How To Beat Viper In The First Berserker: Khazan

Bosses in The First Berserker: Khazan are quite challenging, with the difficulty increasing as the story progresses. Viper is the third boss, appearing at the end of Mission 3 at Embars Temple. As the leader of the dragonkin, he possesses a scale of Hismar, granting him enhanced power and the ability to wield its energy. Players will face him at the Heart of the Forgotten Temple (Scarlet Nexus) after shutting down the rotating machine beneath the temple.

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This guide covers all of Viper’s attacks, patterns, and strategies to counter them effectively. Players struggling with the fight can summon a Spirit of Advocacy near the boss gate, but doing so even once voids the Standing Alone Trophy/Achievement.

Viper Attack Overview In The First Berserker: Khazan

Attack	Image	How To Avoid
Phase 1
Poke Combo		The boss pokes the player twice and then performs a horizontal sweep attack. This attack is easy to Brink Guard or dodge, but the former is recommended.
Two-Hit Slam		Viper starts this attack with a horizontal sweep, then spins the spear above his head before hitting the player with a vertical slam. The guard timing is very lenient, as you can wait between the two hits.
Quick Combo		The boss performs two back-to-back horizontal sweeps with little delay between them. You must instantly guard after blocking the first hit.
Spinning Vaccum		Viper spins his spear, creating a small tornado that deals heavy damage and constantly pulls you in if you’re too close. When the animation starts, run away.
Leaping Slam		The boss leaps into the air and slams down. This attack has an easy tell, and Brink Guarding allows you to land multiple hits before he attacks again.
Leaping Strike		Viper jumps back before leaping at the player, striking them, and moving behind them. The boss can repeat this attack twice. Dodging or guarding both work.
Spear Throw		The boss dashes back and throws his spear at you before recalling it. You must guard twice to avoid getting hit when the spear returns.
Charged Throw		Viper charges his spear and throws it at the player. Dodging is the safest option, as guarding might deplete your entire stamina bar.
Dashing Grab		The boss thrusts his weapon at the player and screams, dealing damage. This attack has a loud audio cue and must be dodged. A brink dodge allows you to land a few hits.
5-Hit Mix Combo		The boss combines a quick combo and two-hit slam and finishes with a spinning 5th hit. All attacks are easy to guard or dodge but you must try to Brink Guard the fifth hit.
Phase 2
3-Hit Dagger Into Claws		Viper starts this combo with two quick dagger strikes from his left hand, followed by a powerful strike with his right arm. Both dodging and guarding work, but it’s best to guard the dagger attacks.
Screaming Alternate Combo		The boss starts the combo with two quick dagger strikes from his left hand, followed by a powerful right-arm strike. Both dodging and guarding work, but guarding the dagger attacks is recommended.
Rock Throw		Viper scoops up a rock with his right hand and throws it at you. Dodging is the safest option to avoid mistiming the guard and taking unnecessary damage.
Dragging Claw		The boss sinks his right hand into the ground, drags it toward you, and performs an uppercut followed by a follow-up attack. Delay your Brink Guard until the boss pulls his hand from the ground to strike.
Complete Darkness		In this phase, the boss darkens the arena and attacks continuously while limiting your vision. You can anticipate incoming attacks by reacting to the lightning flash, which serves as an indicator. Dodging is the easier option, but if you can time the Brink Guard correctly, you can land a few hits occasionally.

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How To Beat Viper In The First Berserker: Khazan

Viper is likely the first real challenge you’ll face among the game’s bosses. While not overwhelmingly aggressive, the boss’s combo attacks can be punishing if you don’t learn his patterns. He typically opens with either a double poke attack or a horizontal slash followed by a vertical slam.

For most of the fight, it’s best to prioritize Brink Guard over dodging, as this depletes the boss’s Stamina, which doesn’t regenerate. If you have Rod Smite, Armor Breaker, or Blowback: Vengeance, you can land a follow-up attack using your weapon after every successful Brink Guard, but this can be risky if the boss transitions into his next attack too quickly.

For players using a Spear, unlocking the Moonlight Stance is a must, as the afterimage attacks are extremely useful in every fight.

How To Beat Viper In The First Berserker Khazan 4

Occasionally, Viper will use a Burst Attack in the middle of a combo. While you can dodge it, countering is highly recommended since it allows you to land three swift combos before the boss resumes attacking. After you successfully execute a Brutal Attack and take out a large chunk of his health, Viper will let out a scream and initiate one of two possible attacks.

One of Viper’s follow-up attacks is a simple weapon throw before retreating, while the other is far more dangerous. In the second attack, the boss rotates his spear, creating a tornado-like area around itself that pulls you in. This move is highly lethal and can drain your entire health bar if you’re caught inside. As soon as you see the boss begin to rotate his spear, it’s best to run away and maintain a medium range until the animation ends.

Once Viper’s health drops to around half, he will start leaping at you. While you can perform a Brink Guard against this attack, landing a counter-hit is nearly impossible since the boss lands behind you. Additionally, Viper will begin using a five-hit combo, and it’s crucial to Brink Guard at least the fifth hit, as it briefly staggers the boss, giving you an opening. If you manage to break the boss’s horns, he will enter a weakened state, remaining down long enough for you to land multiple attacks.

Viper’s Phase 2

Once Viper’s health drops to zero, players will be caught off guard as the boss enters a second phase. The arena becomes significantly darker, and the boss now has two variations of attacks. His left-hand dagger strikes are rapid and should be either parried or guarded. Meanwhile, his right-hand attacks are much slower but deal massive damage. If you can time them correctly, Brink Guarding is the best option, but dodging is also viable if you’re unsure, especially since mistiming a guard can be punishing.

After depleting his stamina bar once, Viper will initiate a darkness attack, restricting visibility. However, you can still track the boss by his glowing eyes. In this phase, players need to focus on spotting brief lightning flashes, which indicate an incoming attack. Parrying these attacks is ideal, as it significantly reduces the boss’s stamina bar. Dodging is a safer alternative if you’re running low on healing items. Be wary of the Brutal Attack in this phase, as its timing is heavily delayed—countering too early will leave you exposed.

Be sure to heal only when you are certain the boss has finished a combo, as it may dash back and perform a grab or Burst Attack while you are stuck in the healing animation.