How to defeat Deathstroke

For those who are having trouble defeating Deathstroke despite the game already handhelding you.

Before you continue on with this guide

This guide obviously contains SPOILER. Close this now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Try following the ingame tips, they actually guide you how to beat Deathstroke already.

If you're still having trouble, read on.

How to really beat Deathstroke

Personally, I consider this boss battle a tedious training mission instead. Why?

If you're one of those people who spam the Counter button, Deathstroke will easily beat you down, slowly and painful as well.

The key to beat Deathstroke during one of those Counter events is to only Counter when he's about to strike you (aka when that Counter Icon is displayed). If you Counter too early or too late, you'll automatically fail the Counter and Deathstroke will hit you. In New Game+ mode, wait when the game is in slowmo and counter at that moment.

After you successfully counter him, immediately follow up with your usual direct attack and he won't be able to strike you first. Usually you can hit him a few times before the Counter event starts again. He may also dodges your attack and follow up with his own attack like your ordinary thugs. Just wait for his attack to come then simply Counter and continue to beat him up again.

If Deathstroke is close to a wall, attacking him will result in Batman vaulting Deathstroke away from it.

The Batclaw can be used to pull Deathstroke to you then follow up with a rather damaging slam.

Stun Cape does not work on Deathstroke. He'll just easily shrug it off and mock you for doing it.

If you managed to get your combo score to 8 (5 if you already have "Special Combo Boost" upgrade, which is only possible in New Game+ and "I am the Night" mode), you can use Combo Takedown to deal significant damage to Deathstroke without him trying to retaliate back THEN follow with another Batclaw slam just to give him even more pain.

The boss battle has 3 phase, which will become gradually harder for those who fight him first time.

1st phase: Deathstroke is not as aggressive and you can easily Counter him in only 1 move. After you've dealt enough damage, he'll throw smoke and then try to engage you in beatdown (Just like Ra's al Ghul battle in Arkham City). This is the only time you can safely mash Counter button without worry, then use your own beatdown on him. His mask should be taken off by now (he's obviously not happy about that) and you'll proceed to the 2nd phase.

2nd phase: Deathstroke is more aggressive this time as you'll need about 2 Counters in succession to block his Counter attack. Again, time your Counter and you shouldn't have any trouble getting him.

Occasionally, he'll use his Remote Claw to pull explosive barrels at you. Just Counter as the barrel approaches close enough and Batman will throw the barrel right back at Deathstroke, stunning him for a very brief moment. You can give him some payback with your own Batclaw as well.

After you've beaten him up enough, the same procedure from phase 1 is repeated again, only this time you break his staff instead. He'll pull out his sword and continue to the last phase.

3rd phase: This is just like the 2nd phase, only his sword counterattacks can even take up to 3 successful Counters to block them. There's nothing more to say about this, just beat him for the final time and enjoy the cinematic.

Deathstroke in New Game+/I am the Night

Some people say this boss battle is much more harder when playing in New Game+/I am the Night mode. They're both right and wrong.

Right: there's no more lightning-counter icon for you to watch for and time your Counter, making this boss fight more difficult as you'll have to remember his attack animations and watch for the slowmo moments during the Counter event.

Wrong: Since New Game+/I am the Night mode allows you to keep all of your previous upgrades, having access to "Special Combo Boost" upgrade gives you significant advantage against Deathstroke as you can do up to 2 Combo Takedowns (along with Batclaw slam in between) in a succession, quickly shred through Deathstroke's HP before he can even use his Remote Claw or engage you in Counter event as much. Critical Strike also allows you to build up your Combo faster as well (unless you're using keyboard + mouse like me since there's a bug that makes your Critical Strike not registering properly unless you're using a controller).

In other word: Fighting Deathstroke in New Game+/I am the Night should be a walk in the park if you can already handle normal thugs (especially Martial Artists) without trouble.

Video Demonstration

New Game Plus:

[MASTERCAT]

i fucking hate him

[CyberNinja]

countering too soon against Deathstroke's counterattack will fail your counter. Watch carefully for your opening.

[Godspell]

Imagine being SO bad at a simple game that people need this demo to beat probably the second easiest boss in the game

[忍 Perninha de Supino 忍]

its not working for me

[genghisjayder]

I don't remember the ra'as fight but I do remember deathstroke ( I have played every arkham game including this one my favorite boss fight is by far the clayface so that is probably why I don't remember ra'as ) and this was one of the best fights I have had in a arkham game what stopped me was actually the stealth bossfights ( in arkham knight especially )although they did not stop me fully they are way tougher ( psychological attacks was their main weapon otherwise they were weak bosses this is what I get for using grates all the time )

[CortiWins]

Hint: For some people in DirectX11 countering the sword does not work, so deathstroke will slash you to pieces with unblockable attacks.

Heres how to start it in DX9
https://steamcommunity.com/app/209000/discussions/0/648812305425512563/

[Arucard]

But it's hard to sit there and take a couple hits while waiting for the counter prompt to pop up, I think that's what always screws me up. He has an attack that hits you two or three times before the chance to counter and you're instinct is to counter on the first hit.

[ULTIMATE BATMAN]

really?dead stroke is easy to beat

[G0RD0N FR33MAN]

i gave up on this game because of this stupid boss fight. I liked the game until this freaking fight

[Kawazaki]

thanks man, this guide helped cause imma counter spamming quite a lot, mainly because of arkham city.