Uncovering the Hidden Boss: Ancient Adversary Guide

The Ancient Adversary: The Secret Boss in Darkest Dungeon 2

In the Darkest Dungeon series, secret bosses are a familiar challenge, and with the introduction of the Kingdoms update in Darkest Dungeon 2, a new one has arrived: the Ancient Adversary. This boss features distinctive mechanics and offers impressive rewards, making it essential to seek him out during your next playthrough.

The Ancient Adversary isn’t a typical boss fight since he lacks any direct damage attacks. As a result, the usual strategies you might rely on in Darkest Dungeon 2 may not be effective. To prepare for this battle, it’s crucial to focus on stress management, utilizing stress relief items, and selecting characters with abilities that maximize critical hits.

How to Encounter the Ancient Adversary in Darkest Dungeon 2

Conditions for His Appearance

To spawn the Ancient Adversary, you need to create a situation where at least one negative relationship exists between your heroes. Look for the relationship indicator between the two characters, which should show a dark blue tone and display something like "Envious." You will know you’ve achieved this when certain skills become inaccessible before entering a new area. Although this may seem counterproductive compared to the advantages of positive relationships, the subsequent rewards make it worthwhile.

A straightforward method to create a negative relationship is to frequently choose the "blue" dialogue options during encounters among your characters until their bond deteriorates. For instance, consistently selecting options that cause the Leper and Runaway to display "blue" will eventually yield a negative relationship between them. There are various other methods to alter relationships, thanks to the comprehensive affinity system in Darkest Dungeon 2.

Note: The Ancient Adversary can be encountered in either Kingdoms mode or Confessions mode.

Once you establish a negative relationship, keep an eye out for Assistance Encounters, Oases, and Creature Dens in your exploration. At one of these encounters, you’ll get the chance to face the Ancient Adversary.

Tip: You can only face this secret boss once during a single Expedition or Campaign.

Strategies for Defeating the Ancient Adversary

Manage Stress and Aim for Critical Hits

The Ancient Adversary comes with 10 resistance to almost everything, except for his impressive movement resistance of 200. His single attack inflicts 2 stress damage to the entire team. Despite the stress accumulation, especially considering his 225 HP, careful management through characters like the Jester or using combat items can help you endure the fight. Once you defeat him, all party members will have their stress levels reset to zero, so surviving the encounter is the key.

Critical hits against the Ancient Adversary can reward players with unique items like The Wine, The Blood, or Signature Inn items. Thus, it’s beneficial to utilize characters or items that enhance critical hit chances.

Rewards from the Ancient Adversary in Darkest Dungeon 2

Claim One of Three Powerful Trinkets

Defeating the Ancient Adversary grants you one of three exceptional Indelible trinkets. While these trinkets increase the amount of stress received, their benefits outweigh the drawbacks under the right circumstances. However, if you have a party member using an Abomination, you may want to reconsider using these trinkets, as they can significantly raise overall stress levels—although they could pair effectively with a Jester.

My top pick for a trinket is the Ancestor’s Moustache Cream, which can turn certain attacks into killing blows that would otherwise fail. The potential downside of giving an enemy an extra turn is irrelevant if that enemy is dead.

Here’s a brief overview of the trinkets you can earn:

Whichever trinket you earn, it will undoubtedly make your upcoming Darkest Dungeon 2 runs smoother. Afterward, your focus can shift back to repairing any negative relationships among your heroes, setting you up for greater success in your quest.