When discussing “what is the hardest boss in Bloodborne?”, you cannot expect the same answer from everyone. If you miss a trick with an ‘easier’ boss, then it will feel harder to you. If someone confidentially claims one boss is hardest, players around them will be quick to agree/offer up who they think is hardest/explain why that boss isn’t actually hard at all.
For a long time, Martyr Logarius was my hardest boss. By the end of the first playthrough, I had not completed the Chalice Dungeons and DLC, and he remained at the top of my list. He was the only one I doubted I could beat on my next playthrough.
Even when I beat him once, I was not confident. By the end of my second win, I knew how I’d beaten him, and I think I can get you there too.
As always, if I can do it so can you!
Preparation
This is an optional midgame boss. There’s nothing making you come here, and there’s especially nothing wrong with waiting a few extra bosses and levels to take a shot or come back later after a few boss and extra levels.
I had a stack of Bolt Paper to thin his health a little faster.
Other than that, just take your time getting back to him. The run across the rooftops is an uncomfortable way to get to a boss. It always left me unsettled.
Tactics
Part 1 – Phase 1: When you first arrive, Martyr Logarius will be at the back of the arena, and will be in defence mode. Use the cover provided to circle around to him.
My major issue with Logarius was the range of moves and trying to remember them all. The main thing for this fight, is to try and chase him as much as you can. He will occasionally use his dagger and/or scythe, but it’s the magic that will mess you up fast.
If you move around to his right side (your left), you will start to see some magic miss you. If you get close and circle ML, the big orb he summons has a harder time finding you. If he uses the spread of skulls, it’s easier to side-dodge out of their way. If he does choose to use melee, I found back up better to back up once or twice, then risk on swing at the end of the combo.
Importantly, bit hits from axe or sword will potentially stagger him, so being in his face and aggressive can interrupt his blades and skull magic. But only go for one hit at a time. H won’t be rocky for long.
You might also note as he attacks that sometimes the shape of the map is helpful. If he’s above you on the central walkway, attacks have a tendency to miss from time to time. No way to guarantee this, but its good to know aggression can find reward.
Part 2- Phase 2: normally I’d explain different phases separately, but in this case the phases are so different that it needs to be built into your strategy.
It will be super obvious when he pauses to change phases. Whilst he meditates, heal up, then get behind him. Charge attack enema. He will be thrown to the ground, and he won’t be as tough for his second phase.
LM will go from defensive stance to an offensively offensive stance, with only a few matching moves. The pace change is what really took me a while to overcome. Many of the moves are similar, but I would say that stage 1 LM is 80% magic and 20% melee, whilst the second stage is about 80/20 in favour of melee.
He will use some of the same melee moves as the first phase, which are best backed away from. If you can time when the last swing finishes, to step in and hit and back out again, you are doing better than me on your first playthrough.
I had the most luck hitting him after he goes into the air. It’s a scary attack, but by running forward and rolling under him, he will often miss. If he missed, he’ll give you time for a couple of hits.
The camera is mean once in a while when he leaps. If you lose sight of him as the camera shifts, roll and dodge where you think is went… and hope.
The sword in the roof is where this fight can get complicated. He will take the sword and plunge it through the tiles. There will be a local burst of magic, and then blades will come a-raining down. To prevent this, wait until just after the blast, run in and smack the sword (I’ve seen people say shoot it but we don’t have the skill). If you time it right with a reach weapon, you might get a free slice on LM too.
If you can’t get the sword, get away. The blades don’t do a lot of damage but they can pepper you and interrupt everything you do. Pick yourself up and sprint to the other end of the roof. Make LM come to you. From a distance, the blades strike the roof and spires more than they will hit you. It’s not ideal, but its better. Plus, whilst its going off he can’t use that move again until it runs out.
As rough a time as I had, if you can time the dodge under his flying attack, and maybe time his pauses between melee strikes, you can slowly whittle him down. The roof can also be your friend too. If you keep to the slopes you make it slightly harder for him to connect with you.
Watch Out For
Most has been said at this point. The sword in the roof makes much tougher, so take it out if you can. Sometimes he’ll put it down behind one of the spires and nerf his own attack somewhat, but its still not worth staying nearby if you can break the main blade.
The air attack is a massive hit but your biggest opportunity. Look out for where he lands, and also be aware that sometime the attack won’t actually complete. The slope of the roof sometimes throws him off. Could be a moment to attack, but it also means he’s going to be ready to attack again faster.
As mentioned, the camera can betray you, and because he can dash and leap you can lose sight of LM for a scary amount of time. Best advice I can give here is to run for a spire. Put scenery between you and where he might be, give yourself a chance to resit.
In Other Words
- Circle him and be mean in phase 1.
- Back up and look for an opening in phase 2.
- Practice avoiding the leap attack for the best window.
- Hit the sword in the roof ASAP.
This boss is as optional as they get, so coming back later is always an option. He was my nemesis because he seem to vary things so much as well as being aggressive. Walking up and circling him no longer worked. He really does miss a lot if you make him come after you, and he takes fairly obvious breaks.
It the first of many fights that was more of a dance; circle forward as he throws out defensive magic. Skip backwards as he advances.
Keep on Hunting!
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Gamer Peak 