Let me be honest: I don't care how good you are at dodging in Black Myth: Wukong. Eventually, some boss is going to smack you into next week, and when that happens, your Gourd is the only thing standing between you and a very sad death screen. I learned that the hard way during my first playthrough, and I've been obsessed with upgrading it ever since. Even in 2026, with the game feeling a bit older but still absolutely brutal, the Gourd remains your best friend. It's your healing potion, your emergency reset button, and honestly, the reason I survive half of these fights.
So here's the thing: upgrading your Gourd isn't some hidden endgame secret. It's just easy to forget because the game doesn't shove it in your face. You need to find a specific NPC called the Shen Monkey. He hangs out in the Bamboo Grove, and if you've already run past him, don't panic. The closest Shrine is the Marsh of White Mist. Head there, run forward, and when you reach a wooden platform, keep right. Inside the cave, you'll see the Shen Monkey waiting. Just interact with him, and he'll let you improve your Gourd. You can increase your health recovery, or you can increase the number of times you can use it before it's empty. I usually mix both, but early on, extra swigs feel more valuable to me.
Now, the catch: you need Luojia Fragrant Vines. And unfortunately, these things are pretty tough to get. I've had the best luck by looting vines on trees. Seriously, look up. They're not always in chests. That said, you should also open every chest or coffer you come across, and defeat as many bosses as you can. Bosses often drop good stuff, and sometimes that includes the vines you need. Exploration is your friend here. If you're the kind of player who rushes from boss to boss, you're going to struggle. Slow down. Smell the flowers. Loot the vines.
The upgrade costs scale as you go. The first two upgrades require one Luojia Fragrant Vine each. The next one asks for two. After that, I assume it keeps climbing, because of course it does. Here's a quick table I use to keep track:
| Gourd Upgrade | Luojia Fragrant Vines Needed | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Upgrade | 1 | Better healing or extra use |
| 2nd Upgrade | 1 | Better healing or extra use |
| 3rd Upgrade | 2 | Better healing or extra use, but pricier |
I know that table looks simple, but it's easy to forget when you're deep in a boss fight and wondering why your Gourd isn't cutting it. My advice? Check back with the Shen Monkey every time you clear a chapter or find a new area. If you've gathered more vines, spend them. Hoarding them doesn't help you. You can't take them to the next playthrough in a meaningful way, and being stuck on a boss because you refused to upgrade is a terrible feeling. Trust me, I've been there. I once spent two hours on a certain tiger boss because I forgot I had enough vines for an upgrade. Two hours. Don't be like me.
A few 2026 tips from my recent replay:
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🍶 Always prioritize the Gourd if you're dying a lot. Damage is nice, but survival wins fights.
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🌿 Loot vines from trees whenever you see them. They respawn? Not exactly, but new areas have more.
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🏯 Use the Marsh of White Mist Shrine as your fast travel point. It's the quickest way back to Shen Monkey.
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💀 Don't ignore bosses. Even optional ones often drop resources.
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🧘 If you're stuck, go farm vines, upgrade, and come back. A stronger Gourd changes everything.
The more you progress, the more you'll be able to upgrade, and therefore the stronger you'll get. It's a simple loop, but it works. I love that Black Myth: Wukong doesn't explain this stuff perfectly. It makes you explore and experiment. But I also know how frustrating it can be when you just want to heal more. So yeah, that's how I upgrade my Gourd. Now go find that monkey, spend those vines, and get back out there. Your next boss fight will thank you. Or curse you. Probably both.