The Assassin's Creed franchise is hotter than ever. The recent announcement of its two upcoming projects -- Assassin's Creed Mirage and Assassin's Creed Red -- proves the series is not going anywhere and will continue exploring new and fascinating periods and stories.
The franchise went to Ancient Greece with 2018's Odyssey, which featured many familiar monsters from Greek mythology, including Medusa and Cerberus. The Cyclops was particularly memorable, standing as one of the game's most challenging and visually striking foes. However, fans should have no problem taking him down by following these helpful tips.
Rely On Hunting Tactics & Builds
Assassin's Creed Odyssey allows characters to modify their character's build with three possible skill trees: Hunter, Warrior, and Assassin. A mix of all three is best, considering how many different battles the game has and how versatile the enemies are. However, the Hunting abilities will be extra handy during the Cyclops' battle.
Players will want to keep their distance from Brontes, the Thunderer. The Cyclops is large but slow, meaning his movements are slow and somewhat clumsy. Long-raged attacks with poison, fire, and explosive arrows will deal the most damage. Direct or melee attacks will do little harm to the Cyclops unless he's vulnerable on the ground.
Second Wind Is A Life-Saver
The skill tree provides numerous abilities, but few are as useful as Second Win. It restores the player's health and, after being sufficiently upgraded, removes the effects of fire and poison. Second Wind is among the best abilities players can have in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, making many battles much easier.
Second Wind is the perfect aid to have during the battle against Brontes. It will also help against Medusa, another of Assassin's Creed Odyssey's mythological bosses, and will be perfect for conquest battles and against bounty hunters. In short, players will not want to get rid of Second Wind.
Aim For The Eye!
Although Assassin's Creed has some difficult battles, there's always a way to make them more bearable. Foes will always have a vulnerability, and Brontes, the Thunderer, is no exception. His glowing eye is his Achilles heel, and players should aim their arrows toward it. Hitting it will cause Brontes to fall to his knees, leaving him vulnerable to direct attacks. Fire and explosive arrows will be extra helpful here.
It might be difficult to aim toward the eye, especially because players should always be on their toes to avoid the Cyclops' attacks. However, experienced hunters will have no issues hitting the glowing target.
Mix And Match Your Weapons
Video games are famous for featuring cool, albeit impractical, weapons, and Odyssey is no exception. The game allows players to collect swords, bows, spears, and numerous other weapons, using them against the seemingly endless parade of enemies throughout the game.
The battle against the Cyclops should include a bow for long-ranged attacks and a weapon for direct hits. Players can choose swords, axes, or any other heavy weapon but might want to stay clear of daggers and dual-wielding blades. The Cyclops is all about raw strength, so the harder the punch, the better.
Keep Your Distance
Brontes, the Thunderer, uses a few attacks that pack quite the punch. He doesn't have a particularly varied set -- indeed, players can anticipate the Cyclops' moves easily, but his attacks can be devastating if they land. Most are short-ranged -- he'll stomp the ground, sway his heavy arms, and cause rocks to fall around him.
The best thing players can do is keep their distance from the beast and let it rampage. Arrows will be their best weapon, especially when they land squarely on the eye, thus allowing players to attack the Cyclops while he's vulnerable on the ground.
Don't Bother Blocking
Distance is the key because the Cyclops' attack will be less effective. Players should have no issue avoiding the hits that come their way, but they shouldn't try to block them. Blocking works best when enduring a direct attack, which means players should stick to dodging and rolling away from the Cyclops' punches.
Brontes is a worthy enemy, but he is far from a difficult foe. Indeed, unlike many of the most bizarre boss battles in video games, his fight is rather straightforward. Players don't need fancy tricks to defeat him; avoiding his attacks by outsmarting him and staying out of his reach is the right way to go.
Avoid The Club At All Costs
Odyssey is one of the best Assassin's Creed games because of how versatile its enemies are. Inspired by Greek mythology, these monsters will use creative attacks to make the battle more difficult, and the Cyclops is no exception.
After his health lowers to half, the Cyclops will grab a claw from the wall and start swaying it around with considerable speed. The club will increase Brontes' reach, so players should either run in circles around the Cyclops or stick to the furthest corners of the cave to avoid his rage. The club makes things more interesting, but avoiding it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Use The Space Around You
Brontes' lair is considerably large. It is full of rocks, and the ceiling caves in, but the space is wide enough for players to maneuver.
The Cyclops mostly sticks to a small space, meaning players have the rest of the cave to use. Running around the space will allow players to avoid Brontes' direct attack, leaving only the falling rocks as a potential threat. This tactic will also stall while the players' abilities recharge, restoring powers like Second Wind or Devastating Shot. There's nothing wrong with running, especially considering Brontes isn't the fastest horse in the race.
Take Advantage Of His Slowness
Like other giant characters, Brontes is mighty but extremely slow. His heavy limbs don't allow him to move with agility, meaning two or three seconds will pass between when he raises an arm and when it lands. Players should use these seconds to the fullest, sneaking around the monster's limbs to avoid them.
Running circles around Brontes will also allow players to attack the monster's back, especially his feet, causing him to lose his balance and making it easier to take him down. Brontes' slowness might be his greatest weakness, and it's up to the players to exploit it to their advantage.
Have A Lot Of Patience!
Boss battles in Assassin's Creed Odyssey can go on for a while. The monsters' health bars are considerable, and even the most powerful attacks don't do that much damage. Patience is a must when dealing with these enemies, and players hoping for a quick encounter will be up for a rude awakening.
Brontes' battle isn't as long as the Minotaur's or Medusa's, but it can still take a while to bring him down. Players should be ready for a fight that lasts at least a few minutes, especially if they go for a long-ranged-attack strategy. Still, the reward will be worth it, and there'll be one less enemy at the end.