How to Defeat the Hidden Boss in Lost Castle 2: A Quick Guide for Speedrunning

The hidden boss, Lord of the Undead, in Lost Castle 2 is one of the most challenging enemies in the game, with harsh unlocking conditions and extremely high combat difficulty. It requires completing three playthroughs and unlocking nightmare difficulty. After talking to the NPC, the Old Hunter, three times in a specific room in the fifth stage, you will receive the Soul Crystal Core, allowing you to enter the challenge. This boss has two phases, with complex attack patterns and very high damage. The attack patterns in each phase are intricate, and a slight mistake can result in instant death, thus requiring precise movement and reasonable timing for attacks.

The core of the first phase, in human form, lies in mastering the boss's mechanics, which requires good movement skills. In this phase, the boss alternates between four skills: for the straight scythe slash, you need to roll sideways; for the ground red circle explosion, you must quickly move out of range; during the full-screen black lightning storm, you must keep moving to avoid paralysis; and when it shoots dark magic balls clockwise, you should move counterclockwise around the edge of the arena. Among these, the black lightning storm poses the greatest threat, as being hit makes it easy to be killed by subsequent combo attacks. It is recommended to prioritize movement over attacking, using only jump attacks to deal damage, avoiding standing still and fighting head-on.

In the second phase, the difficulty of the battle increases significantly, as the Lord of the Undead transforms into a giant demon with nine different attack methods. These include claw strikes (multi-segment tracking, requiring prediction of landing points), continuous magic ball shots (full-screen bullet hell, requiring large circles to dodge), and charged cannons (Y-axis attacks, requiring vertical movement). The most dangerous combination is the black lightning + ground explosions + claw strikes. Once paralyzed by the lightning, the following attacks almost always hit. The strategy is to watch the boss's hand movements closely, plan your movements in advance, and prioritize dodging the lightning before finding a safe spot to attack.

It is recommended to use high-burst weapons. At the beginning of the second phase, if possible, bring banana peels, as they cause a brief invincibility frame that can help avoid damage. The main opportunities for dealing damage are during the boss's recovery time after attacks, such as the brief gap after a claw strike lands or a charged cannon ends. The boss's head and claws are the only parts that can be attacked, so it is crucial to seize these opportunities precisely and avoid wasting attacks.

The key to defeating the Lord of the Undead lies in patiently observing his moves and positioning. New players are advised to raise their character level to at least 110 and familiarize themselves with the boss's attack patterns before attempting the challenge. Mastering these techniques will allow you to stand out in the ultimate trial of Lost Castle 2 and reap rich rewards.