Even in 2026, plenty of Destined Ones still find themselves staring at a locked gate in Black Myth: Wukong’s Chapter 2, wondering what in the world “Sterness of Stone, Keeness of Tiger” actually means. It sounds like a riddle, but it is really just the game asking for two key items. The short version? You need to take down two major bosses and show up with the goods.
What the cryptic message actually means
In plain English, Sterness of Stone and Keeness of Tiger are two key items dropped by two of Black Myth: Wukong’s toughest Chapter 2 bosses: the Tiger Vanguard and the Stone Vanguard. Defeat both Yaoguai Kings, and the items fill in the missing parts of the statues you need to interact with to open the way forward.
The good news is that both key items can be used more than once. You do not need multiple copies. Once both are in your inventory, you can open all three gates scattered around Chapter 2.
How to get both Vanguards
To track down each Vanguard, start at the Valley of Despair shrine in Sandgate Village. That area opens up after you defeat the King of the Flowing Sands and the Second Prince of the Flowing Sands. Once the dust settles, you have two routes: go left through some caves, or go right across the bridge.
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Left route: leads to the Tiger Vanguard and the Crouching Tiger Temple. Before reaching the big cat, you will also need to beat the First Prince of the Flowing Sands.
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Right route: leads to Fright Cliff, where the Stone Vanguard waits near the Rockrest Flat shrine.
Order does not matter. If you tackle the Tiger Vanguard first, the route beyond the Crouching Tiger Temple loops back around into the Stone Vanguard’s boss arena. Still, veteran players recommend skirting around the edge and activating the Rockrest Flat shrine first, otherwise it is a long walk back if things go sideways.
The three gates and what lies beyond
There are three locations where you can use the Sterness of Stone and Keeness of Tiger to open new paths. All three lead toward Chapter 2’s final boss, the Yellow Wind Sage, so opening every gate is not strictly mandatory, but the shortcuts and loot are worth the trouble.
| Gate location | Main reward notes |
|---|---|
| Valley of Despair main gate | Shortcut, Old Rattle-Drum sidequest, Gore-Eye Daoist Spirit, Luojia Fragrant Wine |
| Crouching Tiger Temple hidden underground route | Celestial Jade Lotus Pill, Civet Sergeant Spirit, Cellar Shrine with Xu Dog |
| Windseal Gate | Main path to the Yellow Wind Sage, Cellar Shrine, Meditation Point |
Valley of Despair main gate
In the arena where you first fought the King and Second Prince of the Flowing Sands, the previously locked gate can now be opened. Beyond it, players can find a shortcut back to the First Prince of the Flowing Sands cavern, plus the Old Rattle-Drum sidequest location. Using the Old Rattle-Drum from the Tiger’s Acolyte sub-boss in an area off to the right lets you chat with a ghost and eventually leads to the hidden boss Mad Tiger and a special Gourd. There is also the Gore-Eye Daoist, a Yaoguai Chief whose defeat drops 1x Blood of the Iron Bull and unlocks him as a summonable Spirit. Keep an eye out for Luojia Fragrant Wine, an upgrade material for your Gourd.
Crouching Tiger Temple hidden underground route
Up the stairs where the Tiger Vanguard once stood, another statue opens a hidden entrance in the pool of blood. The underground area contains the Celestial Jade Lotus Pill, which increases maximum health, and the Civet Sergeant, another summonable Spirit. More importantly, you will find the Cellar Shrine, a fast travel point for Xu Dog’s pill medicines.
Xu Dog is a crucial NPC at this stage because he can convert Mind Cores into permanent stat boosts and elemental resistance. That is massive before the Yellow Wind Sage. To get him to the Cellar, you must first help him earlier in Chapter 2 by retrieving a stolen formula from the Yaoguai Chief Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw, a large frog found near the Outside the Village shrine.
Windseal Gate
Players will most likely hit this gate after defeating the Stone Vanguard and sliding down a large sandy hill. If both key items are already in hand, the gate opens immediately. This is the main path to the Yellow Wind Sage. There are no extra treasure rooms here, but you can reach the Cellar Shrine by heading straight across the valley and up the hill. Head left after the gate and you will find the Blessed Gourd Master and a Meditation Point at the end of the path.
Before you fight the Yellow Wind Sage
If you have not defeated the Tiger Vanguard yet, fast travel back to the Valley of Despair. You can still explore ahead and use the side gate to the First Prince of the Flowing Sands arena to bypass the locked gate at the end of the path. But the real play is to mop up both Vanguards, grab every Spirit and health upgrade, and spend some quality time with Xu Dog. The Yellow Wind Sage is no pushover, and every slice of survivability counts.
So do not panic when the gate asks for that odd-sounding pair. It is simply Black Myth: Wukong’s way of telling you to go pick a fight with a tiger and a rock.