Find every Awaken Wine Worm in Black Myth: Wukong with our Gourd upgrade guide, covering all locations across Chapters 1-5.
Your Gourd is basically your best friend in Black Myth: Wukong. It keeps you alive when some giant axe-wielding spirit is trying to turn you into paste, and Awaken Wine Worms make every sip count. These little critters boost how much health you recover each time you use your Gourd, and you can upgrade it several times. The catch? ... They love hiding inside big, glowing jars. I've spent way too many hours smashing pots across the chapters, so let me walk you through every Awaken Wine Worm location I've confirmed as of 2026.
First things first: you need to meet Shen Monkey in the Bamboo Grove, not long after you beat Guangmou. He's the one who unlocks Gourd upgrades. Once you've done that, every glowing jar you smash might give you an Awaken Wine Worm. Some are found in the world, and some you buy from Shen Monkey himself. Let's break it down.
| Chapter | Location | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Wind King arena | After beating the Black Wind King, stay in the arena. Look left for a glowing vase. Smash it. |
| 2 | Valley of Despair Shrine (Sandgate Village) | From the shrine, head right into the cave. Keep to the right until you spot a glowing pot behind a shoddy wall. Hop off the ledge ahead and take the right path. |
| 3 | Shen Monkey (Marsh of the White Mist) | Reach Chapter Three, visit Shen Monkey in his cave, and buy one. |
| 3 | Marsh of the White Mist Shrine | Turn right, go to the wooden chest at the end of the cliffs. Drop down one floor to the left, push through enemies, and the glowing jar waits at the end. |
| 3 | Near the same shrine | Walk through the gate near the shrine. At the fork, take the left path downhill. Beat the tough enemy, then break the glowing vase nearby. |
| 4 | Shen Monkey (second purchase) | Start Chapter Four, travel back to Shen Monkey, and buy another. |
| 4 | Estate of Zhu | In the little town, find the shack beside the arena where you fight the Second Sister. The jar is inside. |
| 4 | Temple entrance | From the temple entrance, go up the stairs and fight the Snake Shriff Spirit. Go through the door it was guarding, and look below the large tree. |
| 5 | Shen Monkey (third purchase) | Reach Chapter Five, return to Shen Monkey, and buy a third worm. |
| 5 | Rakshasa Palace Shrine | Head up the stairs and over the bridge. You'll meet two large shielded enemies. Turn left to find the Old Man NPC beside the glowing worm jar. |
Chapter 1: Black Wind King's leftovers
After you defeat the Black Wind King, don't rush out. Look to the left side of the arena. There's a glowing vase just sitting there, practically begging to be smashed. It's one of the easiest worms to miss because you're probably still catching your breath. Trust me, grab it before you leave.
Chapter 2: Sandgate Village's hidden pot
Fast travel to the Valley of Despair Shrine in Sandgate Village. Head right and enter the cave ahead. Stay on the right side as you run. You'll eventually see a glowing pot tucked behind a shoddy wall. To reach it, hop off the ledge ahead and follow the right path. The jar is a bit sneaky, but it's there.
Chapter 3: Shen Monkey and the Marsh
This is where Shen Monkey becomes your favorite monkey. Once you reach Chapter Three, visit his cave in the Marsh of the White Mist. He'll sell you an Awaken Wine Worm. Easy peasy.
Then from the Marsh of the White Mist Shrine, turn right and head toward the wooden chest at the end of the cliffs. Drop down a floor to the left, push through a few enemies, and the glowing jar is waiting at the end of the cliff.
There's another one near the same shrine. Walk through the gate near the shrine, and when you hit the fork in the road, take the left path downhill. A tough enemy blocks the way, but after you beat it, smash the glowing vase nearby. No pain, no gain.
Chapter 4: Estate of Zhu and temple secrets
Once Chapter Four begins, go back to Shen Monkey for a second purchasable worm. He doesn't mind the repeat visit.
Then make your way to the Estate of Zhu. In this little town, you'll find a worm jar hiding inside a shack right beside the arena where you fight the Second Sister. It's easy to spot if you check the corners.
From the entrance of the temple, walk up the stairs and face the Snake Shriff Spirit. After you defeat it, head through the door it was guarding. The pot sits below a large tree. Don't let the scenery distract you.
Chapter 5: Rakshasa Palace and the Old Man
Go back to Shen Monkey a third time once you reach Chapter Five. Buy another worm. At this point, he's basically your worm dealer.
From the Rakshasa Palace Shrine, head up the stairs and over the bridge. You'll eventually run into two large enemies with shields. If you turn left, you'll find the Old Man NPC standing beside the glowing worm jar. Smash it, and you're done.
Quick tips for worm hunting
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Glowing jars are your target. If it glows, break it.
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Some worms are bought, not found. Always check Shen Monkey when a new chapter starts.
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Don't ignore ledges and shoddy walls. The jars love hiding behind them.
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If you're low on health, upgrade your Gourd as soon as you can. Every worm makes a difference.
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As of 2026, these locations still work in the current version of the game. Patches haven't moved them, so you can follow this route with confidence.
And that's the full list. Your Gourd will heal you more per sip, which makes boss fights a lot less sweaty. If you're also trying to improve your armor, you'll want to hunt down Silk next. But for now, go smash some glowing jars. Your Gourd is thirsty... and so are you. 😉