When it comes to the bosses within The Relic: First Guardian, there are none more prominent than Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, as he is the first boss that the player encounters within the game, allowing the player to then venture out into the open world that the game has waiting for them.
During this guide, we will talk to you about Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, and how you are able to beat them in their boss battle. Throughout the guide, we will provide you with some tips and tricks to help you battle this challenging first hurdle in the adventure that is The Relic: First Guardian.
How to Find Branko, The Bloodstained Shield in The Relic: First Guardian
Due to Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, being the first boss that players encounter within The Relic: First Guardian, he is relatively easy to find, as the early stages of the game are rather linear, with the ending of this section being a burning village.
While venturing through the burning village, the player will eventually stumble across a burning church with a closed door that is shown on the map above. This church is the location that Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, calls home, which also boasts a rest spot right next to it, allowing the player to regain their healing items and health before entering this duel to the death.
How to Beat Branko, The Bloodstained Shield
Once you enter the Church of Atonement that holds Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, and you finish his intimidating cutscene, the fight will jump right into action, as Branko is known for his distance-closing attacks that have a wide range and also deal devastating damage.
However, because these attacks are good at closing the gap between you and Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, it is very easy to predict them, and avoiding them is quite simple, as the wind-up is quite large and heavily telegraphed.
One attack that will cause a bit of distress for the player is when Branko begins an unblockable attack. A red warning sign appears above his head, in which a giant tornado is summoned around the boss and gradually grows until it explodes as he launches himself towards the player. This attack can be quite nerve-racking upon first seeing it, but the simplest avoidance is to run away and allow him to attempt the attack and miss, opening him up to counterattacks.
CHEESE METHOD: The Church is covered in fire. This can be a problem, or a solution, depending on how you look at it. You can circle the arena, avoiding both the fire and Branko at the same time. If you’re patient, he will accrue burn damage and eventually die, but this requires real patience to manage the whole fight in this way.
One of the risks that this boss fight employs is that the arena is entirely unsafe, as you are inside a burning church, meaning that there is fire splashed around the arena. Unfortunately, this is done to limit how much you can move and avoid the boss. These small chunks of fire can be annoying, as they do damage to you as you walk over them and even cause fire status buildup, leading to unnecessary damage.
However, this fire isn’t just a threat to you, as the boss can also be harmed by fire, meaning that if you want to get a small amount of free damage, albeit with the risk of harming yourself in the process, you can lead the boss into closing the gap and attacking you, causing him to land directly in the fire. This will cause him damage as he eventually winds up for a second attack. Although this bit of damage may seem minor in the long run, that small amount of damage could mean the difference between a win and a loss.
In terms of poise, Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, is relatively strong and takes a lot of parrying to knock into a stunned state. This may take a while due to the boss being relatively slow to attack, but if you can perfect your blocks, you can knock him down for a good while, allowing you to deal some fast and heavy damage.
UPCOMING BOSSES
- Entom the Starved
- Erdian, The Broken Vow
After defeating Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, you will then acquire a few different items that can be used throughout the game. The first item is a shard of erosion, which can be used to upgrade a weapon up to its first upgrade. The second item you will acquire is a strong consumable item called the Shard of Emberflame, which can be placed within your quickslots and can be used during exploration within the game.
What makes the Shard of Emberflame interesting is that it can be thrown towards an enemy in order to set them ablaze and cause fire damage over time. Still, the most interesting detail is that this item refreshes after resting, allowing players to use this item over and over again rather than in a one-and-done situation.
The final item players will acquire is a piece of lore regarding Branko, The Bloodstained Shield, that can be viewed within the pause menu, providing some background details of this character and what led him to become a Brutal.
For your next read, check out our review of The Relic: First Guardian, a few tricks and tips we wish we’d known when starting the game, or our in-depth interview with the Game Director, In-Hyeok Park.
Liam is a Senior Editor, Writer, and Critic for Thumb Wars and has been working with the team since day one. Liam is a big fan of all things gaming, as you will catch him playing all of the new releases from every genre you can imagine. Whether you find Liam gaming just for fun or spending his free time streaming, you will always find a smile on his face when it comes to all things gaming.
