Skip to main content

"Sterness of Stone, Keeness of Tiger" explained in Black Myth: Wukong

Here's what this strange message means in Chapter 2.

A monkey warrior approaches a lock that requires Sterness of Stone and Keeness of Tiger in Black Myth Wukong
Image credit: Eurogamer/Game Science

In Chapter 2 of Black Myth: Wukong, you'll come across several locked gates that require Sterness of Stone, Keeness of Tiger to unlock, but what does this strange and cryptic message mean? Luckily, we're here to help. Below, we'll tell you what these requirements are and how you get them, but be warned: you'll have to defeat some fearsome Yaoguai Kings in order to proceed.

Watch on YouTube

What does "Sterness of Stone, Keeness of Tiger" mean in Black Myth: Wukong?

Sterness of Stone and Keeness of Tiger refer to two key items that are obtained by defeating two of Black Myth: Wukong's bosses: the Tiger Vanguard and Stone Vanguard.

You will need to defeat both bosses in order to unlock these gates, as the items fill in parts of the missing statues you need to interact with to open the way forward. The good news is that both key items can be used more than once, so you don't need to obtain multiple copies. Once you've got them, you can open all three gates you'll find around Chapter 2.

The item menu screen for the Sterness of Stone key item in Black Myth Wukong.
The item menu screen for the Keeness of Tiger key item from Black Myth Wukong
Image credit: Eurogamer/Game Science

Tiger Vanguard and Stone Vanguard locations

To find each Vanguard, you'll need to start at the shrine 'Valley of Despair' in Sandgate Village. This requires defeating the King of the Flowing Sands and the Second Prince of the Flowing Sands Yaoguai Chiefs.

Once the area is clear, you'll have two options on where to proceed next: left, going through some caves, or right, across the bridge:

  • Left will take you to the Tiger Vanguard and the Crouching Tiger Temple, though you'll also need to beat the First Prince of the Flowing Sands before you get there.
  • Right will take you to Fright Cliff, where you'll eventually meet the Stone Vanguard near the Rockrest Flat shrine.
A monkey warrior stands in a sandy desert before a cave entrance in Black Myth Wukong.
A monkey warrior stands in a sandy scene with a bridge in the distance in Black Myth Wukong.
Left: going through the caves will take you to the Tiger Vanguard. Right: going across the bridge will eventually lead you to the Stone Vanguard. | Image credit: Eurogamer/Game Science

It doesn't matter which route you take, and you can approach each Vanguard in any order. If you tackle the Tiger Vanguard first, as I did during my playthrough, the route beyond the Crouching Tiger Temple will loop back round, right into the boss arena for the Stone Vanguard (though I'd recommend skirting round the edge and heading right to activate the Rockrest Flat shrine first, otherwise it's a long walk back to this particular boss).

Either way, you'll need to defeat both bosses in order to open the gates leading to the chapter's final boss, the Yellow Wind Sage.


Sterness of Stone, Keeness of Tiger gate locations

There are three locations where you can use these key items to open up new paths in the level:

  • Valley of Despair - main gate.
  • Crouching Tiger Temple - hidden underground route.
  • Windseal Gate - main path leading to final boss of Chapter 2.

All three lead to the final boss of Chapter 2, the Yellow Wind Sage, so opening all of them isn't strictly necessary, though they will, of course, give you some valuable shortcuts for exploring the level at a later stage. Below, we'll list where you can find each gate location, and what you'll find beyond them:

Valley of Despair

A monkey warrior approaches a large gate in a desert in Black Myth Wukong
Image credit: Eurogamer/Game Science

In the arena where you first fought the King of the Flowing Sands and the Second Prince of the Flowing Sands, you can now open the large gate here that was previously locked. Down this path, you'll find the following treasures and bosses:

  • Shortcut to the First Prince of Flowing Sands arena - a slightly pointless shortcut, given how little time it saves you, but you can finally open the locked doors from this side, leading you back into the First Prince cavern. Handy, say, if you get to the Windseal Gate before defeating the Tiger Vanguard, and need a way back to that side of the valley without simply fast travelling back to an earlier shrine.
  • Old Rattle-Drum sidequest location - before you get to the bridge, you can use the Old Rattle-Drum obtained from the Tiger's Acolyte sub-boss in an area off to the right, initiating a conversation with a ghost. Following this quest will lead you to the hidden boss, Mad Tiger, and reward you with a special Gourd.
  • Gore-Eye Daoist - a Yaoguai Chief sub-boss, who you can summon as a Spirit once defeated (also drops 1x Blood of the Iron Bull material for upgrading your Spirits).
  • Luojia Fragrant Wine - upgrade material for your Gourd.

Technically, this gate is really just a shortcut to get to Windseal Gate, as you'll find it comes out by that shrine, opposite the sandy hill you'll likely have slid down as part of the main story path.

Crouching Tiger Temple

A monkey warrior runs towards a monument through a pool of blood in Black Myth Wukong
Image credit: Eurogamer/Game Science

You'll find another statue in Crouching Tiger Temple, just up the stairs where the Tiger Vanguard once stood. This will open up a hidden entrance in the pool of blood, leading you underground. Here, you will find the following treasures:

  • Celestial Jade Lotus Pill - increases maximum health.
  • Civet Sergeant - a summonable Spirit.
  • The Cellar Shrine - a fast travel point for Xu Dog's pill medicines.
A large entrance in the shape of a tiger head appears in a pool of blood in Black Myth Wukong.
Image credit: Eurogamer/Game Science

Xu Dog is an important NPC to find at this point in Black Myth: Wukong, as he can turn your Mind Cores into vital stat boosts to make you stronger and increase your resistance to elemental effects. You'll likely have collected a fair few of these on your journey, and considering how difficult the Yellow Wind Sage is, you'll do well to give yourself every advantage possible.

NB: to find the Xu Dog here, you'll need to assist him earlier in Chapter 2, retrieving a formula for him that was stolen by the Yaogaui Chief Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw (a large frog). You'll find this sub-boss very near the start of Chapter 2, just round the corner from the shrine 'Outside the Village'. Once you've done this, Xu Dog will move to the Cellar shrine location, offering you the full range of his medicinal wares.

Windseal Gate

A monkey warrior approaches a gate in a desert in Black Myth Wukong
Image credit: Eurogamer/Game Science

You'll most likely come across this gate after defeating the Stone Vanguard and following the main story path, sliding down a large sandy hill that you can't go back up again. With any luck, you'll have reached this location with both key items in your pocket, allowing you to open the gate straight away. However, if you've yet to defeat the Tiger Vanguard, then you'll probably want to fast travel back to the Valley of Despair. You can still explore the path ahead of you, though, as this will lead you back to the gate by the Valley of Despair - you can also use the side gate leading to the First Prince of the Flowing Sands boss arena to get past the locked gate at the end of the path.

There aren't any further treasures to find by going through this route, but you can still find the following points of interest here:

  • The Cellar Shrine - head straight across the valley up the hill to access the Xu Dog's pill store, and the Cellar shrine.
  • Meditation Point - head left after going through the gate and you'll find the Blessed Gourd Master at the end of the path, next to a Meditation Point. The Blessed Gourd Master doesn't have anything to give you, but it's nice to see him pop up again.

At the other end of the valley, you'll find the final boss of Chapter 2, the challenging Yellow Wind Sage.

Read this next

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com