You finally made it out of the desert. Honestly, the jump from the yellow sands of Chapter 2 to the frost-bitten ridges of the New Thunderclap Temple in Chapter 3 is a massive shock to the system. This is where Black Myth: Wukong stops playing nice. If you thought the Tiger Vanguard was a wall, the Pagoda Realm is about to become your living nightmare. This Black Myth Wukong Chapter 3 walkthrough isn't just a list of directions; it’s a survival guide for what is arguably the most atmospheric and frustrating part of the game.
The snow is deep. The bosses are weirder. And let’s be real, that health-drain mechanic in the prison is enough to make anyone want to throw their controller.
Getting Your Bearings in the Snowhill Path
When you first land in the Snowhill Path, it feels peaceful. It’s a lie. You’ll follow the trail through the Frost-Clad Path, and it’s mostly linear until you hit your first real roadblock: Macaque Chief. He’s not the hardest fight you’ll face, but he’s fast. He likes to vanish and reappear, testing how well you’ve mastered your dodges.
Don't burn all your Mana here. You need to get used to his rhythm because, surprise, you'll be seeing him again. After you drive him off, you’ll find yourself heading toward the Bitter Lake. This area is massive. It's easy to get lost if you aren't looking at the landmarks. Look for the giant frozen turtle—you can't miss it. It’s literally a massive island.
The Nightmare That Is The Pagoda Realm
We have to talk about it. The Pagoda Realm is where many players get stuck, and for good reason. Every few minutes, a gray fog rolls in, your health bar shrinks by half, and your vision blurs. This is the "Pulse" mechanic. It’s tied to the Lantern Wardens—those creepy things with lanterns for heads floating around the walkways.
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Surviving the Prison
- Kill the Lantern Wardens immediately. If you kill all nine of them before defeating the zone boss, you get a unique Curio. If you kill the boss first, they disappear, and you miss the loot.
- Listen for the chime. When the music changes and the screen goes gray, find a safe spot. You are vulnerable.
- Watch the ledges. The enemies here love to shove you off. One stray arrow or a charging ghoul and you’re falling into the abyss.
Basically, you need to climb. You’ll start at the Lower Pagoda, work your way to the Upper Pagoda, and eventually hit the Mani Wheel.
The boss at the top is Captain Lotus-Vision. He’s a projectile spammer. If you haven't upgraded your staff to handle deflects or haven't invested in the Pillar Stance for some height, you're going to have a rough time. He teleports constantly. Stay aggressive.
The Wide Open Bitter Lake
Once you’re out of that prison, the game breathes a bit. You’ll meet the Zhu Bajie—the pig. He’s your companion for a good chunk of this chapter, and he’s actually helpful in a fight. He draws aggro, which is a godsend when you're dealing with the Cyan Loong or the Yin-Yang Fish.
The Bitter Lake is full of secrets. There’s a side quest involving a man looking for his lost seeds. Do it. It unlocks the Painted Realm, which is basically your "hub" where you can upgrade armor and cultivate plants. It saves so much time in the long run.
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Why Everyone Struggles With Kang-Jin Star
The fight on the frozen lake against Kang-Jin Star is a visual masterpiece, but a mechanical headache. She’s a dragon. She flies. You are a monkey with a stick. You see the problem.
Pro Tip: Use the Wandering Wight spirit if you still have it. The headbutt can knock her out of the air if you timing it right. Also, don't ignore your vessels. The Fireproof Mantle won't help much here, but having your gourd fully upgraded with the Coconut Wine is essential for the lightning chip damage you'll inevitably take.
The New Thunderclap Temple
This is the final stretch. It’s a sprawling temple complex filled with monks who want to kick your head in. It feels like a gauntlet. You’ll face the Captains again (there are four of them total across the chapter), and eventually, you'll reach the top to face Yellowbrow.
Yellowbrow is a three-phase fight. It’s scripted in parts, meaning you will lose your spells at certain points. It’s frustrating. It feels unfair. But it’s all about the "Gold" form. When he turns gold, stop attacking. You’ll just bounce off and lose stamina. Wait for him to move, or use a heavy smashed-charged attack to break his posture.
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Hidden Secrets You Probably Missed
Most people rush through the snow, but Chapter 3 has some of the best side content in the game.
- The Treasure Hunter Quest: You’ll find a guy shivering near a fire. Give him some warmth (use the Ring of Fire spell). This leads to a fight with a boss that gives you the Spellbinder spell.
- The Four Captains: You need to collect the spirits of all four Captains in this chapter to get the Spear of the Pagoda. Most people miss the one hidden behind the waterfall near the start of the Bitter Lake.
- The Great Pagoda: There’s a massive pagoda at the very end that looks like it does nothing. If you finish the secret areas in every chapter, come back here at the end of the game for the secret ending.
Essential Builds for Chapter 3
By now, you should be around level 40-50. If you aren't, go back and grind the monks in the Thunderclap Temple.
- Spells: You need Immobilize (obviously) and Cloud Step. Cloud Step is a literal lifesaver in the Pagoda Realm when the fog rolls in.
- Stance: Smash Stance is the most reliable, but Pillar Stance is better for the bosses that have ground-based shockwave attacks, like the North Star Captain.
- Curios: Use the Agate Jar for extra defense. The enemies here hit like trucks.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your inventory for Captain Spirits. If you don't have all four, you can't craft the best mid-game weapon. Go back to the Pagoda Realm and search the jail cells you couldn't open before.
- Unlock the Painted Realm. Talk to the Chen Loong on the shores of the Bitter Lake. Beat him, get the pill from Xu Dog (Chapter 2), and bring it back. Having a blacksmith in a pocket dimension is a game-changer.
- Max out your Shock Resistance. Most bosses in the second half of this chapter use lightning. Wear the Loongscale Armor set if you managed to craft it after the Chapter 2 secret boss.
Chapter 3 is a test of patience. It’s long, it’s vertical, and it’s cold. But once you break Yellowbrow’s spirit, the rest of the game opens up in ways you wouldn't expect. Keep your fur warm and your staff ready.