Returnal Guide | How to Defeat Ixion Boss

Here's a guide on how to defeat Ixion Boss in Returnal.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Dec 04, 2025

When you reach the Crimson Wastes, you encounter Ixion, a boss who blocks your progress. The fight involves steady movement, awareness of patterns, and constant use of your tools. By keeping your focus on Ixion’s behavior and reacting to each pattern, you can push through the encounter.

Returnal, Guide, How to Defeat Ixion Boss

Phase One

In the first phase, Ixion stays in the air and moves around the arena while releasing waves of blue orbs in different formations. One formation is a large spiral of blue orbs that follow your position. Ixion also moves across the arena in quick passes, so you need to shift your direction when it approaches.

You should move without stopping and fire at Ixion whenever you have a clear line of sight. Maintain sideways movement and time your dodges to avoid the incoming waves. Use Alt-Fire when it becomes available to reduce Ixion’s health.

Returnal, Guide, How to Defeat Ixion Boss

Phase Two

In the second phase, Ixion cycles through four attack patterns that require constant repositioning. One pattern involves Ixion stopping in the center and releasing a wide, blue force field that spreads outward in Returnal.

While this happens, Ixion also releases blue orbs that follow you, so dodge as soon as you land to avoid them.

Another pattern involves Ixion sweeping across the arena while sending out a spiral of blue orbs that track your location. During this pattern, focus on avoiding the orbs instead of dealing damage.

Ixion also repeats an airborne pattern from the first phase, firing blue orbs from above. This is the moment when you can safely aim at Ixion and deal consistent damage in Returnal.

The final pattern has Ixion floating in place while releasing multiple types of attacks, including a solid blue beam and a cluster of tracking shots. You should save your dodge for the homing shots to prevent hits.

Returnal, Guide, How to Defeat Ixion Boss

Phase Three

In the last phase, Ixion adds new actions to the previous ones. Ixion begins chasing you across the arena and leaping forward with a fire strike that sends out red fire projectiles. This occurs alongside blue homing orbs and several rings of expanding fire.

Ixion alternates between these jumps and stops in the middle to send out a variety of projectile shapes that change at random. Besides that, Ixion dashes across the field, which makes it hard to keep your aim in Returnal.

Continue firing when you can, use Alt-Fire, and rely on Consumables and Overload to maintain pressure while avoiding each attack.

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