The Final Battle Against Mare

Reaching this point wasn’t a coincidence. You’ve crossed impossible realms, faced ruthless enemies, and earned your scars. Mare represents the closing chapter of that journey, but also its hardest trial.

1. The Ideal Weapon… and Why It Matters

With so many weapons available, facing Mare can feel overwhelming. But the key lies in distance. In my experience, ranged weapons offer better control and allow more room for mistakes, vital when fighting such a powerful boss.

My favorite? The bow.

It lets you strike with precision while keeping Mare at a distance, giving you time to plan your next move.

1.1 Early Relics and Cards

Early relics are crucial: they set the tone for the rest of the run. If you make smart choices from the start, many of the cards that appear later will align with those decisions.

My advice:

Prioritize relics that boost weapon damage: starting with a strong buff gives you an edge throughout every phase of the fight.

Relics that slow enemies, increase critical damage, or enhance your luck are also excellent.

2. What Kind of Player Are You?

Are you aggressive?

Make sure you have enough health or relics that reduce damage after getting hit. Mare punishes recklessness, but if you're well prepared, you can deal massive damage quickly.

Do you prefer a tactical approach?

Focus on cards that apply debuffs. Slowing Mare or increasing critical chance at key moments can completely change the pace of the fight.

Phase 1 – The Weight of the Blade

Mare’s form is one you recognize. His silhouette isn’t just familiar, it’s an echo of a past that stayed with you far too long.

Attack Patterns

Aggressive Opening

Mare doesn’t wait. He charges in immediately, launching a fast attack that leaves behind traces of energy capable of damaging you as well.

Charged Area Strike

He winds up a large-area attack that takes longer than usual to charge. Timing is crucial—his animation can be misleading, but with practice, you’ll learn to read it.

Impact Combo

Another attack is a three-hit combo. After the third strike, he hits the ground so hard it makes the stones rise.

Tip: Don’t dodge too early. Wait for the third strike and evade at the last moment to avoid getting caught.

Chasing Orbs

Mare summons orbs that follow you for a while, forcing you to stay in constant motion. The real danger is that he keeps attacking even while the orbs are active. Keep moving.

Phase 2 – A Display of Power

In this phase, Mare becomes far more aggressive. He introduces new mechanics designed to slow you down and make any damage attempts much harder.

He gains a temporary shield, becoming immune, while spheres slowly orbit the battlefield. After circling a few times, they suddenly retract and fire outward violently, marking the official start of the second phase.

He also summons familiar creatures, and your only option is to eliminate them quickly before they eliminate you and make surviving Mare’s attacks even harder.

Phase 3 – Fury of the Dark… or Just Desperation?

In his final phase, you can feel Mare’s desperation as he unleashes everything he has left.

He charges up a massive attack that is nearly impossible to ignore. If you’re out of position, the damage is hard to avoid.

He also summons structures in the corners of the arena. You must destroy at least one of them, they emit expanding area damage. Taking one down gives you a bit of breathing room.

A sign of his desperation are the clones he summons of himself. They can use the same attacks as the original.

What should you do?

If you're still in good health and have rebirths left, it might be better to confront him head on. Dodging several enemies can become overwhelming, but Mare’s life will be low. A direct approach may finish him off.

Extra Tips

Stay on the move. Even when he’s not attacking directly, keep moving and use that time to apply status effects like poison or burn.

Don’t save your cards. Use them as soon as a good opportunity arises, and wait for the perfect moment for high-impact ones.

Prioritize defense if you’re wounded. Choose your dice carefully and focus on improving your mobility.

Don’t overattack. Mare punishes impatience. Overexposing yourself will cost you.

Stick to the edge of the arena. It’s usually safer when dodging his most aggressive moves.

Learn to read his cues. Many attacks are preceded by subtle glows or animations. If you learn to spot them, you’ll get much further without taking unnecessary damage.