Crypt of the Serpent King
21 Achievements
Steam
Level 2 Completed on Normal
Level 2 Completed on Normal
5.1%
How to unlock the Level 2 Completed on Normal achievement in Crypt of the Serpent King - Definitive Guide
russolini77
TrueAchievements
TrueAchievements
After the recent patch, the goblins in this level have become diabolically difficult to kill. After trial and error, and a lot of time spent on the same level killing goblins, or being killed, I think I've found the best way to deal with them without too much frustration:
First and foremost, when you finish Level 1, boost your strength as much as the XP gained allows, and unlock the next weapon (mace). You should be able to kill goblins with 3 hits, 2 attacks if you hit them twice in one attack.
While moving towards them, start your attack then immediately jump. The goblin AI (cough cough) seems to always attack a split second after the player does, but being in midair seems to prevent the player from being in range. So when you land, your attack usually ends up hitting them at the end of their attack or before their attack lands on you. The goblins have two distinct attacks - one sword swipe, and the dual-sword decapitation attack. They're both hard enough to avoid if you just circle them, so jumping attacks seem to be the best method.
The timing is extremely important. Try to time your jump a split second after your attack. Remember,
then immediately 
to jump. If the timing isn't working for you, try delaying a bit between the attack and jump, but not much. Also positioning is important, so try to attack while out of range and moving forward so the jump lands you in front of them, within range.
Once you get it down you can pretty much kill off the rest of the goblins in the level without much sweat.
This is me going apesplat on the goblins after I figured this out:
If you're having problems grabbing the keys, and it's not obvious, wait till the flame stops, then run through the gap, collect the key, and wait for another gap to run out. If you want, you can kill the goblins using this flame, but you really need the XP to boost your stats for the next level.
The attack strategy also works for the boss, but it's a lot easier if you get the boss out of the little cage room before you start the fight. That way if you've got any leftover health in chests around the map and get close to dying, you can go heal a little. You shouldn't need to. To get the boss out of the little cage room, inch your way in after opening the gate, and look sideways as you enter slowly to observe the gate and when it starts to fall. Test the distance you can get in before the gate starts to fall again. I was able to sneak in, trigger the boss battle inside, and run back out again before the cage closed. The boss was locked inside, but I couldn't attack through the cage. I opened it again and then the boss was able to come out after me, after which the battle was over in a few swipes.
First and foremost, when you finish Level 1, boost your strength as much as the XP gained allows, and unlock the next weapon (mace). You should be able to kill goblins with 3 hits, 2 attacks if you hit them twice in one attack.
While moving towards them, start your attack then immediately jump. The goblin AI (cough cough) seems to always attack a split second after the player does, but being in midair seems to prevent the player from being in range. So when you land, your attack usually ends up hitting them at the end of their attack or before their attack lands on you. The goblins have two distinct attacks - one sword swipe, and the dual-sword decapitation attack. They're both hard enough to avoid if you just circle them, so jumping attacks seem to be the best method.
The timing is extremely important. Try to time your jump a split second after your attack. Remember,
then immediately to jump. If the timing isn't working for you, try delaying a bit between the attack and jump, but not much. Also positioning is important, so try to attack while out of range and moving forward so the jump lands you in front of them, within range.Once you get it down you can pretty much kill off the rest of the goblins in the level without much sweat.
This is me going apesplat on the goblins after I figured this out:
If you're having problems grabbing the keys, and it's not obvious, wait till the flame stops, then run through the gap, collect the key, and wait for another gap to run out. If you want, you can kill the goblins using this flame, but you really need the XP to boost your stats for the next level.
The attack strategy also works for the boss, but it's a lot easier if you get the boss out of the little cage room before you start the fight. That way if you've got any leftover health in chests around the map and get close to dying, you can go heal a little. You shouldn't need to. To get the boss out of the little cage room, inch your way in after opening the gate, and look sideways as you enter slowly to observe the gate and when it starts to fall. Test the distance you can get in before the gate starts to fall again. I was able to sneak in, trigger the boss battle inside, and run back out again before the cage closed. The boss was locked inside, but I couldn't attack through the cage. I opened it again and then the boss was able to come out after me, after which the battle was over in a few swipes.
6 Comments
Brilliant. Nice find. +1
By GREGO McGEE on 23 Jan 2017 08:53
This strategy worked great. Doesn't take long to get the timing down and finally kill those bastards. Seems like goblins are the only enemy the old dodge then attack pre-patch strategy no longer works on.
By Gunstar Red on 19 Jan 2017 22:15
FOKENWOLFEN
TrueAchievements
TrueAchievements
The hit - jump - hit combo works but success ratio is kinda 50% - 50% Maybe 70% - 30% and one fail could cost you the level.
What I found easier and what I did:
To start the level I had enough XP to give it to Agility and by accident endurance. So I went 1-2-2 on stats (people recommend 2-1-2 so it takes less hits to kill creatures).
- Wait for the enemy to come at you, make sure you have space and there is only one enemy coming to duel you. They walk slow so you have enough of time to wait and do a full 360 to check.
- When they approach take small steps backwards (little taps to the analog stick) when circle is red take a step back, the enemy will normally attack that very instant, and since they are fast attacking but kinda slow recovering you can run up front while attacking and land a clean hit
- Retreat again, enemy will attack again and you get another free hit. If you get hit don't panic and don't rush up front, instead repeat the small steps (remember they hit fast recover slow).
- For the end Boss did the same but retreated in a circular pattern, clockwise or counter clockwise (found better counter clockwise and I normally landed a hit the back of the Boss).
When I was done I completed the level with 100% health and no hit taken. Tried it again 2 more times and got it with 0 hits taken again. All while using starting AXE and Saving gold for the Halbert. This is the hardest level in terms of fights and boss, so after this The rest should be no problem. Happy hunting.
The stats:
Strength -1
Endurance - 2
Agility - 2
What I found easier and what I did:
To start the level I had enough XP to give it to Agility and by accident endurance. So I went 1-2-2 on stats (people recommend 2-1-2 so it takes less hits to kill creatures).
- Wait for the enemy to come at you, make sure you have space and there is only one enemy coming to duel you. They walk slow so you have enough of time to wait and do a full 360 to check.
- When they approach take small steps backwards (little taps to the analog stick) when circle is red take a step back, the enemy will normally attack that very instant, and since they are fast attacking but kinda slow recovering you can run up front while attacking and land a clean hit
- Retreat again, enemy will attack again and you get another free hit. If you get hit don't panic and don't rush up front, instead repeat the small steps (remember they hit fast recover slow).
- For the end Boss did the same but retreated in a circular pattern, clockwise or counter clockwise (found better counter clockwise and I normally landed a hit the back of the Boss).
When I was done I completed the level with 100% health and no hit taken. Tried it again 2 more times and got it with 0 hits taken again. All while using starting AXE and Saving gold for the Halbert. This is the hardest level in terms of fights and boss, so after this The rest should be no problem. Happy hunting.
The stats:
Strength -1
Endurance - 2
Agility - 2
