Wuchang: Fallen Feathers introduces players to an array of optional bosses that enhance the gaming experience through challenging combat, valuable loot, and meaningful story changes. Among these foes, the Inner Demon and her ultimate form, the Nightmare Demon, are particularly notable. Yet, they are not the only demonic adversaries players can face.
One of the most formidable encounters in the game is against the Demon of Obsession. This secret boss is rumored to be one of the hardest to defeat, and vanquishing her not only rewards you with gear but also presents an opportunity to unlock the coveted “Dream’s Sweet Deceit” true ending.
What makes the Demon of Obsession truly terrifying is her ability to replicate your moves—with far greater efficiency. She unleashes devastating spells through her seemingly limitless Skyborn Might and executes complex acrobatic maneuvers you’ve never encountered before.
Locating the Demon of Obsession
The Demon of Obsession will only manifest if you are pursuing the “Dream’s Sweet Deceit”ending. To summon her, ensure you possess all four chisels—Aurum, Vermillion, Jade, and Cyan—while you are at Shrine Dwelling. Accessing this hidden location requires solving a riddle at a door adjacent to the shrine in the Bo Capital during Chapter 5.
When prompted, respond with “The wheel turns anew”, and the door will envelop you in a black mist, whisking you away to Shrine Dwelling. Besides a miniboss, the Demon of Obsession is your sole opponent in this area, so prepare accordingly.
Preparation for the Battle
The Demon of Obsession is a swift and nimble antagonist capable of unleashing powerful magic attacks with rapid succession. Here’s a recommended build to enhance your chances of victory:
| Weapon | Lashing Whip +10, Scorn Axe +9 |
|---|---|
| Armor | Centipede Hood |
| Centipede Carapace | |
| Centipede Vambraces | |
| Centipede Boots | |
| Jade Pendants | Tiger Pendant |
| Tigraliz Pendant | |
| Twin Infant Pendant | |
| Spells | Ethereal Form |
| Echo of the Bo Magus | |
| Echo of Lu Bingzhang | |
| Divine Ward | |
| Items | Manna Vase |
| Temperance | |
| Plumed Branch | |
| Aurum Feather | |
| Temperance Bone Needle | Poise Break |
| Temperance Stone Needle | Temper, Strength, Continuity, Agility |
| Notable Impetus Repository Perks | Sword Saint, Sword Counter, Windforce, Rampage, Thunderous Cleave |
Given her complex attack patterns and varied damage output, it’s vital to select armor based on your specific vulnerabilities. The Centipede armor set provides the best defense against Stabbing and Slashing damage, while the Avian Hunter set offers superior protection against Magic and Feathering damage, alongside decent resistance to various status effects.
You can acquire the Avian Hunter armor set by obtaining a giant arrow found in the Bo Capital area, then trading it with Wu Gang.
Although my experience led me to favor a longsword build, I have explored alternative builds based on suggestions from other experienced players. This exploration revealed that an axe build, particularly effective against agile foes like the Demon of Obsession, can yield excellent results.
This axe strategy can also simplify encounters with other bosses, including the Vermillion Feathers. By this stage of the game, you likely have enough points to invest across multiple skill trees. In addition to the axe, utilizing a weapon that quickly generates Skyborn Might charges (such as a longsword or a one-handed sword) will benefit your overall build, especially if you prefer a magical combat style.
Stock up on Plumed Branches to maintain maximum stacks, and prioritize investing in Strength, Endurance, and Agility stats. Additionally, focus on maximizing your Manna Vase charges and weapon mastery.
During the boss fight, expect to rely on the axe’s light attack combo and the Rampage Discipline skill. The axe’s weight allows for frequent stun-locking of the Demon, creating openings for damage.
Using the Scorn Axe as your primary weapon complements the Lashing Whip due to its reach, ensuring you can trigger Sword Saint effectively. Although the Scorn Axe delivers heavy damage and generates burn, it has a slower attack speed compared to Rampage.
Keep in mind that parrying is only effective early in the fight, as her magical attacks cannot be parried. Avoid relying on Temperance needles, as they don’t apply to the heavy two-handed weapons like axes and spears. However, if you prefer using swords, increase your Temperance duration, attack power, and maintain Poise Break to synergize with Lashing Whip’s bonus.
Utilizing Benedictions and Jade Pendants that boost damage and stamina regeneration will be crucial, especially since the fight with the Demon of Obsession demands significant stamina. The Tiger Pendant is essential, with the Twin Infant and Dragon-Fish pendants interchangeable for additional versatility.
Although spells may not be particularly effective due to the Demon’s resistance to Magic and Feathering damage, if spellcasting is your preference, refer to the Magic build guide for alternatives.
Nonetheless, Ethereal Form is essential for this encounter (and many others), serving as a lifesaver to evade damage or to catch your breath to analyze her patterns.
Understanding the Moveset of the Demon of Obsession
First Phase: Spear Attacks
As you begin your battle, the Demon of Obsession will initiate combat with her spear from the right side of the arena. If you’ve faced Zhao Yun, you’ll find that this boss feels less daunting than their spear attacks.
Her spear moves comprise a mix of fluid swings and thrusts, essentially mirroring the light and heavy combos a player executes with their spear—albeit more powerful versions. Using the Red Tasseled Spear, she can unleash the weapon skill “Ebb and Flow, ” which allows her to charge forward while inflicting continuous stabbing damage.
In addition, she employs the following Discipline skills:
- Solar Leap: A powerful thrust delivered with a forward leap, easily dodged if timed correctly.
- Furious Stab: A retreat leading to a strong thrust that deals substantial damage.
- Spear Flurry: Spins her spear to create a damaging cyclone around her.
- Upward Force: A three-hit combo concluding with an overhead strike.
She may also attempt to knock you back using an area-of-effect spell resembling the Echo of the Bo Magus but lacking the protective shield. Additionally, she can summon lightning bolts that randomly target or specifically aim at you.
In a surprising twist, she can drop her weapons to engage you with her fists, imbued with lightning, unleashing rapid punches and kicks with impressive tracking capabilities. Expect a quicker and more menacing version of the South General.
Her unarmed strikes apply both Blunt and Lightning damage, which deliver more damage than her weapon attacks, and this is where Ethereal Form may become essential to avoid overwhelming blows.
The Demon of Obsession isn’t without her own tricks; she possesses the ability to vanish in a mist, reappearing behind you for an unexpected strike.
Second Phase: Spellcasting
Once her health drops to fifty percent, the Demon of Obsession will switch her tactics, using a one-handed sword to initiate a barrage of spells. These magic attacks are upgraded versions of those found in your arsenal.
A unique attack you might see includes a tornado strike cast as a vortex, and the Phantom Flurry—a special weapon skill available only with the Deluxe Edition, which releases four rapid waves of magical slashes.
- Aurum Feather Force: Sends forth waves of golden magic after dashing back.
- Demonbane Strike: This attack remains largely unchanged from its original form—be mindful of its telegraphed nature, as it can catch you off-guard.
- Echo of Ai Nengqi: Can execute the spell up to three consecutive times.
- Echo of Blightweaver: Floats into the air to summon multiple damaging lasers—maintain mobility to avoid damage.
- Echo of Bo Sorcerer: Conjures icicles above to rain down on you, mirroring the mechanics from the Bo Sorcerer uptight.
- Echo of Dhutanga: A flaming polearm strike that appears to be linked to her finishing move.
- Echo of Lu Bingzhang: Creates a smokescreen before throwing her spear.
- Echo of Xuanyangzi: Instead of homing orbs that inflict Feathering damage, this version creates a magical blade that delivers three sweeping strikes.
- Ethereal Form: Vanishes to reappear right behind you.
- Heavenly Thunder: Calls down a lightning bolt from above, capable of inflicting Paralysis—dodge right before her hand makes contact.
As she progresses through her moves, the Demon of Obsession can incorporate dual-blade strikes by conjuring a magical blade in her off-hand, allowing access to Dual Blade Discipline skills like Shadow Lunge and Whirling Flurry. Additionally, she will utilize a magical version of the Feathered Windstrike weapon skill, typically exclusive to the Serpent Fang longsword encountered in a previous miniboss fight.
The Demon of Obsession exhibits a wide range of moves, and it’s likely she’s retained even more abilities not showcased in your encounter. Much like the Nightmare Demon, most of her attacks are accessible to you. Familiarize yourself with spear and one-handed sword attack patterns, as well as the intricacies of her spells.
Keep in mind that despite knocking her down, she may utilize Ethereal Form as a means of escape, evading your attack combos—a rather unfair advantage.
Strategies for Defeating the Demon of Obsession
Standard Strategy
There are two approaches to overcoming the Demon of Obsession: the direct and the cheeky. As previously mentioned, utilize the Scorn Axe for its high damage output and the Rampage skill, which launches opponents into the air for maximum damage.
The Lashing Whip or a one-handed sword (given the appropriate perks) can efficiently accumulate Skyborn Might stacks when needed.
Our goal, as with most melee builds, is to keep the Demon contained.Rampage excels at this, propelling the opponent upwards and allowing you to execute a full light combo during the stun. Moreover, its light attacks can disrupt most of her maneuvers, enabling you to land a final blow while accruing three Skyborn charges courtesy of the Thunderous Cleave perk—setting you up for a powerful Rampage.
Maintain this cycle until the fight transitions to the second phase, where you’ll require a more aggressive approach as she is likely to evade your final hits.
Should you find yourself depleted of Skyborn Might stacks or struggling to build them, consider equipping a Plumed Branch to quickly restore full stacks.
Due to the axe’s slower wind-up, it’s crucial to activate Rampage immediately after she finishes her attack combo. Stay close, regularly utilize Ethereal Form, and wait for opportunities to strike.
With the axe, you’ll also be able to perform weapon clashes, leveraging your enhanced Tenacity to break through her attacks and interrupt her basic melee sequences for some free damage.
Cheesy Strategy
The accompanying video illustrates a more unorthodox strategy. Upon entering the battle arena, observe a raised platform to your left. You’ll discover a notable flaw in the Demon of Obsession’s AI—it struggles to navigate around obstacles like stairs.
Begin by luring the boss away from the stairs. While she’s distracted by your attacks, dash to the platform, placing the stairs between you and her. This strategy activates her inability to find new cover, leading her to charge ineffectively, oblivious to the barrier.
However, this method is not foolproof. She retains the capacity to attack from a distance with spells and can teleport directly to you via Ethereal Form. This technique mainly creates distance, allowing you the freedom to retaliate without proximity concerns, and you can use the bronze cauldron on the platform for protection against her strikes.
If she breaches your defenses, simply repeat the strategy to reset the engagement once more.
Rewards for Overcoming the Demon of Obsession
Upon defeating the Demon of Obsession, proceed to the altar to combine the two Rings of Samsara:
- Bo Blood: Useful for upgrading Maddening Incense.
- Obsession Armor Set: Offers solid resistance against status effects and minor damage mitigation.
- Red Mercury Essence: Utilized to upgrade skill nodes within the Impetus Repository.
Don’t forget to use the “Sacrifice” emote at the nearby cauldron to gather additional lore details and an extra piece of Red Mercury Essence.
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