Let me tell you, as someone who's spent countless hours exploring every nook and cranny of Black Myth: Wukong, the game's systems are deep and incredibly rewarding. One of the most crucial mechanics you'll unlock early on is the ability to enhance your trusty healing gourd with something called 'soaks'. Now, I remember my first playthrough back in the day—I completely missed the importance of these things and paid for it dearly against some of the game's tougher foes. So, let me walk you through everything you need to know about finding and using soaks in the first chapter, Black Wind Mountain. It can completely change your survival odds.

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Your journey to becoming a soak master begins with a character you simply cannot miss: Shen Monkey. I was just making my way through the Bamboo Grove, a beautiful yet treacherous area, when I stumbled upon him. He was in a bit of a pickle, being harassed by a rather nasty Snake Guai. After helping him out—which you should definitely do—a brief cutscene plays. This is the key moment. He'll mention something fascinating: that snake gall is excellent when 'steeped in drink.' He then invites you to his nearby cave. Do not, and I repeat, do not skip this invitation! This cave becomes your new best friend. Here's what happens inside:

  • Shen Monkey becomes a merchant. You can buy items from him.

  • He can upgrade your gourd, increasing its healing potency.

  • Most importantly, he unlocks the soak system.

Once you've had this chat, the ability to apply soaks becomes available not just at his cave, but at every single shrine you find from that point on. It's a permanent upgrade to your toolkit.

The first soak you get is practically a freebie, gifted to you by the game itself right after the cutscene. It's called the my-guide-to-finding-and-using-soaks-in-black-myth-wukong-s-first-chapter-image-1 Gall Gem. Now, I wish I had this before fighting all those Snake Guai in the Bamboo Grove! Its effect is straightforward but incredibly useful: for a short time after you take a sip from your healing gourd, your poison resistance is increased. This is a lifesaver (literally) against any enemy that loves to poison you, which, in the early game, tends to be a lot of them.

Soak How to Get Effect My Personal Tip
Gall Gem Automatic story reward. Boosts Poison Resistance. Essential for areas with snake-type enemies.
Celestial Lotus Seeds Purchase from Shen Monkey. Grants Health Regeneration over time. Save up your Will for this; it's worth every coin.
Tender Jade Lotus Random drop from harvesting Jade Lotus. Provides a temporary Defense boost. Farm Jade Lotus whenever you see it!

Now, let's talk about the first soak you can actually purchase. Shen Monkey sells the my-guide-to-finding-and-using-soaks-in-black-myth-wukong-s-first-chapter-image-2 Celestial Lotus Seeds. These will cost you 2,400 Will. I know, it sounds like a lot early on, but trust me, you should prioritize buying these. By the time you meet Shen Monkey, you've likely picked up plenty of 'gold' (the game's currency is called Will, but we all know what it is!). If you're short, just sell some of the less useful materials you've collected.

Why are they so good? They apply a health regeneration over time effect whenever you heal. This means you're not just getting a burst of health; you get a steady trickle for a few seconds afterward. In a tough boss fight, that continuous healing can be the difference between victory and seeing the 'Defeated' screen for the tenth time. It effectively increases the total healing per gourd use. I never leave a shrine without this soak applied for general exploration.

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The final soak available in Chapter 1 is where a bit of luck comes into play. This one is the my-guide-to-finding-and-using-soaks-in-black-myth-wukong-s-first-chapter-image-4 Tender Jade Lotus. You don't buy it from a vendor. Instead, you have a random chance to receive it whenever you harvest a my-guide-to-finding-and-using-soaks-in-black-myth-wukong-s-first-chapter-image-5 Jade Lotus plant out in the world.

Jade Lotus plants are scattered throughout the chapter. One reliable spot I always check is just before the Black Wind Cave: Cave Interior Shrine. But you might find them earlier or later depending on your exploration. Because it's random, you could get super lucky and find a Tender Jade Lotus on your first harvest, or you might need to harvest several plants before one drops. It adds a fun element of surprise to foraging.

So, what does this rare find do? When used as a soak, the Tender Jade Lotus grants the Destined One (that's you!) a defense boost for a short duration after drinking. If you're heading into a fight against a boss that hits like a truck, swapping to this soak can give you that extra bit of damage mitigation you need to survive a combo. I like to use it for specific, heavy-hitting encounters, while keeping the Celestial Lotus Seeds equipped for general mob-clearing.

Looking back from 2026, with the game having received several updates and expansions, these core soak mechanics from Chapter 1 remain foundational. They teach you the importance of preparing your gourd for the challenges ahead. My final piece of advice? Don't be like my past, clueless self. Engage with this system early. Visit Shen Monkey, buy the seeds, harvest every glowing plant you see, and always think about which soak fits your next challenge. It turns your simple healing potion into a versatile tactical tool. Good luck, fellow Destined One. You'll need it on the path ahead. :monkey: :tea: