Hey there, aspiring monkey king! Feeling a bit... frustrated by the relentless ferocity of the Tiger Vanguard? You're not alone. This boss is a true test of skill, patience, and timing. He's fast, hits like a truck, and has a few tricks up his sleeve that can catch even the most seasoned players off guard. But don't you worry, because by the end of this guide, you'll have all the knowledge you need to turn this ferocious feline into a pile of experience points. Are you ready to tame the tiger? Let's get started!
Step 1: Preparation is Key
Before you even step into the arena, you need to ensure you're properly equipped. A warrior who charges into battle without their gear is a warrior who doesn't come back. So, let's go over what you should be wearing and what you should be packing.
Gear Up!
Armor: The best armor for this fight is one that enhances your stamina or provides good physical defense. The Gale Guardian Armor Set is a great choice as it increases your Focus gain and reduces spell cooldowns on a perfect dodge. This is a game-changer.
Staff: The Cloud-Patterned Stone Staff is a fantastic option, as it buffs the damage of your charged heavy attacks. Since you'll be looking for openings to use these, it's a perfect fit. The Wind Bear Staff is also a strong choice.
Curios: Equip the Back Scratcher to increase your maximum stamina, and the Agate Jar for a boost to your defense. These are reliable choices that will help you survive the prolonged fight.
Stock Up on Consumables!
Evil Repelling Medicaments: These pills are your best friend, as they provide a temporary increase in damage reduction. Pop one before the fight starts or when you see a good opening.
Tiger Subduing Pellets: These will increase your attack, allowing you to deal more damage and shorten the fight.
Amplification Pellets: Use these to increase your critical hit chance.
Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd: This gourd is useful for stamina recovery and can be a lifesaver in a pinch.
Sparks and Spells:
Prioritize upgrading Sparks like Robust Constitution (for health), Everlasting Vigor (for stamina), and Simian Agility (for dodging).
The Immobilize spell is incredibly effective in this fight. It can completely freeze the Tiger Vanguard in place, giving you a massive window to unleash a flurry of attacks.
A Pluck of Many is a great spell to summon clones that can distract the boss and deal some chip damage.
The Cloud Step spell is a fantastic defensive tool, allowing you to quickly reposition and even avoid un-dodgeable attacks.
The Red Tides transformation is a powerful offensive and defensive tool. It can set the boss on fire, dealing damage over time, and can also heal you as you attack.
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| How To Beat Tiger Vanguard |
Step 2: Learn the Dance
The Tiger Vanguard is all about his attack patterns. You can't just mash buttons and hope for the best. This is a dance, and you need to learn the steps.
Phase 1: The Feline Fury
When you enter the arena, the Tiger Vanguard will almost always start with a leaping attack. This is your first opportunity to engage!
Opening Leap: The Tiger will dash to the right and leap into the air, arms stretched out. Dodge to the side as he comes down. He's slow during this attack, so it's a great chance to get in a light attack combo.
Two-Hit Combo & Sweep: He'll follow up with two quick punches and a slightly delayed low sweep. The key here is to dodge towards him and around his back. This will put you in a prime position to land another quick combo as he recovers.
Horizontal Slash: He might throw out a single, fast horizontal slash with his sword. This is an easy dodge.
Roar and Smash: Be wary when he gets on all fours and roars. This is a tell for a linear punch that's slow and easy to avoid by dodging or sprinting away.
The Cartwheel: He'll often cartwheel away to create distance. Do not chase him! This is a trap. He's likely preparing for another leaping attack or a ranged attack. Stay close to him to prevent him from using his tornados.
Step 3: Mastering the Second Half
Once you've chipped away at his health bar, the Tiger Vanguard will enter his second phase. He becomes even more aggressive and introduces some new, tricky moves.
QuickTip: Ask yourself what the author is trying to say.
Phase 2: The Sword and Stone
Sword Slash Combo: When he pulls out his sword, be ready for a four-hit combo. The final slash is very delayed and can be tricky to dodge. Don't panic and dodge too early. Wait for the final hit and dodge just as it's about to connect.
Blood Tornadoes: If you create too much distance, he will whip up tornados of blood to hit you from afar. These will follow you, so you need to dodge forward just as they are about to hit you.
Rock Solid: This is his most annoying new trick. He will turn to stone, and if you attack him, you'll bounce off. Stop attacking immediately! He'll disappear and then reappear somewhere in the arena with a devastating charged punch.
How to Counter: The moment you see him turn to stone, unlock your camera and look for a streak of red light or a sandstorm. This is where he will reappear. Use your Cloud Step spell to completely remove yourself from the situation, or be ready for a late dodge as he teleports in.
Head Bonk: A great way to deal with this is to use the Wandering Wight spirit's headbutt attack. It can break his stone form and stagger him, giving you a huge window for damage.
Charged Punch: This is a tricky one. He turns into stone, then teleports back with a powerful, fast punch. The camera can get a bit wonky during this, so be on your toes.
Blood Slashes: He may follow up his tornados with ranged blood projectiles. These are linear, so you can easily avoid them by dodging forward repeatedly.
Step 4: Putting it all Together: The Strategy
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Be Aggressive, but Patient: Stay close to him, but don't over-commit to long attack strings. Get in a few hits after a successful dodge and then be ready to dodge again.
Focus on Dodging: This is a fight where dodging is paramount. Practice your perfect dodges. A successful perfect dodge not only avoids damage but can also build Focus and help with spell cooldowns.
Utilize Spells and Transformations: Don't be afraid to use your spells. The Immobilize spell is your greatest asset. Use it when he is vulnerable after a combo or when he is charging up an attack. The Red Tides transformation is excellent for a burst of damage and a bit of healing.
Punish His Recoveries: The Tiger Vanguard has a lot of "downtime" after his combos. This is your chance to shine. As soon as he finishes an attack string, get in your hits.
Use the Environment: The arena is a bit watery. If you have the water armor set, you can regenerate stamina and health while in the water, which can be a massive advantage.
Step 5: Celebrate Your Victory!
Once you defeat the Tiger Vanguard, you will be rewarded with a great amount of Will, a Mind Core, Yaoguai Cores, and most importantly, the Rock Solid spell. This is a game-changing spell that allows you to parry attacks by turning to stone, a skill that will serve you well in your future adventures.
Congratulations, you have tamed the beast and proven your worth as a true warrior!
10 Related FAQ Subheadings
QuickTip: Stop scrolling if you find value.
How to find the Tiger Vanguard?
You can find the Tiger Vanguard at the Crouching Tiger Temple in the Yellow Wind Ridge area. You can access this temple by progressing through the main story path. He is a secret boss that can be unlocked by following a specific questline.
How to dodge the Tiger Vanguard's attacks effectively?
The key to dodging his attacks is to understand the timing of his combos. For his quick melee combos, dodge towards him and to the side. For his slower, more telegraphed attacks like the leaping smash, dodge as he is about to land. The final hit of his sword combo is often delayed, so be patient with your dodge.
How to deal with the Tiger Vanguard's Rock Solid ability?
When he turns to stone, immediately stop attacking. He will disappear and reappear somewhere else in the arena with a powerful charged punch. You can either use a spell like Cloud Step to avoid it or unlock your camera and watch for the red streak on the ground to see where he's going to attack from and dodge at the last second. The Wandering Wight spirit's headbutt can also break his stone form.
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
How to use spells and transformations against the Tiger Vanguard?
Spells like Immobilize are a massive help. Use it right after he finishes a combo to get a huge window for free damage. Transformations like Red Tides are great for burning him and getting some health back. Don't be afraid to use them to create openings and turn the tide of the fight.
How to prepare the best build for the Tiger Vanguard boss fight?
A build that focuses on stamina, defense, and Focus gain is ideal. The Gale Guardian armor, Cloud-Patterned Stone Staff, and Curios like the Back Scratcher and Agate Jar are all excellent choices. Upgrade your stamina and dodge-related Sparks for a more survivable build.
How to punish the Tiger Vanguard after his combos?
His combos often end with a long recovery animation. This is your chance. Get in a few light attacks or a charged heavy attack, depending on the opening, and then be ready to dodge his next move.
Tip: Take your time with each sentence.
How to avoid the Tiger Vanguard's ranged attacks?
If you stay close to him, he will rarely use his ranged attacks. However, if he does summon blood tornados, dodge forward just as they are about to hit you. The blood slashes that follow are linear and can be avoided by repeatedly dodging forward.
How to deal with the Tiger Vanguard's aggressive second phase?
He is much faster and more unpredictable in his second phase. The key is to be even more patient with your attacks and focus on mastering his new combo timings, especially the delayed sword slashes and the teleporting stone punch.
How to use the environment to your advantage?
The arena has a watery floor. If you have the water armor set, you can regenerate stamina and health while in the water. Use this to your advantage to stay topped up and ready for his attacks.
How to beat the Tiger Vanguard if I am struggling with a specific build?
If you're struggling with a melee build, consider using the Immobilize spell to create openings. If you're a mage, use your spells from a distance to chip away at his health, but be mindful of his ranged attacks. Learning his moves is more important than your build, so take some runs just to practice dodging and don't worry about dealing damage.
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