Among the multitude of intriguing creatures found within Greek mythology, Cerberus stands out as a significant figure. This mythical three-headed canine serves as the guardian of Hades, vigilant at the gates of the Underworld. Acting as a formidable sentry, his primary duty is to ensure that the souls of the deceased do not escape from their eternal confinement.
In a departure from the previous game, players no longer have the option to placate Cerberus with Satyr Sack. This time around, he is afflicted by miasma, courtesy of Chronos, and will become aggressive the moment you step into his arena.
The confrontation is not only visually intense, but it also ramps up the difficulty level compared to earlier boss encounters. Cerberus employs a variety of fiery assaults that can rapidly deplete your health if you are not alert.
Fortunately, Melinoe comes through for Zagreus by liberating their beloved pet. While we hope to eventually pet him, here are essential strategies to defeat Infernal Cerberus in Hades 2 and lift his curse.
Strategies for Preparing for the Infernal Cerberus Encounter
The Infernal Cerberus boss battle is marked by a multitude of Area of Effect (AoE) attacks. To effectively prepare, prioritize acquiring Boons that enhance your Cast and Sprint capabilities.
In the initial phase of the battle, Cerberus remains stationary at the center of the arena. This is a prime opportunity to leverage a potent Cast, especially Boons such as Demeter’s Arctic Ring, Hestia’s Smolder Ring, Poseidon’s Tidal Ring, or Hephaestus’s Anvil Ring.
While constant movement is necessary, don’t feel compelled to focus solely on Sprint. Attempting to maximize Sprint usage for damage can divert your attention from dodging or gearing up your next strike.
Nonetheless, if you find yourself with Boons like Aphrodite’s Passion Rush, Zeus’s Thunder Rush, or Ares’s Stabbing Rush, they can provide valuable advantages during combat.
Defeating Infernal Cerberus in Hades 2
Your primary objective during the fight with Infernal Cerberus is to survive his relentless attacks while capitalizing on any opportunities to strike back. Remaining aware of his movements can greatly aid in determining your attack timing based on your weapon choice and acquired Boons.
Engaging in close combat or maneuvering behind Cerberus while utilizing your Omega Cast can be effective during the first phase when he’s preoccupied with attacks. Attempt to land several hits or create distance to implement ranged assaults. This strategy will serve you well throughout most of the initial phase.
As the battle progresses into its second phase, Cerberus becomes increasingly mobile and aggressive. You will need to actively pursue him throughout the arena while also exercising caution to evade his powerful attacks.
In this phase, Cerberus will continuously change positions, rendering Omega Casts less effective. Instead, focus on normal Casts for applying damage or inflicting status effects like “Weak, ” interspersing your attacks as he becomes more unpredictable.
Utilizing Gift of the Moon is crucial during this phase. Abilities like Lunar Ray and Wolf Howl become vital for quick damage dealing, while Moon Water serves as a necessary healing option when your health dips.
Maintain a rhythmic pattern of assault and retreat until you achieve victory over him.
Phase 1: Infernal Cerberus Attacks
|
Attack |
Description |
Action |
|---|---|---|
|
Wave of Flame |
Cerberus unleashes a wide arc of flame that moves slowly but deals significant damage upon impact. |
Dodge into it or escape from the attack. |
|
Shedding Smoke Bombs |
Cerberus drops red smoke bombs that linger on the battlefield. Entering these clouds will slow Melinoe. |
Avoid the smoke clouds. |
|
Triple Hound Casts |
Cerberus summons three cast points that charge up momentarily before unleashing biting attacks. |
Evacuate the charging area. |
|
Vacuum Pull |
Cerberus inhales deeply, attempting to draw Melinoe towards him for an assault. |
Dodge sideways and sprint away. |
|
Teeth Fireballs |
Cerberus launches fireballs that scatter explosively after traveling a short distance. |
Run to escape the blast radius. |
|
Ground Pound |
With both hands, Cerberus creates an AoE shockwave, with a variant using a single hand for a larger but off-center impact. |
Evade or dodge outside the circular shockwave. |
|
Covering the Area with Casts |
Cerberus lays down Casts within a wide radius that unleash hound attacks. |
Exit the Cast’s attack zone. |
|
Summoning Enemies from Fields of Mourning |
Cerberus periodically brings forth foes from the Fields of Mourning. |
Deal with summoned enemies while dodging other attacks. |
|
Covering the Entire Arena with Casts |
Cerberus deploys casts throughout the arena, summoning hounds that will attack based on the charges. |
Dodge to avoid the newly spawned hounds. |
While Phase 1 may seem manageable due to Cerberus’s lack of movement, remain vigilant. Each of the aforementioned attacks can inflict considerable damage, testing your previous skills learned after the Scylla encounter.
During initial encounters with his attacks, aim to land a few strikes. Once familiar with his patterns and timings, you can afford to stay closer for more aggressive attacks.
Once Cerberus’s health dips below 50%, he will burrow into the ground, signaling the transition to the next phase.
Phase 2: Infernal Cerberus Attacks
|
Attack |
Description |
Action |
|---|---|---|
|
Summoning Stronger Enemies |
Cerberus disappears into the ground, re-emerging with armoured foes that are tougher to combat. |
Eliminate these threats rapidly before Cerberus returns. |
|
Covering the Arena with Flames |
Cerberus engulfs the arena in fire; standing in the flames when they explode deals heavy damage. |
Dodge into a safe zone away from the flames. |
|
Chasing Ground Pounds |
Cerberus pursues you while unleashing ground pounds that manifest AoE damage. |
Maintain distance and focus on ranged attacks. |
|
Tri-beam of Casts |
Cerberus projects beams of Casts in a spinning motion until they detonate, with biting hounds as a consequence. |
Dodge or sprint to evade harm. |
|
Flame Thrower |
Cerberus rapidly spews flames in your direction while pursuing you. |
Dash away from the flames or dodge behind him. |
As Cerberus starts moving, you’ll notice a significant increase in difficulty. He continues to utilize his previous phase’s attacks, including the widespread Cast coverage.
The challenge lies in navigating this intermingling of attacks. Your focus must remain on survival, particularly during the chasing ground-pound move where evasion is critical. Attempting to counterattack during this sequence poses unnecessary risk.
Clear the summoned enemy mobs quickly to regain focus on Cerberus. Neglecting this can complicate your efforts as he joins the skirmish prematurely.
Be cautious of the Flame Thrower attack. When positioned close to Cerberus, you can maneuver behind him for a strategic advantage. However, if you maintain distance, running in circles to evade will be necessary.
Utilizing Selene’s Night Bloom proves advantageous in this phase as it allows for re-summoning your last fallen opponent to assist in battle.
Rewards for Defeating Infernal Cerberus
Upon successfully defeating Infernal Cerberus, you will receive the following reward:
- Tears x1
Tears are a recurring reward, obtainable through repeated victories over Infernal Cerberus. These can unlock the Arcana Card “The Queen.”For upgrading the card “Divinity, ”you will need a total of 5 Tears.
Additionally, Tears are required for the incantation “Attending a Faithful Beast, ”which mandates: Tears x1, Wool x1, and Wheat x4. This incantation significantly boosts the resource harvest rate of animal familiars after training.
Moreover, you will need 4 Tears along with 5 Bronze to unlock the Aspect of Moros for the Umbral Flames (Sister Blades).
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