Dualliste is the first major boss in Expedition 33, testing your timing, reflexes, and team coordination. This guide breaks down both phases of the fight, highlights his attack patterns, and outlines the best party setup and counter strategies to ensure victory.
How to Defeat the Dualliste
The fight with this boss has two phases. In the first phase, he uses some simple combo attacks that are slow and can easily be dodged. However, once you go to the second phase, the boss uses two swords and starts using rapid combos.
Phase 1: Slow Combos and Fire Waves
Here are some effective pointers on strategies you can keep in mind when facing the boss in the first phase:
- When you first encounter Dualliste, he will start striking by swinging his weapon in various directions before returning to his actual position.
- At this point, use parry, as there is a good pause after each strike he made.
- You must focus on his striking pattern to dodge that and counterattack.
- After a while, he will start targeting all the members of your party with an Expedition attack, swinging his sword on the ground and creating fiery waves.
- During this attack, parry will come in handy, as you need to perform it right as his sword hits the ground to initiate the waves.
- Alternatively, Sciel’s Searing Bond can deal 1,654 damage to him.
- Following that, use Verso’s Assault Zero to reduce 1,539 HP.
- In the meantime, the boss will begin using his Swiping Combo, which you can counter by using parry and jumping at the right time.
- A perfect counterattack can reduce over 4,000 HP in a single hit.
- To execute this, press the buttons in the following order: parry > jump > parry > parry.
- When his health bar is almost zero, he will enter the second phase.
Phase 2: Dual Sword Frenzy
Here are some effective pointers on strategies you can keep in mind when facing the boss in the second phase:
- During the second phase, the boss regains full health and starts a swift attack combo of six hits.
- At this phase, he becomes more powerful, which buffs his attacking speed.
- He starts attacking rapidly using his two swords from left, right, upward, concluding with an overhead strike.
- To counter this, you must focus on his movement and use the same parry and jump combos.
- If you take any hits, you can use Lune’s Revitalization skill to heal.
- After his swift attacks, use Verso’s Perfect Break to deliver lethal damage, reducing his health by 9,999 points and bringing the health bar down to half.
- You can use the Gradient counter skill of Sciel at the perfect time to give lethal damage to the boss.
- Finally, to finish him off, simply use the parry and jump combo at the right time.
Dualliste Attack Patterns
Multiple-Swipe Attack
Dualliste unleashes a series of swiping attacks.
- How to Dodge: Avoid the first swing, jump and strike back during the second, then evade the final two slashes.
- How to Counter: Block the initial swipe, leap and retaliate on the second, then parry the last two for another counter opportunity.
Slashing Sequence
Dualliste executes a full combo sequence.
- How to Dodge: Sidestep the slow opening attack, then evade again after Dualliste spins around and during the next four strikes.
- How to Counter: Time your parries with the combo—block the slow initial slash, then parry through the four quick follow-ups after the turn.
Rapid Strikes
Dualliste delivers a fast-paced combo.
- How to Dodge: Roll through the first two quick slashes, wait for Dualliste’s turn, and dodge the final hit.
- How to Counter: Parry the opening pair of strikes, then block again after Dualliste completes his turning leap.
Sword Flare
Dualliste slams his blade into the ground, triggering an area attack.
- How to Dodge: Evade right as the sword strikes the ground. In the second phase, expect two bursts—dodge again to stay safe.
- How to Counter: Time your parry with the initial ground strike to counter together. In phase two, wait a moment, then parry the second impact.
Swipe Combo – Phase 2
Dualliste unleashes a dual-sword combo.
- How to Dodge: Dodge the first two blows, then prepare for a rapid set of six slashes after he spins. When the scenery shifts, anticipate another dodge.
- How to Counter: Parry the sequence: block the first two hits, then the flurry of six, and finally a delayed heavy slash after a pause.
Unleash Stormblood
Dualliste summons Stormblood, sending tackling attacks.
- How to Dodge: Roll just before each of the three dashes connects, as they’ll come from different directions.
- How to Counter: Parry at the last second before each tackle to land a counter.
Best Party Setup and Skills
It is important to know the best party combination and their most effective skills that can help you take down Dualliste:
Sciel
- Twilight Slash
- Focused Fortell
- Searing Bond
Lune
- Immolation
- Ice Lance
- Revitalization
Verso
- Assault Zero
- Perfect Break
- Quick Strike
Dualliste is the first major boss in the game and is relatively manageable with the right strategy. He fights in two phases, starting with slow, predictable moves and gradually shifting to rapid dual-sword combos in the second phase. Verso’s light-based abilities are particularly effective due to the boss’s weakness to light attacks.
Rewards
Defeating the Dualliste will grant you the following rewards:
- XP: 27,560
- Polished Chroma Catalyst
