Returnal Boss Guide

Attack patterns and strategies for every boss on Atropos.

Phrike -- Overgrown Ruins Boss

1Phrike has three phases with escalating melee and ranged attacks -- learn the transition cues.
2Stay at mid-range to dodge ground shockwaves while maintaining clear sightlines for counterattack.
3Phrike telegraphs melee lunges with a glowing arm -- dash sideways to avoid the grab.
4During the bullet-hell phases, focus on finding gaps in the projectile patterns rather than sprinting.
5Bring a weapon with long-range capability like the Carbine or Hollowseeker for sustained damage.

1Ixion is a highly mobile flying boss that dashes across the arena with sweeping attacks.
2In phase two, Ixion gains a devastating charge attack -- watch for the red glow and dash perpendicular.
3The arena has pillars that can block some projectile patterns -- use them as temporary cover.
4Weapons with tracking capabilities like the Hollowseeker or Critheon help maintain damage uptime.
5Ixion is vulnerable during landing animations between flight phases -- maximize damage during these windows.

1Nemesis fights across multiple platforms in a visually spectacular multi-phase encounter.
2Target the glowing weak points on Nemesis rather than its body for effective damage.
3During the platform-jumping phases, prioritize positioning over damage -- falling is an instant setback.
4The final phase features dense laser grids -- memorize the sweep patterns and dash through gaps.
5Long-range weapons are essential as Nemesis often fights from extreme distance.

1Hyperion plays a massive organ that generates both musical projectile patterns and shockwaves.
2Stay mobile and circle the arena -- Hyperion's attacks cover specific zones rather than tracking you.
3The organ keys glow before firing -- watch the sequence to predict incoming attack directions.
4Hyperion has less health than other bosses but compensates with overwhelming projectile density.
5Aggressive close-range weapons like the Spitmaw Blaster can end phases quickly before patterns intensify.

1Ophion is the final boss with the most complex attack patterns and highest health pool.
2Target the blue orbs on Ophion's body to deal damage -- regular shots to the body are ineffective.
3The fight has multiple phases where new orb locations appear -- adapt your aim accordingly.
4Ophion's tentacle sweeps cover wide arcs -- jumping and dashing simultaneously avoids most sweeps.
5Bring your best weapon with maxed traits -- the Electropylon Driver or Hollowseeker with Portal Beam excel here.