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Alan Wake 2 is a survival horror game, so it is no surprise that its boss battles are terrifying. As Saga explores Bright Falls and works to unravel the mysteries of the cult, a variety of foes will stand in her way. Two of the most dangerous are Mulligan and Thorton. Fortunately, Saga brings a flashlight to the fray because this battle is dark in more ways than one. Having to fight your way through an almost impenetrable blackness, navigate hallucinogenic terrain, and ultimately confront two cultists is no small task. Here’s everything you need to know about how to beat Mulligan and Thorton in Alan Wake 2.
Find Mulligan and Thorton in Alan Wake 2
The first step to taking down Mulligan and Thorton is finding them. That’s easier said than done. The Cult of the Tree knows the woods of Watery better than Saga does, after all. To begin your confrontation with the pair, you’ll need to enter the Overlap at the well in Coffee World. Fortunately, you’ll have passed it several times while solving the various Coffee World puzzles, and it emits an eerie pink glow, so you can’t miss it.
Move Through the Altered Areas
Entering the well means entering the Overlap, and at in this point in the story, you’re already familiar with how surreal that location is. Strange projections will materialize in the air as Saga gets closer to the brothers. Ignore them and keep pressing on. Make sure your weapons and items are reloaded and hot-keyed as well. You don’t want to be reloading your crossbow mid-fight if you don’t have to.
Explore the Lake, Forest, and Tunnel
You’ll need to travel through a rocky tunnel, past a lakeside cabin, and up a hill into the forest to reach the bosses. Unfortunately, Mulligan and Thorton are slippery in Alan Wake 2, so they’ll evade you the first couple of times you do this. Just repeat the journey, retracing your steps through these areas until you finally reach the bosses. You know you’re getting closer when the landscape turns increasingly disturbing. Blood in the well and blood in the lake are indications you’re on Mulligan and Thorton’s trail.
Destroy the Dark Spots
Once you arrive at the well site the final time, the battle will begin. Attacking Mulligan and Thorton directly won’t kill them, so you’ll need to be on the lookout for Dark Spots. These are the same glimmering lights surrounded by shadows that you’ve seen marking the weak spots of other enemies. Focus your flashlight’s beam on them just like you would any other weak spot, and after a moment, they’ll burst, leaving Mulligan and Thorton vulnerable.
Keep an Eye on Mulligan and Thorton
The glimmering light at the center of the Dark Spots stands out from the oppressive darkness of the forest, but it can be easy to miss in the chaos. Mulligan and Thorton don’t just stand around and let you attack their weak points in Alan Wake 2. They’ll start shooting at you shortly after they appear, so be on your toes. Do your best to dodge their shots, shooting them to daze them and then using their stun period to destroy the weak points. Hopefully, you’ve been stocking up at tree supply boxes and have plenty of consumables to keep you standing.
Kill Mulligan and Thorton
Once you’ve destroyed the Dark Spots, you can take on Mulligan and Thorton themselves. Even on the lower difficulties, they can be a challenge, so mind your ammunition and health throughout the fight. Shoot Mulligan and Thorton with the best weapons you have, aiming for their heads when possible. This fight is more challenging than the one against Nightingale, so you’ll need to give it everything you’ve got.
Complete the Mulligan and Thorton Fight in Alan Wake 2
Remember that most healing items are slow, and so is reloading weapons like the crossbow. Time your actions well, and don’t leave yourself vulnerable if you don’t have to. After you’ve dealt out enough punishment, this Mulligan and Thorton will perish at last, and you’ll be ready to face the horrors to come in Alan Wake 2.
Alan Wake 2 is available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.