You're probably staring at the upgrade screen for the Jingubang or the Stormfury Staff, wondering why on earth you’re stuck. It’s always the same story. You have the Will, you have the Refined Iron Sand, but you’re missing that one purple-tier material: Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel. It’s frustrating. Really. You’ve beaten some of the hardest bosses in the game, yet the game refuses to let you reach your final form because you’re short a single piece of metal.
Honestly, Kun Steel is the ultimate gatekeeper in Black Myth: Wukong. It isn't like Gold Tree Core or Mind Core where you can eventually stumble upon them by breaking pots or exploring random corners. No, this stuff is strictly tied to the heavy hitters. If you want the best staves in the game, you have to go through the most miserable boss fights Game Science could dream up.
Why Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel is So Rare
Basically, the game uses Kun Steel to control your power level. You won't even see a whiff of it until you’re deep into the late-game content, specifically around Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. It’s the primary ingredient for "Mythical" grade weapons. Think of it as the final hurdle. Most players finish their first playthrough with only two or three pieces, which is just enough to craft one top-tier weapon. If you want to fill out your entire arsenal? You’re looking at New Game Plus. That’s just how it’s designed.
The scarcity creates a real dilemma for players. Do you spend your precious Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel on the Visionary Staff, or do you wait until you unlock the requirements for the Staff of Blazing Karma? There is no "undo" button here. Once that steel is forged into a weapon, it’s gone. You can’t dismantle a staff to get the Kun Steel back. You only get the common materials. It’s a high-stakes decision that most people sort of stumble into without realizing how rare the material actually is.
Where the Steel is Hiding: The Boss Checklist
You can’t farm this. Don’t even try. There are no mobs in the Webbed Hollow or the Flaming Mountains that drop it. To get your hands on Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel, you have to take down the titans.
First off, let’s talk about the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. He’s the big bad of Chapter 4. Beating him is mandatory for the story, and he’s one of your first guaranteed drops. But here’s the kicker: if you haven't finished the secret area of that chapter—The Purple Cloud Mountain—you’re making your life way harder than it needs to be. The Weaver's Needle vessel from that secret area makes the Daoist Master's second phase much more manageable. You kill him, you get the steel. Simple, but definitely not easy.
Then there’s the Bishui Golden-Eyed Beast. This thing is tucked away in the Bishui Cave, the secret area of Chapter 5. You have to navigate the cooling slope and deal with those annoying elemental mechanics. It’s a tough fight, but the reward is—you guessed it—another piece of Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel. A lot of players miss this one entirely because they rush through the Flaming Mountains to get to the finale. Don't be that person. Explore the secret zones.
The Challenge of the Duskveil
The Duskveil is another one. Located at the peak of the Purple Cloud Mountain (the Chapter 4 secret area), this two-phase bird is a nightmare. It’s fast, it bleeds you, and the camera sometimes struggles to keep up with its massive wingspan. But if you want to craft the best gear, you have to ground it. Beating the Duskveil isn't just about the steel, though. It’s about the lore and the satisfaction of clearing the hardest content.
There's also a specific drop associated with the Great Pagoda and the secret ending path involving Erlang, the Sacred Divinity. While Erlang himself is widely considered the hardest boss in the game, the rewards reflect that. If you’re hunting for Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel, you’re eventually going to have to face the music at the peak of Mount Mei.
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Managing Your Resources
Since you’re likely only going to find about four pieces in a single "completionist" run, you need a plan.
- Priority One: The Jingubang. It’s iconic. It’s powerful. It’s the Monkey King’s actual weapon. It requires Kun Steel, and it’s usually the first thing people craft.
- Priority Two: The Stormfury Staff. If you’re running a build centered around Shock damage or high critical hits, this might actually be better for your playstyle than the Jingubang.
- The Leftovers: Use them on the Fuban Staff or other Mythical upgrades if you’re trying to 100% the journal.
Many players get tripped up because they see the "Mythical" tag and assume all weapons are equal. They aren't. Some staves have unique passive effects that drastically change how your Resolute Strike or Smash Stance works. Read the fine print before you commit your Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel. Once it's used, your only way to get more is to start a New Game Plus run and do it all over again.
The New Game Plus Reality
If you’re a completionist, you’re going to need a lot of this stuff. New Game Plus (NG+) is where the game actually lets you feel like the Sage Equal to Heaven. In your second run, the bosses drop the steel again. This is the only way to craft every single weapon in the game. By the end of NG+, you’ll usually have more than enough, but that first journey is a desert.
It's also worth noting that the Yin Tiger in the Painted Realm (the hub area you unlock through Chen Loong's quest) is your best friend. He’s the one who does the actual crafting. He doesn't sell the steel—no merchant does—but he’s the one who helps you realize its potential. If you’re standing in front of him and the option to craft is greyed out, you’re likely missing a specific boss soul or, more likely, that elusive piece of Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel.
What to Do Right Now
Check your inventory. If you’ve finished Chapter 4 and don’t have any steel, you missed a secret. Go back to the Webbed Hollow. Find the four purple altars. Unlock the path to the Purple Cloud Mountain. That’s the most common mistake. People beat the main boss and think they’re done. In Black Myth: Wukong, the best rewards are always hidden behind a wall you have to find yourself.
If you’re currently stuck on a boss like the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master, stop banging your head against the wall. Go farm some XP, upgrade your armor, and make sure your Gourds are fully leveled. The Black Myth Wukong Kun Steel isn't going anywhere. It’s waiting for you at the end of the struggle.
To make sure you don't waste your time, follow these specific steps to maximize your haul:
- Complete the "Man-in-Stone" questline early to ensure you have access to all vendors.
- Prioritize the Chapter 4 secret area (Purple Cloud Mountain) before finishing the main boss of the chapter.
- Defeat the Duskveil to claim your first truly "optional" piece of steel.
- Hunt down the Bishui Golden-Eyed Beast in the Chapter 5 secret area.
- Save your first two pieces of steel for the Jingubang, as it offers the most consistent power spike for the final boss encounters.
- Only move into New Game Plus once you have exhausted all secret bosses in Chapters 4, 5, and 6, as these are your primary sources.
Following this path ensures you aren't underpowered when the difficulty spikes in the final act. Good luck. You’ll need it for Erlang.