Aster, stars of darkness is the worst boss.

[⋆ Beetroot ⋆]

IMO.

Rant time:
I've played many games with a strong design on boss fights; Metal gear revengence, Crosscode and Monster hunter to name a few. They take use the tools of what they've made and build bosses around them it feels. However Fromsoft don't always play by the rules they set-out or take full use of them.

This boss "Aster, stars of darkness," clicks to me what makes Fromsoft inconsistent with game design, for bosses at least. Godrick and Godfrey are great bosses for their powerful wind-ups, heal punishes, combos, Jump-able attacks. But most importantly, your camera is focused directly on them. You can see their attacks coming and learn from them.

But this boss... Aster, stars of darkness is just a lazy execution. It has the ability to flee as one of it's mechanics, but it provides very little to show the player when used. But! on top of that, it does a large AOE that hurts! (Does chip damage as well) It's constantly moving body makes most attacks struggle to connect and it seems to love spamming obnoxiously large AOE attacks that only causes the issue of hitting it's body more of an issue.

Overall It's an embarrassing fight in my opinion, and is worth skipping if possible.

PS: I have 60 vigor, 38% absorbtion. I am not one of those carried hosts as well. This is just an observation of boss design and a small vent.

Thank you for reading.

[Warmanreaper]

you could just.. roll.. I think I killed him around level level 70-90 on launch week, less than 30 vigor while also using Strength, which was/is notoriously memed in this game due to how stamina works, and armors really not doing anything in this game. Don't know if this has changed, it doesn't feel like it as ive just returned for another playthrough, but armor still feels pretty worthless and this is still fashion-souls 101, he's not hard, every body excels at something, this guy was basically just a big boss fight with mechanics u actually have to deal with, instead of him being sleeper where u can ungabunga wail on him.. which is also not good design... Your Vigor is massive for you to be complaining to be honest... Also my level could've been a bit lower, i can't remember this boss didn't really give me a hard time, he only took like 2-3 tries after you see most of what he does and aren't just straight up face tanking his stuff

[Requimatic]

Ayyy, another Crosscode enjoyer. How'd you enjoy the last puzzle of the game? ;)

But, I didn't really have much trouble with Astel. There are numerous weapons that work wonders against that boss. Try the Bubble horn next time; even if you're not built specifically for it, it deals hilarious damage since all the bubbles can hit it easily.

Alternatively to that, there's also Poison/Rot, but that puts you to poking the boss and staying at a distance.. though there is no safe distance against Astel. (Honestly, melee range is safer as long as you respond to attack telegraphs.)

But during my fights against it (yeah.. fights), all of its attacks were perfectly telegraphed that I knew when to get out of range. The only time I got caught with my pants down is with its grab attack.

Most of its AoEs can be rolled through or jumped over.

PS: there are two Astel fights. :)

[John Titor]

Need help?

[SBA | Spooqui]

Originally posted by You really are something:

IMO.

Rant time:
I've played many games with a strong design on boss fights; Metal gear revengence, Crosscode and Monster hunter to name a few. They take use the tools of what they've made and build bosses around them it feels. However Fromsoft don't always play by the rules they set-out or take full use of them.

This boss "Aster, stars of darkness," clicks to me what makes Fromsoft inconsistent with game design, for bosses at least. Godrick and Godfrey are great bosses for their powerful wind-ups, heal punishes, combos, Jump-able attacks. But most importantly, your camera is focused directly on them. You can see their attacks coming and learn from them.

But this boss... Aster, stars of darkness is just a lazy execution. It has the ability to flee as one of it's mechanics, but it provides very little to show the player when used. But! on top of that, it does a large AOE that hurts! (Does chip damage as well) It's constantly moving body makes most attacks struggle to connect and it seems to love spamming obnoxiously large AOE attacks that only causes the issue of hitting it's body more of an issue.

Overall It's an embarrassing fight in my opinion, and is worth skipping if possible.

PS: I have 60 vigor, 38% absorbtion. I am not one of those carried hosts as well. This is just an observation of boss design and a small vent.

Thank you for reading.

Hi, your head's on fire, oh you must've got one of them: Combustible heads, I've read an article all about them.

Lyrics from ''You're on Fire - They Might Be Giants''

Please mods don't ban me lol.

[⋆ Beetroot ⋆]

Originally posted by Warmanreaper:

you could just.. roll.. I think I killed him around level level 70-90 on launch week, less than 30 vigor while also using Strength, which was/is notoriously memed in this game due to how stamina works, and armors really not doing anything in this game. Don't know if this has changed, it doesn't feel like it as ive just returned for another playthrough, but armor still feels pretty worthless and this is still fashion-souls 101, he's not hard, every body excels at something, this guy was basically just a big boss fight with mechanics u actually have to deal with, instead of him being sleeper where u can ungabunga wail on people.. which is also not good design... Your Vigor is massive for you to be complaining to be honest... Also my level could've been a bit lower, i can't remember this boss didn't really give me a hard time, he only took like 2-3 tries after you see most of what he does and aren't just straight up face tanking his stuff

Well thank you for your input. However, stating the obvious "you could just.. roll" is a bit insulting when considering the player, up until this fight. They will, have at least the the basic grasp on the roll mechanic. I did not "face tank" and I think you've missed a few of my points. I do not understand what "sleeper where u can ungabunga wail on people." means as well.

[⋆ Beetroot ⋆]

Originally posted by Requimatic:

Ayyy, another Crosscode enjoyer. How'd you enjoy the last puzzle of the game? ;)

But, I didn't really have much trouble with Astel. There are numerous weapons that work wonders against that boss. Try the Bubble horn next time; even if you're not built specifically for it, it deals hilarious damage since all the bubbles can hit it easily.

Alternatively to that, there's also Poison/Rot, but that puts you to poking the boss and staying at a distance.. though there is no safe distance against Astel. (Honestly, melee range is safer as long as you respond to attack telegraphs.)

But during my fights against it (yeah.. fights), all of its attacks were perfectly telegraphed that I knew when to get out of range. The only time I got caught with my pants down is with its grab attack.

Most of its AoEs can be rolled through or jumped over.

PS: there are two Astel fights. :)

Ayy dab me up! Crosscode enjoyer in the house.

I did not know you could jump any of it's AOE attacks, I'll need to try that some more. Thank you for that. I beat it by spamming "Beast's roar" which worked well for this silly boss.

PS: The last puzzle on my first playthrough gave me conniptions! But as I played that game at least three times now, it feels like one last puzzle for old sake. :)

[⋆ Beetroot ⋆]

Originally posted by John Titor:

Need help?

No. But thank you.

[⋆ Beetroot ⋆]

Originally posted by Spooqui:

Originally posted by You really are something:

IMO.

Rant time:
I've played many games with a strong design on boss fights; Metal gear revengence, Crosscode and Monster hunter to name a few. They take use the tools of what they've made and build bosses around them it feels. However Fromsoft don't always play by the rules they set-out or take full use of them.

This boss "Aster, stars of darkness," clicks to me what makes Fromsoft inconsistent with game design, for bosses at least. Godrick and Godfrey are great bosses for their powerful wind-ups, heal punishes, combos, Jump-able attacks. But most importantly, your camera is focused directly on them. You can see their attacks coming and learn from them.

But this boss... Aster, stars of darkness is just a lazy execution. It has the ability to flee as one of it's mechanics, but it provides very little to show the player when used. But! on top of that, it does a large AOE that hurts! (Does chip damage as well) It's constantly moving body makes most attacks struggle to connect and it seems to love spamming obnoxiously large AOE attacks that only causes the issue of hitting it's body more of an issue.

Overall It's an embarrassing fight in my opinion, and is worth skipping if possible.

PS: I have 60 vigor, 38% absorbtion. I am not one of those carried hosts as well. This is just an observation of boss design and a small vent.

Thank you for reading.

Hi, your head's on fire, oh you must've got one of them: Combustible heads, I've read an article all about them.

Lyrics from ''You're on Fire - They Might Be Giants''

Please mods don't ban me lol.

Tis was a moment of despair, but I BElieved in the power of tenacity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXRBKJCwvdg&list=PLhQubH9jTKXb9kUt05_m2WwZIn7m4oUvS&index=60

[Kobi Blade]

He's not hard, but he is boring to fight with melee classes.

[Holografix]

try fighting it with claws like I did.

[TaurusBully]

He is another bad design, compared to other souls bosses, precisely because of the things tou said, but far from hard if you use what the game has , eg ashes. I had that archer one for this fight.

As for the aoe... run.

[Kobi Blade]

Originally posted by csand:

Why is it impossible for people to say "I had trouble on this boss"

Instead they have to write some huge dissertation on all the reasons that (insert boss here) is poorly designed

A properly designed boss, makes it fun to fight regardless of your build, sure it can be somewhat harder or easier depending on your build as well.

But this Boss, among others in Elden Ring are simply boring, they not hard, is mostly a patience game.

[Babbles]

Originally posted by csand:

Why is it impossible for people to say "I had trouble on this boss"

Instead they have to write some huge dissertation on all the reasons that (insert boss here) is poorly designed

The instant they don't explain the build they will have 74 x 14 year olds in here saying 'well I bet you only have 40 VIG so get gud noob' ...

Also if you think 3 1/2 paragraphs are a dissertation you have some learning difficulties ahead of you ...

[UnholyDentist]

This boss is annoying with melee builds, unfortunately, there isn't really a good mobility in this game. Apart from spamming BHS, there is nothing, and even that only allows ground movement. It's time for FS to think about mobility in their future titles, such as jumping, leaping, charging, blinking, teleporting. Astel just proves it's missing feature.

[⋆ Beetroot ⋆]

Originally posted by Holografix:

try fighting it with claws like I did.

I don't believe in self-torture.