Mani Wheel

Captain Wise-Voice魔将·妙音

Mandatory

Defeated

What it inflicts: Shock
Phases: 2 phasesa single fight; around half health, ranged lightning and an ultimate attack
Equipment: One setno shrine or checkpoint between the phases

Good to know

Missable: when he dies, the Lantern Wardens vanish from the prison for this cycle. Kill all 9 before him: the last one drops the Auspicious Lantern curio, counted for the "A Curious Collection" achievement. They only appear during the chant, when your eyes glow red and the screen turns gray. The 9th is on the Mani Wheel shrine level: head away from the shrine, drop down and keep going. Otherwise, the Lantern can be earned in NG+.

His chant: while he lives, the prison rings with a chant every 3 minutes, for 1 min 30 s. Your max health is halved, and both you and the enemies hit harder; resting at a shrine during the chant doesn't restore the lost health. The chant fades as soon as you exit at the top of the prison, but he casts it himself in the fight: max health reduced for about 1 minute, in exchange for a damage boost.

Recommended gear

With what you can get before this boss, in your first cycle.

Editor's pick The Kang-Jin Staff is recommended before this fight; the Cloud-Patterned Stone Staff and the Ochre set are too, and the 3 Ochre pieces protect your decoy and duplicates. Against Shock, Azure Dust makes you immune to the Four Banes while transformed, and the Thunderbolt Horn raises your Shock Resistance after each sip. The Fine China Tea Bowl, found in the prison, speeds up the Stamina recovery his chant slows down, and you need Stamina to hold Pillar Stance through his ultimate.

Weapon attack: 70
Armor defense: 114
Resistance: Chill: +7

Base values, before upgrades, from the registry.

Weapon
Kang-Jin Staff Crafting: Starlit Cloud-Bidden Antler × 1, Refined Iron Sand × 4, Yaoguai Core × 8, 21,000 Will
Otherwise: Cloud-Patterned Stone Staff, Rat Sage Staff
Headgear
Galeguard Beast Mask Crafting: Yarn × 4, Silk × 2, 1,800 Will
Otherwise: Snout Mask
Chest
Ochre Battlerobe Crafting: Silk × 5, Cold Iron Leaves × 2, 4,200 Will
Otherwise: Galeguard Beastmaw Armor
Arms
Ochre Armguard Crafting: Silk × 1, Cold Iron Leaves × 1, 1,800 Will
Otherwise: Galeguard Bracers
Legs
Ochre Greaves Crafting: Silk × 2, Cold Iron Leaves × 1, 2,400 Will
Otherwise: Galeguard Greaves
Spirit
Wandering Wight Optional boss: Wandering Wight
Transformation
Azure Dust Optional boss: Man-in-Stone
Otherwise: Red Tides
Spells
Curios
- Fine China Tea Bowl
- Agate Jar
Gourd
Medicine Sage Gourd Optional: rescuing Shen Monkey (Marsh of White Mist)Optional: the Windrest Hamlet shrineOptional boss: Gore-Eye Daoist
Otherwise: Jade Lotus Gourd
Soaks
- Thunderbolt Horn Optional: rescuing Shen Monkey (Marsh of White Mist)

The fight

A single fight, with no pause. Only his front right leg, glowing orange, takes damage; hit it enough and he collapses, head exposed: this golden sphere is his weak point. Repeat the cycle. Around half health, he adds ranged lightning and his ultimate attack, during which the whole arena floor becomes electrified.

One set: no shrine or pause in the arena, the Mani Wheel shrine is right before it.

Spells, transformation and soaks are set at a Keeper's Shrine, never mid-fight: what you bring into a fight stays until the end. One spell per category: Cloud Step and Rock Solid exclude each other, pick one before the fight.

What it inflicts

Shock: many of his attacks are electric, like his lightning, the wave from his stomps and the electrified floor of his ultimate. Bring Shock-Quelling Powder.

Attacks to watch

Opener: his sphere spins and fires thin beams in every direction, then brings them all down on you. Strafe away and dodge as they come down, or run underneath him.
His front leg charges with electricity, then he stomps: a ring spreads around him. Jump over it, or rise into Pillar Stance.
A series of slow stomps: electric spots appear around you, then lightning strikes each one after a delay. Sprint out of them.
Feet glowing yellow: a charged stomp that throws you into the air before a grab. Jump right before the impact. Around half health, he also leaps to land on you and grab you: put some distance between you.
Ultimate attack: his body steps into a corner, the sphere spins in the middle firing lightning and beams, then the whole floor fills with lines. As soon as the floor turns red, rise into Pillar Stance: on the ground, the blast is nearly lethal. He is invulnerable meanwhile.

What works

Let his first volley pass, then Immobilize and A Pluck of Many: you and your duplicates hit his leg until he collapses. Immobilize, A Pluck of Many
Wandering Wight: its spirit attack deals heavy damage when it hits the head. Wandering Wight
Shock-Quelling Powder: it removes Shock and briefly raises your Shock Resistance. Shock-Quelling Powder
Cloud Step during the ultimate: it helps you slip away from the lightning and saves your Stamina for Pillar Stance. Cloud Step

Strategy

Once he's down, build Focus with 1 or 2 light combos, then spend it on a charged heavy attack to the head: a big charge too early can knock him out of his daze.
Lure his head-down charge into a wall: he dazes himself and gives you free hits.
You can walk while drinking from your gourd: handy during his laser volleys.
Keep at least one point in Pillar Stance: it is what saves you from the ultimate.

Access

Pagoda Realm, at the top of the prison. Climb the prison's 4 levels; once out at the top, the Mani Wheel shrine is on the left. From the shrine, cross the rock bridge and enter the large structure: he waits inside. Mandatory: you must beat him to leave the prison.

What it gives

to obtainRefined Iron Sand × 2
to obtainMind Core
to obtainThe Spirit of Captain Wise-Voice

Will: 1,584

The Spirit of Captain Wise-Voice is a key item, not an equippable spirit: pick up his golden soul after the fight and keep it for the Lower Pagoda prisoner, the Third Prince.

His death ends the chant across the Pagoda Realm: you can go back down to explore the prison without the curse, but any Lantern Wardens still alive are gone.

Updates

Update 1.0.8: stats slightly reduced. The same update fixes the Lantern Wardens' attack, which could push you into walls.

In NG+

In NG+, you keep your gear, spells, transformations and spirits, and bosses are tougher. Key items don't carry over: the chapter's quest items must be taken again.

Page checked on October 16, 2026.