Chapter XII: The Lumen Sage

Verse 1

In this scene, Bayonetta rides Diomedes, the demonic steed, through a crumbling Inferno, as she races to rescue a Loki in peril! The entire ride counts as a single Verse, and fortunately, it’s pretty easy to Pure Platinum as long as you follow a few simple rules.

1st Climax/2nd Climax/3rd Climax/∞ Climax (Go for Pure Platinum!)

Suggested Pure Platinum Weapons: N/A

Enemies: Greed x3, Pain x4

The first rule, naturally, is to not get hit.

The second rule is to go at top speed the whole way through. Accomplish this by holding the Left Analog Stick upward.

That takes care of Time and Damage, but what about Combo? That’s where a certain special feature of this stage comes in: Diomedes automatically accumulates magic power as he gallops, meaning you’re always charging up for a potential Umbran Climax. When you press the Attack buttons, Umbran Climax causes Diomedes to fire long-travelling waves in place of his usual short-range Blade Slash. In short, this racing game just became a shoot-’em-up. Destroy them all!

When the Verse starts, ride away at top speed! You can dodge through ground obstacles much more easily than trying to jump over them.

When enemies show up, activate Umbran Climax and press the Attack buttons to vanquish them! You’ll always run out of enemies before you run out of magic power.

Keep on going. Gomorrah shows up here (remember sending him to Inferno back in the Prologue?) to block your way. Dodge past his tail, then his limbs, and keep moving!

After jumping some platforms, and navigating some harmless shifting terrain, you face more enemies. Use the same Umbran Climax attacks on them as well, and be sure to defeat them all!

A gauntlet of dodgeable debris blocks your way, and then it’s you versus one final set of enemies. Get rid of them and the pony ride ends. It’s time for a different sort of climax now: the story kind.

Verse 2

Boss: Balder

The Masked Lumen is Balder! Balder is the Masked Lumen! More importantly, Balder fights like the Masked Lumen, so the strategies from your last two clashes carry over. However, he’s no longer holding back. Prepare to face the full might of a Lumen Sage!

1st Climax/2nd Climax/3rd Climax/ ∞ Climax (Go for Pure Platinum!)

Suggested Pure Platinum Weapons: Rakshasa (Arms)

Enemies: Balder (2 Phases)

Phase 1

Balder has an absolutely staggering number of attacks. He can attack with a large golden blade from the front, above, or below, or send up a column of electricity from the ground instead. Sometimes he’ll send forth a large array of fireballs, or just let loose with one big one. If that weren’t enough, he can fire a beam that sends you into slow motion if it hits, leaving you open to attack.

All of these attacks are completely dodgeable into Witch Time—they just come fast and furiously, one after the other. If you make it into Witch Time, you know what to do by now: No more than four sword slashes with P, dodge away, and shoot your gun while waiting for the next attack to dodge.

Phase 2

Didn’t think Balder had enough attacks before? Let’s see about now. In the second phase of the fight, Balder gains the ability to send out twin lasers from the side to sandwich you, or bring a large laser down onto you from above. A large blue energy ball joins his repertoire, as well as an aerial kick. Finally he brings out his trump card: The ability to send out a veritable wall of angel feathers directly at you. Stay calm, and maintain your strategy.

Deplete Balder’s vitality, and that’s the end of everything. As with Alraune, there’s no Quick Time Event.

post-chapter spoils 1 Verse Card (Balder)