ANNO: Mutationem Guide | How To Defeat Absalom

You get used to fighting in the early parts of ANNO: Mutationem, but when you fight Absalom, everything changes. This fight is a test of your understanding of strategy, defense, and timing. Absalom can move a lot, has a lot of ways to hit, and can cause enough damage to punish mistakes.

There are a number of crucial things to do throughout the battle, such keeping an eye on his shield, reading his tells, and taking small pauses to your benefit. If you keep focused and don't run away, you can manage anything.

Understanding Absalom’s Attacks

Absalom is fast and can cover a lot of ground, but every move sends a clear message. Learning these patterns is essential, especially since several attacks change slightly in the second phase.

Backhanded Slash

Absalom winds up before delivering a downward sword strike. This wind-up gives you time to parry. If you prefer to avoid parrying, roll or phantomstep through him and strike from behind. In the second phase, he may teleport behind you before using the same attack, but the timing remains readable.

Lunging Slash

He twists his torso and sheathes his sword before lunging forward. The initial strike is followed by a second slash in the opposite direction. Roll behind him during the first swing and be ready to roll again for the follow-up. In phase two, he teleports behind you before the second strike.

Low Slash

This crouching attack cannot be parried. You must roll through him and attack from behind. If the attack connects, he follows up with a strong hit. In the second phase, he may teleport before performing it, but the wind-up still gives you enough time to react.

Projectile Slash

Absalom teleports to one side of the arena and swings his sword to release an energy wave. You can roll through these projectiles or double jump over them. If he performs this attack at close range, the sword swing itself can be parried. In phase two, he uses this attack more often and alternates sides.

Power Wave

He rises into the air and slams the ground, sending waves of energy in both directions. These waves are too tall to jump, so rolling is required. In the second phase, two waves are released in quick succession. Roll through the first, briefly move backward, then roll through the second once your recovery ends.

Column Summon

Absalom floats and summons three columns. Scanning them reveals numbers that indicate the order in which they must be destroyed. Destroying them in the correct order stuns him. If you destroy them incorrectly or take too long, he unleashes a large-area attack. During this sequence, if time runs short, move to the right side of the arena to give yourself room to roll through the incoming attack.

Boss Battle Strategy

Wearing down Absalom's shield is your main goal. Instead of long attacks, focus on safe damage. The backhanded slash is the best way to start. If you can, parry it. Otherwise, roll past him and hit him with one or two good hits from your sword. Don't take on too much.

Roll through projectile attacks and always roll away from the low slash before counterattacking. Continue this pattern until his shield breaks. Once it does, land a few controlled strikes before performing the fatal attack to avoid wasting damage. After this, Absalom summons the columns.

Quickly check the columns and then destroy them in the right order. He is stunned by the move, giving me more free hits before I kill him again. This change moves the fight into the second phase.

Absalom teleports more often and chains strikes more boldly in the second phase. During the power wave move, he uses two shockwaves and sends objects flying from different directions. Even so, the plan is still the same. As his damage goes up, make sure your health stays above half, look for the backhanded slash to block, and roll through the low slash.

Tips to Keep in Mind

You can beat Absalom before he fully starts his second phase if you are careful with the damage you take. This needs more hits before and after fatal attacks while his shield is still coming back. He leaps to the middle of the field after a deadly attack. If you get there early, you can deal more damage before the column call starts.

Instead of using the directional pad, which isn't as safe to use when you're under pressure, you can heal from the equipment menu. Do not use high-commitment techniques like charged sword strikes. Absalom gets better quickly and will punish people who are slow. Be patient, pay attention to his tells, and don't worry about how long it takes to do it right.

Also, check our ANNO: Mutationem Review and other guides below:

• ANNO: Mutationem Beginner’s Guide | Gameplay Tips & Tricks
• ANNO: Mutationem Guide | Best Weapon Style
• ANNO: Mutationem Guide | All Side Missions in Skopp City
• ANNO: Mutationem Guide | All Side Missions in Noctis City
• ANNO: Mutationem Guide | How To Defeat Nidhogg