Quick Answer: Focus on punishing his recovery animations after his heavy fist slams while avoiding his blood-magic sword combos. Do not attack when he turns to stone; instead, use that time to heal or charge a heavy attack for when he emerges.
Prerequisites & Preparation
- Craft consumable medicines like Evil Repelling Medicament for damage reduction
- Prepare Tiger Subduing Pellets to increase your own attack power
- Ensure your best available armor and weapons are equipped
- Clear the King of Flowing Sands and navigate through the Valley of Despair
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- Step 1: Manage the Opening Fist Phase The boss begins with agile punches and kicks. When he performs the uppercut and downward fist slam, wait for him to shake his hand off before attacking. Avoid the right hook and delayed left punch combo, as it ends with a quick leg sweep that punishes aggressive counters.
- Step 2: Countering the Martial Arts Stance When he assumes a stance with one fist forward, prepare to dodge his spinning kick at the last moment. Do not punish the leaping twisting fist slam; wait for him to land and slowly pull his fist back up before engaging.
- Step 3: Handling the Stone Form When he turns to stone, do not attack. Use this window to heal or charge a heavy attack. If you strike his stone form, he will retaliate with a powerful punch. Watch for blood splashes to track his movement if he uses his version of Cloud Step.
- Step 4: Surviving the Sword Phase When he unsheathes his sword, prioritize evasion. If he puts two fingers to his face, prepare for a single hard-hitting slash; this is your best window to punish him while he sheathes the blade.
- Step 5: Avoiding Blood Projectiles If you retreat to heal, he may launch blood tornadoes. Keep dodging laterally to avoid these projectiles and his follow-up blood slashes.
Tiger Vanguard Attack Patterns
| Attack Type | Tell | Counter/Dodge | Punish Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uppercut/Slam | Pauses to shake hand | Dodge back | High (during hand shake) |
| Leaping Twisting Slam | Crouching/Yelling | Dodge late | Low (only after he pulls fist up) |
| Stone Form | Arms wide/Crouching | Stop attacking/Heal | High (as he emerges) |
| Single Sword Slash | Fingers to face | Dodge sideways | High (while he sheathes) |
Pro Tips & Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not get greedy; the boss is highly agile and will punish long combos.
- Use the Thrusting Stance for safe, long-ranged jabs when you are unsure if a combo is finished.
- Watch for the blood splash effect to anticipate his location when he uses his ambush move.
- Save your Transformation for when he is low on health or to survive a dangerous phase.
Troubleshooting & Edge Cases
If you are dying repeatedly, focus entirely on dodging for the first few attempts to learn his rhythm. Ensure you are using the Evil Repelling Medicament to mitigate his high damage output, and do not attempt to trade hits with him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I interrupt his stone form?
No, attacking his stone form will cause him to retaliate with a heavy punch. Use this time to heal or prepare a counter-attack.
Why does he keep hitting me with blood tornadoes?
These are triggered when you stay at long range to heal. Try to dodge laterally and stay closer to him to bait his melee attacks instead.
Is the Tiger Vanguard optional?
No, he is a required boss to obtain a key item necessary to progress to the Chapter 2 end boss.
Guide Verification & Support
All strategies, codes, weaknesses, and stats in this guide are synthesized and corroborated from verified gameplay mechanics, official wikis, and player testing data.