Kueh
09-28-2010, 01:23 PM
Lazy Ferret is Lazy and will not likely get around to putting pictures in for a while, so use your imaginations.
First of all, Understand that all enemies, bosses and normal mobs alike, go through three phases. A targeting phase, and an attacking phase. The attacking phase is always followed by the vulnerability phase, which is longer or shorter depending on the attack. Do not attack during any phase other than the vulnerability phase, or you will leave yourself open.
Additionally, bosses do some strange things that make fighting them easier for you. About halfway through the battle, they'll do taunts, and near the end of the battle, they'll begin to attack, but then quit and start panting. Both of those skip the Attack Phase and go straight to the Vulnerability Phase.
The Sturdy is different from the other bosses in Hoarfrost Hollow, and it's a bit difficult to get used to fighting him after being used to the styles of the other Kobold Commanders, so here's some information you can use to your advantage.
The Sturdy has a number of attacks that I will list in the order of how much time you have after the attack from least time to greatest time. Keep in mind that this is a guide about how to NOT get hit. You can most likely get away with using more attacks than I advise, but those are attacks you use at your own risk.
The Backhand
A rather simple attack that you can avoid rather simply. Just keep back a bit. It has an obscenely short rest period after, so just don't do anything when he uses this attack. Wait for him to do something else. (Treat this attack like the Gnoll Chieftain's Kicks.) You can also counter this attack as Fiona.
The Defense Curl And The Double Slap
In this attack, Sturdy Emuloch curls into a little ball, he pounds his fists as he does so and that hurts you. Then stands up and checks if people are near. If no one's around, he just goes back to normal. If someone is close by, he does two swings directed behind him. Don't be fooled though, he swings his arm like a three year old child, and it will hit you even if you're standing in front of him, the opposite side of his directed attack. He has a brief period of rest after the two swings. So start your chains early. (Bonus info, his shield will end up facing in the direction is back was facing while he was curled, so move behind him if you're going for the break off.)
For this attack, use a medium length combo while he's curled, then move back. When he starts to swing, you start your own combo, and hit him with the last attack. Whether you use a strong combo or a medium combo depends on how comfortable you are with getting out of the way quickly afterward.
For Lann, I like to use Twin Edge 450 on both chances to attack. Gliding fury is optional on the second chance, but if you get it on the first chance, use it to escape rather than attack, because he doesn't stay curled for long.
For Fiona, I like to use a partial Ivy Sweep on the first chance, and a full Ivy Sweep on the second, but I bet you could do a Full Ivy and then an Amaranth Kick if you start your combos early enough.
This attack also has a variation
Defense Curl: Cancel
This attack is just a trick. He still slams his fists, but instead of curling, he just stands back up right after. If you're starting combos early like you should, go ahead and use a medium combo, if you were not prepared, don't bother.
You can tell this from his regular curl because he glances from side to side during the cancel, and hides his face completely during the curl. Both the regular version, and the cancel can be countered as Fiona.
The Double Punch
Someone make up a more witty name for this move for me.
With this attack, the Sturdy does a small jump in your direction, and lands using his fist. Then he does it again with the other fist. After that, he takes the longest recovery period that he has to get back up. Start your combo as the second swing begins, and you'll have plenty of time to use your full on strongest combo. Careful though. He tends to use the Backhand right after this move, so clear out once he starts to stand.
Moving in circles around an enemy is usually a great technique, but for this move don't use it. If you try to run in circles, The Sturdy will follow you and punch you anyway, and then most likely punch you a second time. While dodging this move, just run in the opposite direction (the direction the Sturdy is facing. Normally that's a bad call, because boss attack animations also move the boss forward, and they will usually reach you. But the Sturdy is a slow mover. He won't be able to get to you, especially if you sprint for just a moment
Like the last move, this one also has a cancel
The Double Punch: Cancel
Rather than using two hits, he just uses one. After that attack, he plays an animation that looks like he got his fist in the ground and he's trying to get it out. Use a medium or short combo, depending on how soon you realized it was the cancel. Or none at all if you don't want to get too close.
You can tell this from the original move because he plays the stuck fist animation. I'm also not sure, but I think that he starts the regular move with his right fist (your left if you're facing him), and the cancel with his left.
There's another way to tell the difference for this cancel. Listen to these wise words from The PK.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g206/whyrainfalls/WiseWordsfromthePKMaster.png
Aside from Attacks, the Sturdy has two other moves.
The Taunt
He'll slam his fists together and roll his head while yelling. Use this to either get a short combo in or potion. If you started early use a medium combo, but it's hard to predict when he'll use this, and you might end up still attacking by the time he's done.
The Pant
Near the end of the battle, the Sturdy pulls his arm back to do a punch, but then suddenly wussies out and just hangs his arms and head for a few moments. Lots of time here to do a long attack, but be careful. He tends to use the Backhand after this move, so get away quickly.
Also, The Sturdy is different from a lot of bosses you've faced until now because his walking speed is really really slow.
That means you should never be wasting a period of vulnerability on using potions and feathers. Just sprint a bit away and you're already done with several potion drinking titles before the Sturdy is anywhere near you.
First of all, Understand that all enemies, bosses and normal mobs alike, go through three phases. A targeting phase, and an attacking phase. The attacking phase is always followed by the vulnerability phase, which is longer or shorter depending on the attack. Do not attack during any phase other than the vulnerability phase, or you will leave yourself open.
Additionally, bosses do some strange things that make fighting them easier for you. About halfway through the battle, they'll do taunts, and near the end of the battle, they'll begin to attack, but then quit and start panting. Both of those skip the Attack Phase and go straight to the Vulnerability Phase.
The Sturdy is different from the other bosses in Hoarfrost Hollow, and it's a bit difficult to get used to fighting him after being used to the styles of the other Kobold Commanders, so here's some information you can use to your advantage.
The Sturdy has a number of attacks that I will list in the order of how much time you have after the attack from least time to greatest time. Keep in mind that this is a guide about how to NOT get hit. You can most likely get away with using more attacks than I advise, but those are attacks you use at your own risk.
The Backhand
A rather simple attack that you can avoid rather simply. Just keep back a bit. It has an obscenely short rest period after, so just don't do anything when he uses this attack. Wait for him to do something else. (Treat this attack like the Gnoll Chieftain's Kicks.) You can also counter this attack as Fiona.
The Defense Curl And The Double Slap
In this attack, Sturdy Emuloch curls into a little ball, he pounds his fists as he does so and that hurts you. Then stands up and checks if people are near. If no one's around, he just goes back to normal. If someone is close by, he does two swings directed behind him. Don't be fooled though, he swings his arm like a three year old child, and it will hit you even if you're standing in front of him, the opposite side of his directed attack. He has a brief period of rest after the two swings. So start your chains early. (Bonus info, his shield will end up facing in the direction is back was facing while he was curled, so move behind him if you're going for the break off.)
For this attack, use a medium length combo while he's curled, then move back. When he starts to swing, you start your own combo, and hit him with the last attack. Whether you use a strong combo or a medium combo depends on how comfortable you are with getting out of the way quickly afterward.
For Lann, I like to use Twin Edge 450 on both chances to attack. Gliding fury is optional on the second chance, but if you get it on the first chance, use it to escape rather than attack, because he doesn't stay curled for long.
For Fiona, I like to use a partial Ivy Sweep on the first chance, and a full Ivy Sweep on the second, but I bet you could do a Full Ivy and then an Amaranth Kick if you start your combos early enough.
This attack also has a variation
Defense Curl: Cancel
This attack is just a trick. He still slams his fists, but instead of curling, he just stands back up right after. If you're starting combos early like you should, go ahead and use a medium combo, if you were not prepared, don't bother.
You can tell this from his regular curl because he glances from side to side during the cancel, and hides his face completely during the curl. Both the regular version, and the cancel can be countered as Fiona.
The Double Punch
Someone make up a more witty name for this move for me.
With this attack, the Sturdy does a small jump in your direction, and lands using his fist. Then he does it again with the other fist. After that, he takes the longest recovery period that he has to get back up. Start your combo as the second swing begins, and you'll have plenty of time to use your full on strongest combo. Careful though. He tends to use the Backhand right after this move, so clear out once he starts to stand.
Moving in circles around an enemy is usually a great technique, but for this move don't use it. If you try to run in circles, The Sturdy will follow you and punch you anyway, and then most likely punch you a second time. While dodging this move, just run in the opposite direction (the direction the Sturdy is facing. Normally that's a bad call, because boss attack animations also move the boss forward, and they will usually reach you. But the Sturdy is a slow mover. He won't be able to get to you, especially if you sprint for just a moment
Like the last move, this one also has a cancel
The Double Punch: Cancel
Rather than using two hits, he just uses one. After that attack, he plays an animation that looks like he got his fist in the ground and he's trying to get it out. Use a medium or short combo, depending on how soon you realized it was the cancel. Or none at all if you don't want to get too close.
You can tell this from the original move because he plays the stuck fist animation. I'm also not sure, but I think that he starts the regular move with his right fist (your left if you're facing him), and the cancel with his left.
There's another way to tell the difference for this cancel. Listen to these wise words from The PK.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g206/whyrainfalls/WiseWordsfromthePKMaster.png
Aside from Attacks, the Sturdy has two other moves.
The Taunt
He'll slam his fists together and roll his head while yelling. Use this to either get a short combo in or potion. If you started early use a medium combo, but it's hard to predict when he'll use this, and you might end up still attacking by the time he's done.
The Pant
Near the end of the battle, the Sturdy pulls his arm back to do a punch, but then suddenly wussies out and just hangs his arms and head for a few moments. Lots of time here to do a long attack, but be careful. He tends to use the Backhand after this move, so get away quickly.
Also, The Sturdy is different from a lot of bosses you've faced until now because his walking speed is really really slow.
That means you should never be wasting a period of vulnerability on using potions and feathers. Just sprint a bit away and you're already done with several potion drinking titles before the Sturdy is anywhere near you.