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It’s common for Soulslikes to have a large number of bosses, both major and minor. Gentle Gaverus, Mistress of Hounds is a side boss in Lords of the Fallen, but she’s no less deadly because of it. Gaverus’s arena is almost empty, giving her a clear line of sight at all times. That’s bad news for the Lampbearer, because this boss is fearsome with a bow and arrow. Making matters worse, this boss brings minions to the fight, making the sure player never has a moment to breathe. This game is known for its challenge, after all. Here’s everything you need to know about how to beat Gentle Gaverus, Mistress of Hounds in Lords of the Fallen.
Fighting Gentle Gaverus, Mistress of Hounds in Lords of the Fallen
You’ll encounter Gentle Gaverus, Mistress of Hounds early in your Lords of the Fallen playthrough. As Pieta, She of Blessed Renewal proves, a boss being early doesn’t mean they’re weak. Gaverus isn’t as difficult as Pieta, but she has unique mechanics that make taking her on a challenge. The first is her bow. Gentle Gaverus is a deadly shot, and unlike facing Pieta, you aren’t safe just because you’re far away. Gaverus starts the fight in the center of the arena, and you need to be on guard immediately to avoid her arrows. Thankfully, the boss has a telltale draw animation, giving you plenty of warning before she fires.
Face the Hounds
The Mistress of Hounds has her title for a reason: her pets join her in battle against you. The first thing you’ll notice about her hounds is their armor. Your first attack will break it, but you’ll need a follow-up attack to put them down. Keep an eye on their armor and make sure you remember whether or not you’ve broken it before you swing. Trying to kill a hound only for it to shrug off your attack is a surefire way to get bitten or shot. As you fight you’ll notice openings in the walls of the arena. This is where new hounds will enter from, so keep an eye on them.
Stay Mobile
Though the wide-open arena gives Gaverus a clean line of sight on you no matter where you go, it also gives you plenty of room to run. Take advantage of that and stay mobile. One of the worst things that can happen to you in this boss fight is for you to get pinned between the hounds while Gentle Gaverus takes a shot.
Handle the Hounds
Keeping space from Gaverus herself isn’t too difficult, so prioritize dealing with her hounds first. Once they’re dead you can safely turn your attention to the boss. Gaverus herself is static, especially when she’s preparing a shot, whereas her hounds are more mobile. Focus on tracking the hounds’ positions until you hear Gaverus readying her bow. Your starting class gave you advantages, so use them.
Melee and Ranged Strategies vs. Gentle Gaverus
This fight plays out differently depending on your starting class and strategy. If you’re wielding a bow or spells, you can match the boss’s ranged attacks with your own. As long as you time your attacks to fall between the boss’s own, this fight isn’t too difficult. The main danger will be the hounds. Keep in mind that even if you successfully kill them, the hounds aren’t gone forever. New ones will come take their place after a delay, so make good use of your time without them.
Melee Strategies
Taking Gaverus on in melee is more difficult. She’s at her most dangerous at a distance, but getting close to her won’t be easy. You need to time your arrow dodges well as you approach, and you need to deal with the hounds first to prevent them from interrupting your battle with her. Consider using your throwables to get a bit of ranged damage in before approaching. Throwables can also be good for finishing off the hounds after you’ve broken their armor. Once you’re close, hit Gaverus hard and fast, because she’ll quickly retreat. She wants to keep the ranged advantage, so do everything you can to deny it.
Keep Your Guard Up
Though Gentle Gaverus, Mistress of Hounds prefers ranged attacks, she can use shortswords against you in melee combat. Her attacks are mostly predictable, but their timing can be tricky if you aren’t paying attention. The main danger while engaged in melee with Gentle Gaverus is that her hounds will return to the fight without you noticing. You need to keep one eye on your surroundings at all times because if the hounds catch you by surprise, you’re in serious trouble.
Finish Off Gentle Gaverus in Lords of the Fallen
Gentle Gaverus is a prime target for Soulflaying in Lords of the Fallen. If you’re used to other Soulslikes, it’s easy to forget this technique is an option, but it plays a big role in winning this battle. Soulflaying Gaverus will leave her helpless while you attack her exposed soul. That opens her up for major damage, but you need to time your Soulflay well because the window of vulnerability is small. Soulflay her from too far away and you’ll waste precious seconds getting in position. Soulflay her while her hounds are still alive, and their attacks will interrupt you and prevent follow-up damage.
Slay Gaverus
By the end of the fight, you may be running low on Sanguinarix charges, healing items, ammo, and mana. Being pursued by multiple attackers makes healing and replenishing ammo difficult, so as with everything else in this fight, it’s better to kill the hounds first. If you’ve already broken the hounds’ armor, it’s typically better to finish them off before attempting to heal, rather than let them continue to harass you. Once you’ve dispatched Gentle Gaverus, your journey to the beacons can continue. As always, having a friend along to help makes a difference. Check out this video by The Nerd Stash for an example of a co-op boss fight in action.
Lords of the Fallen is available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
