For a first boss fight, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Royal Griffin was a sight to behold. It had the right build-up, it was bigger than anything else Geralt had faced and it was a true test of the skills that players had been learning up until that point. All in all, it was a great fight - and it was only the tip of the iceberg.
The game's next two bosses are bit more down-to-earth, but that doesn't make them any less lethal: the Golem and Nithral might not look all that intimidating at first, but players caught unaware will be seeing the game's loading screen...a lot. That being said, they're definitely not invincible: knowing how to take these big baddies down can turn what was an arduous battle into a cakewalk.
As always, preparation is key: knowing what to bring and when to use it is a huge part of The Witcher 3′s boss fights. So, without further adieu, here's what you need to take on both the Golem and the Wild Hunt's first commander, Nithral:
Preparation
Thankfully, Geralt can walk straight into the portal without taking any damage - get up close and personal, then attack the hounds as they're coming through. If timed correctly, they won't be able to retaliate, and Geralt can quickly take them out one by one. If more than one hound escapes, use Igni to damage all of them at once. They don't have much health, so if you can destroy them quickly, Nithral won't be able to recover much before the barrier goes back down.
From here, it's rinse-and-repeat: Nithral will emerge from his barrier and attack, Keira will create a distraction and Geralt will take advantage. Using Thunderbolt during the second stage of the fight can completely overwhelm Nithral, and when combined with Yrden or a Samum bomb, Geralt can do massive damage in just a few seconds. If Nithral summons more hounds, just use the same strategy again: get in close and take them out one at a time. As long as you attack quickly and intelligently, Nithral won't be all that tough a fight - just watch out for those quick swings.
It might seem like Nithral is an unstoppable juggernaut at first - especially on the harder difficulties - but as long as you know when to dodge and when to attack, the fight really isn't all that bad. As always, make sure to keep that shield up and swing away!
If you're having trouble with the game's first boss fight, the Royal Griffin, you're in luck: we've got a guide for that too! There are also Beginner's Guides on starting a new game and basic alchemy - everything you'll need to get Geralt started on his grand adventure!
Related: Batman: Arkham Knight Easter Eggs
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page!
