The going is getting tough in The Relic: First Guardian, and the game is starting to throw a number of different types of bosses at you. Gone are the bosses that just slowly lumber around and slice and dice you, like The Prodigal Bound in Dust, or Taylor. Now we’re at a point where the Brutals are using elemental attacks at a high speed, as is the case with our latest boss, but don’t worry, we’re here to show you how to beat Igwis, High Priest of the Blighted Sanctuary.
How to Find Igwis, High Priest of the Blighted Sanctuary
Finding Igwis couldn’t be simpler. As you progress through the open world of the Faded Mist Forest, you’ll find the map starts to tighten into an alley like area, pushing you towards the next open area and forcing your hand. Just before this, to the North, are two icons. One a cave, one a temple. Head towards here, and follow the path from the Old Temple Site (don’t forget to check in and pay for a little buff here), towards the cave, up some stone stairs and as usual, you’ll find a Tibelle’s Blessing right outside. Always a good sign. Use it.
Once you enter, you’ll realise this cave is more akin to a church or temple, and is ominously called the Sanctum of Ashes. Head down the stairs and into the first open room, dispatch the enemies and then head downstairs once more. Cut through a few more enemies and look for the next Tibelle’s Blessing and you’ll see a door right next to it. Open it up, and this is where Igwis, High Priest of the Blighted Sanctuary is.
GEAR AND SHARD OF ESSER TIP: Instead of heading downstairs when you first enter the Sanctumn of Ashes, look for the opening that’ll allow you to head upstairs. As well as some gold, a few enemies and a journal entry, there’s also a lift. Use this and it’ll take you to the temple on the map , the Sanctum of Breath.
Soon as the lift stops at the top, one of the game’s best early armours is in front of you, the Vestments of the Vanished Prayer, which gives health on a successful parry, and if you exit the room and head outside and behind you, you’ll find a Shard of Esser to increase your carryable health potions with Elisa.
How to Beat Igwis, High Priest of the Blighted Sanctuary
Igwis is one of the more irritating bosses in The Relic: First Guardian, not just because he’s harder than the majority of those before him, with maybe only the Winged Woman being of equal annoyance, but because he is unrelenting in his constant use of elemental attacks.
A High Priest gone mad thanks to the world around him, he thinks you are a Brutal yourself once he sees you, and doesn’t hang around to ask any questions. He has a long staff with a big reach, but also, a continual stream of ice elemental attacks.
UPCOMING BOSSES
- Garrot, The Executioner of the Black Day
- Vermion, The Gilded Arbiter
As soon as you enter the room and walk down the stairs, throw your Relic Magic! If you time it right, you’ll throw it before his health bar appears, and it’ll land as he stands up, taking a chunk of health off and ensuring he can’t dodge it. You can also throw a Shard of Emberflame in it’s place, but he will move and you likely won’t manage to instil Burn on him.
He has one main combo, which if you’re out in the open and caught in it, is likely to kill you outright. The five-hit combo is best either blocked, although you risk gradual Frostbite if you do this, or, and this was my tactic, hiding behind the big stone pillars.
CHEESE METHOD: There are no barrels here to help you this time, however, there is something else. In the arena are pillars, obviously there to support the roof, but they can provide defensive protection to you instead. Igwis will hunt you down throughout the fight, but if you stand on the other side of the pillar, his ice attacks won’t damage you (unless you stand too close), and you can either pop out at the end of a combo and use a skill to hurt him, or in the case of one pillar on the left, get him between it and the wall, and throw a Shard of Emberflame at him, mid-combo. He won’t move in time, and he’ll get Burn, which will take a chunk of his health off.
Once he gets down to half health, he’ll do his AOE attack and freeze the floor, meaning this method is null and void for that pillar, and you can either try another, or fight him out in the open.
Other than the five-hit combo, he also has a super strong ice beam like attack, which locks you in place and subjects you to the full force of the hit. If you’re lucky enough to survive, you’ll have Frostbite now, and Igwis will follow in and likely hit you hard again, killing you. Avoid this attack at all costs.
In between these combos, you’ll want to pop out and use a skill. Don’t get greedy, take your time, but never be always on the defensive, otherwise the ice will get you. Using the Sword and Shield, my skills were Focusing Strike, which sent me into the air avoiding his attacks, Overwhelm, which whilst strong, would end up with me getting hit halfway through, Menacing Strike, which I used right after the end of his five-hit combo, and Defender’s Momentum, to give myself a buff.
If you manage to block and break Igwis poise, it’s the best time to unload all of your offensive skills on him, as well as any throwables you may have to instil elemental effects of your own.
After his health drops to half, he will change things up, with him slamming the hammer into the ground causing it to ice over. Avoid this unless you want Frostbite and almost certain death. Other than that, his attacks don’t change, and with a bit of luck, some anti-ice buff potions, and some patience, you’ll now know how to beat Igwis, High Priest of the Blighted Sanctuary.
Rewards
- The Blessing That Remained
- Igwis, High Priest of the Blighted Sanctuary Journal Entry
- Relic Magic
- Fragment of the Corrupted Abyss x 2
For your next read, don’t miss our tips and tricks we wish we knew before starting The Relic: First Guardian, or how to beat The Wingless Woman.
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!
