Is the FIRST frog boss actually the hardest one?

[Serpiko82]

I assume everyone knows SbamBam, the first actual frog boss Redgi fights in the story, at the village gates.

In my first playthrough, on medium difficulty, I died to him a ludicrous amount of times. I used to blame mostly inexperience.

Now, after finishing the game once (and growing enough experience and skill to defeat most bosses within few attempts), I tried starting a new run on hardest difficulty. Things started smoothly enough, including the duel with Denis and the first fights...

...Then this guy comes smashing through the door, and starts beating me up left and right like a rug all over again.

Having beaten the game once, I feel that this guy here may actually be the hardest among all bosses.

It's not just the fact that you face him with early game gear, so it takes forever to poke him to death while he can destroy you in 2-3 hits.

The real issue is that I find it almost impossible to RELIABLY predict his attacks and react accordingly. Whenever he announces an area smash attack (red circle), it can be either the long jump forward, or the double forward-backward short jump. If there's a way to tell which one it will be, I'm missing it, so I must resort to luck, and if I roll in the wrong direction I'm struck.

This issue is shared by all clone minibosses later on, although mitigated by having better equipment by then, this being able to tank a few hits more.

Am I missing a key detail, or is this guy actually THIS HARD by design?

Edit: spelling

[Vjottir92]

Same as you, I played through medium, then hard. And same as you, I couldn't kill that guy. I thought this is it, I can't even kill the first big guy. Mama didn't raise a quitter, so I collected my remaining brain cells, and eventually I got him. There were many times I thought I can't keep going, but boss by boss, day after day, I tanked the whole game. It is nerve wrecking. There are no tricks. But I might be able to give you a good one: every boss, every tough guy, needs to be experimented with, meaning you can't use the same weapons and armor against everyone. Sometimes light armor works, sometimes heavy armor. Sometimes the spear's reach is what gets you the kill. Sometimes the heaviest hammer helps you exploit the situation. Good luck.

[Bilgot the Heartless]

I just bought this game and started with the hardest difficulty and I died to him like 15 times already. Litreally same problem like you, this red circle attack that you have to dodge but also you need to be outside his range make this fight hard. There is no problem with dodging his other attacks but this red circle annoys me. I think like guy above said, using different armor/weapons should help since on the hardest difficulty this boss kill you with 2 hits while you use medium armor so armor in this fight only makes it harder.

Also this one, small annoying frog with this boss :D

[Bilgot the Heartless]

Ok I got him. My advice is take your amor off, it is much easier against him and keep a distance. If he make a red circle attack you need to be far from him that he will not reach you with a jump and then you can double dodge his strike chain. He does 2-3 red circle attack chain and after that pretty much he does normal red attack that you can easily dodge and attack his back.

[Serpiko82]

Thanks for the tips, I'll try again and report.

[Serpiko82]

Ok, after MANY attempts the damn frog is down.

The turning point was when I realised that his short and long jump attacks, apparently random, were in fact part of a single chain attack, variable depending on my position.

Once that was clear, the fight was still tough but at least the guy became predictable.

As you guys suggested, I ditched all armor (ineffective) and used a spear to get the most out of my attack windows.

Currently working on the next boss, Lance Illot. The dude still kills me a lot, but I can now tank a few hits and his attacks feel "fair", meaning that they're predictable and if I get hit it's because I did a mistake. I almost have more troubles with his minions, lol.

[Bilgot the Heartless]

I have much fun with this game on the hardest difficulty, I feel like this is the best way how to play this game. It is brutal, challanging but rewarding for patience and for attacking when you are supposted to attack instead of tanking damage because most of bosses kill you in 2-3 hits anyway. Also regular mobs are dangerous and you need to respect them.

I have one question if you could answer, as you finished the game already once you should know about it. I found a (I think) optional boss in the crypt under our city "Undead Rat King" so can I fight him much later lets say even after the game or should I explore and fight everything before final boss? Currently I killed mosquito queen and I am going with Denis to the mine.

[Dinoter]

Originally posted by Bilgot:

I have much fun with this game on the hardest difficulty, I feel like this is the best way how to play this game. It is brutal, challanging but rewarding for patience and for attacking when you are supposted to attack instead of tanking damage because most of bosses kill you in 2-3 hits anyway. Also regular mobs are dangerous and you need to respect them.

I have one question if you could answer, as you finished the game already once you should know about it. I found a (I think) optional boss in the crypt under our city "Undead Rat King" so can I fight him much later lets say even after the game or should I explore and fight everything before final boss? Currently I killed mosquito queen and I am going with Denis to the mine.

Ratnor Rodentson? Yeah he's a optional boss, you can skip him for later. But if you're a axe guy, you might want to fight him, he'll drop his weapon upon defeat.

[Bilgot the Heartless]

Originally posted by a0932070704:

Originally posted by Bilgot:

I have much fun with this game on the hardest difficulty, I feel like this is the best way how to play this game. It is brutal, challanging but rewarding for patience and for attacking when you are supposted to attack instead of tanking damage because most of bosses kill you in 2-3 hits anyway. Also regular mobs are dangerous and you need to respect them.

I have one question if you could answer, as you finished the game already once you should know about it. I found a (I think) optional boss in the crypt under our city "Undead Rat King" so can I fight him much later lets say even after the game or should I explore and fight everything before final boss? Currently I killed mosquito queen and I am going with Denis to the mine.

Ratnor Rodentson? Yeah he's a optional boss, you can skip him for later. But if you're a axe guy, you might want to fight him, he'll drop his weapon upon defeat.

Thanks, I prefer swords so I think I leave him for later.

[Serpiko82]

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Originally posted by a0932070704:

Ratnor Rodentson? Yeah he's a optional boss, you can skip him for later. But if you're a axe guy, you might want to fight him, he'll drop his weapon upon defeat.

Thanks, I prefer swords so I think I leave him for later.

Ratnor is for some a "controversial" boss, because you find him roughly halfway through the game (and he's not even that secret because you can't possibly miss him if you pass by his place), yet his drop is undoubtedly an endgame item. Some say it "spoils" the weapons progression.

I say, every mob and its dog in this game hit hard as a brick wall, so screw balanced progression big time, and hit them back with the hardest thing you can get your hands on, without regrets.