Absolute Radiance is the 2nd worst boss i've ever fought (after DS's Bed of Chaos) (rant / critique)

[Artek [General]]

Its just pure RNG. Wether you beat AR or not is extremely luck based.
I've beaten her in practice mode. I DID IT. And not even one time. And when i do it - it feels deserved. But when i lose - it doesn't.

Her attacks are fast, i get it. NKG and PV were exactly like this, i'm used to that.
BUT AT LEAST THEY USED ONE ATTACK AT A TIME.

AR casts attacks so fast that some of them overlap into absolute RNG garbage and become unavoidable. Like when she covers the ground with spikes on one side of the arena and then ALSO casts side-ways blades from the other side so you dodge one thing only to run into the other.

Not to mention that i just CANT ♥♥♥♥ING SEE on this eye-bleeding super bright background, when all her attacks are of the similiar color pallette. Its not a super-issue, but its definetely there.

I watched people beat her hitless, and frankly their victories were LUCK TOO. They just catched her in the right place in the right time (by luck), done all the damage in the world and there we go (referring to phase 3 in particular (the many platforms)).

There is just no reliable way to beat her. Its just luck wether or not AR decides to ♥♥♥♥ you.
And that wouldn't even be a problem... If you didnt had to spend 25 minutes grinding through all the bosses before her in the pantheon to beat her "legit".

As i see it AR deserves a nerf. Not a major one, but something small that a least will make her REASONABLE. Either she must stop randomly combing attacks through power of RNG or just generally become more predictable in her patterns, because right now - there is no pattern to speak of, and if there is no pattern - there's nothing to learn and adapt to. There's no git gud, its a slot machine.

And just for rant - her speed is clearly way out of my league of reaction time - and that's after dealing with the both NKG and PV.
Like, Team Cherry, you've made TWO perfectly reasonable bosses that are both challenging and fun to fight, and then you just take a step further into Absolute Bull#$%^ territory. This is just sadistic.

I've been grinding Pantheon 5 for at least 4 days now. Like, from morning till midnight its just me taking another shot at this slot machine. I feel broken and emotionally drained. I'm genuinely considering finding something to assist me from the side, because otherwise this might go on for another week until AR will decide to take petty on me and give me a free pass.



[EDIT]
I DID IT.
I DESTROYED HER FACE.
I ANIHILATED HER.
SEE YOU IN NEVER, YOU HELLSPAWN OF LIGHT.

[Artek [General]]

引用自 Boksha：

The idea of the 5th Pantheon is that you DON'T die on it. I've finished all 4 bindings (not at the same time; I'm not a nutcase) so that's 4 play throughs, dying only twice (both times because I underestimated the effect of the binding). That's the kind of consistency you should aim for on ALL bosses BEFORE even attempting the PoH. I've said this before at the beginning of this thread, but if you start the PoH with the knowledge that you have a significant chance of dying to ANY of the bosses in it, you're wilfully wasting your own time.

Not that this isn't a bad move from TC as well, but they definitely don't deserve all or even most of the blame. You're doing this to yourself.

Not dying is one hell of a requirement in a game where dying is almost inevitable, due to all kinds of reasons. Otherwise death wouldn't be an actual mechanic where you must get your shade back.

Out of 48 bosses there were only 8 who actually posed a real threat to me in the end.
Those were:

• #11 Xero - because he's obnoxiously staying out of melee range and his swords suck and they trigger that retarded part of me that prefers to try and CATCH projectiles instead of dodging them;
  
  
• #14 Oblobble Couple - i think i never actually died to them, but i would always take irresponsible amounts of damage during their fight, because i'm not good at dodging machine guns, so i had to adapt Abyss Shriek rushing tactics. Thank god Sisters of Battle give you chance to recover soul on 1st sister and then give crap ton of time to heal while they do their battle cry;
  
  
• #43 Markoth, the dreamshielder (basically same issue as Xero, but twice as bad);
  
  
• #44 Zote, although i have a decent experience with him after beating him again and again in the main game until i exhausted girl's questline. Honestly he was only a threat because he comes right after the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Markoth, so i would almost always enter Zote's fight with no soul (because i would spend it all on spells / healing) and couple lost masks, which sucks because unless you specifically build yourself for healing - Zote will not allow you to heal during the fight. Even when he staggers he only allows to heal 1 health, before recovering and doing a punishing butt-slam;
  
  
• #45 Failed Champion.
  Funny story with this guy, he was an absolute pushover with Sharp Shadow, but since i had to adjust my build for maximum DPS (and idea that i would fight with AR in the end) i had to get rid of it, and after that he became like x2 harder, because i couldn't just easily flank him by penetrating his groin anymore. That combined with his 2 masks of damage and the fact that he comes after Zote would often put me in dangerous situations when i would start the fight with low masks, manage to get smashed by hammer (due to my own recklesness) or get hit by falling boulders while trying to dodge the blastwave from hammer.
  He is an absolute champ though for not getting up in his final stagger. I would heal myself and get filled on soul through dreamnail while he just lays there, which was perfect for what would come next.
  
  
• #46 NKG
  I don't think i need to explain why this guy is actually dangerous. Although, from this point onward - at least fighting was now actually fun and not obnoxiously tedious.
  
  
• #47 PV - same story as NKG.
  
  
• #48 AR a.k.a. Absolute ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. The only boss with whom i never got comfortable and never got confidence in my powers despite practicing her for hours in hall of gods. She's both way too random and way too fast to "get used" to her.
  Every lost felt like i got nuked and every victory felt like i just got lucky.
  Which was proven to be right when i proclaimed my confidence in defeating her 1st phase, only to get NUKED when i reached her in PoH.
  
  To this day my winrate with her is <10%. And it'll stay that way because i have no reasons to play PoH ever again now that i've actually beaten it.

[Watermelons]

引用自 Artek General：

引用自 Something Something Watermelons：

"Don't make an ending locked behind a hard boss" then what's the point? If you want it badly enough, get better. If not, then don't and continue doing whatever else

Hiding ending behind AR is not an issue.

The issue is hiding AR - an already #1 hardest boss in the game that has a decent chance of killing even the most experienced of players - behind 47 all other bosses that take 25+ minutes of real time to kill, and there's a decent chance that you will die to one of them too (especially #46 and #47).

It turns the entire thing into one big grinding machine, the one that grinds your very sanity.
It nearly drove me insane. I was so obsessed with getting it done that i burned-out myself in the process, to the point when i just was not experiencing any joy from anything.

I honestly think Pantheon of Hallownest gave me a slight PTSD, because i get something akin to anxiety attack every time i think about it.
I'm not even joking. For ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ real.

Yeah and your thread, better called a blog, of posts full of cursing and incoherent screaming obviously shows you're taking this way too seriously. Stop playing games that way. No one should be playing a game so seriously that they get this mad or anxious, it's outright detrimental.

I agree that a 30-50 minute long boss rush can be frustrating to hide an ending behind, but that still does not mean it's inexcusable. Alternate and hidden endings are supposed to be rewarding, and completing the Pantheon of Hallownest definitely is a big effort. Maybe don't "grind" it? Make one or two efforts, and if you continue to fail it and feel stressed out, stop. Take a break, don't let it get to you.

It really shouldn't feel this bad, this grindy, this stressful to play through the Pantheon, at least before considering Bindings, so you should just dedicate yourself to practicing those individual bosses more than the Pantheon itself. Being able to beat any of those bosses at least on their Ascended level will be hugely beneficial to you since the double damage is there. Once you're able to play on those map changes with double damage, it makes the Pantheon of Hallownest far easier since they only do the map changes and not the damage.

[Obamanation]

Trying to argue death is inevitable? Why hello Steel Soul mode.

Take a break or Git Gud. Simple as that. No one is making you do this to yourself.

[Artek [General]]

引用自 Obamanation：

Trying to argue death is inevitable? Why hello Steel Soul mode.

Steel Soul mode (as well as speedrun achievements) for me is simply a statement that developers aknowledge the existence of those exceptional people that go an extra mile when playing games, even if that's not what the game is about.

On one hand i appreciate it... On another i hate it, because i know for a fact that i'm not one of those people which means instant never-to-be-unlocked achievements.
The thought of 100% complete Steel Soul run sounds like insanity to me, knowing that Trial of the Fool, Primal Aspids, NKG, Deepnest and numerous platforming levels to challenge the likes of Meatboy all exist. Even if the death is not "inevitable", its extremely ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ likely to happen.

You have to be a special type of person to take shots at these challenges. The type Benett Foddy was talking about in "Getting Over It".

Ironic really... I'm clearly one of those people. I simply prefer mountains that can be climbed in a day, rather than a week.
I guess that's ultimately why i was so pissed at the end. This took me way longer than i originally anticipated. Miscalculation on my part, really...

[Edgy]

I just have issues with you calling absolute radiance unfair, which isn't true. Video proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ6R4UYB-Yc

[Blair5414]

引用自 Edgy：

I just have issues with you calling absolute radiance unfair, which isn't true. Video proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ6R4UYB-Yc

I'm pretty much at the point where I will beat her (Attuned) 100 times out of 100, so whatever issues OP might have with the fight aside for a second, telling ~me~ that I am relying on luck to win this battle is objectively wrong. It's ridiculous.

[Artek [General]]

引用自 Edgy：

I just have issues with you calling absolute radiance unfair, which isn't true. Video proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ6R4UYB-Yc

Except unlike the guy in the video i didn't inject myself with cocaine. The levels of opportunism, my god...
The attack speed that he has on her in melee is amasing, especially when he pogos her and does not get hit somehow despite being bombarded with homing things. Did i even had quick slash on my final run?...

The amount of dangerous close calls is uncanny. Unfortunately i do not have reaction time of spider man, so i would get hit by a lot of attacks there despite my best of attempts.
You are basically showing a footage of F1 race car to someone who owns a truck.

[Artek [General]]

引用自 Blair5414：

I'm pretty much at the point where I will beat her (Attuned) 100 times out of 100, so whatever issues OP might have with the fight aside for a second, telling ~me~ that I am relying on luck to win this battle is objectively wrong. It's ridiculous.

Lucky you then.
I mean... Okay, its not entirely RNG, but there were just random moments when all stars would allign themselves to ♥♥♥♥ with me, and trap me in some unescapable trap of overlaping attacks.
Even if there was an escape - well, i didn't noticed one so that's not helping me.

Way too often i would have a reaction exactly like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xExaW7lRPBc&ab_channel=DeathKnight121

Especially after that one time she nuked me during phase 1 in the end of PoH, after i, after hours of practice, dared to convince myself that at the very least i can reliably beat phase 1 and "we'll see what's going to happen after".
Spoiler: nothing happened. I got nuked.

[bobime, dorime, demomium]

引用自 Edgy：

I just have issues with you calling absolute radiance unfair, which isn't true. Video proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ6R4UYB-Yc

Pretty sure OP had said that they felt stressed when fighting AR during the Pantheon run only.

[Artek [General]]

引用自 Little Green Yoda Hulk 🌃🌆：

引用自 Edgy：

I just have issues with you calling absolute radiance unfair, which isn't true. Video proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ6R4UYB-Yc

Pretty sure OP had said that they felt stressed when fighting AR during the Pantheon run only.

Also that. Unfortunately fighting AR in practice and in Pantheon is too different.
Practice: mistakes cost nothing, just get right back in and get used to rhytm.
PoH: the stakes are actually there (25 minutes that you spent grinding to her) so i would actually feel FEAR during her introduction cutscene every time. Actual anxiety when seeing a boss... Can't even tell that its bad. Actually kinda prefer it that way.

I did had a winstreak of 2 battles on her at some point... Which was quickly offset by 10 consecutive loses that ruined my confidence for good.
And that was BEFORE i changed my pure-melee build to add shaman stone and started changing my purely melee mindset to getting used to cast spells. Not as intensevely the guy in the video of course, i am very conservative about casting anything that isn't SWORDS. But gotta counter ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ with ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ i suppose...

[Boksha]

As insane as that video is (seriously, how the ♥♥♥♥ can you even attack that fast? Steady body?) there are a few takeaways here.
1. Although it looks like there are a few close calls, the reality is the recording player never attacks when it's not safe to do so.
2. The player doesn't dash or double jump when they're not being attacked, thus leaving that option open at all times.
3. In the middle phase (phase 4, with the wide open arene of platforms), the player stays almost completely in the center of the arena, not leaving that general area even when the AR is out of range. When dashing through the wall of light, it's always from the bottom platform to one of the side platforms, and always close to the height of the target platform. That alone prevents a lot of the seemingly unpreventable damage people complain about.
4. They're doing it hitless. You don't have to. There's a bunch of situations in the fight where you can heal (like when the horizontal swords attack flies over a platform, or directly after a beam attack) so even if you get hit a few times, you can compensate.

When you practice in the Hall of Gods, remember to try to find ways to play it safe instead of trying to get a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of damage in like in that video. You really don't need to be perfect to get a near-100% success rate against the AR.

[Edgy]

引用自 Boksha：

As insane as that video is (seriously, how the ♥♥♥♥ can you even attack that fast? Steady body?) there are a few takeaways here.
1. Although it looks like there are a few close calls, the reality is the recording player never attacks when it's not safe to do so.
2. The player doesn't dash or double jump when they're not being attacked, thus leaving that option open at all times.
3. In the middle phase (phase 4, with the wide open arene of platforms), the player stays almost completely in the center of the arena, not leaving that general area even when the AR is out of range. When dashing through the wall of light, it's always from the bottom platform to one of the side platforms, and always close to the height of the target platform. That alone prevents a lot of the seemingly unpreventable damage people complain about.
4. They're doing it hitless. You don't have to. There's a bunch of situations in the fight where you can heal (like when the horizontal swords attack flies over a platform, or directly after a beam attack) so even if you get hit a few times, you can compensate.

When you practice in the Hall of Gods, remember to try to find ways to play it safe instead of trying to get a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of damage in like in that video. You really don't need to be perfect to get a near-100% success rate against the AR.

I actually used dlkurosh's strats for radiant absrad. It made the fight fun and enjoyable to me. Also, ddark helps with unavoidable damage.

[Artek [General]]

引用自 Boksha：

As insane as that video is (seriously, how the ♥♥♥♥ can you even attack that fast? Steady body?) there are a few takeaways here.
1. Although it looks like there are a few close calls, the reality is the recording player never attacks when it's not safe to do so.
2. The player doesn't dash or double jump when they're not being attacked, thus leaving that option open at all times.
3. In the middle phase (phase 4, with the wide open arene of platforms), the player stays almost completely in the center of the arena, not leaving that general area even when the AR is out of range. When dashing through the wall of light, it's always from the bottom platform to one of the side platforms, and always close to the height of the target platform. That alone prevents a lot of the seemingly unpreventable damage people complain about.
4. They're doing it hitless. You don't have to. There's a bunch of situations in the fight where you can heal (like when the horizontal swords attack flies over a platform, or directly after a beam attack) so even if you get hit a few times, you can compensate.

When you practice in the Hall of Gods, remember to try to find ways to play it safe instead of trying to get a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of damage in like in that video. You really don't need to be perfect to get a near-100% success rate against the AR.

Well, that's how i ultimately beaten her, really. Stoped being greedy, let her do her own things during platforms (i still absolutely HATE the little homing suns, they can suck all of my nuts).
Used to heal in the middle of a fight, particularly when she casts firewall from the oposite side of the map (although it would often be countered by summoning of vertical blades from the oposite side...).

As far as positioning go (platofrming, tactically moving) - that's like my #1 weakness in all of the games out there. Running into walls, not quiet making the jumps, not quiet standing where i need to be standing - pretty standart stuff for me. My brain is just not doing that.
Unless its a turn-based strategy... That's the only time when i have all the time in the world to consider what to do, where and how.

[bobime, dorime, demomium]

引用自 Boksha：

As insane as that video is (seriously, how the ♥♥♥♥ can you even attack that fast? Steady body?) there are a few takeaways here.
1. Although it looks like there are a few close calls, the reality is the recording player never attacks when it's not safe to do so.
2. The player doesn't dash or double jump when they're not being attacked, thus leaving that option open at all times.
3. In the middle phase (phase 4, with the wide open arene of platforms), the player stays almost completely in the center of the arena, not leaving that general area even when the AR is out of range. When dashing through the wall of light, it's always from the bottom platform to one of the side platforms, and always close to the height of the target platform. That alone prevents a lot of the seemingly unpreventable damage people complain about.
4. They're doing it hitless. You don't have to. There's a bunch of situations in the fight where you can heal (like when the horizontal swords attack flies over a platform, or directly after a beam attack) so even if you get hit a few times, you can compensate.

When you practice in the Hall of Gods, remember to try to find ways to play it safe instead of trying to get a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of damage in like in that video. You really don't need to be perfect to get a near-100% success rate against the AR.

Actually, yes, practicing Radiant on a boss multiple times can help you get really good.

I am playing fairly decentling against NKG and PV now that I managed to do Radiant on both of them a couple of times.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Edgy]

引用自 Little Green Yoda Hulk 🌃🌆：

引用自 Boksha：

As insane as that video is (seriously, how the ♥♥♥♥ can you even attack that fast? Steady body?) there are a few takeaways here.
1. Although it looks like there are a few close calls, the reality is the recording player never attacks when it's not safe to do so.
2. The player doesn't dash or double jump when they're not being attacked, thus leaving that option open at all times.
3. In the middle phase (phase 4, with the wide open arene of platforms), the player stays almost completely in the center of the arena, not leaving that general area even when the AR is out of range. When dashing through the wall of light, it's always from the bottom platform to one of the side platforms, and always close to the height of the target platform. That alone prevents a lot of the seemingly unpreventable damage people complain about.
4. They're doing it hitless. You don't have to. There's a bunch of situations in the fight where you can heal (like when the horizontal swords attack flies over a platform, or directly after a beam attack) so even if you get hit a few times, you can compensate.

When you practice in the Hall of Gods, remember to try to find ways to play it safe instead of trying to get a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of damage in like in that video. You really don't need to be perfect to get a near-100% success rate against the AR.

Actually, yes, practicing Radiant on a boss multiple times can help you get really good.

I am playing fairly decentling against NKG and PV now that I managed to do Radiant on both of them a couple of times.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Getting the radiant kill gave me a 100% winrate against regular AR