The Priestess boss in Saros is a huge floating creature that loves splitting up into three clones and using oversized tuning forks.
Out of all the bosses so far, the Priestess has the most attacks, but there’s a good chance you won’t see all of them as you’re too focused on punching. Nonetheless, there is a lot going on in this fight with projectiles going everywhere and the arena constantly changing.
To help, we’ve listed out all of the boss’ attacks below, so you can learn how to beat the Priestess in Saros.
How to prepare for the Priestess boss in Saros
The Priestess can be found at the end of the Cathedral biome in Saros. Before you depart, we recommend grabbing as many Overdrive Charger nodes in the Armor Matrix as you can, so you can use Overdrive at least once during every phase of the fight. Additionally, we recommend using Damage Enhancement III and Armor Enhancement II protection modifiers, as well as Halcyon Removal and Artifact Destruction trial modifiers to balance them out. If you’re just aiming to defeat the boss, having these modifiers equipped will greatly improve your chances.
As for your proficiency level, anything higher than 50 is superb, but we recommend getting to at least the high 40’s. As for the weapon, it’s up to your preference here as the boss is mostly stationary, but the smart rifle is always a safe choice.
How to beat the Priestess boss in Saros
The Priestess loves the rule of threes. They’re capable of splitting into three, their arena turns into three platforms, they spawn three oversized tuning forks, and, of course, they have three phases.
For the previous boss fights, their arenas were slightly altered as the fight went on. However, against the Priestess, the stage will change after each phase, and you’ll be forced to adjust accordingly.
First phase
At the start of the battle, the Priestess will be invulnerable and split into three copies of herself. Your goal is to destroy two out of three copies, so you can start doing damage to her health. However, it’s never that simple in Saros. Each Priestess clone will unleash the same attack at once, retreat back into the wall, and then reappear from a different hole in the wall. This does mean that you’ll have to avoid three times the number of projectiles at first, but, if you defeat one clone, the number of attacks will drop back down to two.
Don’t use your Overdrive during this portion, as it’ll be a waste.
The Priestess clones will perform a mix of the following attacks:
- Red arcs: The clones will send a red arc along the ground in front of them. Jump over the intersection in the middle to avoid all of them at once.
- Funnel of yellow projectiles: The left clone’s head will glow yellow, and then they’ll unleash a funnel of yellow projectiles, followed by the middle clone and then the right clone. When you see this attack start up, stand on the opposite side of the center clone, and stay still. You’ll go through the hole at the end, but, if you notice that the projectiles are getting a little too close, make sure to dodge.
- Torrent of yellow projectiles: Immediately after the funnels, they’ll all shoot a torrent of yellow projectiles. Dodge to the side to avoid them.
- Stream of red projectiles: The clones will call forth a stream of red projectiles from the hole in the wall behind them. The easiest way to avoid this attack is to make sure you’re standing in front of a wall rather than a hole.
There’s a chance that you won’t see some of these attacks, but they’ll come back in just a bit, so do your best to remember them.
After you defeat the clones, you can start damaging the Priestess, and, if you have it, you can use your Overdrive. They’ll start using the following attacks:
- Vertical lines of yellow projectiles in every direction: The Priestess shooting projectiles in every direction and an expanding red ring on the ground. Stay close to the edge of the area and stand in the gap between the projectiles. Jump over the red ring when it gets close.
- Torrent of yellow projectiles: This attack will be just like the one used earlier, but now they’ll also shoot red projectiles underneath them. Keep your distance from them and run to the side to avoid the yellow projectiles.
- Blue “X”: The Priestess will shoot out blue projectiles in a crisscross formation and unleash an expanding red ring on the ground. Either shield the blue projectiles or move toward the gap on the sides of the “X,” and jump over the red ring.
- Funnel of yellow projectiles: This attack is also similar to the one from before, but now there are slow-moving blue projectiles at the end. Try to position yourself for the exit and shield the blue projectiles ahead.
- Rotating wall of yellow and red projectiles: A tall wall of yellow projectiles and a short wall of red projectiles will start to rotate around the Priestess. Dash through the yellow and jump over the red.
Once the Priestess reaches a third of their HP, they’ll split back into three clones and perform the same attacks as before, but now the torrent of yellow projectiles will happen at any time, rather than just after the funnel.
After you defeat the clones, they’ll regroup as one and perform the same attacks as before, so repeat the process until you deplete their health bar.
Second phase
At the start of the second phase, the background will change from walls to an open area full of ruins, the Priestess will split into three clones, and the boss itself will be invulnerable. They’ll place an orb in the center of the stage that will constantly shoot a rotating wall of red orbs. You can’t destroy it, so you’ll just need to keep jumping over it.
Then, three platforms with an oversized tuning fork will spawn: one in front to the right, one in front to the left, and one behind you. This time, your goal is not to defeat the clones, but instead, to punch the oversized tuning forks. If you quickly get all three, you will most likely only see one or two of their attacks, so start spamming your dodge and punching those tuning forks.
During this portion, the main thing to look out for is the clones’ heads. They’ll emit a light when they’re about to attack. The clones will cycle through the following attacks:
- Cones of yellow projectiles: The middle clone will send a cone of yellow projectiles down the center of the stage, and then the two outer clones will send cones down the edges of the stage. Stay to the side first and then move to the center. Immediately after, the middle clone will send blue projectiles in the shape of a star. Either shield, dodge, or go through the gap.
- Star-shaped projectiles: The right clones will rotate orbs in the hairs and then send a cluster of projectiles in the shape of a star in your direction. The other clones will follow along shortly after. Dodge or shield the orbs depending on their color.
- Torrent of yellow projectiles: This attack is similar to the torrent from the first phase, only this time the attacks are staggered. Dodge through the attacks or run toward the opposite side of the platform.
- Diamond-shaped projectiles: The Priestess clones will throw groups of yellow projectiles in the shape of a diamond in your direction. They’ll do this multiple times, so time your dodges to avoid multiple groups at once.
- Homing projectiles: The two outer clones will shoot homing blue projectiles and the middle clone will shoot homing red projectiles. Shield the blue and sidestep the red to avoid taking damage.
Again, there’s a good chance that you won’t see a majority of these attacks if you punch the tuning forks as soon as possible, but variations of these attacks will come up later on in the fight and, of course, the Priestess will split up into her clones again in just a second.
After you punch all the tuning forks, the orb spitting out red projectiles will disappear and the Priestess will regroup into one. Start to unload everything you have, including your power weapon and Overdrive. As you’re doing so, they’ll unleash the following attacks:
- Ring of red projectiles: The Priestess surrounds you with a ring of red projectiles that will close in on you. Jump to avoid taking damage.
- Cone of yellow projectiles: This attack is similar to the attack from earlier, but now it’ll take up essentially the entire stage. Dodge through the wall of the cone toward the center.
- Yellow projectiles: The Priestess throws a volley of slow yellow projectiles onto the stage. Run around to avoid these, but dodge if any get close.
- Diamond-shaped projectiles: The Priestess will throw two diamonds of yellow projectiles one after the other, and then two diamonds of yellow projectiles at once. These can all be avoided by running to the side, but dodge and shield when necessary.
- Blue ring and yellow star: The Priestess surrounds you with blue projectiles that will close in on you, and shoots projectiles in the shape of a yellow star toward you immediately after. Shield the blue projectiles and move toward a gap in the star.
Once you get the Priestess to 50% HP, they’ll revert to the clones, and you’ll have to repeat everything here until you’ve depleted the boss’ HP.
Third phase
At the start of the third phase, the floor will disappear from beneath you, and you’ll fall onto a platform below. The third phase will be an upgraded version of the second. This time, there are three platforms, with each having an orb that is constantly spewing out red orbs. Shortly, the Priestess will spawn two platforms with oversized tuning forks right in front of itself. Punch the tuning forks to make the Priestess vulnerable again.
The Priestess will be using upgraded versions of the following attacks:
- Cone of yellow projectiles: The Priestess will now throw two smaller cones of red projectiles first before throwing a large cone of yellow projectiles. Walk to the side to avoid the red cones, and then dodge into the yellow cone or hop over to another platform.
- Star-shaped projectiles: There are a lot more legs of yellow projectiles now, so you’ll have to be a little more precise with where you stand. Alternatively, you can dodge or jump onto another platform.
- Diamond-shaped projectiles: This attack is the same as the last, just bigger.
There is also one new attack where the Priestess shoots four groups of homing blue projectiles, but these can be shielded.
After you punch the tuning forks, unload everything you have once again. They’ll perform the same attacks as before, but now the diamond-shaped projectiles will also have red lines behind them, so make sure to stand in the gaps. However, the biggest thing you have to look out for is the floor.
If the platform you’re standing on starts to shake, jump over to a different platform, so you can continue doing damage. It’s alright if the stage disappears from underneath you as you won’t take fall damage, but you’ll land on a smaller platform below you where you have to quickly make your way back.
When the boss has a little less than half of their health, they’ll become invulnerable again, and you’ll have to punch the tuning forks again. From here, there will be nothing new, so repeat everything you’ve learned until you defeat the Priestess.
