Ah, the Tiger Vanguard. A true test of skill, patience, and sometimes, your sanity! If you're reading this, chances are you've stared down this fierce beast multiple times, only to be swatted away like a fly. But don't despair, brave warrior! This lengthy guide is your ultimate weapon to finally conquer the Tiger Vanguard with ease. We're going to break down every roar, every claw swipe, and every stone transformation so you can emerge victorious.
Ready to turn the tide against this formidable foe? Let's dive in!
Unleashing the Inner Monkey: A Step-by-Step Guide to Dominating the Tiger Vanguard
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| How To Beat Tiger Vanguard Easy |
Step 1: Mindset is Everything (and so is a Little Preparation)
Before you even think about stepping into the arena, let's talk about your mental state and a few crucial pre-fight checks. This isn't just a boss fight; it's a dance. You need to be calm, observant, and ready to adapt.
Sub-heading: The Zen of Combat
- Patience, Young Grasshopper: The Tiger Vanguard is designed to punish impatience. Rushing in with reckless abandon will lead to a swift defeat. Learn to observe, recognize patterns, and only strike when you have a clear opening.
- Embrace the Dodge: Seriously, dodging is your best friend in this fight. More than parrying, more than blocking, dodging is your primary means of survival. Practice your dodge timing until it's second nature.
- Forget Your Ego: You're going to get hit. You're going to die. A few times. Maybe more. Don't let it frustrate you. Each death is a learning opportunity. Analyze what went wrong and adjust your strategy.
Sub-heading: Pre-Fight Checklist: Gearing Up for Glory
- Armor Up: Ensure you have the best possible armor crafted for your current stage of the game. If you've already defeated the Stone Vanguard, the Galeguard Armor set is highly recommended for its defensive properties.
- Spirits and Spells:
- Wandering Wight (Spirit): This spirit provides a defense boost and can be crucial for staggering the Tiger Vanguard out of his "Rock Solid" form.
- Immobilize (Spell): This is your absolute best friend in this fight. It locks the Tiger Vanguard in place, giving you precious seconds to unleash damage.
- Cloud Step (Spell): Extremely useful for quickly getting out of sticky situations, especially when he teleports or uses his ranged attacks.
- Red Tides (Spell/Transformation): If you have this, it can provide significant damage and even some healing. Consider using it strategically, perhaps in his later phases.
- Consumables: Stock up on Evil Repelling Medicaments (for damage reduction) and Tiger Subduing Pellets (for increased attack). Even a small boost can make a difference. Don't be afraid to use them – you can replenish them in later chapters.
- Spark Points (Skill Tree):
- Stamina: Prioritize putting a significant majority of your spark points into Stamina. You'll be doing a lot of dodging, and increased stamina and stamina regeneration are paramount. Perfect dodges can also provide free damage with certain skills.
- Light Attacks / Smash Stance: Since you'll mostly be relying on short combos and light attacks, investing some points here can be beneficial. If you're comfortable with charged heavy attacks, the Smash Stance can be very potent, especially with the Cloud Pattern Stone Staff.
Step 2: Understanding the Beast: Tiger Vanguard's Attack Patterns
The key to beating the Tiger Vanguard easily is understanding his moveset. He's fast, agile, and has a variety of close-range and long-range attacks. We'll break them down, along with how to counter them.
Sub-heading: Phase 1: The Fists of Fury
In the initial phase, the Tiger Vanguard relies primarily on his fists and martial arts. Stay close, but be ready to dodge!
QuickTip: Repeat difficult lines until they’re clear.
- Jumping Smash (Opening Move & General Attack):
- Description: Often his opening move. He'll dash right, then leap into the air with arms stretched, slamming them into the ground. He also uses this throughout the fight.
- How to Counter: This attack is slow and highly telegraphed. Dodge out of the way as he descends. You'll have a good window for a light attack combo after he recovers.
- Two-Hit Punch Combo (with Sweep Kick Follow-up):
- Description: A common two-punch combo, often followed by a slightly delayed low sweep kick. He'll usually cartwheel away afterward.
- How to Counter: Dodge towards his back for the punches. For the sweep kick, dodge away or through it. Do not attempt to punish after the two punches, as the sweep kick will catch you. Wait for him to retreat before considering an attack.
- Uppercut and Ground Slam:
- Description: He'll throw an uppercut, then slam his other fist into the ground. He pauses briefly after this, shaking his hand.
- How to Counter: This is a major opening! Dodge the uppercut and ground slam, then unleash a short light attack combo. This is one of your prime opportunities for damage.
- Side-Somersault Kick into Punches:
- Description: He takes a ready stance, performs a side-somersault kick, then throws two quick punches, ending with a side-spinning jump and leg crash.
- How to Counter: This is a multi-hit combo. Focus on perfect dodges for each part. The final leg crash is delayed, so time your dodge accordingly. Avoid attacking until the full sequence is complete.
- Rock Solid (Defensive Stance):
- Description: He'll turn his body hard as rock, glowing with a stony effect. If you hit him, your attacks will bounce off, and you'll be stunned, leaving you open to a brutal counter.
- How to Counter: DO NOT ATTACK HIM WHEN HE'S ROCK SOLID! This is a bait. Instead, use this time to heal, use consumables, or charge a heavy attack. He'll eventually stagger out of it or retaliate with a charged punch. If he charges a punch after turning solid, dodge late to avoid it. The Wandering Wight spirit can sometimes knock him out of this.
Sub-heading: Phase 2: The Blade Awakens
Around half health, the Tiger Vanguard introduces his sword, adding dangerous slashes and ranged attacks.
- Quick Sword Slash:
- Description: He'll draw his sword and unleash a very swift, single horizontal slash. This attack is quick and can cover surprising distance.
- How to Counter: The tell for this is clear: he reaches for his blade. This attack is fast, so a perfect dodge is ideal. Dodge in any direction to avoid it.
- Four-Attack Sword Combo (Spinning Jump Start):
- Description: Begins with a spinning jump, transitions into a standard two-hit combo with the sword, then ends with a delayed leap attack.
- How to Counter: This is a high-damage combo. Dodge the initial spinning jump and the two quick slashes. Be extremely wary of the delayed leap attack – many players get caught by this. Time your final dodge just as he descends.
- Blood Tornadoes (Ranged Attack):
- Description: If you create too much distance, he'll stand in the bloody pool on the stage and whip up tornadoes that track you.
- How to Counter: Stay close to him to minimize the chances of him using this. If he does, dodge side to side as the tornadoes approach. Don't stop dodging until they pass. This is also an excellent opportunity to use Immobilize if you have it ready, as it will often interrupt him.
- Charged Sword Dash:
- Description: He'll charge at you from a distance with his sword out, sometimes leaping high up to bring a smackdown from above.
- How to Counter: This can be tricky. Dodge towards him as he dashes to get behind him, or use Cloud Step to completely disengage.
Sub-heading: Phase 3: The Teleporting Terror
In his final phase, with under a third of his health left, the Tiger Vanguard becomes even more aggressive, often incorporating a teleporting move from his "Rock Solid" state.
- Teleporting Rock Solid Counter:
- Description: He'll turn "Rock Solid," but instead of waiting, he'll teleport around the arena, often trying to ambush you from a random angle with a powerful punch.
- How to Counter: Watch the blood splashes on the ground – they indicate where he's going to reappear. As soon as you see him appear, dodge immediately. This is a prime time to use Cloud Step to avoid the attack entirely and reset.
- Increased Aggression and Mixed Combos:
- Description: He'll start mixing his fist and sword combos more rapidly and often extend them.
- How to Counter: The principles remain the same: patience and precise dodging. Don't get greedy with your attacks. Focus on recognizing the start of each combo and executing your dodges. If you have Immobilize or Red Tides ready, this is the time to unleash them to burst him down.
Step 3: The Art of the Attack: When and How to Strike
Dodging is survival, but attacking is victory. Knowing when to commit and when to hold back is crucial.
Sub-heading: Short and Sweet: Your Primary Damage Strategy
- Light Attack Combos (2-3 Hits): For most openings, a short burst of 2-3 light attacks is your safest bet. This allows you to quickly dodge out if he retaliates or transitions into another attack. Don't always go for the full combo unless he's significantly staggered or immobilized.
- Focus Points and Heavy Attacks: Building focus points is key to strong damage.
- Charged Heavy Attack (Initial Opener): You can charge a heavy attack outside the arena before entering. As soon as you cross the threshold, lock on and unleash it for a strong opening blow.
- 3 Focus Point Heavy Attacks: Whenever you have 3 focus points, look for a significant opening, especially after a successfully dodged major combo or when he's stunned/immobilized. The Smash Stance heavy attack with the Cloud Pattern Stone Staff is excellent for burst damage.
Sub-heading: Capitalizing on Openings
- After Uppercut/Ground Slam: This is your most consistent window for a few light attacks.
- After Jumping Smashes: Once he recovers from his jump, you can get a few hits in.
- After Long Combos (Successfully Dodged): If you successfully dodge an entire multi-hit combo, you'll often have a brief moment to retaliate.
- During Immobilize: This is your biggest damage window. Pop Immobilize, then unleash your strongest combo, possibly a fully charged heavy attack, or even your Wandering Wight spirit attack for massive damage and stagger.
- During Transformations (Red Tides): If you're using a transformation like Red Tides, use its unique heavy attacks or special abilities to chip away at his health while benefiting from increased defense or damage.
Step 4: Advanced Tactics and General Wisdom
Beyond the basic attacks, there are a few pro tips that can make this fight significantly easier.
Tip: Reread the opening if you feel lost.
Sub-heading: Mastering Your Movement
- Stay Close: As counter-intuitive as it sounds, staying relatively close to the Tiger Vanguard can be safer. Many of his deadliest ranged attacks, like the Blood Tornadoes, are triggered when you create too much distance.
- Don't Spam Dodge: This is a common mistake. Each dodge uses stamina. Learn the timing of his attacks and dodge precisely. Spamming dodge will leave you out of stamina and vulnerable.
- Observe the Arena: The blood pool in the arena isn't just for show. Pay attention to ripples or splashes as they can often telegraph his movements, especially during his teleporting phase.
Sub-heading: Strategic Spell Usage
- Immobilize First: For your initial attempt, I highly recommend saving your first Immobilize for when you successfully get a few hits in and build focus. You can then use it to unleash significant damage early on.
- Cloud Step for Emergencies: Use Cloud Step when you're caught off guard by a teleporting attack, a charged dash, or simply need to reset the fight and create space to heal.
- Replenish and Reuse: Remember that your spells and consumables have cooldowns. Use them when you need them, and don't hoard them. You can usually get a second or even third use out of key spells like Immobilize during a longer fight.
Sub-heading: Learning Through Loss
- The "No-Hit" Practice Run: If you're really struggling, try a few attempts where your only goal is to survive and dodge every attack. Don't even try to hit him. This will help you learn his patterns without the pressure of dealing damage.
- Identify Your Weaknesses: Are you consistently getting hit by his sweep kick? Are his sword combos tripping you up? Pinpoint the attacks that cause you the most trouble and focus on mastering the dodge timing for those specific moves.
By following these steps, practicing consistently, and maintaining a calm demeanor, you'll soon be celebrating your victory over the Tiger Vanguard. It might take a few tries, but with this detailed guide, you've got all the tools you need to beat him with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Beat Tiger Vanguard
Here are 10 common questions and quick answers to help you further:
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How to deal with Tiger Vanguard's Rock Solid form?
Quick Answer: Do not attack him. Wait for him to stagger out of it, or prepare to dodge his counter-attack if he charges a punch. Use this time to heal or prepare your next move.
How to avoid Tiger Vanguard's Blood Tornadoes?
Quick Answer: Stay close to him to prevent him from using this. If he does, dodge side-to-side as they approach.
Tip: Reading on mobile? Zoom in for better comfort.
How to use Immobilize effectively against Tiger Vanguard?
Quick Answer: Use it after he completes a long combo or is recovering from a jumping attack. This provides a long window for free damage.
How to handle Tiger Vanguard's teleporting attack in Phase 3?
Quick Answer: Watch for blood splashes on the ground to predict his reappearance, then dodge immediately. Cloud Step is excellent for escaping this.
How to best utilize my stamina in the Tiger Vanguard fight?
Quick Answer: Prioritize perfect dodges over spamming dodge. Invest heavily in your stamina skill tree.
How to approach Tiger Vanguard at the start of the fight?
Quick Answer: You can charge a heavy attack before entering the arena and release it immediately as an opener. Be ready to dodge his first jumping smash.
Tip: Slow down at important lists or bullet points.
How to recover health during the Tiger Vanguard fight?
Quick Answer: Use your healing gourd when he's in his "Rock Solid" form, when he's immobilized, or after a long combo where he's recovering. The Serpentscale Battlerobe can also passively heal you in the bloody water.
How to increase my damage against Tiger Vanguard?
Quick Answer: Use Tiger Subduing Pellets, focus on building 3 focus points for heavy attacks (especially with Smash Stance), and utilize the Immobilize spell for burst damage.
How to tell when Tiger Vanguard is about to use his sword?
Quick Answer: He'll visibly reach for his blade, often with a distinct animation or stance. Be ready for fast slashes.
How to practice against Tiger Vanguard without dying repeatedly?
Quick Answer: Try "no-hit" runs where your only goal is to dodge every attack. This helps you learn his patterns without the pressure of dealing damage.
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