If you’re diving into The First Descendant and facing off against the formidable Pyromaniac boss, you’re in for a challenge. But don’t worry, with this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to defeat the Pyromaniac, whether you’re playing as Bunny, Ajax, or another Descendant. We’ll cover his weaknesses, the best strategies, and how to optimize your build for this fiery encounter.
Pyromaniac Boss Guide – Everything You Need to Know (The First Descendant Gameplay HDR)
If you’re diving into The First Descendant and facing off against the formidable Pyromaniac boss, you’re in for a challenge. But don’t worry, with this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to defeat the Pyromaniac, whether you’re playing as Bunny, Ajax, or another Descendant. We’ll cover his weaknesses, the best strategies, and how to optimize your build for this fiery encounter.
Understanding the Pyromaniac Boss: What You Need to Know
The Pyromaniac is a fire-based boss with a range of attacks that can deal significant damage if you’re not prepared. Knowing his weaknesses and the optimal strategies for dealing with his abilities will give you a substantial advantage in the fight.
Pyromaniac’s Vulnerabilities
At first glance, you might think that building cold resistance is the way to go when fighting a fire-based boss. However, this is not the case here. Instead, focus on heat resistance. While the recommended number is around 7600, you don’t necessarily need to reach that high. If you’ve got around 3000 heat resistance, you’re in good shape to handle the Pyromaniac’s fire-based attacks, especially if you understand his mechanics well.
For those tackling the Pyromaniac on Normal Mode, aim for a fire resistance of around 2100. However, even at this level, it’s more about understanding the mechanics of the fight rather than relying solely on resistance.
Targeting Weak Points
Understanding where to target the Pyromaniac is crucial to maximizing your damage output. The entire body of the Pyromaniac is weak to Pierce damage, giving you a 10% damage boost. But don’t just rely on Pierce damage for the weak points. The key areas to focus on are the sensor balancer, core cover, shoulders, and the fire amplifier on his back. These specific weak points are vulnerable to Crush damage.
Using weapons that deal Crush damage, such as sniper rifles or specific abilities like Wave of Light or Afterglow Sword, will be particularly effective against these weak points. Especially during the frenzy phase, where the fire amplifier on his back is exposed, targeting these points with Crush damage will be critical to your success.
Preparing for the Frenzy Phase
The frenzy phase is a crucial part of the Pyromaniac fight. During this phase, the Pyromaniac becomes significantly more aggressive, but you can ignore this phase if you’re confident in your DPS output. Alternatively, you can target the fire amplifier on his back to knock it off and mitigate some of his increased damage. If you’re new to the game or struggling with the fight, this tactic can make the frenzy phase more manageable.
For experienced players, the frenzy phase is an opportunity to push out as much damage as possible. If you’re using a Descendant like Bunny or Viesa, who excels in dealing ability damage, you can exploit the Pyromaniac’s vulnerability to ability attacks. The Pyromaniac takes significantly less damage from standard gunfire—up to 40-50% reduced damage—but takes increased damage from ability attacks. This makes Viesa or Bunny ideal choices for this fight, especially with the right build.
Descendant-Specific Strategies
Bunny Build
Bunny is an excellent choice for soloing the Pyromaniac. With the right build, Bunny can take down the Pyromaniac in under two minutes. The key to success with Bunny is to leverage her high ability damage, which the Pyromaniac is particularly vulnerable to. By focusing on ability-based attacks, you can bypass the Pyromaniac’s resistance to standard gunfire and deal substantial damage.
For those who prefer to take things slow and methodical, Bunny can still be effective. Focus on avoiding unnecessary damage, particularly during the frenzy phase, and target the fire amplifier on his back when possible. If you need a detailed Bunny build guide, be sure to check out the linked Boss Slayer Bunny Build.
Ajax Build
For players who prefer a more defensive approach, Ajax is a solid choice. Focus on increasing HP and defense to withstand the Pyromaniac’s relentless fire-based attacks. While Ajax may not deal as much damage as Bunny, his durability makes him an excellent choice for players who want to take their time and focus on survival.
If you’re using Ajax, consider equipping long-distance maneuvering abilities to keep your distance from the Pyromaniac while dealing steady damage. While Ajax may not excel in dealing ability damage, you can still take advantage of weak points using weapons that deal burst or crush damage.
Mastering the Mechanics
Success in the Pyromaniac fight ultimately comes down to understanding the mechanics and making the most of your chosen Descendant’s abilities. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:
- Focus on Weak Points: Always target the weak points of the boss, especially during the frenzy phase. Use Crush damage where possible to maximize your damage output.
- Avoid the Red Rings of Death: During the fight, the Pyromaniac will occasionally create red rings on the ground. These are highly dangerous and can deal massive damage if you’re caught in them. The best strategy is to jump into the center of the rings, where the damage is minimal, rather than trying to jump out of them.
- Use Abilities Strategically: Since the Pyromaniac takes increased damage from abilities, make sure to save your most potent abilities for when his weak points are exposed. This is especially important during the frenzy phase.
- Manage Your Heat Resistance: While heat resistance is important, it’s more about knowing the fight mechanics than having maxed-out resistance. If you find yourself struggling with the fight, consider tweaking your build to prioritize understanding the fight’s patterns and weaknesses over purely stacking resistance.
Best Weapons and Abilities for the Pyromaniac
To further optimize your fight against the Pyromaniac, consider using weapons and abilities that align with his weaknesses. Here are some recommendations:
- Wave of Light: This ability is fantastic for dealing Crush damage to the Pyromaniac’s weak points. Use it during the frenzy phase to maximize your damage.
- Afterglow Sword: Another great option for dealing Crush damage, especially when targeting the fire amplifier on his back.
- Sniper Rifles: These weapons excel in dealing Crush damage, making them ideal for targeting the Pyromaniac’s weak points. Equip a sniper rifle with high base damage and aim for the core cover or the fire amplifier during the frenzy phase.
Conclusion
The boss in The First Descendant is a challenging encounter, but with the right strategy and understanding of his mechanics, you can defeat him with ease. Whether you prefer the high-damage output of Bunny or the defensive capabilities of Ajax, this guide has equipped you with the knowledge you need to take down the Pyromaniac. Remember to focus on his weak points, manage your heat resistance, and use abilities strategically to maximize your damage.
