Deltarune has expanded its universe dramatically with the release of Chapters 3 and 4, introducing players to an array of new mechanics, characters, and challenging battles. As avid followers of the franchise know, each chapter culminates in a boss fight that proves to be significantly more challenging than regular encounters, offering both high-tier rewards and deeper insights into the game’s themes.
These boss fights have become the focal point of much discussion among players, primarily due to their role in showcasing pivotal characters and the evolving psyche of our protagonist, Kris. Each encounter impacts the narrative’s dynamics, inching players closer to unveiling the enigmatic designs laid out by Seam.
While these hidden battles can be unforgivingly tough, the exhilaration felt upon overcoming them is among the most rewarding aspects of Toby Fox’s creations. After all, there’s a profound connection forged through shared struggles between characters and players alike!
Chapter 3 stands out by featuring an additional superboss for those daring enough to tackle it. Let’s delve into what makes this formidable challenger a unique adversary.
Spoilers are ahead regarding significant developments in Chapter 3!
Preparation
Before engaging with our new superboss, adequate preparation is essential. Your primary goal is to achieve an S-Rank on each of Tenna’s boards. This unlocks an exclusive S-Rank changing room after completing each round. Focus on executing each battle efficiently with maximum TP and minimal turns, while honing your skills on the physical challenges presented.
Upon achieving an S-Rank, players can replay the completed board with a new, demanding objective. In this alternate scenario, your mission is to locate a sword and eliminate every monster, eventually empowering yourself enough to dismantle the environment and uncover a hidden key.
By repeating this process across both boards — and a third time once the Dark World’s pathways are open — players will acquire the coveted Shadow Mantle. As hinted by Seam in Chapter 2, this item is crucial for success against our latest foe. It grants one party member resistance to the superboss, transforming what might have been a near-certain defeat into an arduous yet winnable fight.
The Shadow Mantle is ideally suited for Susie, as her Rude Buster delivers reliable damage to the Knight. However, players seeking an additional challenge might consider Kris, whose attack power escalates when they’re the last member standing. This approach demands precise execution, so caution is advised for those who prefer less stress in combat.
It’s imperative to also carry ReviveMints and your strongest healing items. When Ralsei or Susie hits 0 HP, their down state manifests as ‘swoon’, setting them at -999 health. Revive items are the only means to restore them, making it essential to stockpile several.
Accessing the Fight
After an extensive preparation phase, reaching this superboss is surprisingly straightforward. If you’ve successfully navigated the chapter, you’ve already encountered them!
Indeed, the Roaring Knight is the designated superboss for Chapter 3! This seemingly scripted defeat is actually surmountable — to a certain extent. But more on that later!
Equipping the Shadow Mantle not only confers beneficial resistances; it also prompts a comment from the mysterious voice that guided your journey since Chapter 1, recognizing your determination. If you happen to fall in battle, this voice will allow you to quickly return to the start of the encounter, motivating you to persevere as you make progress.
The Battle
We’ve arrived at the heart of the matter. The Roaring Knight unleashes 5 primary attacks, with a predetermined rotation that reintroduces them later in the fight, albeit with variations.
While discussing specifics for each attack is crucial, a key piece of advice is to remain calm. Although the Knight’s assaults seem daunting, they can be effectively navigated with careful movements and keen awareness.
Utilize Kris and Ralsei’s turns primarily for defense and healing while unleashing Susie’s Rude Buster at every opportunity. If you possess a Tension Gem, activating it during Kris’s opening turn sets a strong pace for the battle, paving the way for a decisive initial Rude Buster strike.
The Knight’s Attacks
Let’s break down each of the Knight’s individual assaults, as understanding them is half the battle.
Starstorm
The Knight initiates this attack by pointing a finger, engulfing your box in purple light as a volley of projectiles is released — a reference likely appreciated by fans of Earthbound. For now, only the core of these projectiles poses a threat, making them relatively easy to dodge.
After a brief firing sequence, the projectiles shift to red before detonating, scattering smaller shrapnel diagonally and upward. These dispersions move slowly, allowing you ample time to navigate away before the attack concludes.
Blistering Swords
Here, summoned swords encircle your soul, mimicking your movements as they turn red. A sound effect indicates their imminent attack, and they will speed towards your soul, inflicting considerable damage.
This attack appears more menacing than it truly is. Simply slide 90 degrees away from the approaching sword just before it strikes, and you can evade all of them. Pay attention to the sound cues to enhance your dodging finesse.
Gaping Maw
This attack involves the Knight slashing through the center of the play area, splitting it either vertically or horizontally. The space then opens, releasing tooth-like projectiles that sweep toward the outer edges of the arena.
A gap remains available for you to evade, so stay calm; minor movements between the teeth can rack up your TP quickly. This attack delivers some of the most significant damage in the Knight’s arsenal.
Blade Corridor
The Knight will point menacingly before vanishing, a corridor lined with swords taking their place and advancing toward your soul. The protected zone gradually shifts up and down, necessitating precise adjustments to avoid consecutive hits.
As the corridor culminates, the swords will aim directly at your current position, slashing down simultaneously. Red indicators denote the trajectory of each sword, so be watchful.
The safe zone typically starts in the central area of the play space. Use your peripheral vision to gauge which direction it is heading before repositioning. Making overly drastic movements can quickly lead to unfortunate downtimes for your party members, so small, deliberate maneuvers are essential.
Snowflake Slash
The Knight forms a crimson line and executes a slash along it, each successive attack generating more lines to evade. As the slashes lengthen, avoiding them becomes increasingly perilous.
Stepping away from the central slice allows you extra time to anticipate the final strike’s location, so stay vigilant. Observing the Knight’s actions carefully can help you align your dodges effectively.
At this point, Susie’s banter with the Knight indicates you’ve witnessed the full cycle, marking an end to the initial sequence. The only exception to this is the Starstorm attack.
Gaping Maw V2
This version of the Gaping Maw follows the same pattern but alternates unpredictably between vertical and horizontal strikes. It’s crucial to remain observant; anticipating a vertical dodge when the opening is horizontal can lead to dire consequences.
Sword Roller Coaster
In this attack, the Knight will gesture before the Sword Corridor appears and rapidly shift to imitate the path of a roller coaster. It operates similarly to the previous corridor but features a more elaborate pattern.
Remain vigilant of the path changes before it arrives, and adjust your positioning accordingly. The final slash mirrors earlier sword attacks.
Blistering Swords V2
A circle of swords encircles your soul, accompanied by additional swords that trail behind. As they turn red, they attack similarly to the previous iteration. Due to reduced maneuverability, this attack requires heightened focus.
Making small adjustments before each slash is crucial to avoid the surrounding circle and the slashes themselves. Recognizing sword directions upon appearance is essential for successful dodging.
Snowflake Slash V2
This version mirrors the earlier Snowflake Slash, commencing where the previous ended, layering even more complex swings to navigate. Each will spin before finally settling into position, so be quick to find a safe area as you adapt.
Starstorm Chasers
This attack resembles the standard Starstorm until the projectiles burst, at which point they become homing shrapnel targeting your soul. Each projectile commits to a direction upon charging, requiring you to find a viable route through the chaos of the initial burst. The final projectiles are less complex and easier to evade with no other distractions.
Gaping Maw V3
This version introduces diagonal slashes, resulting in a wave of teeth emerging from the center of the battle area. The space widens momentarily before snapping shut, complicating positioning.
Avoid positioning yourself such that you can be struck by projectiles when the arena compresses. Staying central minimizes the impact of this back-and-forth movement.
Blistering Swords V3
The final iteration of Blistering Swords features a swift barrage of strikes, eliminating the debilitating effect surrounding your soul in the earlier variations. Pay close attention to sound cues and maintain movement to navigate effectively!
If you’ve successfully utilized your TP wisely and kept Susie in the game, you’ll soon encounter the Knight’s health threshold.
Snowflake Slash V3
This attack begins similarly to V2, gradually accelerating as the Knight starts slashing rapidly at the center of the play area in a swirling motion.
It can be incredibly demanding to track the Knight’s rapid strikes; anticipating this attack and deploying Kris’s HoldBreath Act to enhance the soul’s speed will make dodging far more manageable. Keep this tactic in mind as you press on.
Desperation Move
Congratulations on reaching the concluding phase of the battle! Just one last challenge remains. The Knight will display a stark white hue, signaling the initiation of their ultimate attack, urging you to heal, defend, or utilize HoldBreath if Kris is still in the fray.
As the Knight’s turn commences, the play space will fade away, resembling a scenario from the Jevil fight or Asriel’s final moments in Undertale. The Knight will then float to the center while screaming, drawing the soul towards them and summoning Starstorm projectiles from the edges of the screen. All projectiles will inflict damage, requiring careful navigation.
After a spiraling inhale of projectiles, the Knight exhales, unleashing the absorbed projectiles in all directions. After a few seconds of evasion, these projectiles will explode similarly to previous Starstorm attacks, concluded by the Knight’s final slash at the center of the screen.
If you’ve persevered this far, victory is tantalizingly close, just a hit or two away from triumph. You may need to navigate a quicker variant of the standard Sword Corridors, but once you’ve survived the Desperation Move, you are nearly out of danger!
Rewards
This superboss represents the ultimate challenge that Deltarune presents, ensuring players are rewarded appropriately. Not only do you retain the Shadow Mantle, an exceptional piece of defense, but you also acquire the Black Shard, a special sword for Kris that enables them to eliminate even the most resistant foes.
Additionally, players will receive a Shadow Crystal, noted by Seam as the third in a series of five. Collecting all five will allow players to forge something truly remarkable, but this will wait until Chapter 5 releases in 2026.
Congratulations on conquering one of the hardest battles available! However, don’t become complacent; as the saying goes, an unused blade becomes dull, and the next adversary is poised to be even tougher…
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