How to Defeat the Rangifer

• Weak against Flame
• Use Koo's skill, Higanbana Seeds
• Effective Defense: Parry
• Second Encounter: Has 2 Phases

Before you start the fight with this boss, ensure that you pick up the Chain Mail armor from the strongbox next to the "Cliff-Facing Tower" campsite. This will give you an edge by slightly increasing your defense. With enough resources acquired from exploring some early locations, you can also opt to enhance your weapon from the campsite.

As the battle starts, take your time to familiarize yourself with its attacks, keep your distance, and be ready to parry when it uses its antlers to use a sweeping combo attack. This boss is weak against Flame, and to exploit this, you will need to send out commands to Koo to use the skill: Higanbana: Seeds. The skill fires a barrage of flame-infused seeds that can build flame, causing the target to burn

When it uses its head sweeping attack, it is highly recommended to parry it to increase its stagger bar. Take this opportunity to counterattack when it uses this move since you can easily time its movement. After it swings its head a few times, you'll have a small window to attack its head before it recovers

It also has a projectile attack, where it shoots out spores from its back. You can dodge this or parry it. One attack you should be careful of is when it charges forward like a bull and sweeps out rocks from the ground using its antlers. When this happens, be ready to block, parry, or dodge backward to evade it.

In the second encounter, past Subcity 03, the Rangifer gains an extra attack where it uses its forelimbs to stomp on the ground. When you see the beast stand on its hind legs, keep yourself from being in front of it. Keep in mind as well that it has two phases in the second encounter.

Phase 2

This boss enters its second phase once you've depleted its health to zero by chasing it to its lair past Subcity 03. The Rangifer goes into berserk and becomes more aggressive in its moves and attacks. It can now leap forward as well when it attacks, so always be on your guard to block, parry, or dodge. A good opportunity to punish it is landing multiple hits after it telegraphs its stomping attack, since it will need time to recover once its head is planted on the ground.

NOTE: The Rangifer will also be encountered at Matsukawa Zone within the Mountainous Region. For this encounter, the Rangifer is weak against Lightning, and it will also have two phases.

Location of the Boss

Rangifer is the first main boss players will face in Chapter 1. You'll encounter this boss for the first time at the Ogouchi Buffer Zone after speaking to the Foreman in Subcity 01 and within its lair, past Subcity 03. You'll also fight the Rangifer for the second time at the Matsukawa Zone, in the Mountainous Region.

Rewards and Items Dropped