In Black Myth: Wukong, certain areas in Chapter 2 remain locked until you collect two key items: Sternness of Stone and Keenness of Tiger. These are tied to hidden boss fights and are essential for unlocking the Rat King’s sealed door and other secret locations in Yellow Wind Ridge. This guide will walk you through where to find both items and how to use them.
Unlocking the Rat King’s Door: What You Need
In Black Myth: Wukong, you’ll eventually come across a sealed door behind the Rat King of Flowing Sands during Chapter 2. To unlock this, you’ll need two specific items known as Sternness of Stone and Keenness of Tiger. Once both are in your possession, you’ll be able to activate a device called the Tally, which releases the locking mechanism tied to that area and a few other doors throughout Yellow Wind Ridge.
How to Get Sternness of Stone
Let’s start with Sternness of Stone. This one is held by the Stone Vanguard, a boss tucked away in the Fright Cliffs. If you’ve just defeated the King of the Flowing Sands and his brother and find yourself wandering into the Valley of Despair, you’re off-track. Instead, return to the area where you fought them near the Keeper’s Shrine, then move in the opposite direction, across a rope bridge on the far side of the arena. Keep following the route past the gate until you arrive at another checkpoint called Rockrest Flat Shrine. From here, take the leftward path and turn left again through a gate that leads into an arena. You’ll spot some floating rocks hovering ahead. Step closer and the Stone Vanguard will appear.
This boss isn’t particularly difficult if you manage your positioning well. It’s best to stick behind it to avoid most of its attacks. Just be wary of the delayed shockwave that follows its double-handed slam — it can catch you off guard even after dodging the initial impact. Once you defeat the creature, you’ll automatically receive Sternness of Stone as a reward.
Finding Keenness of Tiger
Next, you’ll need to claim Keenness of Tiger, which is guarded by the Tiger Vanguard. This boss is found in the opposite direction from the previous one and involves a bit more trekking. Starting again at the Valley of Despair Keeper’s Shrine, make your way into a nearby cave filled with rat-type enemies. As you move deeper, turn left where you see a torch and a wooden structure. Continue descending toward the middle of the cavern — the same general area where the First Prince of the Flowing Sands is located. Keep going a bit further until you notice a creature spitting poison near a small stone bridge and a wooden fence. Cross the bridge, and on the far side, look for a narrow crack in the wall you can squeeze through.
Inside the crevice, there’s a bat enemy you’ll need to take out. Once that’s done, exit the cave by turning right. After continuing forward, you’ll arrive at the Crouching Tiger Temple, which houses the Tiger Vanguard. Compared to the Stone Vanguard, this boss puts up more of a fight. He occasionally activates a spell that temporarily makes him immune to damage, and he has a couple of hard-hitting attacks to look out for. One of them is a rapid lunge triggered after he slightly unsheathes his weapon, it comes out fast and can easily close the distance. The other is a sudden punch combo he unleashes after turning himself to stone at the center of the arena. Defeating him earns you the Keenness of Tiger.
Using the Tally to Open Hidden Doors
With both of these items now in your inventory, the Tally mechanism becomes active. This allows you to unlock the door behind the King of the Flowing Sands’ arena and another locked area deep inside the Crouching Tiger Temple. These doors lead to more of what Yellow Wind Ridge has to offer so don’t forget to circle back and explore.
