Introduction

Meet Erlang, The Sacred Divinity, a pivotal character in Black Myth: Wukong. This celestial-human hybrid, known for his third eye and martial prowess, is not just any boss; he's the Jade Emperor's nephew. Erlang serves as the first boss in the game, introducing players to the basic controls and mechanics. He also appears as a secret boss in the Secret Area of Mount Mei after completing the game, challenging players to prove their mastery.

Background

Erlang Shen, also known as Yang Jian, is a significant figure in Chinese mythology. He is renowned for his justice, righteousness, and ability to subdue demons. His third eye allows him to see through all disguises, making him a formidable opponent. In the game, Erlang is introduced with a poetic description, highlighting his noble spirit and exceptional talents.

Role in the Game

As the tutorial boss, Erlang Shen is your first boss you encounter in Black Myth: Wukong. He teaches players the ropes of combat and is crucial for unlocking the secret ending. After defeating the Four Heavenly Kings, Erlang appears again in a second form, transforming into a mighty lion, making the battle even more intense.

He is also a secret boss that you can fight after completing the game, located in the Secret Area of Mount Mei.

Boss Fight Strategy

To defeat Erlang Shen, players must deplete his posture bar to stagger him. Using the 'A Pluck of Many' spell to create clones for additional hits is recommended. Avoid using the Transform spell as Erlang can dispel it. Stock up on Shock Quelling Powders to mitigate his lightning-based attacks and deflect his sword attacks by holding the deflect button. Study his attack patterns and counter effectively after his moves finish. In his second form, as a mighty lion, use all available equipment and spells to emerge victorious.

Rewards

Defeating Erlang Shen in his first form does not yield any rewards, but in his second form, players can obtain the Tri-Point Double-Edged Spear, a mythical weapon, and the Azure Dome transformation, allowing them to transform into the Stone Monkey. Additionally, players earn the 'Meet the Match' trophy, enhancing their character's abilities and providing new gameplay options.

Mythological Significance of Role

Erlang Shen is deeply rooted in Chinese mythology. His stories often emphasize themes of justice and the struggle against malevolent forces.

In the classic novel Journey to the West, he leads a celestial army to subdue Sun Wukong, showcasing his strength and divine authority.

He’s an interesting character with many legends and stories about him in China. BMW did a great job combining those stories and fleshing out his character.

Here’s a brief summary:

• He is a hybrid between a Celestial God and a human and is the nephew of the Jade Emperor.
• He was the first person to defy the Celestial Court, long before Wukong did in Journey to the West.
• The Jade Emperor trapped Erlang’s mother under a mountain, Wukong-style, as punishment for marrying a mortal.
• Erlang was enraged and used his axe to split the mountain in half to rescue his mother. That’s the same axe that appears at the beginning of BM:Wukong
• The Jade Emperor persisted and summoned nine suns to roast Erlang’s mother to death.

This enraged Erlang, who lifted two mountains and chased the suns. He managed to eliminate eight of them until the third daughter of the East Dragon Lord (the same one who once owned the Jing Gu Bang before Wukong took it) intervened and married him.

Because of this, Erlang has a very strained relationship with the Celestial Court. He is the only god who has openly stated that he will obey the orders of the Celestial Court but will not follow their instructions on how to execute them.

Now that you know his backstory, his battle with you in chapter 6 makes much more sense. He openly admitted his jealousy of Wukong’s courage to rebel against the Court. Despite his pride, Erlang still has to follow the Jade Emperor’s orders.

Think of Erlang as what the Celestial Court hoped Wukong would become.

In the end, Erlang is very similar to Wukong, but they made the opposite choice. This is why he helped Wukong. He wants to see whether Wukong made the right choice because that was the choice Erlang wanted to make, but didn’t.

Conclusion

Black Myth: Wukong not only offers an engaging gaming experience but also serves as a cultural ambassador, introducing players worldwide to the depth and richness of Chinese mythology. Erlang Shen, with his complex background and challenging battles, is a testament to the game's commitment to both entertainment and education.