You’re likely stuck. If you're looking for the Wuchang bosses in order, it’s usually because the New Game Plus (NG+) grind in Black Myth: Wukong has finally started to bite back, or you’re trying to figure out which of these spectral jerks is holding that specific material you need for your staff upgrade. These aren’t just random enemies. They are the Five Wuchang—the "Five Manifestations"—and they represent a significant spike in difficulty during the later stages of the game.
Most players encounter them in Chapter 4, the Webbed Hollow. Honestly, the first time you see one, you might think it's just a beefed-up elite enemy. Then you see the boss health bar at the bottom of the screen and realize you're in for a fight.
The Hierarchy of the Five: Wuchang Bosses in Order
Understanding the sequence matters because of how they scale. While you can technically stumble upon a couple of them out of a strict sequence depending on how much you explore the side paths of the Webbed Hollow and the Temple of the Yellow Flower, there is a definitive progression to how they are presented in the game's internal logic and difficulty curve.
The five consist of:
- Wuchang of the East (Wood)
- Wuchang of the South (Fire)
- Wuchang of the West (Metal)
- Wuchang of the North (Water)
- Wuchang of the Center (Earth)
They are based on the Five Elements (Wuxing) from Chinese philosophy. This isn't just flavor text. It actually dictates their movesets and what kind of elemental resistance you need to pack in your canteen.
Breaking Down the First Encounters
You'll usually find the first one near the Estate of the Zhu or shortly after entering the deeper caverns of the Webbed Hollow.
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The Wuchang of the East is your introduction. He’s aggressive. He uses a long-reaching polearm and tends to favor sweeping strikes that catch you if you dodge backward instead of into the attack. Most people mess this up. They see the reach and panic. Don't. If you stay close, half his hitbox actually misses you. It's weird, but it works.
Then comes the Wuchang of the South. This guy is a nightmare if you haven't upgraded your Fireproof Mantle or stocked up on Body-Warming Powder. He leaves trails of fire. If you’re playing on a higher NG+ cycle, that burn status effect will eat your health bar faster than you can find a window to heal. He’s fast. Like, "blink and you're dead" fast.
The Mid-Tier Grind: West and North
The Wuchang of the West is where the metallic clanging starts. He’s got high poise. You can’t just spam light attacks and expect him to stagger. You need heavy finishers. I’ve seen so many players try to use the "Pillar Stance" here, thinking the height will save them. It won't. He has a vertical slash that tracks.
The Wuchang of the North is the "ice" variant, though in Black Myth, it feels more like a cold, oppressive physical force. He slows you down. Every hit you take builds up a frost-like debuff that makes your stamina regeneration crawl. If you’re a player who relies on constant dodging, he is your hard counter. You have to be precise. One dodge. One hit. It’s a dance, not a brawl.
The Final Boss: Wuchang of the Center
This is the big one. He’s usually tucked away in a more hidden corner of the Temple of the Yellow Flower. He represents Earth. He’s tanky. He has massive AOE (Area of Effect) slams that ripple through the ground.
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If you haven't mastered the Cloud Step or the Rock Solid parry by now, this guy will teach you the hard way. He doesn't move much, but he doesn't have to. He lets you come to him, then turns the ground into a weapon.
Why the Order Actually Matters for Your Build
You can't just run at these guys with the same setup. Well, you can, but you'll die a lot.
The game wants you to adapt. When looking at the Wuchang bosses in order, notice the elemental shift. You should be swapping your Curios and your Spirit summons between every fight.
- For the South: Use the Fireproof Mantle.
- For the West: Focus on high-damage spirits like the Wandering Wight (if you still use it) or something with high stagger.
- For the Center: You need mobility. Don't get pinned down.
Common Misconceptions About the Wuchang
A lot of people think these guys are optional. Technically, sure, you can skip some of them if you're just rushing to the final boss of the chapter. But you shouldn't. They drop the Fine Gold Thread and Cold Iron Leaves—essential materials for the late-game armor sets. If you ignore the Wuchang, you're going to hit a wall when you face the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. You’ll be under-geared and over-matched.
Another myth? That they are just reskins. While they share a similar silhouette, their AI packages are completely different. The North boss doesn't fight anything like the South boss. One is a zoner; the other is a rush-down attacker. Treating them as "just another ghost" is the fastest way to see the "Restored at Incense Shrine" screen.
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Strategic Tips for the Full Sequence
Don't ignore your Vessel. If you've been neglecting the side quests to power up your Vessels, stop. The Weaver's Needle is incredibly helpful for maintaining pressure on the Wuchang of the West and North because it chips away at their poise while you're busy dodging.
- Medicine is not a luxury. Use the Tiger Subduing Pellets. The damage boost is the difference between a 2-minute fight and a 5-minute struggle where you run out of gourds.
- Spirit Management. Use spirits that provide passive resistances to the element you're currently facing.
- The "Check" Point. If you can't beat the Wuchang of the East within three tries, your level is too low. Go back to the earlier sections of the Webbed Hollow and farm some Will. You need the Spark points in your Foundation tree.
The Cultural Context of the Five Wuchang
In Chinese mythology, the Wuchang (often associated with the "Black and White Wuchang") are deities who escort the spirits of the dead to the underworld. Game Science, the developers, took this concept and expanded it into these five elemental guardians. They represent the inevitability of death and the balance of nature.
When you fight them, you aren't just fighting "mobs." You are essentially fighting the forces of the universe trying to keep the Destined One from progressing. This is why their arenas are often quiet, somber, and isolated. It's a trial.
Getting Through the Gauntlet
If you're doing a completionist run, you have to track them down. They don't all stand on the main road.
- The East is near the upper levels.
- The South is near the magma-lit crevices.
- The West is often found in the rocky outskirts near the temple.
- The North is in the damp, shaded grottos.
- The Center is near the heart of the temple complex.
Check your Journal frequently. Once you defeat one, the entry will update. If you’re missing a slot in your portraits, you’ve missed a Wuchang.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
To efficiently clear the Wuchang bosses in order, follow this checklist to ensure you aren't wasting time or resources:
- Audit your resistances: Before engaging the South or North Wuchang, go to a Shrine and check your resistance stats. If your Fire or Chill resistance is below 20, you’re in trouble. Use your Sparks to temporarily buff these in the "Survival" tree if needed.
- Craft the "Shock" Resistance Gear: Many of these bosses have secondary shock properties in their physical hits. Having gear that prevents the "Shocked" status—which increases the damage you take—is a lifesaver.
- Sequence your Spells: Save your Immobilize for when they are mid-animation for an elemental attack. If you freeze them while they are charging a fire or ice blast, it often cancels the entire phase, giving you a huge window for a full light-attack combo.
- Farm the Gold Thread: Don't spend your Fine Gold Thread on mid-tier armor. Save it until you've defeated at least three of the Wuchang so you can craft the Insect Armor or the Loong Scale sets, which offer much better scaling for the Chapter 4 and 5 endgame.
By the time you reach the Wuchang of the Center, you should have a rhythm. These fights are designed to test your mastery of the game's core mechanics—dodging, parrying, and elemental management. If you can beat the Five, you are ready for the final climb of the mountain.