Black Myth: Wukong | How to Unlock the Dark Thunder Transformation (Horse Guai Quest Guide)

Friendly NPCs are a rarity in Black Myth: Wukong, at least when compared to the enemies who happily battle you at first sight, but those who aren’t hostile are often tied to intricate questlines. These quests are usually quite obtuse, with purposefully unclear objectives that will test your thinking skills. One of the recurring characters that will pop up throughout your journey is the Horse Guai – whose name is actually Ma Tianba – who you can encounter in all five chapters. His story is a tragic one and, if you can complete his questline successfully, you’ll unlock the ability to become him via a special Transformation Spell. 

Here’s how to complete the Horse Guai questline in Black Myth: Wukong and unlock the Dark Thunder Transformation. 

If you’d like to read even more Black Myth: Wukong guides, check out our other articles here on KeenGamer:

1. Black Myth: Wukong | How to Get the True Ending
2. Black Myth: Wukong | All Buddha Eye Locations and How to Use Them
3. Black Myth: Wukong | How to Unlock the Ruyi Scroll Secret Area (Chen Loong Quest)
4. Black Myth: Wukong | All Skandha Locations and How to Use Them
5. Black Myth: Wukong | How to Unlock the Chu-Bai Spear

The Horse Guai

Horse Guai Quest Guide in Black Myth: Wukong

Black Wind Forest Horse Guai Location

The first place you’ll find the Horse Guai is in Black Wind Forest, the main area of Chapter 1 of Black Myth: Wukong. He can be found just against the Guanyin Temple in the Bamboo Grove region of the Forest. 

Travel to the Back Hills Keeper’s Shrine and then make your way down the nearby set of stairs as usual. Once you reach the first large stone pillar by a small puddle of water, look to the left side of the path to find a well-hidden passage into a dark underground chamber. 

Inside, you’ll not only find a useful Meditation Spot for a free Spark, but you’ll also find the first location of our Horse Guai friend. He will be the first friendly NPC you’ll stumble across in the whole game and you should exhaust all of his dialogue before continuing further in the story. 

Yellow Wind Ridge Horse Guai Location

The Horse Guai’s next appearance is early on in Yellow Wind Ridge. You’ll be able to find him in the Sandgate Village, the first main subarea of Chapter 2.

Beginning at the Village Entrance Keeper’s Shrine, head towards the arena where you fight the Second and Third Rat Princes. However, instead of entering the arena, head in the opposite direction to the left, an area fiercely guarded by a legion of archers as well as a two-headed rat guai. Continue down this path and, eventually, you’ll reach a small footway which leads to the courtyard behind the locked gate near the Village Entrance. 

As you near this area, you’ll likely hear your Horse Guai friend calling out for aid. Before you can rescue him, though, you must battle the Earth Wolf, a strange monster who stalks the area. With the Earth Wolf defeated, you will find the Horse Guai tied to a pole under a small shrine, one decorated with a massive tiger Buddha statue. Like before, simply exhaust his dialogue and you’ll be free to continue your journey. 

The New West Horse Guai Location

The Horse Guai’s location in the New West is the hardest to find in all of Black Myth: Wukong. He is very off the beaten path and even adventurous players likely won’t stumble across him very easily. To begin your search, make your way through the New West as usual until you arrive at the New Thunderclap Temple, the last major sub-area of Chapter 3.

Travel to the Temple Entrance Keeper’s Shrine and make your way through the first main building until you arrive at the double set of stairs. From there, head up the left set of stone stairs and hug the left side of the courtyard until you can descend again. On the left side of the area will be another massive prayer building, one being guarded by several red-shirted monks. Step inside the building and fend off the monks while climbing the stairs to the second floor. 

Once you arrive at the second floor (and dispatch the monk who is awaiting you at the top), take another left out of the main door. You’ll find yourself on an elevated walkway which leads to a large Buddha statue and, awaiting you nearby, is the Horse Guai. Talking to him will reveal that he’s been struggling lately and that the false Yellowbrow has given him a sense of purpose, a sense of freedom he didn’t used to have. Exhaust his dialogue and then go beat Yellowbrow to progress the Horse Guai onto the next leg of his quest.

Webbed Hollow Horse Guai Location

The Horse Guai’s penultimate location in Black Myth: Wukong is in the Webbed Hollow, the creepy underground set of tunnels and caverns where the Spider Sisters live. Compared to his previous outings, this is one of the easier Chapters to find the Horse Guai as his hiding spot is right on the main path. 

The Bonevault is your main destination in Chapter 4. This area can be found partway through the Webbed Hollow and it is also where you fight the eerie Centipede Guai amidst a smattering of skulls and bones. There’s only one path out of the Centipede Guai’s arena and, should you take it, you’ll soon stumble upon a giant twitching silk cocoon smack-bang in the middle of the walkway. 

Breaking open this cocoon will reveal our old equine friend, the Horse Guai having gotten himself trapped after an unfortunate meeting with the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. Exhaust his dialogue and you’ll be ready to finish his quest the next time you see him. 

Flaming Mountains Horse Guai Location

The final stop for our equine friend is the Flaming Mountains, the main area of Chapter 5 and the location he alluded to when we encountered him in the Webbed Hollow. However, when you find him, he won’t look quite how you remember him. 

To find the Horse Guai in Chapter 5, make your way through the level as usual until you arrive at the Valley Entrance Keeper’s Shrine in the Furance Valley. From there, quickly scamper past the fiery Poisestones and, instead of taking the main path towards Misty Cloud, Cloudy Mist, heads into a treacherous path of lava to the right of the area. This fiery footpath is being guarded by many Flamlings, as well as Tenner, a strange winged enemy who is guarding the Horse Guai’s location.  

However, instead of your horsey companion, you’ll instead find one of the five cursed elemental carts, his famed whip dangling from the cart’s bronze jaws. He has been transformed into one by some manner of foul magic, his soul lingering in his new metallic body. Destroying all five is a required part of unlocking the Secret Area of the Flaming Mountains but the Horse Guai will beg you not to destroy him as it will shatter his soul.

There is a way to save him, though. Continue progressing through the Flaming Mountains until you reach the mandatory boss fight against Keeper of the Flaming Mountain. During this encounter, you’ll even battle against a warped, corrupted version of the Horse Guai, confirming that this is the man who altered his form. Upon defeating him, you’ll transition into phase two against the Yin-Yang Fish, which is your real target. 

Once you have culled the Yin-Yang Fish, return to where you first found the Horse Guai’s transformed form. While he cannot return to his original body, his soul can pass on without issue now with his captor’s defeat. At this point, you can yank the Horse Guai’s whip out of the cart’s mouth, claiming the Dark Thunder Transformation for yourself. This will also unlock the Urge Unfulfilled Trophy or Achievement. 

Dark Thunder Unlocked

Dark Thunder Transformation

With the Horse Guai’s quest complete and his soul put to rest, you can begin using his weapon to perform the Dark Thunder Spell, allowing you to transform into the Horse Guai in battle. The most valuable part of the Dark Thunder Transformation in Black Myth: Wukong is that it makes you immune to Thunder Damage and allows you to inflict Thunder Bane onto the enemy. 

Dark Thunder’s Light Attack is Lightning Lashes, a simple combo where you strike out in front of you with your whip. This attack has some considerable reach, making it a great option for poking enemies or beginning engagements. Meanwhile, the Horse Guai’s Heavy Attack is Thunderbolt Sweep a deadly close-range attack perfect for striking multiple enemies simultaneously. 

Crack of the Whip

With enough Focus, you can activate Lightning Infusion. You will raise your whip towards the sky, infusing you with the power of thunder and charging you into the Thrilled State, greatly increasing your attack power and transforming your Light and Heavy Attacks into more deadly variants.

While not as offensively powerful as the Stone Monkey or even Yin Tiger, Dark Thunder’s best asset is its range and ease of use. The Horse Guai’s whip has a lot of range with all of its various attacks, allowing you to dish out a good deal of damage from a considerable distance. Additionally, the empowered attacks in the Thrilled State are quite potent, with their additional lightning strikes dealing substantial damage. Dark Thunder is definitely one Spell worth getting in Black Myth: Wukong.

“In darkness, cunning change doth brew, slow of step yet resolute.”

Dark Thunder Transformation Description, Black Myth: Wukong

The Thrilled State

That was how to complete the Horse Guai questline and unlock the powerful Dark Thunder Transformation in Black Myth: Wukong.