After venturing through the Overgrown Ruins, you will eventually come across Phrike, which is Returnal's first boss. This is a step up from any other enemies you've faced so far, so make sure you're prepared before taking on the challenge.
This guide will cover how to defeat Phrike, breaking down its attack patterns and phases so that you can have the upper hand.
How To Prepare For The Phrike Boss Battle
To prepare for the battle against Phrike, you'll want to scour the Overgrown Ruins for useful Consumables, Artefacts, and Parasites.
- Tip: Silphium Vials can be found quite commonly. These are extremely useful in boss fights, as you can restore a large amount of Selene's health instantly.
Artefacts and Parasites will be less common, but you should still find some whilst adventuring through the first biome. Both offer positive effects to aid you in your journey, but Parasites also give you a negative drawback. Assess each one that you find carefully to decide whether it will aid you in combat.
- Tip: Artefacts are almost always worth taking, but Parasites need to be carefully considered. If you've found one, but the negative is going to hinder you in combat, pass and move on.
As you explore, you might come across a group of Fabricators. If you do, take a look at all of the available items. Most of these will be extremely useful Artefacts and Consumables, so save some Obolites as you fight through the ruins.
Just before you face Phrike, use the teleporter to return to the Fabricators and buy some useful items.
How To Defeat Phrike
The battle against Phrike is split into three phases. They each feature similar attacks, but the speed and intensity take a drastic leap between each phase.
To advance to the next phase of the fight, you must drain Phrike's health bar. That means that you need to drain its health three times to win the fight.
You can determine which phase of the fight you are currently in by looking at the health bar at the top of the screen. There will be three yellow rectangles above Phrike's health bar. Each time you go to the next phase, a rectangle is removed. So, if there is one rectangle left, you are in the final phase.
- Tip: Phrike is usually stationary whilst using attacks.
It sometimes dashes to the side, but it mainly moves by sinking into the ground and swimming through the fog. You can tell where Phrike will reappear thanks to the orange glow in the fog.
How To Survive Phrike Phase 1 In Returnal
The fight against Phrike starts off relatively calmly (compared to the rest of the fight, at least). There are four main attacks you need to look out for in this phase.
- When the fight first begins, Phrike will fire a stream of bullet projectiles that home in on you. Dash to the side to avoid these.
- Then, Phrike will unleash a cluster of orbs that spread across the map and slowly fall to the ground. These are easier to avoid, as you can just dash through them or stand in one spot as they fall around you.
- Phrike will then fire these orbs at you in a similar manner to the first attack. Dash to the side again to avoid them.
- Throughout the first phase, Phrike might also fire a laser beam at you. This will sweep upwards through the boss room, so dash to either side to avoid it. You can tell when this is happening, as Phrike will stop and its face will glow, as if it is charging up.
When Phrike's health bar is empty, a burst of energy will emit from its body and the second phase will begin.
How To Survive Phrike Phase 2 In Returnal
The second phase of the Phrike battle will introduce some powerful new attacks, so be prepared for the difficulty to step up.
Phrike will now dash towards you sporadically and swing its blade-like arm at you. This melee attack does a lot of damage, but you can avoid it by dashing just before Phrike hits you.
- Tip: If you dash too early or late, you will still take damage, so focus on when Phrike is about to make impact.
Sometimes, this melee attack is mixed in with another new move. Phrike will occasionally create a laser pulse that stretches out across the floor. This will hurt you on impact, and is always followed up by Phrike's melee. Avoid both by jumping and dashing away from Phrike at the same time.
Phrike's laser beam will now also sweep horizontally across the room, which is much more dangerous than the vertical attack from the previous phase. Avoid this by jumping and dashing over the beam as it approaches.
The rest of Phrike's attacks are similar to the first phase. They will last longer and be more intense, but you can use the same tactics to avoid taking damage.
How To Survive Phrike Phase 3 In Returnal
The final phase of the battle against Phrike is where it gets really hectic. You'll need to be agile and responsive to ensure that the various attacks don't overwhelm you.
- Tip: Phrike's melee attacks are usually dealt twice in a row during this phase, so be prepared to dash away from both.
This can easily catch you off guard, and they deal a lot of damage. The rest of Phrike's attacks also start happening in pairs, so be prepared to do lots of quick, short dashes.
There is also a new attack that you need to be mindful of in this phase. Orbs spiral out around Phrike in a vortex, covering the floor. It isn't too hard to avoid, but it adds to the chaos and could distract you from a sneaky melee attack.
Best Weapons To Use Against Phrike
Since Phrike is found in the first biome, it's certainly possible that you'll face this boss with your pistol.
- Tip: Do your best to avoid using a pistol because you'd do more damage by throwing pebbles at it. Returnal will even tend to put a shiny new pistol just before the drop into Phrike's lair, but don't take the bait.
You should look for a shotgun or carbine since these have a much higher damage output. The shotgun will take chunks out of Phrike's health bar, whilst the carbine will allow you to quickly rip through it.
The carbine is best, as it has a high DPS for a weapon in the first biome, and it won't need to recharge as often. You'll tear through Phrike's three phases if you aim well and land all of your shots.