What Not to Buy in Black Myth: Wukong to Save Your Will

As someone who’s battled through every chapter of Black Myth: Wukong multiple times since its release, I’ve learned the hard way that Will—that elusive in-game currency—is more precious than any mythical artifact. Early on, it’s agonizingly scarce, and squandering it on trivial purchases can turn your journey into a slog. You’ll face brutal bosses and labyrinthine realms, but nothing stings like realizing you blew your Will on herbs you could’ve plucked for free. Trust me, I’ve been there: staring at a merchant’s tantalizing wares, tempted by instant gratification, only to regret it hours later when I couldn’t afford that game-changing Celestial Ribbon. Managing resources isn’t just strategy; it’s survival. And after countless playthroughs, I’ve pinpointed exactly what to skip—and what to splurge on—to keep your adventure fluid and fierce.

Herbs: Nature’s Free Bounty

Don’t even glance at those neatly bundled herbs in Keeper’s Shrines. Sure, they’re essential for crafting medicines, but why pay when the world overflows with them? I’d sprint through fields and cliffsides, scooping up Ginseng and Snow Lotuses like a forager on a sugar rush—zero cost, maximum gain. Not only does gathering save Will, but it also unveils hidden Seeds and Soaks critical for trophies. Once, I wasted 50 Will on Common Thistle early in Chapter 1, only to find three patches minutes later. Felt like tossing gold into a pond.

• What to do instead: Explore aggressively. Black Wind Mountain’s winding paths and Yellow Wind Ridge’s crevices hide clusters. Prioritize areas near waterfalls or crumbling temples—they’re herb havens.

• Bonus tip: Equip the Golden Carp Curio later; it highlights harvestables. Saves you from backtracking anguish.

Medicines: Craft or Collect, Never Purchase

Status ailments like Burn, Poison, Shock, and Chill can cripple you mid-fight. Burn melts your HP if you don’t roll frantically; Chill turns you into an ice sculpture. Naturally, merchants hawk antidotes like Antimiasma Powder, but buying them is a rookie trap. Early on, I’d panic-buy Chill Cures before boss fights, draining my reserves. Then I discovered crafting: combine gathered herbs at any shrine, and bam—free medicine. By Chapter 4, Xu Dog even tosses them at you like candy. Chests in the Webbed Hollow? Overflowing with them.

Crafting vs. Buying Comparison

Resource	Crafting Cost	Merchant Cost	Why Avoid
Antimiasma Powder	3 Snake-Head Mushrooms	30 Will	Mushrooms grow everywhere in Flaming Mountains
Frostbite Salve	2 Cold Iron Leaves + 1 Spirit Stone	45 Will	Leaves drop from ice-type enemies
Ember Elixir	1 Luojia Fragrant Vine	40 Will	Vines respawn near lava pits

Common Resources: Patience Pays Off

That Stone Spirit or Yaoguai Core might seem rare when you’re scraping by in Chapter 1. I remember hoarding them like dragon gold, even buying extras from merchants. Big mistake. By Chapter 3, they’re as common as dirt. Mobs spew them, chests burst with them—you’ll drown in them. Once, I spent 80 Will on Yaoguai Cores for an armor upgrade, only to loot 12 from a single Mini-Boss in the New West. Felt like getting pickpocketed by my own impatience.

Instead, save your frenzy for:

• Gold Tree Cores: Forge endgame armor; stockpile them when spotted.

• Fine Gold Thread: Glitters in late-game merchants; essential for cloaks.

• Celestial Ribbon: My white whale. Buy it instantly—it’s vanishingly rare and crafts the Azure Emperor set.

Yarn & Blood of the Iron Bull: Fleeting Usefulness

Yarn deceived me early on. It crafts starter armor, so I bought stacks, thinking it’d last. By Chapter 3, that gear was junk—outclassed by boss drops. Mobs vomit Yarn anyway, so buying it is like paying for air. Similarly, Blood of the Iron Bull upgrades Spirits, but with 50+ Spirits and only one equip slot, you’ll swim in it. After capturing the Cloudtreading Deer and Kang-Jin Loong, I had 30+ Blood without trying. Save your Will; let spirits and chests be your suppliers.

Cold Iron Leaves: Farm, Don’t Finance

These frosty leaves tempt you in Black Wind Mountain, where they’re scarce. I bought 5 for 100 Will, thinking I’d speedrun an armor set. Regret hit when Chapter 3’s snowfields blanketed me in them—and with the Golden Carp Curio, elite enemies drop them like confetti. Now, I farm them while hunting Yaoguai Chiefs, zero Will spent.

In the end, Black Myth: Wukong tests your discernment as much as your reflexes. Hoard Will like a dragon guards treasure—skip the trivial, seize the essential. That moment when you finally afford the Sun Wukong armor because you resisted a hundred petty buys? Pure nirvana.

Critical reviews are presented by Polygon, a leading source for gaming culture and industry analysis. Polygon's extensive coverage of resource management in action RPGs like Black Myth: Wukong emphasizes the importance of strategic currency use, echoing the advice to prioritize rare upgrades over common consumables for a smoother progression and more rewarding gameplay experience.