How to free the Black Myth Wukong Man in Stone

Black Myth Wukong Man in Stone
(Image credit: Game Science)

The Black Myth Wukong Man-in-Stone is a figure trapped inside a rock at the end of a ravine in the second chapter. Ultimately leading to one of the stranger quests in Black Myth Wukong, freeing the Man-in-Stone requires to fight an optional boss (of sorts) called the Mother of Stones in a nearby cave - before then fighting this sedimentary questgiver himself. If you want a walkthrough guide to take you through the steps of this peculiar quest, here's how to free the Man in Stone in Black Myth Wukong

Full Man-in-Stone quest walkthrough for Black Myth Wukong

Black Myth Wukong Man in Stone

(Image credit: Game Science)

The Man-in-Stone side quest in Black Myth Wukong involves two optional boss fights, but ends with one of the Chapter 2's best rewards: the Azure Dust spell, which allows you to shapeshift temporarily into a high-defence rock monster. 

To get it though, you'll need to complete a small quest chain that initially starts as an attempt to free the Man-in-Stone from his confinement - here's how it goes.

  1. To find the Man-in-Stone, go to the Squall Hideout checkpoint in Chapter 2's Fright Cliff area. From there, go straight ahead - between the cave networks on the left and the enemy fort on the right, there's a crevasse running through the ground - and the Man-in-Stone at the end of it.
  2. Speak to him and he'll explain he's been trapped by a Guai in some nearby caves, and wants to be freed.
  3. Now you need to find the Guai. Head into the cave network mentioned in step one, as though you were heading towards the Rockrest Flat checkpoint, and on the left-hand wall going in that direction is a staircase with blue-fire braziers. Go up those stairs.

Black Myth Wukong Man in Stone

(Image credit: Game Science)
  1. At the top is a path leading to a huge creature covered in glowing blue rocks. Attack it to trigger a boss fight with the "Mother of Stones." This is barely a boss fight though - the Mother just stays stationary and summons minions. You need to hold them off while also damaging her until she's beaten (you can also find one of the Black Myth Wukong Buddha's Eyeballs on the outside ledge next to her, if you're doing that questline).
  2. Once beaten, you'll get the "Stone Essence" key item. Go back to the Man-in-Stone and give it to him, only for his tone and demeanour to suddenly change.
  3. Attack the Man-in-Stone to trigger a boss fight. He hits hard, but is slow and highly-telegraphed - agile players who stay behind him shouldn't struggle.

Black Myth Wukong Man in Stone

(Image credit: Game Science)

Once defeated, you'll have completed his side quest, and get an immediate reward - the aforementioned Azure Dust spell, that turns you into an incredibly durable Rock Guai temporarily. 

Not only that, but the Man-in-Stone will then become a merchant from that point on with a small range of unique items - including the Sobering Stone, which is how to sober up the drunk Black Myth Wukong pig, if you're doing that side quest.

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Joel Franey
Guides Writer

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and raconteur with a Masters from Sussex University, none of which has actually equipped him for anything in real life. As a result he chooses to spend most of his time playing video games, reading old books and ingesting chemically-risky levels of caffeine. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at USgamer, Gfinity, Eurogamer and more besides.