Among the many bosses in The First Berserker: Khazan, Rangkus stands out as one of the toughest opponents you’ll encounter. This leader of the Knivesveil bandits is significantly stronger than the other foes you’ve faced. He is a ruthless marauder who unleashes heavy, slow attack combinations infused with fire, which can quickly deplete your health and turn the battlefield into a perilous zone. Given his size and strength, Rangkus has few vulnerabilities, forcing you into a prolonged battle where endurance is key.
Rangkus is a unique human adversary, distinguishing him from the other bosses in The First Berserker: Khazan. As a human, he can regenerate his stamina, making it harder to stagger him compared to other enemies. Armed with a massive mace that doubles as a flamethrower and a crossbow, Rangkus utilizes a diverse range of attacks that can easily overwhelm you.
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Where to Find Rangkus
Advancing in the Main Story
Rangkus is encountered as the sixth boss, located at the end of Mission 6, titled “Traitor Revealed.” During this mission, you will battle various bandit enemies while navigating the fiery terrain of Palemion, deep within the mountains. The environment is fraught with dangers that reflect the boss’s own ferocity.
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You’ll find Rangkus at Palemion Citadel, the final significant area of Mission 6. Before confronting him, consider leveling up to at least Level 40 to enhance your odds against his formidable attacks and abilities. During my first attempt against Rangkus, I was around Level 37 and struggled to damage him significantly until I powered up further.
The recommended level for Mission 6 is Level 43. This level is ideal for tackling Rangkus, but you can also succeed at lower levels if you invest in key attributes early in The First Berserker: Khazan to develop a robust character build.
Prior to facing Rangkus, it’s wise to acquire gear that offers fire resistance. Regardless of your weapon choice, having some form of protection against the flames produced by Rangkus’ attacks is vital for survival in this challenging encounter. Carrying some Fire Cleanse Potions can also assist in withstanding the fiery damage during the latter part of the fight.
How to Defeat Rangkus
Anticipating Attacks Through Pattern Recognition
Rangkus engages you in two combat phases. In the first phase, he relies on a series of slow but powerful attacks using his mace. Rangkus’s attack patterns feature extended wind-ups followed by quick strikes, making it challenging to respond effectively. You’ll need to learn the timing of his strikes to successfully block or evade them.
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The key strategy to take down Rangkus is to deflect as many of his combo attacks as possible. This will exhaust his stamina, giving you an opening to inflict damage while he is staggered. It’s best to adopt a defensive playstyle rather than rushing in aggressively, which could expose you to his devastating hits.
How to Beat Rangkus (Phase 1)
During the initial phase, Rangkus will alternate between melee combinations and ranged attacks. When you move in for an attack, be prepared for his mace strikes, but do watch out as he may dodge your counterattacks. His ranged assaults can chip away at your health and stamina, so focus on dodging instead of blocking when he initiates distant attacks.
One of the most effective techniques in The First Berserker: Khazan against Rangkus is the Brink Guard, a parry-like move you can employ against his mace attacks. Successfully parrying all hits in one of Rangkus’ combos will stagger him, providing an opportunity for you to strike.
Below is a breakdown of Rangkus’s attack patterns in the first phase, along with strategies to counter them:
|
Attack |
Description |
How to Counter |
|---|---|---|
|
Overhead Slam |
Rangkus raises his mace with one hand and leans back before delivering a powerful overhead strike. |
This attack has a lengthy startup, so wait until he strikes before dodging or blocking. |
|
Double Mace Strike |
Rangkus spins and swings his mace twice at you, with each hit following a slow wind-up. |
Dodge to the side opposite each swing. You can also stagger Rangkus by successfully Brink Guarding each hit with good timing. |
|
Pummel Combo |
Rangkus delivers two Overhead Slams, spins with a swing, and then charges a more powerful Overhead Slam with a longer startup before striking. |
Stay calm and time your dodge correctly for the last hit. Other attacks in this combo can be dodged or blocked normally. |
|
Elusive Bandit Combo |
After performing an Overhead Slam, Rangkus rolls forward for a spinning strike as he rises. He follows this with another spinning strike featuring a longer wind-up. |
Track Rangkus’ roll so you can accurately block and counter his quick strikes. Brink Guarding each attack will lead to a stagger. |
|
Quick Kick |
Rangkus delivers a rapid kick if you get too close. |
This attack can catch you off guard if you expect longer wind-up moves. Don’t be fooled—block this strike. |
|
Attack |
Description |
How to Counter |
|---|---|---|
|
Homing Shots |
After dodging backward, Rangkus fires a volley of crossbow bolts that home in on you. |
These bolts can deal significant chip damage to your stamina if blocked, so it’s better to dodge them. |
|
Quick Bolt Bursts |
Once away from you, Rangkus loads his weapon and fires a line of crossbow bolts horizontally, affecting a wide area. |
He performs this attack multiple times, which depletes his stamina significantly. Block or dodge each volley before moving in to deal damage. |
|
Grappling Hook |
Occasionally, Rangkus will grapple to the arena’s edge, damaging anyone in his path. |
Stay clear of areas where Rangkus is likely to grapple and pursue him to limit his effectiveness with ranged attacks. |
Throughout both phases, Rangkus has the opportunity to consume a stamina potion when his resource is running low. You can interrupt him while he sips his potion, causing the boss to take additional damage and use fewer ranged attacks. Rangkus typically attempts to drink a potion after executing a Quick Bolt Burst, so be ready to go on the offensive once he finishes that move.
How to Beat Rangkus (Phase 2)
When his health drops to around 60%, Rangkus transforms his weapon into a flamethrower, signaling the beginning of the second phase of the fight. Similar to other opponents like Volbaino in The First Berserker: Khazan, Rangkus will now cause the Flame condition to build up with his attacks, leading to increased damage if you’re afflicted by this status. This phase features a range of AoE attacks, which I found to be particularly dangerous.
While Rangkus’s combos in Phase 2 mirror those from Phase 1, they now leave behind trails of fire with each strike. Although the timing remains unchanged, you should prioritize dodging over blocking to avoid being caught in the fiery aftermath of his attacks.
All of Rangkus’s ranged attacks are now ignited during this phase, converting his crossbow bolts into flaming projectiles. Additionally, the table below illustrates the new moves Rangkus introduces in Phase 2, alongside some strategies to counter them:
|
Attack |
Description |
How to Counter |
|---|---|---|
|
Spinning Flames |
Rangkus spins while his flamethrower shoots flames in long trails. He moves across the area, attempting to get closer before performing a large jump followed by a slam. |
Dodge to one side to evade the flames, timing your movements to escape any fire that approaches. |
|
Hanging Firespitter |
During the Elusive Bandit Combo, Rangkus will substitute his attack for a grapple upward, unleashing a long stream of flames downward before slamming back for an AoE explosion. |
Dodge to one side after the grapple to evade the fire trail, and be prepared to either block or dodge the incoming slam. |
|
Firestrike Sidestep |
Rangkus sidesteps and immediately fires a quick burst of flame from his weapon. |
Dodge in the opposite direction of Rangkus’ sidestep to avoid the subsequent fire attack. |
|
Volcanic Eruption |
After spinning his weapon in one hand, Rangkus plants it into the ground, triggering two massive AoE explosions centered on him. |
Retreat to the opposite side of the arena to dodge both AoE explosions. |
Many of Rangkus’s Overhead Slams and other moves in the second phase will conclude with a fiery AoE burst similar to the Volcanic Eruption. You need to stay mobile and keep running throughout this phase to continually evade the numerous AoE attacks Rangkus will unleash. Maintain pressure on him and memorize his attack patterns to eventually bring him down without suffering major damage.
Rewards for Defeating Rangkus
Acquire Powerful Gear Pieces
Upon defeating a formidable foe like Rangkus, you receive the following rewards:
- 7,187 Gold
- 18,421 Lacrima
- Parts of the Furious Bandit Armor Set
- Bandit’s Spoils (Crafting Material)
- 3x Transmutation Mist (Crafting Material)
- Random Weapon or Accessory Equipment
The Furious Bandit Armor set offers excellent protection, and the Bandit’s Spoils you collect from Rangkus can be used to craft the remainder of the set if you’re missing pieces. Additionally, Transmutation Mist can aid in crafting consumables, including more Fire Cleanse Potions after the encounter.
The skill points and currency earned from this boss encounter significantly bolster your strength, allowing you to advance your quest for vengeance. Once you conquer Rangkus in The First Berserker: Khazan, you’ll be able to progress in the storyline, which leads you to face even more challenging enemies in your journey.
