Black Myth: Wukong Guide: Ranking All Transformations

Black Myth: Wukong stands out with its dynamic combat system and diverse array of spells. Players have access to a variety of Strand, Mysticism, and Alteration spells, along with the ability to temporarily transform into different creatures, each with their own unique abilities and attacks.

These transformations require a special resource called Might, which functions differently from traditional Mana or Stamina. Players can upgrade their Transformation skill tree to enhance all spells simultaneously or focus on specific skills to boost their effectiveness, although not every transformation can be upgraded.

The game features ten distinct transformation spells, many of which are hidden and require careful exploration or specific actions to unlock. Each transformation demands practice to master its strengths, weaknesses, speed, and range. Some transformations offer both light and heavy attacks, and a few also have a unique skill that can be activated by building Focus. While each transformation varies in abilities, all are powerful in their own right and can be effectively utilized in combat.

10. Azure Dust: The Rock Guai Form

Location: Chapter Two, Fright Cliff

Nearest Shrine: Squall Hideout

Number of Upgrades: 3

The Azure Dust transformation is perfect for battles against enemies that use status effects and elemental attacks. When in the Rock Guai form, players become immune to the Four Banes: Burn, Shock, Chill, and Poison. Additionally, each enemy hit boosts Might, allowing players to stay in this defensive form longer.

Despite its excellent resistance to elemental damage, the Rock Guai’s slow movements make it difficult to handle faster opponents. However, its powerful jump attack can stagger multiple enemies, providing a strategic advantage in tough encounters.

9. Ebon Flow: The Yin Tiger Form

Location: Chapter Three, The Painted Realm

Nearest Shrine: Zodiac Village - Entrance

Number of Upgrades: N/A

Players can unlock the Ebon Flow transformation by defeating Yin Tiger the Blacksmith in Zodiac Village, granting them his mighty sword. This form is capable of delivering powerful attacks and deflecting enemy combos. When Focus is fully charged, players can unleash a devastating sword swing that inflicts massive damage.

However, the Yin Tiger form has no upgrade options and suffers from slow movement, making it less effective against fast-moving bosses that can easily disrupt its attacks and prevent Focus buildup.

8. Violet Hail: The Worm Guai Form

Location: Chapter Four, The Purple Mountain (Secret Area)

Nearest Shrine: Petalfall Hamlet

Number of Upgrades: 3

The Violet Hail transformation is one of the easiest to miss, requiring players to defeat the Daoist Mi boss in a secret area of Chapter Four. Players must first help Daoist Mi with a quest and avoid killing the final boss of the area, Duskveil. If Duskveil is killed, Daoist Mi disappears, making the Worm Guai form available only in a subsequent playthrough.

This transformation excels at poisoning enemies, but its erratic movement can make it challenging to control in battle.

7. Hoarfrost: The Monk From The Sea Form

Location: Chapter Three, New Thunderclap Temple

Nearest Shrine: Temple Entrance

Number of Upgrades: 6

Hoarfrost is one of the most visually striking transformations in the game, turning the player into a tentacled humanoid. In this form, players can inflict Frost damage and build Focus. The heavy attack uses the tentacles to hit multiple enemies in wide arcs.

The unique Ice Sheet skill allows players to hurl smaller snowballs at foes, while the heavy attack throws large snowballs that can freeze enemies on contact.

6. Dark Thunder: The Horse Guai Form

Location: Chapter Five, Furnace Valley

Nearest Shrine: Valley Entrance

Number of Upgrades: 6

The Dark Thunder transformation is unlocked after the death of Horse Guai, a friend of the Destined One, in Chapter Five. Players gain the ability to transform into Horse Guai by interacting with the cart containing his trapped soul and obtaining his whip. This form enables mid-range whip attacks and provides immunity to thunder damage.

When Focus is built up, players can enter the Thrilled State, unlocking new attack types and adding thunder damage to each whip strike.

5. Ashen Slumber: The Rat Guai Form

Location: Chapter Three, Pagoda Realm

Nearest Shrine: Lower Pagoda

Number of Upgrades: 6

The two-headed, fire-breathing Rat Guai are among the toughest enemies in Chapter Two, but this transformation is only available in Chapter Three, hidden behind a purple seal. This form is highly recommended for crowd control due to its unique skill, which can deal significant damage over a large area.

Rat Guai uses both light and heavy sword attacks, but its primary strength lies in its fire-breathing ability. This attack takes time to charge, so players must stay aware of their surroundings. In dire situations, Rat Guai can self-destruct, causing a fiery explosion that damages all nearby foes.

4. Umbral Abyss: The Macaque Chief Form

Location: Complete Chapter Three, gained automatically

Number of Upgrades: 2

Players face the Macaque Chief three times throughout the game, ultimately unlocking this transformation after the final encounter in Chapter Three. This form is one of the few (along with Azure Dome) required during a specific game sequence, offering players some practice time.

The Macaque Chief is both fast and strong, using a long sword to deal significant damage. Its special attack is a charged frost strike that can freeze enemies in place, and when activated, the Macaque Chief sprouts wings to enhance its attacks.

3. Azure Dome: The Stone Monkey Form

Location: Chapter Three, Mount Mei (Secret Ending)

Nearest Shrine: Mei-Jian Peak

Number of Upgrades: N/A

The Azure Dome transformation could be the most powerful in Black Myth: Wukong, but it only becomes available during the game’s secret ending, limiting its use to New Game Plus mode. In this form, players become the formidable Stone Monkey boss from the default ending, gaining immense strength and resilience.

One of the key benefits of the Azure Dome form is the ability to use all other spells, allowing players to execute devastating combos while maintaining this powerful transformation.

2. Red Tides: The Wolf Guai Form

Location: Chapter One, Forest of Wolves  

Nearest Shrine: Outside the Forest  

Number of Upgrades: 3  

Red Tides is the first transformation spell players unlock, and it remains one of the most effective throughout the game. In this form, players become a wolf with a fire-infused twinblade staff, delivering fire damage with each strike. The standout feature of this form is its heavy attack.

The heavy attack propels the Wolf Guai forward, dealing fire damage while dodging incoming strikes. This move can be chained together for continuous high-damage attacks, easily setting enemies ablaze.

1. Golden Lining: The Yellow Loong Form

Location: Chapter Four, Webbed Hollow

Nearest Shrine: Relief of the Fallen Loong

Number of Upgrades: N/A

Unlocking the Golden Lining spell requires players to defeat the hidden Yellow Loong boss, one of the toughest opponents in the game. The reward is the ability to transform into Yellow Loong, gaining rapid attacks and significant lightning damage.

Golden Lining’s main appeal is its combination of speed and power, with the Yellow Loong’s spear providing excellent reach. Mastering the timing of light and heavy attacks allows players to unleash powerful thunder strikes, quickly overwhelming enemies and dealing heavy damage to bosses.