Even though at first glance it may seem that Lords of the Fallen merely copies the classic features of the souls-like genre, it iterates on them with several new ones, too. One of them is the Umbral realm, which you can enter by dying or using the Umbral Lamp. However, it’s not a particularly nice place. While there, you constantly receive Wither damage, which can be tricky to deal with. So, let’s break it all down.
What Is Wither Damage
When you block enemies’s attacks in Lords of the Fallen, part of your health will turn grey. This effect is called Wither damage, which is essentially something between temporary health and delayed damage.
Once you receive Wither damage, you can restore it by attacking the enemy. Every hit you take will turn your gray health back into red. However, if you get hit, all the accumulated Wither Damage will turn into your usual one, and you have to use Sanguinatrix to heal.
It’s also worth noting that you will receive Wither damage in Lords of the Fallen while in the Umbra Realm. The situation is worsened by the constant spawning of enemies who can sneak up behind you and cause massive damage due to the accumulated “gray health”.
How To Deal Wither Damage
Luckily, you don’t have to suffer through this feature alone. You can also deal Wither damage to other enemies using your Umbral Lamp:
- Target the enemy
- Hold the Right Mouse Button, R2, or RT, depending on your device, to Soulflay.
- This way, you can rip out the enemy’s soul and stun them. (It spends your Soulflaying charges, which can be found under the health and stamina bars.)
- Then attack the soul to deal Wither damage.
After that, all you have to do is attack the enemy’s body to turn Wither into real damage in Lords of the Fallen. However, the enemy can also recover Wither damage if it attacks you. This can also be very effective against regular enemies, especially when you are near chasms. While Soulflaying enemies, you can move their souls slightly. After the end of the effect, the body will be pulled to the soul.
Additionally, some bosses may have a Soulflaying weakness, such as a Mendacious Visage. You won’t be able to get the boss’s soul, but you will be able to open the armor. At the same time, some bosses are immune to Soulflaying.
That’s all you need to know about Wither damage in Lords of the Fallen. This feature can save your life, so keep an eye on your gray health, especially when you are in the Umbra realm. And while you are here, please take a look at our guide on how to save Petrified Woman.
Lords of the Fallen is available on PC,
