ANNO: Mutationem Guide | How To Defeat Varanus

A guide on how to defeat Varanus in ANNO: Mutationem.

Game Guide by Rubaiyat Shihab on Dec 21, 2025

You may have fought Varanus for the first time in ANNO: Mutationem, but this late-game rematch is not the same as the first. This time, you have to fight him with new mechanics, more attack patterns, and a perilous arena that might penalize you if you don't pay attention to where you are.

The struggle needs patience, space, and knowledge instead than raw force. You can manage the tempo of the fight and bring Varanus down without taking too many risks if you know how he alternates between ranged pressure and close-range aggressiveness.

ANNO: Mutationem, Guide, How To Defeat Varanus, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Understanding Varanus’ Combat Style

During the fight, Varanus switches between two main actions. At range, he uses acid-based missiles to put pressure on you. When he gets close, he uses moves from behind, bites, and hits with his claws. Most of the fight is about avoiding bullets, moving to the center of the platform, and hitting him from behind when he decides to fight close. Your goal is to stay in control of the space and not get pushed to the edges of the field.

Varanus’ Attack Patterns

Tail Whip

Varanus is getting ready to slam his tail down when he pulls it over his head. It's easy to see this strike coming, and it happens slowly. You can block it, but rolling past the tail and striking from behind is safer and more reliable.

Tail Spin

If Varanus stops for a moment, he will do a full spin and use his tail to hit the base. At first, the timing may surprise you, but once you know the stop, you can escape getting hit with just one jump.

Rush Attack

Before it charges, Varanus makes a roar. Once you hear it, make space and get ready to jump over him twice. The charge moves faster in later stages, but the number doesn't change at all. Jumping toward the middle of the stage keeps the position under control.

Bite Attacks

It's very clear when these threats are coming. Before lunging forward, Varanus pulls his head back. Since the timing is always the same, this is the best time for you to parry. He often chains together more than one bite, which lets him parry multiple times. If you don't want to block, you can roll past his head and hit him from the side.

Backward Hop

If you push Varanus from behind, he might jump backward. This move does a little harm and can't be used to chain into another move. It's not really a threat; it just looks like one.

Claw Swipe

Varanus raises his arm before slashing forward. The range is short, so it rarely connects unless you are standing too close. You can either roll away or parry without much risk.

ANNO: Mutationem, Guide, How To Defeat Varanus, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Acid-Based Attacks

Acid Rain

Varanus shoots several blobs of acid into the air, which land on the platform. Run to the other side from the middle while he fires. You can stay out of the hit zones by doing this easy exercise.

Acid Projectile

He often follows acid rain with a direct projectile aimed at you. A double jump easily clears it, especially if you maintain distance.

Slow Acid Projectiles

During the final phase, Varanus begins firing slow-moving acid shots that remain on-screen for a long time. These become dangerous only if they stack up. Keep track of their positions and avoid letting yourself get boxed in.

Burrowing Attacks

Burrowing Bite

Varanus will dive underground and reappear with a bite. The ground visibly shifts where he is about to emerge, giving you plenty of warning. As he surfaces, you can throw an FM HE Grenenade to freeze him and land heavy damage. If you prefer, you can simply stay back and shoot him.

Underground Claw Attack

After burrowing, Varanus may attack from below by piercing the platform with his claws. Staying airborne keeps you safe. Jump away from the claw’s position and avoid touching the ground until the attack ends.

The Boss Arena Hazard

The fight takes place on a tilted platform surrounded by acid. This environmental threat is often more dangerous than Varanus himself. If he stays near the edge, parts of his body may be submerged, making it harder to hit him safely. Avoid chasing him into the acid, as you will not survive for long.

ANNO: Mutationem, Guide, How To Defeat Varanus, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

To deal with this, you should always try to stay close to the middle of the stage when you fight. When you jump over him in the middle instead of going back to the edge, you can avoid getting hit by his charges or weapons. This makes Varanus stop and stay in a safer spot. If he gets close to the acid, use the length of your greatsword to cut him without going into danger.

Varanus Boss Strategy

At first, Varanus takes turns shooting acid blobs at you and running up to you. Start the base in the middle. When he shoots up for acid rain, run across the street to the other side. When he fires a straight shot, double jump over it and move back toward the center.

He will charge after his long strikes. Jump over him and then hit him from behind right away. Stay close to him so he doesn't go to long patterns as much. Tail attacks and spins will be coming your way. Try to avoid bites when you can, and move to a better spot if he pushes you too far away.

Once his shield weakens, make sure he is not standing in acid before committing to damage. Drawing him back to the center makes the final phase easier to manage.

In the end, he will dig a hole and live underground. Avoid the bite by watching the ground, punish him when he comes up, and stay in the air when he hits with his claws while underground. When he fully reemerges, the fight goes back to how it was before, but it is now faster. Use the same plan for where to put him and how to move him over and over again until he falls.