Boss Battle: The Neo Octostomp

Boss Kettle Entrance

Once you’ve collected all six Zapfish, the area’s Boss Kettle opens. Use your Hero Charger to hit the Grapplink and reach the kettle’s neighboring platform. From there you can activate a Ride Rail circling the Boss Kettle platform. While riding the Ride Rail, shoot one of the two Grapplinks above the Boss Kettle to gain access.

Sheldon Request

Sheldon wants you to collect more field data on the Hero Dualies during this boss battle. While these pistols benefit from a blistering rate of fire, they have rather limited range, requiring you to get close to score hits on this boss. Don’t forget to use the weapon’s unique dodge roll capability, highly recommended for this fight. Be ready to use Curling Bombs to spread ink over greater distances. These bombs create narrow ink paths you can swim through to evade the boss’s attacks. Seriously, if you don’t own these bombs yet, get them now.

Round 1

Following his defeat in Octo Valley, the once-mighty Octostomp has returned. This new and improved variant of the familiar boss wastes no time, rushing toward you at high speed. Move laterally to avoid getting run over. Consider tossing a Curling Bomb to the side and swimming along its ink trail to evade this opening attack.

The Octostomp lands face-first on the arena floor following his initial charging attack, exposing a tentacle on his back. Immediately ink the side of the Octostomp and swim to the top. Shoot the tentacle on the Octostomp’s back repeatedly until it explodes, ushering in Round 2.

Round 2

At the start of the second round, the Octostomp assumes a new persona—the Neo Octostomp. This is more than a simple name change; it also marks a change in tactics and capabilities. The boss is now fitted with a new ink-resistant coat that prevents you from inking his sides. But instead of admiring his new coat, get ready to move. The Neo Octostomp is also equipped with a massive head-mounted cannon capable of rapid fire. Use your Curling Bombs to create an ink trail, and swim forward to prevent getting hit by the Octostomp’s cannon. The Hero Dualies dodge roll is also effective.

The Neo Octostomp is incapable of charging you at high speeds while wearing his coat, but he occasionally jumps up and performs a face-plant in an attempt to splat you. Stay out of his way as he jumps up, and look for opportunities to target the black buckle on his face—this buckle holds his coat on. Keep hitting the buckle until it’s destroyed, which causes the coat to fall off.

Watch for more charging attacks once the Neo Octostomp’s coat is removed—be ready to dodge-roll out of the way. Wait for the Octostomp to fall on his face, then ink his side and swim up to his back to attack the exposed tentacle once more.

Round 3

The Neo Octostomp starts the third and final round with a new coat. This coat is much wider, featuring two additional face panels. This makes evading his opening charge attack extremely challenging, even when dodge-rolling or using Curling Bombs. If necessary, retreat to the perimeter of the arena—the boss can’t access the outer ledge. Following the opening charge attack, the Neo Octostomp performs a series of face-plant stomp attacks. Once again, the coat prevents you from inking his sides. Rush to close range and shoot the buckle holding his coat on when he’s standing upright.

Destroying the buckle on the Neo Octostomp’s face causes his coat to fall off, restoring him to normal size. Still, be ready to evade more fast-moving charge and stomp attacks. Wait for him to face-plant, then ink his side and swim to the top, shooting the tentacle on his back one last time. That does it for the Neo Octostomp. After the boss explodes, collect the Sardinium and Zapfish to complete the battle. You’re now clear to proceed to Area 04.