The radiance is insane

[nuclearTrunk]

The radiance is absolute nightmare. Spend 160 tries, only one (127th) was successful. 2-3 attacks at the same time is a kind of sucker punch and bad way to increase difficulty. Why for the god sake she's made SO HARD and SO UNFAIR?

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

If those numbers are real, you have much more patience and perseverance than me 🙂
Radiance, NKG and PV are impossible bosses for me in this game (at least for the moment and my current 166+h game experience).

[kanna]

It's fast, but the attacks are not at the same time. Just like with certain other very fast fights in this game, you just need to learn to act efficiently, watch for very quick tells and be prepared for any of the attacks she might use in each stage. Yes, easier said than done when you're just learning the fight, but it's still doable. The Radiance fight in the Black Egg Temple isn't even the hardest fight in the game.

It's good that you've kept trying! If you're not sure what to work on when approaching this fight, it helps to watch guide videos (you might want to stop the video if it talks about a stage of the fight you haven't reached yet though, to avoid spoilers).

When a slow moving attack is coming at you (like the swords or light walls), try to dodge it early so you have more time to be ready for the next attack. You always want to be ready for the next attack as early as possible in any of the faster fights. Not managing your time like this is what causes the illusion that attacks are happening "at the same time," when actually they're not.

One thing I will say is that by this point in the game, it pays very well to know your spells and when to use them. The upgraded version of the up spell in particular is very useful for speeding this fight up because of the high damage it does, especially with Shaman Stone.

The down spell (again, preferably upgraded and with Shaman Stone) is a good panic button for the i-frames and can do at least partial damage if lined up right but it's best saved for the 4th stage of the fight when you're standing on small floating platforms, because it will both save you with i-frames and also damage her if she's at your platform.

The left-right spell is not as useful as the others for this particular fight, but you can definitely spam it (save a heal or two though) to get a little extra damage in, if you're having trouble approaching her safely.

When I fight her, I'm pretty much always doing up spells or if I either don't have enough soul or enough time for the spell to be cast *safely*, I'm doing rapid nail hits for the first few stages any time it's safe to do so. (Some like Quick Slash for this, but I prefer to rack up more soul for spells.) "Safe" = Radiance just teleported and there are no swords or light balls on the way, between the light rays (they generally don't go in the same place twice so just carefully side step them each time), and between the rings of swords that she sends out from her body (obvious placement).

For the later phase I mentioned in spoilers above, attacking with your nail is a little more intimidating but I found with practice that I'm pretty much good to go as long as she isn't using the little light balls. Watch her tells (they're quick and hard to read at first but you'll learn them if you haven't already) and then get to her platform before she attacks, and time a DOWN spell to give you i-frames while the swords fly out or while the light beams start. For the light balls attack I keep my distance, wait for them, and dash off a platform (ideally Shadow Dash straight through them so they immediately disappear either in my dash or at the bottom of the screen) and then use the wings to double jump back to the same platform.

For charms, I always use Strength and Shaman Stone, as should anyone going for maximum damage. My personal preference/fighting style is typically balanced between spell and nail damage. For this fight, I would probably use Spell Twister, Soul Catcher, and Dream Wielder (or potentially Sprintmaster for a boss like this one who is harder to Dream Nail). You might want to use Grubsong or Thorns of Agony.

*edited to add a missing verb*

[nuclearTrunk]

Originally posted by 🉑 reznoR:

If those numbers are real, you have much more patience and perseverance than me 🙂
Radiance, NKG and PV are impossible bosses for me in this game (at least for the moment and my current 166+h game experience).

I'm just using txt file write numbers. There is might be some error (~5 tries), but according to steam it took about 22-23 hour, so number seems to be correct. Do I get it right, that you finished PoH 1-3, but haven't beaten the radiance?

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

Oh, I see! Very nice organization and great amount of tries.
Oh, no, my case is a little more complicated. 🙂 On my official save file I haven't finished any Pantheon, NKG and Radiance (I have 107% completion). But I used a mod for immortality on my modded save file, where I've got 112% Completion, and so through that I was able to test the game fully, see everything and practice PV (it was also useful for developing my HK Save Game Analyzer Tool)

[nuclearTrunk]

Originally posted by kanna:

It's fast, but the attacks are not at the same time. Just like with certain other very fast fights in this game, you just need to learn to act efficiently, watch for very quick tells and be prepared for any of the attacks she might use in each stage. Yes, easier said than done when you're just learning the fight, but it's still doable. The Radiance fight in the Black Egg Temple isn't even the hardest fight in the game.

It's good that you've kept trying! If you're not sure what to work on when approaching this fight, it helps to watch guide videos (you might want to stop the video if it talks about a stage of the fight you haven't reached yet though, to avoid spoilers).

When a slow moving attack is coming at you (like the swords or light walls), try to dodge it early so you have more time to be ready for the next attack. You always want to be ready for the next attack as early as possible in any of the faster fights. Not managing your time like this is what causes the illusion that attacks are happening "at the same time," when actually they're not.

One thing I will say is that by this point in the game, it pays very well to know your spells and when to use them. The upgraded version of the up spell in particular is very useful for speeding this fight up because of the high damage it does, especially with Shaman Stone.

The down spell (again, preferably upgraded and with Shaman Stone) is a good panic button for the i-frames and can do at least partial damage if lined up right but it's best saved for the 4th stage of the fight when you're standing on small floating platforms, because it will both save you with i-frames and also damage her if she's at your platform.

The left-right spell is not as useful as the others for this particular fight, but you can definitely spam it (save a heal or two though) to get a little extra damage in, if you're having trouble approaching her safely.

When I fight her, I'm pretty much always up spells or if I either don't have enough soul or enough time for the spell to be cast *safely*, I'm doing rapid nail hits for the first few stages any time it's safe to do so. (Some like Quick Slash for this, but I prefer to rack up more soul for spells.) "Safe" = Radiance just teleported and there are no swords or light balls on the way, between the light rays (they generally don't go in the same place twice so just carefully side step them each time), and between the rings of swords that she sends out from her body (obvious placement).

For the later phase I mentioned in spoilers above, attacking with your nail is a little more intimidating but I found with practice that I'm pretty much good to go as long as she isn't using the little light balls. Watch her tells (they're quick and hard to read at first but you'll learn them if you haven't already) and then get to her platform before she attacks, and time a DOWN spell to give you i-frames while the swords fly out or while the light beams start. For the light balls attack I keep my distance, wait for them, and dash off a platform (ideally Shadow Dash straight through them so they immediately disappear either in my dash or at the bottom of the screen) and then use the wings to double jump back to the same platform.

For charms, I always use Strength and Shaman Stone, as should anyone going for maximum damage. My personal preference/fighting style is typically balanced between spell and nail damage. For this fight, I would probably use Spell Twister, Soul Catcher, and Dream Wielder (or potentially Sprintmaster for a boss like this one who is harder to Dream Nail). You might want to use Grubsong or Thorns of Agony.

Wow, thanks for a such detailed answer. Seems that I get/use most of things you mentioned. Except descending dark to avoid damage, because such method requires really good timing. The best results (60-70% tries end at phase 4) I get when using Soul Catcher, Shaman Stone, Unbreakable Strength, and Lifeblood Core. BTW, 2 attacks are literally can be at the same time - like light wall and hor./vert. swords nearby.

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

Thank you too @kanna, for as always very detailed advices and insight 🙂

[nuclearTrunk]

Originally posted by 🉑 reznoR:

Oh, I see! Very nice organization and great amount of tries.
Oh, no, my case is a little more complicated. 🙂 On my official save file I haven't finished any Pantheon, NKG and Radiance (I have 107% completion). But I used a mod for immortality on my modded save file, where I've got 112% Completion, and so through that I was able to test the game fully, see everything and practice PV (it was also useful for developing my HK Save Game Analyzer Tool)

Just wondering what do you think about this difficulty? Do you think everything should be that way?

[kanna]

You're welcome! I enjoy giving tips that helped me and insights I've figured out, because my weakness in this game was always the boss fights and I know how it feels to be stuck (I died to most of them many times at first, and Radiance was no exception, lol). I've beaten every boss in the game since then.* (*I haven't completed the final pantheon in sequence, but I know I just need to practice the final boss mostly. Instead of doing that though, I've been slowly alternating between playing other games and defeating the Radiant versions of each boss.)

Using D-Dark for damage avoidance seems difficult at first, but you develop an intuition for it if you just start using it. Of course at first you won't get the timing right, but you'll get *lots* of opportunities to practise with this fight. Main thing to keep in mind is you generally can't dive into spikes or pits, obviously, but other than that just err on the side of doing it at the first sign you might be in danger. You will probably do the spell too soon, in which case you use your i-frames to dash (or hop and dash depending on the situation), and your Shadow Dash will carry you the rest of your way as long as you act quickly. When you want to start doing Radiant fights in Godhome, having this habit will pay off a lot.

[nuclearTrunk]

Originally posted by kanna:

You're welcome! I enjoy giving tips that helped me and insights I've figured out, because my weakness in this game was always the boss fights (I died to most of them many times at first, and Radiance was no exception, lol). I've beaten every boss in the game since then.* (*I haven't completed the final pantheon in sequence, but I know I just need to practice the final boss mostly. Instead of doing that though, I've been slowly alternating between playing other games and defeating the Radiant versions of each boss.)

Using D-Dark for damage avoidance seems difficult at first, but you develop an intuition for it if you just start using it. Of course at first you won't get the timing right, but you'll get *lots* of opportunities to practise with this fight. Main thing to keep in mind is you generally can't dive into spikes or pits, obviously, but other than that just err on the side of doing it at the first sign you might be in danger. You will probably do the spell too soon, in which case you use your i-frames to dash (or hop and dash depending on the situation), and your Shadow Dash will carry you the rest of your way as long as you act quickly. When you want to start doing Radiant fights in Godhome, having this habit will pay off a lot.

Probably, I really need to practice d-dark for dodging. Not going to Godhome tho - the second win against the radiance is my last purpose. It already took too much my nerves. Thanks again for your advice

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

Originally posted by nuclearTrunk:

Just wondering what do you think about this difficulty? Do you think everything should be that way?

How about you, what do you think about the overall difficulty in this game?

For me the main game content (not counting Content Packs) was difficult, but fair. I am not too experienced in platformers or metroidvania games, but I managed quite well. The more time I spent, the better I handled the challenges.

Radiance and Content Packs that premiered after the game's release definitively upped the difficulty. Some things I'm not sure I will ever do. It is obvious that the optional content was created with the most dedicated and experienced players in mind. Which is totally reasonable to be fair. Most people don't even finish games anyway, and HK is a really big game. Everyone will probably find content for themselves here.

[kanna]

Originally posted by 🉑 reznoR:

Thank you too @kanna, for as always very detailed advices and insight 🙂

Thanks, I'm flattered! That's very high praise from the creator of the Save Analyzer Web Tool, which has surely helped out a ton of people.

Originally posted by nuclearTrunk:

Probably, I really need to practice d-dark for dodging. Not going to Godhome tho - the second win against the radiance is my last purpose. It already took too much my nerves. Thanks again for your advice

Sounds like you know what you (want and) need to do to get where you're going! If you're ever interested in more story, more lore, or just some plain achievements though, Godhome has both. (It also has what is probably the silliest challenge and silliest reward in the game, which is available to you at any time if you check the ceiling above Grimm's statue. I'd at least suggest checking that out when you're done turning off the lights in the Black Egg Temple.)

[nuclearTrunk]

Originally posted by kanna:

Originally posted by 🉑 reznoR:

Thank you too @kanna, for as always very detailed advices and insight 🙂

Thanks, I'm flattered! That's very high praise from the creator of the Save Analyzer Web Tool, which has surely helped out a ton of people.

Originally posted by nuclearTrunk:

Probably, I really need to practice d-dark for dodging. Not going to Godhome tho - the second win against the radiance is my last purpose. It already took too much my nerves. Thanks again for your advice

Sounds like you know what you (want and) need to do to get where you're going! If you're ever interested in more story, more lore, or just some plain achievements though, Godhome has both. (It also has what is probably the silliest challenge and silliest reward in the game, which is available to you at any time if you check the ceiling above Grimm's statue. I'd at least suggest checking that out when you're done turning off the lights in the Black Egg Temple.)

Wait a sec. Are you talking about secret room within infinite Zote fight?

[kanna]

Why, yes. Yes I am. Wasn't sure if you did it yet.

[Sacha418]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VlrlKiNR2U

That was my first attempt with radiance (managed to beat it) maybe you can find something usefull on the fight for you

[nuclearTrunk]

Originally posted by kanna:

Why, yes. Yes I am. Wasn't sure if you did it yet.

Unfortunately I've already watched Relyea's video about it. This was very funny, wish I could wipe out memory and find it myself.