Village in the Shade sets itself apart from standard farming games by forcing you to deal with creepy yokai during nighttime excursions. Strolling through the village after dark lets you scoop up rare magatamas and crafting materials, but a relentless boss entity stalks your every move. Figuring out how to defeat hyakume is essential since these floating black orbs spawn across every season and weather type to block your vision.
This encounter usually catches players off guard because turning on your light too early ruins your chance to clear them out. Trust me, keeping your cool while the screen darkens takes some practice, but it completely changes how you handle night runs. I still remember panicking the first time they swarmed me without any visible warning.
This walkthrough breaks down the exact steps to bait them out, spot the real target, and claim your rewards without wasting supplies. Just make sure you have your bow ready and a clear path mapped out before heading into the dark.
How to Defeat Hyakume in Village in the Shade
Stepping into the village on nights when these yokai are active will cause your flashlight to shut off automatically. Leave the flashlight turned off for now because you need total darkness to draw the creatures close to your position.
Jostle around the dirt paths until dark splotches start creeping across your camera view. Head straight for a wide open space like the Village Plaza to give yourself room to maneuver. Wait patiently until your entire screen is completely smothered in black splotches before flipping your flashlight back on.
Clicking your flashlight on instantly clears the visual obstruction and physicalizes the hyakume in your zone. Most of these shadowy balls look identical as they chase you down at a steady pace without slowing. You cannot outrun them forever, so spotting the unique variant is your only ticket out.
Jog around the obstacles until you catch sight of a special hyakume displaying distinct white rings resembling a shooting target. Switch to your bow immediately and loose an arrow into that specific target to wipe out the entire group at once.
Pro tip: Crowds of duplicate yokai will block your shots, so kite them in wide circles around the open plaza to space them out before firing.
Finishing this encounter for the very first time grants you a functional scarecrow for your farm. Subsequent victories drop house decorations, multiple magatama, or handfuls of dorotabo seeds.