Valley of Despair

First Prince of the Flowing Sands沙大郎

Optional

Defeated

What it inflicts: No status effect
Phases: 1 phase
Equipment: One set

Recommended gear

Coming back later: everything you can get in Chapter 2 without beating it.

Editor's pick Coming back later: the Galeguard set, the sturdiest full set you can craft in Chapter 2, and A Pluck of Many.

Weapon attack: 60
Armor defense: 88
Resistance: Shock: +4

Base values, before upgrades, from the registry.

Weapon
Cloud-Patterned Stone Staff Optional boss: ShigandangCrafting: Heart of Stone × 1, Yaoguai Core × 4, Stone Spirit × 8, 8,100 Will
Otherwise: Wind Bear Staff, Twin Serpents Staff
Headgear
Galeguard Beast Mask Obtained later: Stone VanguardCrafting: Yarn × 4, Silk × 2, 1,800 Will
Otherwise: Bronze Monkey Mask
Chest
Galeguard Beastmaw Armor Obtained later: Stone VanguardCrafting: Yarn × 5, Silk × 2, 2,000 Will
Otherwise: Ebongold Silk Robe
Arms
Galeguard Bracers Obtained later: Stone VanguardCrafting: Yarn × 1, Silk × 1, 1,000 Will
Otherwise: Ebongold Armguard
Legs
Galeguard Greaves Obtained later: Stone VanguardCrafting: Yarn × 2, Silk × 1, 1,200 Will
Otherwise: Ebongold Gaiters
Spirit
Wandering Wight Optional boss: Wandering Wight
Otherwise: Guangmou
Transformation
Red Tides Optional boss: Guangzhi
Otherwise: Azure Dust
Spells
- Immobilize
- Cloud Step
- A Pluck of Many Obtained later: Windseal Gate (Headless Monk)
Curios
- Agate Jar
- Cat Eye Beads Optional boss: Wandering Wight
Gourd
Medicine Gourd Optional: rescuing Shen Monkey (Marsh of White Mist)
Soaks
- Laurel Buds

The fight

A single phase, in a narrow cave where it's easy to get cornered. His blows are slow, mixed with quick sweeps.

One set: nothing changes during the fight, and the Valley of Despair shrine right before lets you re-equip after the royal duo.

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

No status effect reported: claws, arms and tail, physical damage.

Attacks to watch

Quick sweeps, much faster than the rest of his slow moves: don't drop your guard between two attacks.
Wide arm sweeps and tail swipes: dangerous on his sides and behind him.
Claw swipes, and leaps that land on you.

What works

Immobilize, then your transformation, then quick combos until Immobilize is back. Immobilize
Cloud Step to get out of a corner or a combo. Cloud Step

Strategy

Strike between his slow attacks; he stumbles after a long string of blows, take advantage of the fall.
Stay on his flanks, while watching the tail.

Access

Valley of Despair, Sandgate Village: enter the cave by the shrine and get past two enemies; at a cliff edge, the arena lies below. If you beat the King, use the Pungent Flesh Chunk at the cliff edge to lure him; otherwise, a cutscene shows the King calling him. Optional: his arena is off the cave path, but he is needed for the chapter's secret area.

What it gives

to obtainArhat Gold Piece
to obtainYarn × 2
to obtainSilk × 2

Will: 1,019

The Arhat Gold Piece is used in the drunken boar's quest, which leads to the secret area. The Loong Scales are in the chest behind the statue wall of his arena.

Updates

No published update changes this boss.

In NG+

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

Page checked on October 16, 2026.