What Happens When You Die in Black Myth Wukong

Dying is a part of the soulslike experience, and Black Myth: Wukong does not make any exceptions. To put your mind at ease over what happens when you fall in battle, let this guide explain. No fear, brave warrior, for your quest through this realm of myth is not hampered by permanent setbacks.

What Happens When You Die in Black Myth Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong has held onto the more refreshing version of Soulslike death penalties. It doesn't repeat the same old ways where, upon death, players will find out most of their hard-earned currency and other progress have all gone to waste. In the case of defeat by an enemy, the game allows the player to return to the nearest available Keeper's Shrine without any loss in Will, which is the in-game Souls or Runes. This ingenuity frees the player from the fear of losing all progress and lets them play with different playstyles, not caring about a possibly harsh penalty.

On the converse, this does not come without its bad implications. Where the conservation of Will is most welcome, the game's decision to respawn enemies on death may ruin a plan that had been formulated and hamper exploration. Those players who strategically killed off foes to make safe passages will find that progress is not saved, so they will be forced to once again engage enemies they may have already defeated. This is less punishing than the permanent loss of currency, but it is frustrating nonetheless—especially against tougher opposition.

Ultimately, this approach in Black Myth: Wukong toward death is a double-edged sword. On the positive side, the game relieves players of continuous pressure from the possible loss of hard-earned progress and allows for both a more relaxed and experimental way to play the game. On the other hand, this mechanic of respawning can be counterproductive to the flow of exploration and strategic planning, which really can mar the experience quite a lot.

While divorcing the loss of currency from death itself is admirable, taking a nuanced approach toward enemy respawning could have further enhanced the game's appeal. Maybe selective enemy respawning, based on proximity or some other player-driven action, would provide the right sort of balance for when to preserve a challenge while reducing frustration.