Defeating the Imp Chieftain in Halls of Torment
Halls of Torment introduces exciting innovations to the ‘Survivor-like’ genre, such as more skill-intensive attack aiming and a variety of enemy types. It also features challenging boss battles, with four per stage, each having their own unique patterns and movesets. The first boss players encounter is the Imp Chieftain, found in the Haunted Caverns just a few minutes into the game. Defeating the Imp Chieftain is essential as it unlocks the second stage, Ember Grounds, providing more depth and challenges to explore. Read on for a comprehensive guide on how to defeat this formidable demon.
Strategies for Defeating the Imp Chieftain
The Imp Chieftain appears in the game’s first stage, the Haunted Caverns, at the 24-minute mark. This gives players six minutes to prepare. Start by heading over to the Golden Scroll in the level, indicated by a directional arrow on the screen, and collect it. This scroll grants you a useful ability to use against the Imp Chieftain. We recommend staying in the same location and defeating as many monsters as possible to gain levels before the boss arrives.
Once the Imp Chieftain appears, be prepared for a challenging fight. The Chieftain has a large health bar and a varied selection of attacks. These attacks include:
- Flaming Arc – The Chieftain summons an arc of purple flame in front of him. The spots where the flames will appear are shown in advance by purple circles on the ground.
- Flaming Star – The Chieftain summons purple flames in a star shape, moving outwards from him at the center. The spots where the flames will appear are shown in advance by purple circles on the ground.
- Flaming Swirl – The Chieftain summons purple flames in a swirling pattern around him. The spots where the flames will appear are shown in advance by purple circles on the ground.
- Summon Imps – The Chieftain summons a small group of imps to aid him in the fight. These imps typically appear behind you.
In addition to his attacks, the Imp Chieftain relentlessly pursues players and deals contact damage if he catches up to them. Fortunately, the Chieftain is relatively slow, making it unlikely for him to catch up, even if playing as the bulky Swordsman. The optimal strategy for defeating the Imp Chieftain depends on whether you are playing as the Swordsman or the Archer.
Defeating the Imp Chieftain as the Swordsman
If you are playing as the Swordsman, your short attack range requires you to stay close to the Chieftain to deal consistent damage. Avoiding his purple flame attacks at close range is relatively easy if you stay alert and move as soon as the warning circles appear. However, be mindful of other enemies in the stage, as they can exploit your focus on the boss to land hits. The Strength and Quick Hands traits are recommended for increasing damage output and reducing the time spent enduring the Chieftain’s attacks.
Defeating the Imp Chieftain as the Archer
For the Archer, this battle is simpler due to their superior range and movement speed. Maintain a comfortable distance from the Chieftain and continue dealing damage. Evade the purple flame attacks and eliminate any enemies that approach you. Consider selecting the Strength and Quick Hands traits for increased damage, or focus on critical hits with the Cunning Technique and Ruthlessness traits. Either way, defeating the boss with the Archer should not pose much difficulty.
Rewards and Progression
Once the Imp Chieftain is defeated, he will drop a treasure chest containing the first item of the game. Additionally, you will unlock the second stage, Ember Grounds, to continue your adventure. After completing a run, whether in victory or defeat, a new object called the Register of Halls will appear at Camp. Interacting with it allows you to choose Ember Grounds as the location for your next run. Progressing in Ember Grounds may require further advancement in the Haunted Caverns, but it offers an enjoyable challenge for those feeling up to it.
With the Imp Chieftain defeated, you can confidently proceed to unlock the Ember Grounds and continue your journey in Halls of Torment. If desired, you can even rescue the Wellkeeper and unlock the ability to permanently keep your items. Although the Chieftain presents a significant difficulty spike as the first boss, greater horrors await as you delve deeper into the Halls.