Returnal Guide | How to Defeat Nemesis Boss

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

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Dec 04, 2025

When you enter the Derelict Citadel, you face Nemesis, a boss encounter that relies on clear patterns and platforming. Much of the challenge comes from avoiding incoming fire while moving between floating platforms.

Unlike your fight with Ixion, Nemesis gives fewer sudden shifts, and you can track your progress as long as you stay steady in your movement and aim in Returnal.

You should direct your shots at the orange “eye” in the center of Nemesis, and you can deal consistent damage from range by using rapid-fire weapons like the Tachyomatic Carbine or the Hollowseeker.

Phase One

The first phase places you on a platform facing Nemesis, along with two floating turrets that fire lasers at set intervals. Nemesis sends out a stream of blue orbs that follow your position. You should keep firing at the eye while moving left and right to slip between the orbs.

Returnal, Guide, How to Defeat Nemesis Boss

You also need to watch the two turrets on the sides. Nemesis draws one of them closer with a line of blue lightning before it fires. The laser cuts through a fixed section of the platform, so you need to track its angle and shift before the beam triggers.

Phase Two

The second phase begins with you on a platform positioned farther from Nemesis. You must return to the main area by jumping between platforms and using the Icarian Grapnel to cross the gap in Returnal.

During this section, both turrets fire lasers while Nemesis continues to send blue orb streams. Lasers now leave spreading rings of fire, so you must time your jumps and dodges to avoid both the rings and the tracking projectiles.

Returnal, Guide, How to Defeat Nemesis Boss

Phase Three

The final phase places you on a set of platforms that rise and fall while Nemesis attacks from a distance with spirals of incoming fire in Returnal.

You can stand still and fire at Nemesis until the orb swarm closes in. When the orbs reach you, use the Icarian Grapnel to swing to the next platform.

The swing removes all incoming damage during the motion, letting you bypass the swarm entirely. Repeating this pattern will reduce Nemesis’ final health bar in Returnal.

Returnal, Guide, How to Defeat Nemesis Boss

Rewards

Defeating Nemesis grants you five Ether. You also reach the White Shadow broadcast, bringing Selene to what appears to be the end of her journey.

This ending is not final, and after the cutscene, you arrive in the Echoing Ruins, which begins the second part of Returnal. From here, you only need to approach the White Shadow signal, interact with the source, and let the next scene play out in Returnal.

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