get the secret ending of Black Myth Wukong. This boss is the secret trigger point that will lead you to the secret ending since it explains the entire agenda and master plan that Wukong and Erlang had crafted, and why the latter had to kill Wukong to begin with.

What is the secret ending of Black Myth Wukong?

In the Black Myth Wukong secret ending, after the fight with the shell of Wukong, the Old Monkey does not put the headband on you. Instead, you are hit with flashbacks of a time before Sun Wukong infiltrated the Celestial Palace and was punished as a result.

Wukong in the true ending cutscene (Image via GameScience)

The animated scenes show Wukong's true nature and how Erlang Shen told the Monkey King that the headband had always been on his head and that this would not change even if he attained Buddhahood. Here, Wukong tells him:

"Keep those eyes wide open. Watch me rip it off and break free!"

This signifies that Wukong's death had been planned all along, with Erlang supporting him achieve his as that was the only way for him to separate himself from the band on his head.

The Destined One finally breaks the headband's curse and rises from the Stone anew. This signifies the birth of the true Sun Wukong, one who is unbound by the laws of the Celestial Palace, one whose freedom cannot be contained.

Which is the true ending of Black Myth Wukong?

The secret ending is actually the true ending of Black Myth Wukong, where he breaks free from the control of the headband. In this, the Destined One, now fully in control of Wukong's power, is born anew. The headband placed by Buddha no longer bounds his indomitable will and freedom, as was noted by Erlang during the secret sequence.

It is also hinted that this new Sun Wukong will start the journey anew, meaning this saga is clearly not over yet. Had the Destined One been trapped in the stone, a new journey would not have been possible. As such, only his freedom can ensure the start of a new journey, perhaps one different than the selfish deeds of the previous Wukong.

Does this mean that the Black Myth Wukong ending signifies the start of a new era for this version of Wukong? Will the Celestial Palace see a new champion of rebellion and chaos? Will the Jade Emperor now make an appearance?

Many questions now arise, and the possibilities are endless. However, it does seem clear that the newly reborn Sun Wukong has a long journey ahead, and only time will tell whether we will get to see more of this saga.

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Edited by Shraman Mitra