The First Berserker: Khazan – A Challenging Soulslike Experience
In recent years, The First Berserker: Khazan has emerged as a standout title in the Soulslike genre, captivating veteran gamers with its challenging bosses and intense gameplay. The game features an array of 16 primary bosses, starting with Yetuga and culminating in the formidable Ozma. Additionally, players can encounter 21 secondary bosses in various optional missions, though these tend to be reskinned versions of the main adversaries.
Each major boss offers distinct attack patterns and abilities, requiring players to sharpen their skills with every confrontation. Through my playthrough, I quickly realized that cada encounter was a valuable lesson in refining my strategies and adapting my techniques. Below, you’ll find a structured overview of the main bosses in Khazan, presented in the order in which they appear.
Yetuga: The Initiation Challenge
Yetuga serves as Khazan’s introductory boss, providing a taste of the challenges that lie ahead. This opponent can be particularly overwhelming for newcomers to the Soulslike genre. Your battle with Yetuga serves as a crucial learning experience, introducing you to essential gameplay mechanics like dodging and guarding.
Upon defeating Yetuga, players are rewarded with two random items from the Frozen Mountain set, granting a beneficial health boost early on. There is also a chance to obtain components like the Ashen Wolf Set items, a Frozen Mountain Ruler’s Horn, and an Augment of Wisdom.
Blade Phantom: The Inner Struggles
In this next phase, players confront the Blade Phantom, symbolizing an inner conflict within Khazan as he strives to take control. This boss is notable for utilizing phantom-based attacks, which can be challenging without extensive practice.
Until you reach the Aldevir Central District and obtain the Soul Eater Scroll, maximizing your encounters with the Blade Phantom is advisable to fully complete the Soul Eater gear set. Upon victory, players are rewarded with two random Soul Eater gear pieces, along with potential drops of Netherworld Mineral for crafting.
Viper: A Test of Precision
The battle with Viper elevates the difficulty, showcasing lightning-fast movements that demand precise timing and skillful mastery of the Brink Guard and Reflection techniques. Be prepared for a surprise as Viper’s second form emerges after depleting his initial health bar, drastically ramping up the challenge.
Defeating Viper rewards players with two random pieces from the Fallen Lord set and chances to acquire key crafting materials for future upgrades.
Volbaino: The Elemental Menace
With Volbaino comes the first encounter with elemental damage, specifically fire, which characterizes many of his attacks. The arena quickly transforms into dangerous ground, requiring players to navigate around fire circles that hamper movement and safety. However, exploiting the arena’s height can provide advantages.
Defeating Volbaino grants access to two random pieces from the Fallen Guardian set, along with crafting materials needed for future gear enhancements.
Aratra: The Venomous Arachnid
Aratra introduces a new dimension of challenge, employing poison-based attacks. This boss hurls large poison projectiles that can rapidly accumulate damage, making it vital to find and exploit its weak spot behind its abdomen for effective counterattacks.
Success against Aratra is crucial for unlocking the Blacksmith feature and the associated bonus mission. Players can expect rewards from the Devourer of Darkness set and potential crafting components to enhance their gear further.
Rangkus: The Flammable Adversary
The fight against Rangkus features a challenging dynamic, as this boss utilizes a rapid-fire flame gun. This marks a significant bump in difficulty, testing all your skills learned thus far. Nevertheless, identifying and exploiting Rangkus’ vulnerabilities will be key to victory.
Upon his defeat, Rangkus rewards players with items from the Furious Bandit set and crafting materials for enhanced capabilities in future battles.
Maluca: The Reflection Test
Maluca presents a formidable challenge, revered for demanding players maximize their mastery of the Reflection skill and the importance of gear optimization. The ability to effectively counter his powerful attacks creates openings for counterstrikes.
Elamein: A Bitter Reunion
In a heart-wrenching battle, players must face off against Elamein, a former ally turned foe due to the corruption of Chaos. This battle brings a mix of swift actions and electrocution damage, prompting players to utilize Vitality Spheres to manage stamina amidst the onslaught.
Victory grants pieces of the Crushed Dreams set, enhancing Khazan’s capabilities when wielding spear equipment.
Shactuka: The Mighty Beast
Tackling Shactuka requires not only armed skill but also the ability to anticipate varied attack patterns stemming from its wild and ferocious combat style. This challenging beast battles players with powerful strikes that may demand near-obsessive practice to best.
Beating Shactuka yields items from the Beast-Slayer gear set, perfect for augmenting a Whirlwind-focused dual-wield build.
Trokka: The Ethereal Adversary
Trokka presents a stunning yet frustrating challenge with her reliance on ranged attacks and unique patterns, demanding strategic strikes while employing interruption tactics for a successful encounter. Employing lightning-based damage is recommended to ease the battle.
Defeating Trokka rewards items from the Drowned Witch set, enhancing spear and javelin effectiveness with water damage bonuses.
Bellerian: The Endgame Prelude
Bellerian sets the stage for the endgame, showcasing her capacity to execute various elemental attacks in combat. Players must navigate her force field and manage summoned ghostly adversaries from the abyssal fog.
Defeating Bellerian rewards valuable gear pieces and crafting materials, paving the way for advanced strategies.
Skalpel: The Unique Plague
Skalpel offers a distinctive challenge, requiring mastery of the Reflection skill to efficiently lower his stamina bar for critical counters. This boss inhabits a unique space, demanding players adapt strategically to subdue him.
Upon victory, players may receive items from the Bloodthirsty Fiend set, perfect for dual-wield builds, offering an engaging AoE capability.
Princess Ilyna: The Two-Phased Duel
Princess Ilyna presents a fierce two-phase battle, oscillating between magic attacks in the first phase and melee strikes in the second. Employing Concentrated Lightning Essence enables players to strike effectively during her initial magic phase.
Defeating her yields two items from the Unending Tragedy set, a prime contender for top dual-wield equipment that enhances synergy and allows for devastating combos.
Hismar: The Dragon’s Wrath
The imposing figure of Hismar should not deter players; while daunting, strategic movement and skillful counterplay can make this encounter manageable. Emphasizing the Hunter set for boosted damage against Dragonkin is crucial.
Defeating Hismar grants players invaluable crafting opportunities through dropped materials, including the Fleshripper Scroll.
Ozma: Khazan’s Ultimate Nemesis
At long last, players encounter Ozma, the epitome of challenge in The First Berserker: Khazan. This three-phase confrontation incorporates diverse elemental status effects, providing the ultimate test of player capability and gear optimization. Only with the pinnacle of preparation will players claim victory over this formidable foe.
Victorious players can cleanse their spoils with a variety of loot, including the Shooting Star Greatsword, the Wooyo’s Breeze Dual Wield, and the Killing Flash Spear, along with potential rare materials from the Master of Chaos set, culminating the challenging journey through Khazan.