As we’ve stressed multiple times so far, getting high combo ranks is essential for mastery of Bayonetta 2. In this section, we outline how to maximize your combo potential, and prove to the world that you’re exploding with style!

The Combo Counter

As explained in the Basic Combat section, each hit adds to your combo count and the multiplier. If you want to make both rise faster, simply hit harder and faster. Equip weapons like the Rakshasa and Takemikazuchi to see these principles in action for yourself.

Taunt Enemies for High Score

Hitting enemies normally.

Hitting angry enemies. All that extra anger goes into your score!

Think you can take the heat? Taunt enemies wherever you can—or wear the Gaze of Despair accessory—to enrage enemies, making them move faster, hit faster, and hit harder! The tradeoff, however, is greatly increased point yield per attack you land! Use this if you’re struggling to get Platinum score medals.

The Six-Second Rule

Hit enemies to keep the combo going...

...but if you stop for six seconds...

...so does the counter! Don’t let that happen!

Want an easy way to keep your combo rising? Just keep track of one thing: How long it’s been since you last hit an enemy. In Bayonetta 2, you’re allowed six full seconds between hits before the combo counter resets.

Even if you tag an enemy from across the battlefield, your combo doesn’t end!

Extending Your Combo

Taunts

Taunts also stall the combo counter briefly, which can mean the difference between a Platinum rank or a Gold. Some Verses also have multiple phases of battle that can be interrupted by things like cutscenes. You can often taunt to stall the combo counter once you’ve cleared the first phase of enemies so that your counter remains intact once you enter the second phase. This is essential for attaining Pure Platinum ranks some Verses, including boss battles.

Gun Attacks

Once you’ve defeated an enemy, hold the Action button to fire your gun. Bayonetta will automatically tag another enemy, and your combo counter will continue. This should always be your fallback technique in battle—always keep your gun going if you don’t have an enemy directly in your sights.

Dodge Offset

As explained earlier, Dodge Offset allows you to dodge incoming attacks even while in mid-combo, so you don’t have to stop dishing out the pain, and so you can toss out your beloved Wicked Weaves more often. Never forget it!