Can You Beat The First Boss In Valor Mortis?
Are you up for the challenge?
Every Soulslike has that starting boss you’re supposed to lose against, only to challenge them again later when you’ve gotten stronger. General Lothaire is pretty much that boss in Valor Mortis. You’ll face him early in the game, when you have nothing but the Fire Transmutation and your trusty Rapier.
He’s a tough opponent, and you’re probably going to lose your first encounter with him. After your defeat, a cutscene plays, and you’ll move on to the next chapter before facing him again in Chapter 2.
For those who enjoy a challenge, General Lothaire is beatable during your first encounter. However, it’s going to be extremely difficult. You’ll need to learn his attack patterns, get comfortable with parrying, and make the most of your limited healing and abilities.
How to Beat General Lothaire in Your First Encounter
General Lothaire is a difficult fight for a character who has barely started the game. You don’t have access to all your abilities yet, and your equipment is limited. However, you can still defeat him during your first encounter if you’re patient and learn his moves.
The boss has two phases, so don’t get too comfortable when you bring his first health bar down. Here are a few tips to help you win.
Tip: Invest as much as you can in Endurance during the early game. It’ll help you manage the demands of this fight.
Focus on parrying his attacks, especially during the first phase. Successful parries can stagger him and open him up to critical attacks. He has several regular sword attacks that you can parry, so learn their timing and take advantage of every opening.
You should also be patient with your attacks. General Lothaire has several moves that can punish you for getting too aggressive. Land a few hits when you have an opening, then back off and prepare to defend again.
You should be able to get through the first phase by parrying and being patient. The second phase is where things get more difficult.
During the second phase, prioritize dodging and only attack when you see an opening. This phase is particularly punishing, and one mistake can cost you the fight.
Finally, Fire Transmutation can be your trump card. Use it when you have an opening to inflict burn damage without having to stay on the offensive.
Above all, take your time. You may need several attempts to learn his attack patterns, and a single mistimed parry can cost you a significant chunk of health. The problem is that once you die, a cutscene triggers, and you normally can’t fight him again until Chapter 2. However, there’s a way to retry the encounter.
How to Retry the First Boss Fight in Valor Mortis
If your health runs out and you’re about to die, quit the game immediately. When you load back in, you may find yourself at the starting area of the boss fight. However, this workaround may not work consistently, particularly on consoles.
Timing is important. If you close the game too late, your progress may already have been saved, and you’ll have to continue into the next chapter instead. This is an exploit rather than an intended retry mechanic, so there’s no guarantee it’ll work.
What Happens If You Beat General Lothaire Early?
Apart from the satisfaction of beating a boss you’re seemingly meant to lose to, there are some worthwhile rewards for defeating General Lothaire early.
Here’s what you get:
- 10,000 Catalysts: A substantial boost to your early-game resources that you can use to level up.
- General’s Catalyst Clot: An item that provides another 10,000 Catalysts when consumed.
- Torn-Banner achievement: An achievement for defeating General Lothaire.
That’s a total of 20,000 Catalysts instead of 10,000, which you would get if you beat him later on. These early Catalysts can give you a useful head start in Valor Mortis. You’ll also have the satisfaction of taking down a boss the game clearly expects most players to lose to on their first attempt.
If you’re up for the challenge, it’s worth trying to defeat General Lothaire early. Just be prepared to learn his moves, retry the encounter, and deal with the frustration that comes with a tough Soulslike boss fight.
