Black Myth: Wukong runs on a single autosave, and several quests have hidden points of no return: push the story one step too far and they're gone for this playthrough. Here is the complete chapter-by-chapter checklist of everything permanently missable, with the exact moment each one fails.
Spoiler-free promise: this checklist covers mechanics and fail conditions only — no story content.
Master checklist
| Chapter | Content | Fails when | What you lose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ch. 1 | Wandering Wight | You ring the three bells and enter the Ancient Guanyin Temple | Wandering Wight spirit (passive +30 Defense) |
| Ch. 2 | Second Prince's spirit | You kill the Second Prince before the King | Second Prince of Flowing Sands spirit |
| Ch. 3 | Apramana Bat | You defeat the chapter's final boss | A Portraits (journal) entry for 100% completion |
| Ch. 4 | Fourth Sister questline | Chapter ends before all 4 purple talismans are removed | An achievement + the Crane Immortal's Portraits entry |
| Ch. 4 | Scorpionlord | You enter The Duskveil's area before fighting him | His equipment + a top-tier gourd |
| Ch. 4 | Daoist Mi questline | You defeat The Duskveil first | An exclusive transformation (Violet Hail) |
| Ch. 5 | Horse Guai questline | You defeat the Keeper of Flaming Mountains with dialogue unfinished | The Horse Guai transformation (Dark Thunder) |
Chapter 1: the Wandering Wight
The Wandering Wight blocks the main path, so you will meet it. If it's too hard early, come back later — but you must defeat it before ringing the three bells that open the Ancient Guanyin Temple secret area. Once you enter the temple, the Wight vanishes.
Details: Chapter 1: the Wandering Wight.
Chapter 2: the Second Prince's spirit
The King of Flowing Sands and his Second Prince fight hides a rule: kill the King first, then the enraged Second Prince, or the King flees and the prince's spirit is gone for this playthrough.
Kill order and strategy: Chapter 2: the Second Prince's spirit.
Chapter 3: the Apramana Bat
The Apramana Bat is a disciple of the chapter's final boss and disappears the moment that boss falls. It drops no unique loot, but it fills a Portraits entry — completionists must fight it first. Find it near the North Shore of the Bitter Lake shrine.
Details: Chapter 3: the Apramana Bat.
Chapter 4: three missable questlines
Chapter 4 is the most regret-prone chapter in the game:
- Fourth Sister questline: remove four purple talismans scattered across the chapter for an achievement and the Crane Immortal's Portraits entry;
- Scorpionlord: inside the Purple Cloud Mountain secret area — he vanishes if you reach The Duskveil's area before fighting him;
- Daoist Mi: also in Purple Cloud Mountain — killing The Duskveil first locks you out of his exclusive transformation.
Full walkthrough: Chapter 4: Fourth Sister / Scorpionlord / Daoist Mi.
Chapter 5: the Horse Guai questline (spans five chapters)
The Horse Guai's quest starts in Chapter 1 and requires one conversation per chapter, ending with his exclusive transformation in Chapter 5. Defeating the Keeper of Flaming Mountains permanently freezes any unfinished progress — the most silently missable quest in the game.
Step-by-step locations: the Horse Guai questline.
Good news: secret areas never expire
All six secret areas (Ancient Guanyin Temple, Kingdom of Sahali, Zodiac Village, Purple Cloud Mountain, Bishui Cave, Mount Mei) stay accessible forever. Just remember: two fights *inside* Purple Cloud Mountain are missable even though the map itself is not.
Unlock guides: all six secret areas.