Lords of the Fallen boss guide: Defeating The Lightreaper

Lords of the Fallen is the recent Soulslike title from CI Games that is a remake of the 2014 game of the same name. The original was not well received by critics, but this new title made on the Unreal Engine 5 has received favorable reviews. Lords of the Fallen brings a bunch of new features that separate it from its peers, making for a solid Soulslike experience.

The boss design in Lords of the Fallen is a definite step up from the original game. Keeping in line with the classic Soulslike formula, enemies and bosses can make quick work of any player who isn't careful. Arguably one of the game's strong suits, bosses can provide an engaging challenge that tests your skills. With each boss being more unique than the last, Lords of the Fallen is a must-try for any fan looking for a balanced Soulslike experience.

The Lightreaper is a boss in Lords of the Fallen who first appears in the initial cutscene and serves as a tutorial boss. This guide breaks down the final encounter with the Lords of the Fallen boss - The Lightreaper and shows you how to defeat him.

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Defeating The Lightreaper at Upper Carlath in Lords of the Fallen

The hunt, seemingly complete... (image by CI Games)

The Lightreaper is a demonic dragon rider who hunts for the Lampbearers that carry the Umbral Lamp. The initial cutscene shows The Lightreaper riding a three-headed dragon and chasing the Dark Crusader. As the Dark Crusader tosses his lamp into the crypt below to keep it from his hunter, he is swiftly decapitated.

The Lightreaper follows the scent of the lamp and is first encountered when you defeat the heavy knight at the end of the tutorial dungeon. You are immediately ambushed after defeating the knight and are not required to defeat the Lightreaper at this stage, but it is possible to kill him prematurely.

While the fight is virtually the same throughout the length of The Lightreaper's pursuit, it is recommended to only fight him in Upper Calrath as the fight gets much easier because of your high level. Keep in mind that the fight at Upper Carlath will not trigger unless you survive all previous encounters with the Lightreaper, barring the first one.

Dark Champion (image by CI Games)

The Lightreaper starts the fight riding on his dragon, which dives and breathes fire in a straight path. This can be dodged by sidestepping or rolling to either side. Just remember to dodge right before the fire is in front of you. This will guarantee a perfect dodge if you get the timing right. The other mounted attack is a ground slam where the dragon dives down at you with its claws. Dodging into this attack at the right time will leave you unscathed.

Keep in mind that you cannot deal damage to the dragon, so it's futile to attack it. You have to wait for the rider to dismount to deal damage to the boss's health bar.

After The Lightreaper dismounts, he leaves very little room for an opening. The boss has four arms and wields curved swords in each. His attacks are fast, and he has multiple combos that can stun you in place. The Lightreaper also uses taunts in the middle of combos, and if you're brave enough, these are excellent opportunities to get a couple of vital blows in.

The Lightreaper in full swing (image by CI Games)

With the intuitive parry mechanic in Lords of the Fallen, almost all of The Lightreaper's basic attacks can be parried. While more of a skill move, once you get the parry timings down, this boss can be extremely trivial.

The Lightreaper also has a significant delay for some of his attacks—namely, the consecutive double thrust, which can catch you if you're panic rolling. The easiest way to dodge the thrust is to keep a steady eye on the movement of the Lightkeeper's weapon and dodge to either side. His attacks can also roll-catch you if you decide to roll backward. This applies to most attacks, and like always, you are advised to dodge into attacks or to your sides.

To make the fight a little easier, you can carry 'Burn Cures' to mitigate fire damage. The Lightreaper also goes into a rage at 50 percent of his health, which sends out a shockwave of fire.

Arguably, the most annoying part of The Lightreaper fights is the fact that he constantly runs away, and you have to go back to dodging dragon attacks. Carrying a high-DPS weapon can make short work of this boss. He is also weak to holy damage, so holy builds will be excellent for this fight.

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Overall, The Lightreaper shouldn't pose much of a challenge to any player. This Lords of the Fallen boss makes an appearance throughout your journey and is an excellent way to learn the combat mechanics of the game. A well-designed boss with an amazing premise, The Lightreaper puts up a battle that players will continue to remember long after their playthrough.