Finding every single Luojia Fragrant Vine in Black Myth: Wukong is honestly a massive pain if you're just wandering around aimlessly. You need these things. Without them, your Gourd stays weak, and in a game where a single boss combo can delete your health bar, having fewer heals is basically a death sentence.
Most players miss at least three or four on their first run. It's easy to see why. The game doesn't give you a map, the environments are dense, and these vines often blend right into the scenery. They look like glowing gold plants twisting around old trees, but when you're sprinting away from a Yaoguai Chief, they’re easy to overlook.
Let's get into the weeds. Literally.
The Early Game Scramble: Chapter 1 and 2
Chapter 1 is pretty generous. You’ll find your first Luojia Fragrant Vine near the Marsh of White Mist. After you deal with the cutscene involving the Shen Monkey—who, by the way, is the NPC you actually give these vines to—just look around the wooden walkways. It’s right there in a corner. If you miss this one, you’re essentially playing the game on hard mode for no reason.
Chapter 2 gets a bit more complex because the Yellow Wind Ridge is a vertical nightmare. You'll find one near the Valley of Despair. After defeating the Second Prince of Flowing Sands, look for a small path leading away from the main arena. It's tucked behind some rocks.
Another one in this chapter is located near the Windrest Hamlet. Most people sprint through here because the enemies are annoying, but if you stop near the bridge and look toward the cliffs, you'll spot the golden glow. Grab it.
Where the Luojia Fragrant Vine Locations Get Tricky
Chapter 3 is huge. The New Thunderclap Temple and the Pagoda Realm are confusing, but the vines are there if you're patient.
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One of the most commonly missed Luojia Fragrant Vine locations is in the Pagoda Realm - Outside area. After you finally escape that miserable prison (we all hated the health-drain mechanic, let's be real), you'll come across a snowy path. Instead of heading straight toward the next boss, look for a side trail that hugs the cliffside. The vine is wrapped around a frozen tree.
Then there’s the North Shore of the Bitter Lake. From the shrine, follow the coastline to the right. You’ll pass some large skeletons of sea creatures. Tucked into a cave-like indentation in the cliff is another vine.
Why the Shen Monkey Matters
You can't just consume these. You have to take them back to the Bamboo Grove in Chapter 1. The Shen Monkey is the only one who can upgrade your Gourd. Every vine you find increases the total number of uses your Gourd has. By the time you reach the end of the game, you should have around 9 or 10 sips. If you’re stuck at 5 or 6, you haven't explored enough.
The Mid-Game Grind: Chapter 4
The Webbed Hollow is a claustrophobic mess. I get it. You want to leave as fast as possible. But don't sleep on the Cliff of Oblivion.
After the fight with Buddha's Right Hand (that weird wall-hand thing), you’ll see a path leading down into a dark ravine. Most players go up. Go down. There is a Luojia Fragrant Vine sitting right in the middle of a spider-infested clearing. It’s a trap, obviously, but the vine is worth the fight.
In the Temple of Yellow Flowers, check the Mountain Trail. This area is actually quite beautiful compared to the caves. Follow the main stone stairs up, but look for a break in the railing on the left side. There's a small plateau there with a vine. It’s easy to miss because the golden color of the vine blends in with the yellow leaves of the trees.
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Late Game: The Final Stretches
Chapter 5, the Flaming Mountains, is surprisingly straightforward with its vines.
- Camp of Seasons: Cross the big bridge and look to the right before entering the cave.
- Field of Fire: This one is near the cooling slope. You’ll need to have progressed the side quest involving the Five Element Carts to access parts of this area easily, but the vine itself is just sitting near a lava pool.
Chapter 6 is a different beast entirely. Since you have the Cloud Somersault, you can fly everywhere. This actually makes finding Luojia Fragrant Vine locations harder because you stop looking at the ground.
Search the Foothills. There’s a massive lake. Look for a solitary, twisted tree on a small island near the edge of the map. It’s not near any major landmark, which is why it's the one most people have to look up a guide for.
Technical Details: Gourd Upgrades
It isn't just about the number of heals. The Luojia Fragrant Vine is the primary catalyst, but you also need Awakened Wine Worms to upgrade the potency of the heal.
- Vines = More Sips.
- Worms = More HP per Sip.
If you have 10 sips but they only heal 20% of your health, you're still going to struggle against bosses like Erlang or the Great Sage's Broken Shell. You need both.
The game total is limited. There are exactly 15 Luojia Fragrant Vines in a single playthrough. You cannot farm these. They do not respawn. Once you pick it, it’s gone until New Game Plus.
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Common Mistakes When Hunting
Many players think the vines only appear in "hidden" areas. That’s not always true. Some are sitting right on the main path, but because the lighting in Black Myth: Wukong is so dynamic, the golden glow can sometimes be washed out by sunlight or hidden by shadows.
Another mistake? Forgetting to check the shop. The Shen Monkey actually sells a couple of these as you progress through the chapters. Every time you start a new chapter, fast travel back to the White Mist Marsh and check his inventory. It’s the easiest way to get an upgrade without having to fight a secret boss.
How to spot them from a distance
Look for the sparkle. The game uses a specific particle effect for collectible plants. The Luojia vine has a more "wispy" gold aura than the standard herbs like Licorice or Gentian.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you are currently sitting at a shrine and wondering why you keep dying, do this:
- Check your Gourd level. If you are in Chapter 4 and only have 5 sips, you’ve missed at least three vines.
- Visit the Shen Monkey. Buy whatever he has. He usually restocks at the start of Chapter 3 and Chapter 5.
- Backtrack to the Marsh of White Mist. This is the first vine. If you don't have it, start there.
- Look Up. In Chapter 4 especially, many vines are on elevated ledges you have to double-jump or "Cloud Step" to reach.
- Clear the Secret Areas. Each chapter has a secret area (like the Ancient Guanyin Temple in Ch 1 or the Kingdom of Sahali in Ch 2). These areas almost always contain either a vine or a wine worm.
Finding every Luojia Fragrant Vine is the difference between a frustrating endgame and a manageable one. Take the time to explore the side paths. The game rewards curiosity more than it rewards raw speed. Stop running, start looking at the trees, and get those Gourd upgrades finished before you hit the final boss.