Facing the Defiler in Remnant 2 is no small feat. Nestled in the eerie Forgotten Field of Yaesha, this formidable boss not only tests your combat skills but also your strategy as it summons waves of relentless enemies while unleashing devastating attacks. To emerge victorious, players must first dismantle the Root Nexus, a task that requires careful planning and swift execution to avoid being overwhelmed. With its unique mechanics and challenging fight dynamics, mastering the Defiler is essential for those seeking to claim powerful rewards and prove their mettle in this action-packed adventure.
Defiler – boss description
The Defiler is a formidable Aberration-type boss encountered in Remnant 2, located in the Forgotten Field of Yaesha. This battle unfolds in two distinct phases, beginning with the destruction of the Root Nexus, which summons waves of enemies to overwhelm players. Once the Root Nexus is defeated, the Defiler emerges, exhibiting high mobility and a range of devastating attacks, including explosive projectiles and powerful melee strikes. Players must remain agile and strategic, managing both the Defiler and its summoned minions while targeting its weak spot to secure victory. Defeating the Defiler rewards players with valuable items such as the Reinvigorate Mutator and the Laemir Censer Amulet.
The Defiler doesn’t appear on the arena right away. First, you must destroy the Root Nexus one of the priests is trapped in (we’ve described this boss fight on a separate page). You can talk to him first or shoot him right away, it doesn’t really matter.
Shooting the Root Nexus and draining its health gradually spawns waves of enemies. It’s also worth mentioning the boss is an Aberration, meaning it can have random suffixes that significantly change the fight.
Moveset
The Moveset of the Defiler in Remnant 2 is a combination of powerful attacks and strategic mechanics that players must navigate to succeed. Initially, players must destroy the Root Nexus, which triggers the Defiler’s appearance and summons waves of enemies. Once engaged, the Defiler employs several attacks: it burrows underground and launches explosive projectiles, performs melee claw and bite attacks when in close proximity, and executes a sweeping tail attack at varying ranges. Understanding these patterns is crucial, as players must avoid overwhelming enemy reinforcements while focusing on the Defiler’s weak spot to effectively chip away at its health .
- Reinforcements – attacking the Root Nexus will eventually cause it to cry out. This summons a wave of increasingly more powerful enemies.
- Burying and shooting – once the Defiler appears, it will start burying itself in the ground, shooting projectiles in random directions. They’ll explode some time after hitting something, dealing high damage.
- Melee – when the Defiler gets close, it starts clawing and biting. It can attack once or twice.
- Tail swing – a horizontal swing performed at short and medium range.
How to fight the Defiler?
To effectively fight the Defiler in Remnant 2, players must first focus on defeating the Root Nexus, which is critical to initiating the boss battle. The Defiler will not appear until the Root Nexus is destroyed, but attacking it too quickly can overwhelm you with waves of enemies. Instead, manage your attacks on the Nexus while eliminating the spawned foes to avoid being swarmed. Once the Defiler emerges, it will employ a mix of melee and ranged attacks, including projectiles that explode after a short delay. Staying mobile and maintaining distance from both the Defiler and its minions is essential. Aim for its weak spot, the red core, while using crowd control tactics to manage the additional enemies effectively. Remember to keep an eye on your ammunition and utilize any crowd control abilities or weapons to gain an advantage in this challenging fight.
The most important tip is not to try and kill the Root Nexus quickly! If you focus fire on it, you’ll keep spawning new enemy waves, eventually overwhelming you with sheer numbers. When Root Nexus cries out, stop attacking and focus on the reinforcements. Repeat until its health drops to zero.
As for the spawned enemies, most of them are small flying copies of Mother Mind. Later waves include more powerful fliers, the regular Shrewd and a durable enemy capable of a damaging ground pound. The arena is large, so you don’t need to stick to a single spot.
Killing the Root Nexus spawns the Defiler. Treat it like a regular enemy encountered earlier in Yaesha. The additional suffix abilities are the only real surprises here.
For example, while it’s healing, the Defiler can glitch out the image and teleport us about a meter away from it, making it difficult to get your bearings. Keep focusing on its red core, its weak spot.
Rewards
Defeating the Defiler in Remnant 2 yields significant rewards that enhance your gameplay. Upon vanquishing this formidable boss, players can expect to receive the Reinvigorate Mutator, which provides powerful benefits during combat. Additionally, if you engage fully with the priest’s dialogue before the fight, you will also earn the Rugged Trait and the Laemir Censer Amulet, both of which offer unique enhancements to your character’s abilities. Furthermore, players will gain 300 Scrap, a valuable resource for upgrades and crafting throughout the game.
Defeating the Defiler rewards you with:
- Reinvigorate Mutator,
- Rugged Trait (if you’ve exhausted the priest’s dialogue),
- Laemir Censer Amulet (if you’ve exhausted the priest’s dialogue),
- Scrap x300.
What are the best strategies to take down the Defiler quickly
To take down the Defiler quickly in Remnant 2, employ these effective strategies:
Pre-Fight Preparation
- Equip AOE Gear: Before engaging, ensure you have powerful area-of-effect (AOE) weapons and abilities ready, as you’ll be dealing with numerous enemies alongside the Defiler4.
- Oilskin Balm: Equip Oilskin Balm in a quick slot to counteract the debilitating Root Rot status effect that the Defiler inflicts.
Combat Strategies
- Focus on the Root Nexus First: Initially, target the Root Nexus, but do so carefully. Avoid rapid-fire attacks that might spawn additional enemy waves. Instead, deal damage strategically and stop attacking when it cries out to manage reinforcements effectively.
- Clear Adds First: As enemies spawn, prioritize clearing them out before focusing on the Defiler. This prevents being overwhelmed and allows you to concentrate on the boss without distractions5.
- Utilize Mobility: Keep moving to avoid the Defiler’s explosive projectiles and melee attacks. Use the arena’s space to your advantage, dodging its attacks while picking off enemies from a distance4.
Engaging the Defiler
- Target Weak Points: Once the Defiler appears, focus your fire on its red core, which is its weak spot. This will maximize damage output and help bring it down quickly4.
- Avoid Close Combat: Maintain distance from the Defiler to evade its powerful melee attacks and explosive abilities. Use ranged weapons to chip away at its health while managing your positioning carefully.
Conclusion
By preparing adequately, managing enemy waves effectively, and maintaining mobility during the fight, you can defeat the Defiler swiftly and claim valuable rewards.
What are the best weapons to use against the Defiler
To effectively take down the Defiler in Remnant 2, certain weapons stand out as particularly effective due to their damage output and utility against both the boss and the waves of enemies it summons. Here are the best weapon choices:
Best Weapons Against the Defiler
| Weapon Type | Recommended Weapons | Reason for Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ranged Weapons | Shotguns (e.g., The Shotgun) | High damage at close range, effective against adds. |
| Assault Rifles (e.g., The Manticore) | Good for sustained fire and versatility against both the Defiler and minions. | |
| Sniper Rifles (e.g., The Long Gun) | Excellent for dealing high damage from a distance, especially targeting the Defiler’s weak spot. | |
| AOE Weapons | Flamethrowers (e.g., Twin Heavy Flamer) | Effective against groups of enemies, can clear adds quickly. |
| Grenade Launchers or Explosive Weapons | Great for dealing with multiple enemies spawned by the Defiler. | |
| Melee Weapons | Melee Weapons with High Damage | Useful when the Defiler is close; however, caution is advised due to its powerful melee attacks. |
Additional Tips
- Focus on AOE Damage: Equip weapons that can deal damage to multiple enemies at once, as the Defiler summons waves of foes that can quickly overwhelm you.
- Utilize Weak Spots: Aim for the Defiler’s red core when it appears, maximizing your damage output.
- Manage Resources: Ammunition can be scarce; conserve your shots for crucial moments, especially when facing the Defiler directly.
By selecting the right combination of weapons and maintaining a strategic approach during the fight, players can effectively bring down the Defiler and its minions in Remnant 2.
