Whenever your health gets low, take a swig from your Gourd, the healing and additional effects change depending on which Drink and Soaks you have equipped. This guide covers the various Gourds available in Black Myth Wukong and how each modifies your healing. In addition, you can use different Drinks to increase the healing and sometimes apply new bonuses. Lastly, Soaks provide new utility effects most of which take effect after you drink from your Gourd.
Keep an eye out for Awaken Wine Worms and Luojia Fragrant Vine Fragments, both are crucial materials used to upgrade your healing throughout your journey. Initially, you only have a few options, but as you progress a lot of the optional areas contain new Gourds, Drinks, and Soaks giving you a wealth of options.
The Basics of Healing
At the start of the game, your healing is very simple. You start with a Gourd that has limited charges and no special effects, your Brew recovers health and you need to explore Chapter 1 to start finding Soaks. Simply heal as you need and worry about all the rest later.
This is your primary source of in-combat healing. There are a few other ways to heal, such as by consuming Focus points for a Charged Heavy Attack, but most of the time after you take damage you're going to heal up with a sip from your Gourd. Similar to the famous Estus Flask from Dark Souls, drinking from your Gourd has an animation and if you take damage during that animation you can be knocked out of it. So time your sips carefully!
In addition to healing, you can use your Gourd to absorb Spirits. The small green flames found throughout the world restore 1 use. Whereas when you absorb the larger blue or purple flames that accompany a new Spirit you fully restore your uses. These Spirits don't respawn, but they can provide a great source of additional healing on your first time through an area.
If you want to change your Gourd, you can do so at any time in the pause menu. To change your Drink or Soak you need to go to the Brew menu at a Shrine, or by speaking to Shen Monkey. After you equip some Soaks your Gourd gains powerful utility, this includes stat increases, removing Banes, or giving you a chance to sip without consuming any charges
Gourds
You obtain a variety of different Gourds on your journey. In addition to acquiring new ones, you can use Luojia Fragrant Vine Fragments to upgrade some of your existing Gourds, increasing their capacity. Each Gourd has a different capacity, usually, the ones with more powerful utility effects have fewer healing charges. You can change your Gourd at any time from the pause menu, but you need to go to a Shrine to switch your Drink and Soak.
| Gourd | Uses* | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Gourd | 10 | No special effect. |
| Multi-Glazed Gourd | 6 | The last sip from the Gourd significantly increases Attack for a short duration. |
| Qing-Tian Gourd** | 1 | This Gourd slowly recovers charges over time. |
| Immortal Blessing Gourd | 8 | Health recovery is halved but your Attack is increased for a short duration after each sip. |
| Xiang River Goddess Gourd | 8 | Using the Gourd increases Burn Resistance and immunity from lava-covered terrain for a short duration. |
| Jade Guanyin Gourd | 8 | Upon using the Gourd, fully recovers the Heal for all nearby Duplicates. |
| Stained Jade Gourd | 7 | Massively Increases Drinking Speed. |
| Fiery Gourd | 7 | Using the Gourd increases Chill Resistance and increases Maximum Stamina for a short duration. |
| Plaguebane Gourd | 5 | Health recovery is halved but your Attack is increased for a short duration after each sip. |
| Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd | 5 | When the Gourd is full the first sip replenishes you to full Health. |
*NOTE: This is the maximum number of charges you obtain when fully upgrading the Gourd.
**Only available in NG+ after obtaining all the Character Portraits.
Gourd Locations
- Old Gourd / Supreme Gourd - This is the fully upgraded version of your starting Gourd. You need to use Luojia Fragrant Vine Fragments to upgrade the Old Gourd until you have 9 charges. Then speak to the Wise Master in Chapter 5 near the Emerald Hall and absorb the orange flame to gain the 10th charge.
- Multi-Glazed Gourd - Purchase from Shen Monkey after progressing your Journey and reaching Chapter 6.
- Qing-Tian Gourd - After entering NG+ and completing all the Character Portraits in your Journal you can purchase this from Shen Monkey.
- Immortal Blessing Gourd - Collect the Buddha's Left Hand and Buddha's Right Hand in Chapter 4, then purchase the Gourd from Shen Monkey after entering Chapter 5.
- Xiang River Goddess Gourd - Found in a chest in Chapter 4.
- Jade Guanyin Gourd - This is the upgraded version of the Jade Lotus Gourd which you purchase from Shen Monkey after starting Chapter 3.
- Stained Jade Gourd - Given as a reward for defeating the Scorpionlord in Purple Cloud Mountain.
- Fiery Gourd - Found in a chest in Chapter 3.
- Plaguebane Gourd - Obtained by completing the Old Rattle Drum quest and beating the Mad Tiger in Chapter 2.
- Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd - Given to you by Ma Tianba (the Horse Guai) in Chapter 3 as a reward for following his quest until that point.
Want to know which Gourd is the best? Check out our guide!
Drinks
Now that you have a Gourd, you need to fill it with a good Brew. Your starting Drink, Coconut Wine starts out simple enough but gets much better as you upgrade it with Awaken Wine Worms. But as you continue your Journey you encounter several other Drinks each of which has different utility effects.
| Brew | Slots* | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut Wine / Jade Dew | 3 | Each sip recovers 55% of Maximum Health. |
| Loong Balm | 4 | Each sip recovers 30% of Maximum Health; considerably increases the damage of your next Attack. |
| A Thousand Days of Inebriation | 3 | Each sip recovers 60% of Maximum Health, but for a brief moment, inebriation impairs movement. |
| Blueridge Romance | 3 | Each sip recovers 36% of Maximum Health; moderately increases Movement Speed. |
| Worryfree Brew | 2 | Each sip recovers 24% of Maximum Health; when at Critical Health, massively increases the recovery. |
| Jade Essence | 2 | Each sip recovers 36% of Maximum Health and a moderate amount of Mana. |
| Sunset of the Nine Skies | 3 | Each sip recovers 35% of Maximum Health; grants a considerable amount of Qi. |
| Pine Brew | 2 | Each sip recovers 35% of Maximum Health; when health is below half using a Gourd grants a considerable amount of Focus. |
| Lambbrew / Dry Spirit | 2 | Each sip instantly recovers 18% of Maximum Health; you then recover 48% of Maximum Health over time. |
*NOTE: This is the maximum number of Soak slots you obtain when fully upgrading the Brew.
Drink Locations
- Coconut Wine / Jade Dew - This is your starting Drink, you need to fully upgrade it to get the maximum healing effect. Each upgrade requires more Awaken Wine Worms than the last so you may need to do this over the course of multiple journeys.
- Loong Balm - Found in the Emerald Hall in Chapter 5 near the throne.
- A Thousand Days of Inebriation - Purchased from Shen Monkey after progressing your journey and entering Chapter 6.
- Blueridge Romance - Found in Chapter 3, near where you first encounter the Treasure Hunter.
- Worryfree Brew - Obtained in Chapter 4.
- Jade Essence - Located near where you fight the Ginseng Guai in Chapter 3, this is also somewhat near the Treasure Hunter's second location.
- Sunset of the Nine Skies - Found in Chapter 4 near where you fight the Fungiwoman.
- Pine Brew - Purchased from Shen Monkey after progressing your journey and entering Chapter 3.
- Lambbrew / Dry Spirit - Found in Chapter 2, you need to fully upgrade it to get the maximum healing effect. Each upgrade requires more Awaken Wine Worms than the last so you may need to do this over the course of multiple journeys.
Want to know which Drink is the best? Check out our guide!
Soaks
So you've got a good Gourd, filled it with a decadent Drink now it's time to finish the brew with a Soak. Each Drink has slots for Soaks, these provide additional utility effects that trigger when you use your Gourd. There are a lot of different Soaks to find, but some of them are better than others. Most of these effects are situational, so be sure to switch them up frequently when you're at a Shrine.
| Soak | Effect |
|---|---|
| Flower Primes | Using the Gourd remove all Four Banes States. The Four Banes are burning, shock, poison and chill. |
| Guanyin's Willow Leaf* | Upon resurrection in battle, recover Gourd uses. |
| Turtle Tear | Using the Gourd at full Health will recover a moderate amount of Mana. |
| Stranded Loong's Whisker | Using the Gourd moderately extends the duration of the next Immobilize Spell for a short duration. |
| Goji Shoots | Using the Gourd moderately extends the duration of the next Ring of Fire for a short duration. |
| Breath of Fire | Using the Gourd significantly increases Attack for the next Unveiling Strike (Light Attack) in Cloud Step for a short duration. |
| Copper Pill | After using the Gourd, the next Rock Solid costs no Mana for a short duration. |
| Mount Lingtai Seedlings | Using the Gourd moderately extends the duration of Duplicates for the next A Pluck of Many for a short duration. |
| Slumbering Beetle Husk | After using the Gourd, moderately reduces Cooldown for all Spells, but impairs movement for a short duration. |
| Graceful Orchid | Using the Gourd slowly recovers a small amount of Health for a short duration. |
| Celestial Lotus Seeds | For a brief moment after using the gourd, slowly recovers a small amount of Health. |
| Undying Vine | After using the Gourd, instantly recovers a great amount of Stamina and increases Stamina recovery rate for a short duration. |
| Tiger Relic | Using the Gourd moderately increases Critical Hit Chance for a short duration. |
| Laurel Buds | Using the Gourd moderately increases Damage Reduction for a short duration. |
| Deathstinger | For a short duration after using the Gourd, inflicts a Poisoned State to the Destined One himself. |
| Purple-Veined Peach Pit | Massively increases the Health recovery from using the Gourd when at critical health. |
| Bee Mountain Stone | When using the Gourd grants a considerable chance to take a sip without consuming Gourd uses. |
| Iron Pellet | Using the Gourd can no longer be interrupted by incoming attacks, and now provides considerable Damage Reduction. |
| Fruit of Dao | Using the Gourd moderately extends the duration of invincibility upon executing a dodge for a short duration. |
| Double-Combed Rooster Blood | Using the Gourd while in a Poisoned State removes the Poisoned State and moderately increases Movement Speed and Critical Hit Chance. |
| Tender Jade Lotus | Using the Gourd slightly increases a small amount of Defense for a short duration. |
| Steel Ginseng | Upon using the Gourd instantly gains a moderate amount of Focus. |
| Goat Skull | Using the Gourd moderately increases Maximum Health for a short duration. |
| Gall Gem | Using the Gourd moderately increases Poison Resistance for a short duration. |
| Thunderbolt Horn | Using the Gourd moderately increases Shock Resistance for a short duration. |
| Sweet Ice | Using the Gourd moderately increases Chill Resistance for a short duration. |
| Flame Mediator | Using the Gourd moderately increases Burn Resistance for a short duration. |
*NOTE: This Soak is only available in New Game+
Soak Locations
Since there's a lot of Soaks, we've broken them down by rarity in general many of the rarer Soaks are found later in the game or are more difficult to obtain but that's not always true. For example, the Goat Skull is a random drop it could take you Licorice 1 harvest or over 300.
Mythic and Epic Soaks
- Flower Primes - Purchase from Shen Monkey after entering Chapter 6.
- Guanyin's Willow Leaf - After entering New Game+ you can purchase this from Shen Monkey.
- Turtle Tear - Found in Chapter 3, near where you battle the Apramana Bat.
- Stranded Loong's Whisker - Explore the lake where you battled Kang-Jin Loong and find this on the far side.
- Goji Shoots - Found in Chapter 4 near the Upper Hollow.
- Breath of Fire - Obtained from the chest that appears after beating Cyan Loong.
- Copper Pill - Found near the entrance to Crouching Tiger Temple, right before the Tiger Vanguard fight.
- Mount Lingtai Seedlings - Located in the Woods of Ember in Chapter 5.
- Slumbering Beetle Husk - Found in the Emerald Hall in Chapter 5.
- Graceful Orchid - Given to you by Chen Loong as a reward for bringing him all 15 seeds.
Rare and Uncommon Soaks
- Celestial Lotus Seeds - Purchase from Shen Monkey.
- Undying Vine - Randomly drops from Lush Leaf enemies.
- Tiger Relic - Found beneath Crouching Tiger Temple on the sand slide. This one is annoying to get as you need to Jump then Heavy Attack right before you slide under the platform.
- Laurel Buds - Located near Sandgate Village in Chapter 2.
- Deathstinger - Dropped by the Scorpion Prince in Chapter 4.
- Purple-Veined Peach Pit - Located in a chest in Chapter 4 near the Verdure Bridge.
- Bee Mountain Stone - Found in Chapter 4, near the Temple of Yellow Flowers.
- Iron Pellet - Complete the Man-in-Stone quest then purchase the Soak from him.
- Fruit of Dao - Dropped by Daoist enemies.
- Double-Combed Rooster Blood - Obtained after beating the Duskveil in Purple Cloud Mountain.
- Tender Jade Lotus - Randomly obtained when harvesting Jade Lotus plants.
- Steel Ginseng - Drops when harvesting Ginseng plants.
- Goat Skull - Randomly obtained when harvesting Licorice plants.
- Gall Gem - Given to you by Shen Monkey when you first rescue him.
- Thunderbolt Horn - Purchase from Shen Monkey after reaching Chapter 3.
- Sweet Ice - Found in the New Thunderclap Temple in Chapter 3.
- Flame Mediator - Dropped by the fiery Rock Guai in Chapter 5.
Learn more about combining different Soaks and which ones stand out with our dedicated guide!
Shen Monkey Upgrades
You first encounter Shen Monkey in Chapter 1 while exploring the Bamboo Forest. He's right near where you encounter the Whiteclad Noble. After you save him from a Snake Guai he becomes a vendor, you can buy various Gourds, Drinks, and Soaks from him. As you progress your Journey new things become available for purchase, so be sure to stop by his shop regularly.
This is where you use your Awaken Wine Worms to upgrade Drinks and Luojia Fragrant Vine Fragments to upgrade Gourds. As you upgrade your Gourds they gain additional charges. On the other hand, upgrading a Drink increases its potency, and certain upgrade thresholds add more Soak slots. If you want to upgrade everything you need to play through twice to get enough Awaken Wine Worms to max out all the Drinks!
NOTE: After completing Chen Loong's quest and unlocking Zodiac Village you're able to find Shen Monkey there making him a bit more accessible.
Summary
This guide covers the various Gourds, Drinks, and Soaks available in Black Myth Wukong. After collecting these, remember to upgrade your Gourds using Luojia Fragrant Vine Fragments and Drinks with the Awaken Wine Worms you find along your Journey.
- Obtain and upgrade different Gourds to gain access to additional effects whenever you take a sip.
- Drinks apply various effects in addition to providing healing.
- Lastly, use Soaks to apply various utility effects, increase your defenses, recover Mana, add damage or remove the Four Banes.
Written by: Tenkiei
