The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is renowned for its intricate quests, deep lore, and challenging boss fights. Among these, the battle with Imlerith stands out as one of the most demanding encounters. Imlerith, a General of the Wild Hunt, is formidable in his heavily armored state, wielding a giant mace that makes the battle intense and strategic. To defeat him, a thorough understanding of his attack patterns and proper preparation are essential. This guide will delve into effective combat tactics for overcoming Imlerith.
Understanding Imlerith
Imlerith is not your typical adversary; he’s an Aen Elle elf which means he doesn’t have an appropriate bestiary entry like other monsters. Nonetheless, I’ve compiled essential strategies and insights gained from trial and error during gameplay.
Pre-Battle Preparations
- Potions and Bombs: Ensure that you have Swallow, Full Moon, Tawny Owl, and Blizzard potions in your inventory. These potions will help keep your health and stamina levels optimal during the battle. Grapeshot Bombs, Dancing Star, and Samum Bombs are particularly effective for disrupting Imlerith’s attacks and blinding him, allowing you precious moments to strike.
- Signs: The Igni Sign plays a crucial role against Imlerith, especially for melting his ice armor. Strengthened Igni via skill upgrades is highly recommended.
- Armor and Weapons: Equip gear that boosts Igni Sign effectiveness and protects against bludgeoning damage – a wise choice given the nature of Imlerith’s mace attacks.
- Skills: Select the Fleet Footed ability, which reduces damage while rolling. Gourmet and Griffin School Techniques can enhance health recovery and stamina regeneration, respectively, if you’re using medium armor.
Phase One: The Initial Assault
The battle with Imlerith begins with traditional melee combat. Here are the key tactics:
- Flanking: Imlerith uses his shield to block most attacks, thus, remain close and attack from behind to avoid this defense. Striking his back or sides instead of confronting the shield will help you conserve stamina and health.
- Avoid Counterattacks: It is vital to dodge instead of parrying or countering Imlerith’s powerful mace swings. Rolling or dodging with precise timing will keep you safe.
- Bomb Techniques: Use bombs like Dancing Star or Samum to temporarily stun Imlerith. This creates openings for landing significant blows.
Phase Two: Teleportation and Ice Armor
After reducing Imlerith’s health by one-third, the battle shifts as he begins using teleportation.
- Counter Teleportation with Igni: Every time Imlerith teleports, he gains protective ice armor. Use Igni to melt this armor quickly. If your stamina permits, consecutive Igni casts will maximize damage.
- Maintain Stamina: Use Tawny Owl to regenerate stamina quickly, allowing for continuous use of Igni and other Signs.
Phase Three: Unleashed Fury
In the final phase, Imlerith discards his shield and executes frenzied attacks characterized by increased teleportation and randomness.
- Watch for Openings: Focus on dodging his wild swings. Look for the large overhead strike which signals the end of his attack pattern to counterattack safely.
- Stay Calm and Patient: Given the chaotic nature of this phase, prioritize defense and only attack when opportunities present themselves.
Additional Tips and Considerations
- Use Quen Sign: Quen provides a shield to absorb any mistakes or unexpected damage during the chaotic encounter. This Sign can also buy you time to re-strategize in the midst of combat.
- Strategic Use of Potions: Keep track of toxicity levels even as you use potions to boost your combat abilities; overuse could risk adverse effects.
- Difficulty Considerations: Combat is significantly harder on higher difficulty levels due to increased damage intake. Employ cautious and measured strategies to minimize risk.
The Importance of Patience and Timing
Patience is crucial throughout the Imlerith fight. Not every moment will offer an opportunity to strike, so learning to bide your time and wait for the perfect opening is essential for conserving Geralt’s vitality and gaining victory.
Overall, the battle with Imlerith is meant to test your ability to adapt to escalating threats and change in combat strategies. Use the information and strategies shared here, and you will heighten your chances of emerging victorious against this fierce foe. Once you’ve conquered Imlerith, be prepared to shift focus to the next formidable foes, Caranthir and Eredin, as you continue through The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
