Most advice on how to beat bosses in FromSoftware games falls into one of three camps. Camp One: Accurate, but very technical, assuming the reader has accrued some amount of skill. Camp Two: “Git gud”. Camp Three is the most nuanced: “What-are-you-talking-about-that-boss-is-easy!”.
With the exception of the Witches, who I repeatedly beat by running around in circles and swinging carefree, I will always acknowledge that all bosses will be difficult to someone. Flukes happen, different attack patterns suit different play-styles, etc.
However, Mergo’s Wet Nurse initially had me rolling my temporarily-smug little eyes. It took two goes to beat a late game boss and with very little stress. Thankfully, I played the game again and she showed me what she can really do. Turns out, she’d been holding back.
Preparation
If this is the first one of my guides you are reading, you need to know we are not doing anything clever here. There’s probably a weapon and costume that works really well here but we’re just wearing what’s cool and swinging something big. That’s what’s important for an unskilled player like me can win, and that means the biggest stick. Either the hunter’s axe, which you could have very well upgraded by now, or if you know how where it is or have followed a guide, use the Holy Blade.
I forgot about papers and such in my first play through. Bolt paper added some oomph for me the second time around, but it’s not essential, and if you are as nervous as I was it’s not worth trying to apply a second one and risk getting caught out.
Tactics
It’s a cliche, at this late stage, to advise players to move behind a Soulsborne boss and strike from behind. But it’s especially pertinent with Mergo.
And you want to get there and stay there. Even when it feels like a bad idea. Which it will from time to time. She has one ‘move’ that involves her taking multiple swings at the world in front of her, steadily advancing. If you are clinging to her shawl, you will likely get nicked a few times. My first recommendation is to get used to that.
I’m serious. As long as your health is high, you’ll notice this little slices only do small spots of damage, and you can be getting in free swings. She will not break this long animation cycle, and she may even repeat the barrage immediately after. It’s messy, but stumbling behind her taking potshots whilst getting scuffed once or twice proved successful for me. And if you’re concerned, step back and heal; she’ll still be swinging forward.
When she’s facing you, a lot of her attacks have a slow wind up that will allow you to move behind her again. There’s a couple of attacks that attack backwards though. One is a spin attack, and the other is an uppercut. I couldn’t tell you how you recognize which is which, but if you circle around her as she winds up, and dodge as the swing comes in, she’ll miss most of the time. Then she allows for at least one hit on her before she chooses the next attack.
When she teleports, she might be about to attack you from a new spot, or she’ll be across the map, being ineffectual. So when she poofs out, move forwards and move the camera around. A dodge might not actually be needed, but have one ready.
Watch Out For
Now the crux of this fight is when she decides to use shadow clone jutsu. She’ll raise her arms and the arena will fill with purple gas. Now there’s (maybe?) two of her. From what I could tell, one moves slowly towards you and the other shadow-teleports to you between attacks. Either way, both use a new, extended, purplish blade attack that can mess you up very quickly.
The first playthrough, this part wasn’t so bad. The second time, ooooh boy! She seemed to have found a new level of speed and determination. It was a first try win, but I was still greatly alarmed.
Either way, the solution to this phase is probably not the most reliable or comforting: you gotta dodge. Make no attempt to attack. Just put distance between you and the first lady, and be prepared to run and duck and weave as the second continues to pop in. Move out to the edge of the arena to give you ample space and dodge, dodge, dodge.
As soon as that show is over, resume clutching at her robes.
I think what happened on my first run is that because she used the cloud early, it was just her in the fog. Because she was at much lower health next time, she brought her clone in. So there might be something to that?
In Other Words
- If you are in front of her, wait for her to swing, and then get behind her.
- If she winds up, move and dodge, and then get behind her again.
- When she starts march-slashing forwards, hit her and tank the nicks.
- In the gas cloud, duck and weave.
Oh, and make sure you sort out the cage-lift near the stairs. This boss has a neat little path back to her but you can miss it.
Keep on Hunting!
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Gamer Peak 