‘Can’t absorb Spirit without guidance’ in Black Myth Wukong, explained

Black Myth Wukong sees you trample through lush forests, sandy deserts, and rocky mountains, defeating all manner of foes in a fairly linear path. But, just off the beaten track, you’ll find minibosses, each granting their own rewards.

Some rewards, like the boss’ Spirit, may not be acquired early in Black Myth Wukong. Imagine spending countless deaths killing an early-game miniboss only to find that you can’t reap the rewards. Fear not—the solution isn’t too far ahead!

Here’s everything you need to know about the “Can’t absorb Spirit without guidance” message in Black Myth Wukong.

How to gain guidance and absorb Spirits in Black Myth Wukong

If you receive the “Can’t absorb Spirit without guidance” message in Black Myth Wukong, you’ve likely killed one of the game’s minibosses—probably Wandering Wight—before you’ve earned the ability to absorb Spirits. After defeating the Wight and approaching its Spirit, you’ll get this message—the floating blue flame left after it dies.

To absorb its Spirit, you’ll need to proceed through the first chapter to the Bamboo Grove and the Snake Trail Shrine. Interact with the Shrine, then turn right—there should be a tall stone staircase leading up to a bridge above the bamboo canopy. Before crossing the bridge, look right and you’ll see an “old master” sitting by a small table. Interacting with him will run through some dialog, after which he’ll grant you guidance and imbue your Gourd with the ability to absorb Spirits.

To collect previous Spirits, head to a Shrine, select the Self-Advance tab, and then select Retrieve Spirits. They’ll be added to your Equipment tab, where you can equip the Spirit you’d like to aid you in battle. You can also upgrade each Spirit at a Shrine, with each upgrade enhancing the Spirit ability—but it’ll cost you quite a bit of Will, some Yaoguai Cores, plus some other crafting materials to complete the upgrade.