Bosses are ten-a-penny in The Relic: First Guardian, and order a wide range of challenges. From lumbering, powerful oafs that’ll wreck you in a few hits, to magic users and rapid, quick enemies that you won’t see coming, there’s something for everyone. Our latest boss, Arden,the Mad Vindicator, is one of the final you’ll find in the first area, and is a significant challenge.
In this guide, we’ll make it easy on you, with some tips and steps in how to beat Arden, the Mad Vindicator, as well as his location, and of course, what rewards you get for beating him.
How to Find Arden, the Mad Vindicator
Before you can beat him, you have to find him, and thankfully he’s not exactly hidden away, at least, the building he’s in isn’t. You could easily miss him if you don’t explore well enough. Located to the right of the third Fast Travel spot, the Field of Forgotten Footprints, is a church that houses the man himself. Follow the path and you’ll first enter a cemetery, which itself houses a few troublesome enemies be careful not to get swarmed. Ahead is a big building, the church, which when you’ve made your way there, you’ll enter through a side door. Scattered throughout the church are items, journal entries and notes you’ll want to listen to, to fully grasp Arden’s story.
Once you’ve collected all these, head towards the wall to the left of the Tibelle Blessing, and you’ll notice a hole in it. Walk through this and down the stairs to the lower floor. Pick up the note, and then head the other direction towards what originally housed the pews, and be greeted with the foggy sight of Arden, the Mad Vindicator, in all his glory.
How to Beat Arden, the Mad Vindicator in The Relic: First Guardian
Arden is hands-down one of the hardest hitting bosses so far. He can wreck you in three hits, hits hard and fast, is difficult to slow down and on top of all that, instils Curse if he hits you too many times. You’ll have to be ready to heal quickly, put some distance between you both when necessary, and pick your own moments to attack.
As with other bosses, as soon as you go down the few stairs into the arena, you’ll want to throw your elemental attack. Following straight on from this, make sure you also throw a Shard of Emberflame, which thanks to your elemental he won’t dodge. Because he’s initially slow at advancing, you may well instil Burn here. If you’re brave, when he’s a small distance away and still walking towards you, you can try using Menacing Strike, if you’re using it, as it’ll propel you towards him and immediately add extra damage to him. However, be prepared that you may end up getting damaged yourself.
UPCOMING BOSSES
- Arg
- Feller, The Devoted Who Was Consumed
Arden, the Mad Vindicator’s combos are quick, but relatively predictable. He’ll swing his sword twice in quick fashion, and then end it with an up-and-over attack that’ll slam into the ground. Block all these twice, and you’ll break his poise. When you do, unload two skills on him. I used Overwhelm and Focusing Strike, to ensure maximum damage. When you’ve ended those two skills, throw another elemental at him.
By this point you’ve likely reduced his health to half, if not a little more, and he’ll aggro and become a little harder to deal with. He’ll now start using his Red, unblockable attack, where he starts a circular pulse of Curse damage, and then swipes towards you. Get some distance as quickly as possible and then dodge at the right time. Easy.
If you time your attacks well, block when needed and don’t take unnecessary risks, you’ll turn one of the hardest hitting bosses of the area into a cakewalk, and not only beat Arden, but batter him.
REWARDS
- Crushed Conviction
- Arden, the Mad Vindicator Journal Entry
- Relic Power
- Fragment of the Corrupted Abyss x 2
Now you know how to beat Arden, the Mad Vindicator, you can continue on with your adventure, into the much more difficult next area, where stronger, faster and more difficult Brutals await.
For your next read, check out our review of The Relic: First Guardian, or how to beat Garrot, The Executioner of the Black Day.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
