Having to fight the Lies of P Parade Master boss is the first big fight of the game. This boss uses their huge weight and swinging strikes to throw the player over – until they pull their own head off and try to kill poor P with it. It’s understandable that you’re still getting used to everything at this point, so this guide on beating the Parade Master will not only assist you in getting through this carnival creep, but also help you learn some fundamentals for dealing with the rest of Lies of P’s boss battles.
LIES OF P: HOW TO BEAT THE PARADE MASTER
You have to be wary and selective when fighting the Lies of P Parade Master boss – it’s tempting to rush in and try to lash out as many times as possible, but the Parade Master specializes in big, heavy strikes that swing around him, making it difficult to clear distance in a hurry.
When fighting the Parade Master, keep these strategies in mind:
- Don’t lose patience. The Parade Masters attacks from all sides, swinging his arms, stomach, and head about. Keeping your distance, lunge in when he stops and hit him. In case you’re unsure about your parrying skills, back away the moment he starts swinging.
- Learn how to parry perfectly. Now is the perfect time to practice this essential skill – tapping L1 immediately after the Parade Master’s attacks land negates all damage and builds his stagger. Since the Parade Master’s attacks are highly-telegraphed, it’s easy to practice this against him, and it’s okay to die a few times just practising.
- He has a vulnerable back. Since Parade Master attacks leave his back uncovered, getting behind him will make it harder for him to strike you. You can use your Legion Arm to punch him for high damage if you get behind him just as he finishes an attack.
- Throwables should be saved for the last push. In addition to Thermite and Cells, you can throw them for damage – they’re very good, but since they’re limited resources, be careful how you use them. In order to have the best chance of wearing away the final third of his health, you should not use them until he’s on less than a third of his health.
- In phase 2, he faces both a peril and an opportunity. In phase 2, when the Parade Master is down to about half health, he pulls off his head and makes a club from it. While he’s ripping off the head, you can take advantage of the transitional period to get a few free stabs in.
- Grinding is the only thing that works if all else fails. Getting Ergo is a good way to level up and buy more supplies from the Wandering Merchant – if things are too hard, why not hold back and gain some levels first?
In exchange for defeating the Parade Master, you will receive quartz and one of the Lies of P rare boss Ergos, but you won’t be able to use them for a while (unless you consume the Ergo now, which is not a good idea, since you’ll be losing the chance to get unique gear later).