In Darkest Dungeon 2, the third boss encounter poses a significant challenge and is widely regarded as the toughest fight in the game
Players may find themselves unprepared for the intense battle that awaits them halfway through the game. Understanding the mechanics of the boss, particularly the Focused Fault and its abilities, is crucial to achieving victory. This guide will provide a detailed overview of the boss fight, including strategies and tips for success. Additionally, assembling a team of the best heroes and understanding their abilities is essential for surviving and dealing with the boss’s onslaught in Darkest Dungeon 2.
Darkest Dungeon 2 – Focused Fault “Obsession Boss”:
Boss Phase 1: Cloistered Eye & Bifurcated Eye
The initial phase of the boss fight involves facing the Cloistered Eye and its evolved form, the Bifurcated Eye. While defeating the Cloistered Eyes is not the primary objective, eliminating them can yield advantages. The Cloistered Eye possesses the “Observe” and “Gaze” abilities, which grant Focus tokens and inflict Stress on the target, respectively. By carefully managing the tokens and strategically attacking enemies that evolve ahead of others, players can stack tokens on resilient heroes and ensure their survival.
The Bifurcated Eye, spawned from killing the Cloistered Eye, also has its own set of abilities. It is crucial to keep in mind that killing the Bifurcated Eye will revert it back to a Cloistered Eye. Players should aim to synchronize the evolution of all enemies into the next phase, the Cluster of Eyes.
Boss Phase 2: Cluster of Eyes
The objective of phase two is to evolve all enemies into the Cluster of Eyes while maintaining the survival of the party. It is vital to prioritize attacking enemies that are evolving ahead or pose a significant threat. Managing movement and turn order becomes crucial at this stage. New Cloistered Eyes will place tokens on their turns, targeting their opposing ranks. By moving tanks strategically before these turns, players can stack tokens on heroes best equipped to withstand the incoming attacks. Mobile teams, utilizing heroes like the Jester, should reposition vulnerable heroes to avoid receiving tokens in ranks that are about to be targeted.
In this phase, heroes with Focus tokens become essential tanks. Players should not conclude the fight until the Focus tokens are properly stacked, as these heroes can absorb damage effectively. While positive relationships between heroes can alleviate stress gains, players must be cautious of the Glare ability of the Cluster of Eyes, which can cause significant damage. Upgraded skills that apply Blind or gain Stealth will not work against this ability.
Boss Phase 3: The Focused Fault
Finally, players face the boss itself, the Focused Fault. If the party has survived the previous phases, this part of the battle becomes more straightforward but equally perilous. Damage blocking and healing become crucial strategies, and utilizing Vestal’s healing abilities can greatly aid in sustaining the party.
The Focused Fault possesses several abilities, including Behold, Suppress, and Limerance. Behold places Focus tokens on all heroes, while Suppress targets heroes without Focus tokens and inflicts various debuffs. Limerance deals damage, applies healing reduction, and has a chance to inflict Horror tokens. Players must keep their tanks alive and consider employing heroes with robust defenses, such as the Leper.
Strategy and Tips
In Darkest Dungeon 2 maintaining heroes with Focus tokens is vital throughout the battle. Positive tokens can be stolen upon receiving a critical hit, so players should be prepared for potential token loss. Restorative items can help recover some of the damage inflicted.
Heroes who can apply damage over time effects are valuable, as these effects bypass constant damage reduction. Having multiple healers can overcome the 25% healing reduction on tanks. Players opting for high damage output should equip their heroes with suitable trinkets or find ways to counter debuffs. Equipping combat items that clear debuffs can be immensely helpful in this regard.
The key to success lies in the careful placement of tokens and the synchronization of enemy evolution. If phase two doesn’t go as planned, it is likely due to the way tokens were distributed in phase one. It may take a few attempts to find the optimal strategy, but armed with this knowledge, players can significantly improve their chances of victory.
Once phase two is successfully completed, the focus shifts to the final boss, the Focused Fault. This phase can be more straightforward if the party has survived the earlier stages with minimal losses. However, players must still remain vigilant as the Focused Fault possesses its own set of abilities and a high amount of health.
During this phase, players should continue to utilize positive tokens to their advantage, while keeping in mind the risk of losing them on critical hits. Healing and damage mitigation become crucial, and heroes with abilities to block damage or provide healing should be prioritized. Utilizing the Vestal’s healing skills and equipping the best restorative items can aid in recovering from the Focused Fault’s onslaught.
The Focused Fault has a range of abilities at its disposal, including Behold, Suppress, and Limerance. Behold targets all heroes and places Focus tokens, while Suppress targets heroes without Focus tokens and inflicts debilitating debuffs. Limerance deals damage, reduces healing received, and has a chance to inflict Horror tokens. Players must focus on keeping their tanks alive and may find heroes with resilient qualities, such as the Leper, particularly useful in this phase.
To overcome the Focused Fault, players should consider employing strategies that minimize damage received and maximize damage output. Heroes capable of inflicting damage over time effects and those with high burst damage potential can be invaluable. Equipping trinkets that enhance damage or provide debuff resistance can further improve the party’s chances of success.
It is important to note that perseverance and adaptability are key in this challenging boss fight. Players should not be discouraged by initial failures but instead learn from them and refine their strategy. Experimenting with different hero compositions, abilities, and item loadouts can lead to the discovery of the most effective approach.
The third boss encounter in Darkest Dungeon 2 presents a formidable challenge, but with careful planning, strategic decision-making, and a resilient party of heroes, victory is within reach. Understanding the mechanics of each phase, optimizing token placement, and utilizing the strengths of individual heroes are crucial elements for overcoming this formidable foe. By employing the strategies outlined in this guide and adapting to the evolving battlefield, players can emerge triumphant and continue their perilous journey through the darkest of dungeons.
