Clive Barker's Jericho Boss Fights: How to Beat Each Major Battle
Most Jericho boss fights are manageable once you know what the boss does and how your squad should respond. This guide covers the tactics that make them easier.
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You can beat the Clive Barker's Jericho boss fights once you know the tactic for each one, and many are more manageable than they first look. One fight in particular can be really easy once you know how to fight it [1]. Treat each boss as a problem with a known answer rather than a test of raw firepower. For more detail, see Clive Barker's Jericho Walkthrough.
Those answers depend on your squad. The fights reward switching between team members and using the one best suited to a boss's threat, instead of relying on a single favorite character. If you keep one character in the fight no matter what, even a modest encounter can drag on.
This article covers the main boss fights, one at a time, and explains what makes each one manageable. For each fight you'll get the tactic to try first, plus the squad choice that makes it easier. Use it as a quick reference whenever a fight stalls.
How do you beat the Nanna/Utu boss fight?
Nanna/Utu is boss #6 in Clive Barker's Jericho, and this fight can be really easy once you know how to fight it [1]. The trick is learning the method before you step into the arena, not trying to win by brute force. You may also find this useful: Is Clive Barker's Jericho Worth Playing Today?
Start by reading the full Nanna/Utu entry in an enemy guide so you know what the fight asks of you before it begins. Walking in blind means learning through trial and error, which turns a manageable fight into a frustrating one.
Treat your first attempt as a test. Watch how the boss moves and what sets off its attacks, then note the openings you see. Once you spot a pattern, repeat your response on purpose instead of reacting to every hit.
If one approach keeps failing, stop and try a different step from the enemy entry rather than pushing the same tactic again. Changing one thing at a time makes it clear what actually works.
What should you do in the boss fight at the start of a short level?
The opening level is extremely short, and it starts with a boss fight, so the battle is the first thing you face. [2]
Think of it as a single, focused encounter rather than a warm-up. The level gives you little room to explore before the boss is on you, so be ready to fire from the first moment.
To end the fight, keep shooting the boss until the fight's stop condition is met. [2] Don't ease off when the boss first looks hurt, because the fight doesn't end until that condition is met. Keep your aim on the boss the whole time so you don't lose the pressure you've built.
If the boss overwhelms you, restart the level and try a steadier approach from the start. Because the opening is so short, each attempt takes little time to repeat.
How does squad control help in these fights?
Jericho's seven-man team is controlled by jumping to each member, so you can take over any of them during a fight [3]. Your character is never locked into one person, which means the real skill is knowing when to switch.
Start each boss fight by watching what it does. Is it keeping its distance, charging you, or hitting hard when you get close? Then jump to the member whose abilities suit that threat, and stay with them while the danger lasts.
For example, if a boss stays at range and keeps you pinned, switch to a member who can deal with that distance. If it rushes you, move to someone better suited to close quarters. Switching again whenever the boss changes its behavior keeps you from fighting the wrong battle with the wrong person.
What do the standard enemies tell you about boss tactics?
Jericho's standard enemies show you how dangerous close range is, and that lesson carries into the boss fights. Jericho has two standard enemies, and the Cultist is one of them [4]. The other type is the second regular foe you will meet, so learn both before you reach a boss.
Standard enemies are powerful at close range [4]. A fight that starts with you walking into melee range can drain your health fast. Treat close range as the thing to avoid, not the place to win the fight.
In practice, keep moving and open up distance before you commit to a shot. Let the squad member best suited to the threat draw attention while you find a safer angle. Move back in only when the enemy is busy with someone else. This habit matters most against bosses, because one mistake at close range costs you more there.
What should you try first in a tough Jericho boss fight?
Start with the boss in front of you, not the whole game. Find it in the list above and try the tactic written for it before you change anything else. Following that approach gives you the best starting point, and you can adjust from there.
If the boss still beats you, don't keep repeating the same attempt. Use the walkthrough to see where the fight sits in the level and what comes before it. Then use the squad abilities guide to pick the team member whose skills suit that threat, and carry that choice into the rest of the route.