Who Are You Playing As in Black Myth: Wukong?

Black Myth: Wukong heavily draws inspiration from the ancient Chinese mythological novel, called Journey to the West. One of the most iconic characters in Journey to the West is a rather mischievous monkey king named Sun Wukong, who has extraordinary powers.

While it seems pretty straightforward that you'd play as Sun Wukong himself, Black Myth: Wukong introduces an intriguing twist that suggests that you may actually not be playing as the legendary Monkey King. This begs the question: who do you really play as in Black Myth: Wukong?

The following guide contains spoilers for Black Myth: Wukong.

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Black Myth Wukong Guide: Walkthroughs, Collectibles, Bosses, Quests, & More

Learn the location of secret bosses, valuable items, and much more with the help of The Best War Games's Black Myth: Wukong Guide.

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By Suzail Ahmad

Who Do You Play As In Black Myth Wukong?

In a surprising twist, the main character of Black Myth: Wukong is not Sun Wukong himself, but rather the Destined One, a monkey from humble origins who is chosen by fate to fulfill a prophecy.

The opening scenes of Black Myth: Wukong reveal an intense battle between the legendary Sun Wukong and the powerful deity Erlang Shen. After an epic showdown, the rebellious Wukong is ultimately defeated by Erlang Shen, and his six senses are scattered across the land. The cutscene ends with the narrator stating “And so ends the last tale of Sun Wukong, a hero who treasured his freedom above all else.”

Shortly after, the game begins with you taking control of the Destined One, who is one of the descendants of Sun Wukong. The Destined One sets out on a long and dangerous journey to reclaim the six scattered Relics that once belonged to Sun Wukong and rise up against the Celestial Court.

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Each Relic represents a fragment of Sun Wukong's essence and power. As you progress and recover these senses, the Destined One gradually evolves, inheriting more of Sun Wukong's abilities and memories. Down the road, you’ll come across the Keeper of the Black Wind, who states that your character is "his spitting image”, implying that you resemble Sun Wukong physically but are not the legendary warrior himself.

The Yaoguais in Black Myth: Wukong are aware of your potential to become Sun Wukong and interact with you with a mix of contempt, fear, and respect. One demon even taunts, "You're not him. Don't return until you've practiced."

The enemies’ attempts to stop you make the journey to fully become Sun Wukong a truly satisfying experience. As you progress to Chapter 6 of Black Myth Wukong, you’ll eventually reach the Water Curtain Cave, where Sun Wukong's iconic staff, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, stands tall like a pillar. Once you claim the staff, Zhu Bajie exclaims, "Now... You look exactly like Wukong."

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