Greetings, brave warrior! So, you've found yourself at the Crouching Tiger Temple, face-to-face with the formidable Tiger Vanguard and his ferocious martial arts. Don't worry, you're not alone. This boss has humbled many a player, but with the right strategy and a bit of patience, you'll have him begging for mercy.
Let's start with a simple question: Are you ready to stop blindly rushing in and start dancing with this beast? If you're ready to learn his moves, anticipate his strikes, and punish his mistakes, then read on. This comprehensive guide will turn you from a flailing monkey into a graceful master of combat.
Step 1: Preparation is Key - Don't Be a Foolish Fighter
Before you even step into that arena, you need to be prepared. This isn't a fight you can win by just mashing buttons. You need to be equipped, both in terms of gear and knowledge.
Gear Up: First and foremost, make sure you have the best armor available to you. If you've already beaten the Stone Vanguard, you should be able to craft the Galeguard armor set. This will provide a significant defense boost that you'll absolutely need. If you don't have it, go back and get it! Don't be stubborn.
Spirit Summon: The Wandering Wight is your best friend here. Equip it for its defense boost. Some players have also found success with the Guangmou spirit, as its poisonous effect can add some passive damage.
Consumables: Craft and bring some Evil Repelling Medicaments to reduce incoming damage and Tiger Subduing Pellets to boost your attack. Pop these right before the fight or during a safe opening. Every little bit of damage and defense helps.
Spark Points: Re-evaluate your Spark Points. If you've been investing heavily in offense, consider respecifying some points into HP and defense. A few extra health points can be the difference between a victory and a crushing defeat.
Stance: The Thrust Stance is a great option for this fight. Its heavy attack has good range, allowing you to hit the Tiger Vanguard from a distance and retreat safely.
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| How To Easily Beat Tiger Vanguard |
Step 2: Learning the Dance - Master the Attack Patterns
QuickTip: Take a pause every few paragraphs.
This is the most crucial step. The Tiger Vanguard is not a brute; he's a martial artist with a clear rhythm. You need to learn his rhythm and dance around his attacks. He has two main phases, and his moves are surprisingly consistent.
Sub-heading: Phase 1 - Fists and Feet
In the first phase, he will primarily use his fists and kicks. He is fast and agile, but his attacks are telegraphed.
The Leaping Slam: When you first enter the arena, he will likely circle around you and then leap high into the air to slam down. This is an excellent opportunity to perfect dodge out of the way. Once you've dodged, rush back in for a quick light attack combo.
The Two-Hit Combo: He'll often start with a quick one-two punch combo. Perfect dodging this is key to building your focus meter. You can usually land a partial light attack string after this.
The Sweeping Kick: Be careful after his two-hit combo. He sometimes follows up with a sweeping kick as he retreats. Do not get greedy with your attacks after the punches! Wait for him to finish his retreat before you engage again.
The Somresault Kick Combo: He'll ready a stance and then unleash a devastating combo: a side-somersault kick, two punches, and a spinning air crash. This looks intimidating, but it is entirely dodgeable. Watch for the tells, especially the initial stance, and be ready to dodge or Cloud Step out of the way.
Sub-heading: Phase 2 - The Blade and The Stone
Tip: Be mindful — one idea at a time.
Once you've done enough damage, he'll enter his second phase. He will now use his sword and, most importantly, his stone form.
The Stone Gimmick: This is his most dangerous trick. He will turn himself into impenetrable stone, and your attacks will simply bounce off, leaving you vulnerable to a powerful counter. Do not attack him when he is in stone form! You'll know he's in this form when you hear a distinct clanging sound and see your weapon bounce off. He might also crouch down with arms wide, waiting to bait you. Use this time to heal, use consumables, or charge a heavy attack to unleash the moment he comes out of it.
The Sword Slashes: When he draws his sword, his attacks become even more lethal. He has a very swift and deadly strike. Fortunately, it's also very clearly telegraphed. Listen for the sound and watch for his stance. This is a great move to practice your perfect dodge on.
Ranged Cyclone: If you create too much distance, he will swish his blade to summon a cyclone from the blood pool on the ground. Stay close to him to prevent this from happening. Staying close is a great defensive strategy in this fight.
Step 3: The Art of the Counter-Attack
Now that you know his moves, it's time to learn when to strike. Your goal is to be patient and only attack when you have a clear opening.
After his combo ends: This is your prime opportunity. Once he finishes a combo, especially the ones that leave him momentarily winded or recovering, unleash a quick light attack combo.
After a successful perfect dodge: A perfect dodge not only makes you invulnerable, but it also helps you build up your focus points. Use these focus points for a powerful heavy attack to stagger him and deal significant damage.
Use your Transformation: When you have your transformation available (like Red Tides), use it after he finishes a combo or is recovering from an attack. You can pummel him with light attacks during this time.
Utilize Immobilize: The Immobilize spell is incredibly useful. Use it to freeze him in place after he finishes a combo, giving you a chance to unleash a devastating attack. Just be careful not to use it when he is mid-air, as you won't be able to reach him to deal damage.
Step 4: Practice, Practice, Practice
QuickTip: Don’t skim too fast — depth matters.
This boss fight is a test of muscle memory and patience. You are going to die. You will die many times. Don't get frustrated. Each death is a lesson. Use those attempts to simply learn his attack patterns and refine your dodging. Once you can consistently perfect dodge his moves, the fight becomes a dance, and victory will be within your grasp.
Remember: The more you practice, the more you will be able to anticipate his moves and react instinctively.
10 Related FAQs: How to...
How to find the Tiger Vanguard? You can find the Tiger Vanguard inside the Crouching Tiger Temple, which is located at the end of the Sandgate Village. You'll need to defeat the Stone Vanguard first to acquire a key item needed to progress.
How to deal with the Tiger Vanguard's stone form? Never attack him when he turns to stone. Your attacks will bounce off, leaving you open to a counter. Use this time to heal, use consumables, or charge a heavy attack to unleash the moment he becomes vulnerable again.
Reminder: Reading twice often makes things clearer.
How to perfect dodge the Tiger Vanguard? Practice. His attacks are telegraphed, so watch for his tells, such as a stance change or a yell, and time your dodge just as the attack is about to land. The satisfaction of a perfect dodge is worth the practice.
How to use Cloud Step effectively against the Tiger Vanguard? Cloud Step is an excellent tool for getting out of the way of his more dangerous attacks, like his leaping slam or his ranged cyclone. It can also be used to quickly close the distance after a dodge to get a few hits in.
How to increase my defense for the Tiger Vanguard fight? Craft and equip the latest armor set available to you, like the Galeguard armor, and use defense-boosting items like the Evil Repelling Medicament. You can also re-spec your Spark Points to invest more in HP and defense.
How to deal with the Tiger Vanguard's ranged attacks? Stay close to him. If you maintain proximity, he won't use his ranged cyclone attack. If you do find yourself at a distance, be ready to dodge the projectiles and close the gap immediately.
How to build focus points quickly in the fight? Perfect dodging his attacks and landing light attack combos are the fastest ways to build up your focus meter. Once you have a few points, use a charged heavy attack to deal significant damage.
How to use Immobilize against the Tiger Vanguard? Wait for him to finish an attack combo and be in a recovery animation. Then, cast Immobilize to freeze him and get in some free hits. Avoid using it when he's airborne.
How to heal safely during the fight? The best time to heal is when he is in his stone form. Since you can't damage him, it's the perfect opportunity to use your gourd or a consumable without fear of interruption.
How to know when the Tiger Vanguard is about to change phases? While there's no clear on-screen indicator, you'll know he's close to his second phase when he starts using his sword and the stone form more frequently. This is your cue to be even more cautious and prepared for his trickier moves.
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