Astel RL1 +0 Tips? Meteors hurt

[feena]

Doing a RL1 challenge w/ no weap upgrades on first run. My build is pure melee w/ Great Sword, 2handed. So far, lowest I got Astel down to was 25% life. My strategy is to stagger him w/ my ultra after like 5-6 hits, and then riposte (not reliable since he is so darn offensive, but that is my aim). I rarely get grabbed, but those darn meteors just wreck me for some reason. Any tips for dodging them? I usually circle around him while I close the distance and them spam roll, but I can't get the timing consistently. I medium roll, so my char is not the fastest. I want to stay fairly close to maximize my chances for damage after the meteors end, so I don't want to create too much distance.

Other melee tips would be useful as well I usually only get 1 hit in at a time (if that), and the fight takes forever. Please help me gitdug!

EDIT: He is ded now. Thanks all, for the input!

[Killer Beast 77]

who much endurance do you have ? i ussaly just run around the end of the arena next to a wall the further away you are from him since is easier to dodge i guess since they get spread more then if you are close you gonna need like 30-35 endurance and keep half the bar always ready to run or dodge if you are to close and i am not so sure if you can break his stance if also use 2 handed great sword that will be a challenge to still have half when he is about to do the meteors

[Lynfinity]

Originally posted by feena:

I rarely get grabbed, but those darn meteors just wreck me for some reason. Any tips for dodging them?

Out of all the meteors you see, only three of them actually fly towards you. Pay attention, dodge in any direction as soon as you see the first one, then immediately two more times to avoid the follow-ups.

[Sparhawk 59]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DFMzXqMY58 this player shows how to deal with the meteors

[Imperator Ricardo]

If you find yourself having trouble dodging the meteors, you could attempt to use a 100% Physical absorption Greatshield with a Shield Grease buff on it
Although im uncertain how viable that is on Level 1, it should be doable with the right talismans and the physick strength tear (if you can, use the stamina tear aswell, it might get hairy). The Greatshield Talisman should also help out tremendously.
Best of luck!

[Dragonirian]

Go to Caelid and gring the bow knight for his greatbow
Kill bell bearing hunter in warmaster's shack for infinite bones
Get a recipie for bone great arrows
congrats you have beaten the game

[I AM BAYTOR]

Rain of Arrows ash of war on a small bow. Rot + poison. Dodge duck dip dive dodge.

Avoid meteors by running straight into them when you know it's coming. As soon as Astel teleports away and you can tell it's for the meteor, just run right to the head.

[cybercybercybercyber4]

The meteors deal magic damage, so equip an anti magic shield, if a meteor hits you, youll be guard broken but you will survive. If you run close enough to astel only 1 meteor will hit if any at all. So survival is ensured, no need to dodge them.

[feena]

Thanks all for the input. These are really good. Today has been really busy so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to kick Astel's ***. Have a happy New Years, everyone!

Originally posted by Killer Beast 77:

who much endurance do you have ? i ussaly just run around the end of the arena next to a wall the further away you are from him since is easier to dodge i guess since they get spread more then if you are close you gonna need like 30-35 endurance and keep half the bar always ready to run or dodge if you are to close and i am not so sure if you can break his stance if also use 2 handed great sword that will be a challenge to still have half when he is about to do the meteors

I have just base endurance. I will try this tactic and see how it goes. TY.

Originally posted by Lynfinity:

Out of all the meteors you see, only three of them actually fly towards you. Pay attention, dodge in any direction as soon as you see the first one, then immediately two more times to avoid the follow-ups.

Nice, I suspect this will tidbit will be helpful. TY.

Originally posted by Sparhawk 58:

this player shows how to deal with the meteors

I'll take a look when I get a chance. Thanks for the link.

Originally posted by Imperator Ricardo:

If you find yourself having trouble dodging the meteors, you could attempt to use a 100% Physical absorption Greatshield with a Shield Grease buff on it
Although im uncertain how viable that is on Level 1, it should be doable with the right talismans and the physick strength tear (if you can, use the stamina tear aswell, it might get hairy). The Greatshield Talisman should also help out tremendously.
Best of luck!

LOL, I am not against cheese. I will look into this if I get desperate, thanks!

Originally posted by Dragonirian:

Go to Caelid and gring the bow knight for his greatbow
Kill bell bearing hunter in warmaster's shack for infinite bones
Get a recipie for bone great arrows
congrats you have beaten the game

Nice. This will be very helpful in subsequent NGs when I don't have the patience anymore.

Originally posted by I AM BAYTOR:

Rain of Arrows ash of war on a small bow. Rot + poison. Dodge duck dip dive dodge.

Avoid meteors by running straight into them when you know it's coming. As soon as Astel teleports away and you can tell it's for the meteor, just run right to the head.

That sounds suicidal LOL. I'll try it though!

Originally posted by cybercybercybercyber4:

The meteors deal magic damage, so equip an anti magic shield, if a meteor hits you, youll be guard broken but you will survive. If you run close enough to astel only 1 meteor will hit if any at all. So survival is ensured, no need to dodge them.

Very creative. I'm sure I can incorporate it into my build if I give up some armor, thanks!

[Verienkeli]

Originally posted by Killer Beast 77:

who much endurance do you have ? i ussaly just run around the end of the arena next to a wall the further away you are from him since is easier to dodge i guess since they get spread more then if you are close you gonna need like 30-35 endurance and keep half the bar always ready to run or dodge if you are to close and i am not so sure if you can break his stance if also use 2 handed great sword that will be a challenge to still have half when he is about to do the meteors

They're doing RL1. So they started as the Wretch with 10 in every stat, and still have that.

[cybercybercybercyber4]

Originally posted by feena:

LOL, I am not against cheese. I will look into this if I get desperate, thanks!

that opens up a few possibilities, but wed have to know your ruleset.
Are you restricting yourself from using the roundtable hold? (other than enia for access to lyndell)

im all for trying without cheese first though.

[feena]

Originally posted by cybercybercybercyber4:

that opens up a few possibilities, but wed have to know your ruleset.
Are you restricting yourself from using the roundtable hold? (other than enia for access to lyndell)

im all for trying without cheese first though.

I don't have a strict ruleset as I haven't even beaten the game yet. With that said, I do like a challenge, so I mainly stick to melee for bosses, and use the bow for questing/farming. So far I haven't really used any buffs, flasks, or other aids except to figure out what they do. I still need some key items, but I'm mostly playing blind. If I miss some stuff along the way, there is always next time. I may use a guide near the end of NG to collect some missables, however.

As for Enia, that "lady" gives me nightmares, lol. I stay away from her and "that room". I'll probably utilize her services before moving onto NG+. Other than that, I've been purchasing everything from other vendors at the roundtable. I haven't upgraded anything at all, however, and I intend to keep it that way all the way into NG+7 (if I can even make it that far at RL1).

[Fineous🔥]

Originally posted by feena:

Doing a RL1 challenge w/ no weap upgrades on first run.

Why in the balls people do this? Seriously......who told you THIS is the BEST way to enjoy your first Elden Ring rodeo.....Jesus Christ.....

Oh....hi! OP! Astel is pretty easy to kill without getting hit a single time, his teleport-grab is the only dangerous thing.....meteors can be negated if you run towards him. They are extremly easy to predict.

Now if your code of honor or whatever self-imposed rules allows it, use poison pots. It works wonders on pretty much everything big,dumb and stupid like Astel or the scumbag dragons.

Have fun OP.

Originally posted by cybercybercybercyber4:

im all for trying without cheese first though.

Good lord....cheese! YAY! How are you going to "HAXECHEESE" Astel? Using ZUMMONS counts as cheese? What about Elden Ring characters with lactose intolerance?

[cybercybercybercyber4]

Originally posted by 𝕱𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖔𝖚𝖘🔥:

Originally posted by cybercybercybercyber4:

im all for trying without cheese first though.

Good lord....cheese! YAY! How are you going to "HAXECHEESE" Astel? Using ZUMMONS counts as cheese? What about Elden Ring characters with lactose intolerance?

I was thinking about getting the rodgiers rapier for the phalanx to break the poise but i overlooked that its a blind run, now i dont know what to say anymore. Feena has my respect for trying that, but i dont think i can be of much help.
My best advice would be to go somewhere else to collect better options first, but thats a somewhat obvious approach.

[Faust Wither]

rot + poison mist. run away from him or focus evading, wait till it died.

[feena]

OK, running towards Astel while he meteors is definitely reliable even with medium weight burden. Going in a straight line once got me killed, but it seems slightly zigzagging while doing a mad dash works. The best part is that he eats a jump attack afterwards, then aggros physically (not all the time though).

After some practice, I can now consistently get him down to around 25% health. He feels fairly easy now. Thanks guys!