How to Beat Rangkus: Boss Guide for The First Berserker Khazan

Among the numerous bosses in “The First Berserker: Khazan”, Rangkus stands out as one of the toughest opponents to defeat. This formidable Knivesveil bandit chief is significantly stronger than other foes you’ve encountered so far. This ruthless plunderer employs powerful, slow-moving attack combinations infused with fire, which can rapidly deplete your health and leave the battlefield perilous. Due to Rangkus’ massive physique, he has limited vulnerabilities that can be exploited, pushing you into a protracted conflict of endurance.

Among the uncommon human adversaries you’ll encounter in “The First Berserker: Khazan“, Rangkus distinguishes himself from other bosses. Being a human boss, Rangkus possesses the ability to rejuvenate his Stamina, which makes him less susceptible to being knocked off balance as frequently as other enemies. Armed with a colossal mace that doubles as a flamethrower and crossbow, Rangkus boasts an extensive arsenal of attacks capable of overpowering you swiftly.

Where To Find Rangkus

Progress Through The Main Story

In the game, you encounter Rangkus, who is situated towards the conclusion of Mission 6, more famously known as “Traitor Revealed.” Throughout this mission, you’ll come across numerous bandit adversaries as you make your way through the fiery territories of Palemion nestled high in the mountains. The landscape here is fraught with peril, giving clues about some of the boss’ characteristics.

In your journey through Mission 6, you will come across the Palemion Citadel, where you can locate Rangkus – the final significant destination in this mission. It would be wise to boost your character’s level before engaging with Rangkus, ideally to Level 40 or higher. This will increase your chances of successfully taking him down and countering his moves effectively. I encountered Rangkus around Level 37 initially, and found it challenging to make a significant impact on the boss’ health until I had become stronger.

Before battling Rangkus, it would be wise to search for equipment that offers Fire Resistance first. Regardless of your chosen weapon setup, resisting the fires emanating from Rangkus’ weapon is vital for surviving the encounter and ultimately defeating him. Using Fire Cleanse Potions can help you endure the flames he uses during later stages of this boss fight.

How To Defeat Rangkus

Anticipate Attacks By Recognizing Patterns

In two distinct stages, Rangkus launches assaults against you. During the initial phase, the boss wields a mace and unleashes an array of attack combinations. Rangkus’ attacks are characterized by slow wind-ups but swift, hard-hitting strikes. This makes it challenging to anticipate and respond effectively, requiring you to develop a sense of his strike rhythm in order to time your blocks or dodges correctly.

A key strategy to beat Rangkus lies in dodging or blocking as many attacks within his combos as possible. This tactic helps reduce Rangkus’ energy level, making him temporarily vulnerable for some unopposed damage. The most straightforward approach to exhaust Rangkus’ energy is by adopting a defensive playstyle, avoiding excessive aggression and ensuring you don’t expose yourself to his powerful attacks.

How To Beat Rangkus (Phase 1)

In our upcoming battle, I’ll be kicking things off with a series of combos and long-range attacks as Rangkus. As we get closer, watch out for me switching to my mace, but keep in mind that the boss should evade from your counterattacks. Be prepared to dodge more than block when Rangkus starts attacking from afar due to his ranged moves dealing substantial chip and Stamina damage.

The following table details Rangkus’ attacking styles during the initial phase, along with tactics you could employ to thwart these attacks:

This way, you can anticipate and prepare for Rangkus’ attack patterns more effectively.

Attack	Description	How To Counter
Overhead Slam	Rangkus lifts his mace with one hand, leaning back before slamming it down overhead for a powerful strike.	This attack has a long start-up animation, so simply wait until the strike itself before dodging or blocking the attack.
Double Mace Strike	Spinning around, Rangkus swings his mace at you twice, with each attack hitting fast after a slow wind-up.	Roll to the side in the opposite direction of each swing. Alternatively, you can stagger Rangkus if you Brink Guard each strike with the right timing.
Pummel Combo	Rangkus performs two Overhead Slams before doing a spinning swing with his mace. Finally, the boss charges a larger Overhead Slam that has a longer start-up before striking.	Don’t panic at the long delay for the last hit and dodge it with the right timing. The other attacks in this combo can be dodged or blocked normally.
Elusive Bandit Combo	After doing an Overhead Slam, Rangkus rolls forward, performing a spinning strike as he gets up. Rangkus then does another spinning strike with a longer wind-up.	Follow where Rangkus rolls so you are in the right position to block and counter his quick strikes. Brink Guarding every attack leads to a stagger.
Quick Kick	Rangkus quickly kicks you when you get within close-range.	This attack can throw you off if you’re looking for the attacks with a long wind-up. Don’t be fooled and block this strike.

Attack	Description	How To Counter
Homing Shots	Rangkus dodges backward before firing a volley of crossbow bolts that home in on you.	These bolts deal large chip damage to your Stamina if blocked, so it is easier to dodge them.
Quick Bolt Bursts	After getting far away from you, Rangkus will load his weapon before firing a horizontal line of crossbow bolts that hit anything across a wide area.	Rangkus does this attack several times, but it greatly reduces his Stamina. Block or dodge each volley of bolts before closing in on the boss to deal damage.
Grappling Hook	Rangkus will occassionally grapple to the edge of the boss arena, damaging anyone in his path.	Stay away from points where Rangkus will grapple to, then pursue the boss to prevent him from using ranged attacks effectively.

During both stages, there’s an opportunity for Rangkus to gulp down a Stamina elixir when his energy level drops low. You can seize this moment as Rangkus drinks his Stamina Elixir, making the boss suffer more minor damage from ranged attacks and using fewer long-range attacks. Typically, Rangkus will attempt to consume a potion following a Quick Bolt Burst attack, so be ready to launch an offensive once this move has finished.

How To Beat Rangkus (Phase 2)

As Rangkus’ health dips to approximately 60%, he switches his weapon into a flamethrower, marking the commencement of the second stage in our battle. Much like Volbaino from the game The First Berserker: Khazan, Rangkus’ attacks during Phase 2 now accumulate the “Flame” status, intensifying the damage you receive if this condition is active. With an increase in area-of-effect attacks, it is during this phase that I found Rangkus to be at his deadliest.

In this particular stage, Rangkus’ long-range attacks ignite, making his crossbow bolts flaming projectiles. Additionally, the table provided below displays the fresh abilities Rangkus gains in Phase 2 and offers some strategies to combat them effectively:

During this phase, Rangkus’ ranged attacks catch fire, transforming his arrows into fiery projectiles. The table that follows highlights the new skills Rangkus acquires in Phase 2, along with suggestions for effective countermeasures:

Or even simpler:
In Phase 2, Rangkus’ shots ignite and become flaming bolts. Here’s a table detailing his new moves and ways to deal with them:

The goal is to maintain clarity while making the text more engaging and easier for readers to understand.

Attack	Description	How To Counter
Spinning Flames	Rangkus spins in place while his flamethrower shoots fire in long trails. The boss moves across the area, trying to get close to you before a large jump and slam follow-up.	Run to one side to avoid the fire trails, while dodging at the right times to get away from fire that gets too close.
Hanging Firespitter	During his Elusive Bandit Combo, Rangkus will replace his attack following his spin with a grapple upward, where he shoots a long jetstream of flames down at you before slamming back down for a fiery AoE.	Dodge to one side after the grapple to avoid the trail of fire, then either block or dodge the incoming slam.
Firestrike Sidestep	Rangkus will step to one side quickly before firing a quick burst of flame from his weapon.	Dodge the opposite direction from where Rangkus sidesteps to avoid the follow-up fire.
Volcanic Eruption	After spinning his weapon in one hand, Rangkus puts it into the ground, causing two massive AoE explosions that center from him.	Run away from Rangkus to the opposite side of the arena to avoid both AoE explosions.

During the second stage, some of Rangkus’ actions like Overhead Slams and others may culminate in a widespread blast of fire akin to the Volcanic Eruption attack. To dodge the numerous AoE attacks Rangkus launches, it’s crucial that you remain on your toes and never pause your movement. Continuously apply pressure, learn his attack patterns, and you’ll eventually defeat Rangkus without taking any damage.

Rewards For Beating Rangkus

Gain Pieces Of Powerful Gear

For managing to take down a dangerous enemy like Rangkus, you are rewarded with:

7,187 Gold
18,421 Lacrima
Pieces of the Furious Bandit Armor Set
Bandit’s Spoils (Crafting Material)
3x Transmutation Mist (Crafting Material)
Random Weapon or Accessory Equipment

1) The Furious Bandit Armor collection is a robust suite of equipment. If you lack some pieces from Rangkus, the Bandit’s Spoils item comes in handy for crafting the remaining set components. Alternatively, Transmutation Mist empowers you to create fresh consumables, such as additional Fire Cleanse Potions following combat.

After overcoming the challenge of defeating Rangkus in “The First Berserker: Khazan”, you’ll earn both experience points and currency that will significantly bolster your power for the journey ahead. This victory will also advance the story, paving the way for even tougher adversaries to confront on your quest for vengeance.

2025-03-30 03:58