Iron Pellet is the strongest general-purpose defensive pick by listed effect: it reduces damage and prevents incoming hits from interrupting Gourd use. That makes it a useful default when staying alive and getting a heal off matter more than a specialized bonus. It is an effect-based editorial ranking, not a tested or universal tier list: the best Soak depends on your encounter, build, Drink, and available Gourd slots.
How Soaks work
Soaks add secondary effects when you use a healing Gourd, alongside the effect of its selected Drink. You can brew at Shrines after meeting Shen Monkey, and the number of Soaks you can equip depends on your Gourd. The guides describe adding or removing Soaks at a Shrine. See PowerPyx’s Soak locations guide and Gamer Guides’ Drinks and Soaks guide for the reported system details.
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Best Soaks by situation
These picks compare the effects described in player guides. They are recommendations based on what each effect does, not on measured performance.
1. Iron Pellet: best general defensive pick
Iron Pellet combines damage reduction with protection against incoming hits interrupting Gourd use. That pairing makes it a strong choice when a heal is risky or survival is the priority. Its effect addresses both the damage you take and the chance that pressure prevents you from completing a heal. The guides report that you can buy it from Man-in-Stone after completing his quest; see GameSpot’s Gourd Drinks and Soaks guide.
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- Explore a land of vast wonders - A world unseen, where new sights rise with every stride- Enter a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology! Confront mighty foes, old and new - Heroic Monkey, might and fame, adversaries rise, to test his name. One of the major highlights of Journey to the West is its diverse cast of adversaries, each with unique strengths.
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2. Gall Gem: best for a poison encounter
Gall Gem grants poison resistance for a short duration. It is a focused answer to poison rather than a broad defensive upgrade, so equip it when that resistance is likely to matter. GameSpot lists its effect among the Soak descriptions.
3. Tender Jade Lotus: a small, broad defense boost
Tender Jade Lotus provides a small increase to defense, making it a straightforward defensive option when you do not need a particular resistance or offensive trigger. Its acquisition is less predictable: the guides describe it as a chance-based drop from gathering Jade Lotus plants. PowerPyx cautions that reloading the area does not reroll the described drop. See PowerPyx’s locations guide.
Rank #2
- Explore a land of vast wonders - A world unseen, where new sights rise with every stride- Enter a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology! Confront mighty foes, old and new - Heroic Monkey, might and fame, adversaries rise, to test his name. One of the major highlights of Journey to the West is its diverse cast of adversaries, each with unique strengths.
- Temper your mastery of varied spells - Spells unbound, knowledge's flight, infinite abilities take their height. Spells, transformations, and magic vessels in all manifestations, complementary yet adversarial, have long been iconic combat elements of Chinese mythology.
- Discover heartfelt tales behind every façade - Uncover the stories behind a variety of characters. Beneath the ferocity of your foes is a tapestry of their origins, personalities and motivations waiting to be revealed.
- Digital Deluxe Edition Voucher Code Included - PSN voucher code provides Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, Folk Opera Buskins, Wind Chimes, and selected Digital Soundtrack.
- Languages – In-game voice: Chinese and English. In-game text: English, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese.
4. Tiger Relic: for a critical-hit-focused setup
Tiger Relic temporarily increases critical-hit chance. It is most relevant when your setup can make use of that window; it is not the default survival choice because its listed effect is offensive rather than defensive. GameSpot describes the effect in its Soaks guide.
5. Match utility Soaks to your build
Several other listed effects support particular resources or spells rather than improving every situation. Steel Ginseng restores focus, Undying Vine restores stamina and improves recovery, and Stranded Loong’s Whisker extends the next Immobilize. Choose among them according to the resource or spell your setup actually uses. Gamer Guides’ item guide and Shacknews’ Soak locations guide list collection details and effects.
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Where to find Soaks
Soaks are collected in different ways; there is no single acquisition route. The guides report finds in containers, rewards tied to quests, purchases from vendors, and chance-based drops from plant gathering.
- Exploration: check containers and other item locations described in the location guides.
- Quest or vendor: Iron Pellet is reported as a purchase from Man-in-Stone after his quest.
- Plant gathering: Tender Jade Lotus and Steel Ginseng may drop when gathering their respective plants. These drops are described as chance-based, and PowerPyx says reloading the area does not reroll them.
For location-by-location collection notes, consult PowerPyx, Shacknews, and GameSpot.
Rank #4
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How many Soaks are there?
PowerPyx reported 26 Soaks in the base game plus one additional Soak from DLC in its August 20, 2024 guide. Treat that as the guide’s count, not an official or independently verified current total; the number depends on whether DLC is included and may be affected by later updates. The ranking above focuses on effects and use cases rather than claiming an exhaustive tier list.
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