Yellow Wind Sage has disgusting design.

[Fairy f]

The dude is jumping outside the fight arena, and I keep trying to hit him, but I can't land a hit because the game registers that I'm trying to get out of the fight arena or something. I tried jumping to him, but I'm blocked by an 'invisible barrier.' Peak boss fight design right there—GOTY without a doubt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-FOPnc9HLU

[Special Thanks, You]

Yeah this guy is rough, his mechanics don't mesh well together. The other major bosses up to this point have been pretty stellar, which makes this guy stick out like a sore thumb. It's hard to even tell what's going on.

I think once phase 2 starts, the arena gets progressively smaller. However, I can't exactly back up this claim, but it feels noticeably smaller as the fight progresses, acting as sort of a time limit. For some reason, in phase 3, he summoned 5 additional mini-tornadoes which I assume he does when you run out of "time".

If this is true, and Yellow Sage is a time limit boss ala Four Kings, Flexile Sentry (or any other non fromsoft time based boss etc.), his attacks don't mesh with it at all. 3 hit sand clone combo where you can't attack him, constantly leaves his own shrinking arena, the tornado and the kick grab close out openings (i like the kick on paper, but not under a time limit), and the phase two sand bug move is very hard to get openings in because the camera fixates on the beetle and not the Yellow Sage. It's also incredibly hard to figure out his p3 moveset, I never figured it out because I was too busy getting swooped up by a tornado and just bumrushed him down, very unsatisfying.

Obviously, this is mostly conjecture. I don't have definitive proof that the fight is on a time limit but I'm like 90% sure it is. He didn't even summon the 5 additional tornadoes on my winning attempt (which means I only saw them once before). Just remove the mini tornado and make the arena shrink at set intervals during each phase transition and he's a way better fight.

Really enjoying my time with the game regardless, so I can't wait to get back into it, just wanted to put my thoughts here regardless. Also didn't help that I didn't have the sand protection vessel because I missed it initially.

[Acey]

My recommendation with this boss is to follow the pig npc's quest , you eventually get gear that is similar to the fire cloak thing that helps immensely with this fight in its second phase. Also the npcs's side mission leads to 3-4 more bosses and some other goodies.

[Fairy f]

Originally posted by Special Thanks, You:

Yeah this guy is rough, his mechanics don't mesh well together. The other major bosses up to this point have been pretty stellar, which makes this guy stick out like a sore thumb. It's hard to even tell what's going on.

I think once phase 2 starts, the arena gets progressively smaller. However, I can't exactly back up this claim, but it feels noticeably smaller as the fight progresses, acting as sort of a time limit. For some reason, in phase 3, he summoned 5 additional mini-tornadoes which I assume he does when you run out of "time".

If this is true, and Yellow Sage is a time limit boss ala Four Kings, Flexile Sentry (or any other non fromsoft time based boss etc.), his attacks don't mesh with it at all. 3 hit sand clone combo where you can't attack him, constantly leaves his own shrinking arena, the tornado and the kick grab close out openings (i like the kick on paper, but not under a time limit), and the phase two sand bug move is very hard to get openings in because the camera fixates on the beetle and not the Yellow Sage. It's also incredibly hard to figure out his p3 moveset, I never figured it out because I was too busy getting swooped up by a tornado and just bumrushed him down, very unsatisfying.

Obviously, this is mostly conjecture. I don't have definitive proof that the fight is on a time limit but I'm like 90% sure it is. He didn't even summon the 5 additional tornadoes on my winning attempt (which means I only saw them once before). Just remove the mini tornado and make the arena shrink at set intervals during each phase transition and he's a way better fight.

Really enjoying my time with the game regardless, so I can't wait to get back into it, just wanted to put my thoughts here regardless. Also didn't help that I didn't have the sand protection vessel because I missed it initially.

I agree with you that the major bosses up to this point have been pretty stellar.

I understand what you're saying, but even if you're right and the arena does shrink gradually, it would be nice if he didn’t keep moving out of range, which makes it hard for Wukong to land hits. As I showed in the video, he moved back a bit, and I couldn’t land the final part of the combo. I really don’t mind his moveset or the camera fixation on the beetle. I enjoy challenging fights, but what bothers me is that this fight feels 'challenging' in the wrong way. It’s not really challenging that the boss keeps moving out of range for attacks, causing me to lose openings for counter-attacks. It somehow feels unfair.

But yes, regardless, I also enjoy the game. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Fairy f]

Originally posted by Acey:

My recommendation with this boss is to follow the pig npc's quest , you eventually get gear that is similar to the fire cloak thing that helps immensely with this fight in its second phase. Also the npcs's side mission leads to 3-4 more bosses and some other goodies.

Yes, I completed that quest before fighting him. I think I collected everything available on the current map. Thanks for the recommendation anyway.

[Kokolores]

You already got the item to get rid of the windwall (RT+Left Stick)

[S1ntax Error]

The camera is your biggest enemy is his fight ...

[Fairy f]

Originally posted by Kokolores:

You already got the item to get rid of the windwall (RT+Left Stick)

Yes, I know, but that's not what bothers me. I just don’t like that the boss keeps going out of range, causing me to lose DPS and openings to punish him.

[Fairy f]

Originally posted by S1ntax Error:

The camera is your biggest enemy is his fight ...

Maybe I don’t mind the camera...I’m used to it from FromSoftware games. I’d say that the invisible barrier is my biggest enemy.

[S1ntax Error]

Originally posted by Fairy f:

Originally posted by S1ntax Error:

The camera is your biggest enemy is his fight ...

Maybe I don’t mind the camera...I’m used to it from FromSoftware games. I’d say that the invisible barrier is my biggest enemy. :er_sad:

I just waited for him to do that flipping attack back into the arena. Way better for positioning that being at the edge while he is behind the barrier.

[Fairy f]

Originally posted by S1ntax Error:

Originally posted by Fairy f:

Maybe I don’t mind the camera...I’m used to it from FromSoftware games. I’d say that the invisible barrier is my biggest enemy.

I just waited for him to do that flipping attack back into the arena. Way better for positioning that being at the edge while he is behind the barrier.

Yeah, I was trying to pay attention to that. I guess it’s part of the strategy for this boss fight. I defeated him, used the item to cancel his wind in the third phase. I pretty much didn’t allow him to do anything the whole fight; I crushed him.

[Naamtar]

Originally posted by Fairy f:

Originally posted by Kokolores:

You already got the item to get rid of the windwall (RT+Left Stick)

Yes, I know, but that's not what bothers me. I just don’t like that the boss keeps going out of range, causing me to lose DPS and openings to punish him.

It's obviously intentional if you're able to get rid of the mechanic stopping you, though. Would probably be a lot more frustrating if the winds damaged you and knocked you back.