When (region number) do you guys do your lair boss for the run?

[MyS]

As the title suggests, when do you guys typically do your lair boss? For example, do you do the boss on the first region after the valley, or maybe the last region before the mountain, maybe you do every lair boss?

Up until now, I was always flipping the entire run on the first region after the valley by always fighting the boss immediately. I figured if I have to do a lair boss eventually anyway to enter the mountain, I might as well try the boss on the first region when there are less enemies on the first 2 waves and less enemies ordained. This way, even if I fail, I don't lose much progress by restarting. And if i succeed, I gain a lot of items and will help stabilize the rest of the run.

I used this strategy when I was just starting out and was still learning the game and the bosses and getting unlocks. I didn't have any heroes with memories and some heroes on my team also didn't have the necessary skills or path for what I wanted them to do. So it worked well when I had pretty much nothing to lose.

But now that I mostly know what every lair boss does, have 2 memories per hero on my team and decent quirks on them, have all relevant skills and paths unlocked for my team, as well as have a better understanding on my team's synergy, I'm wondering if there is a more optimal/reliable/cautious strategy for when it comes to lair bosses, while maximizing success for the run.

Ideally, I want to be able to beat the lair boss without a single hero going through a deathblow check, but I also don't want to sacrifice too much just for a safe lair boss. I still want to maximize chances of a successful run. So what would be the perfect trade off between risk and reward?

Would it be better to wait until I find the region with the trophy I want, the region with the easier boss, maybe the last region before the mountain when I have ample trinkets, stagecoach items, buffs, and combat items, or even just still doing it on the first region anyway to make subsequent regions easier, or something else entirely (like doing all lair bosses)?

Let me know what you guys think or do for your runs.

[Rattman]

IMHO, better to be prepared. Gain some mastery points, trinkets, maybe almanach and then go to the boss. Going to the lair in first region is too dangerous.

[squat_instructor]

I would say certain bosses can be fought straight out of Valley given the right team comp:
- If I run Hellion/MAA I don't mind fighting Child early, since both of them can immobilize themselves reliably in Rank 1 to essentially counter the Hunger gimmick. MAA can also push the boss back with Rampart to avoid getting hit by Maws attack
- If you run something like Flag + PD you can take on General early, since you have 2 attacks that hit ranks 3+4, therefore you will be hitting the root twice every round without compromising your DMG output too much without any items
- Flag + PD also work well on Librarian as is, simply due to quick DOT stacking from the start of the fight, he just dies by the time he reaches Rank 2

Leviathan I feel like the only boss that is more demanding to having masteries and some items and overall I rarely choose him for the trophy, since the loot he drops is not that great and the fight itself is annoying

[Raki]

I also think it depends. Going blind/unprepared is just asking for disaster, but if you have a team well suited for a boss, you can try it.
The decision may also change if:
- The Bounty Hunter is available in the Valley Inn
- There's a nice selection of Combat Items being offered at the Inn

In general, I only try attacking a Lair straight away if I have a really good feeling about it. It's just so easy to wipe at that point.
In principle, I think any lair boss is worth killing, since they drop so much loot and also a mastery point. But you have to be able to reliably survive it.

After the first region, I usually try to do every lair boss. Sometimes I go for a creature den instead if it is an either/or decision.
But again, you have to be able to survive it. If your teamcomp is just a bad matchup, you had bad luck with the combat items, etc., it's sometimes better to skip it.

[Talist]

I generally run all three lair bosses if I can. If I have a team that can't do a certain boss, I'll try to avoid the region all together.

Leviathan is the one I'm most likely to skip out of fear of wiping, but the music in that region is a banger.

[Samseng Yik]

Usually not the 1st region. Because lack of good trinket and skill upgrade yet.
But sometimes it happen too if the party setup good against the boss.
This give you the advantage to enjoy trophy bonus earlier.