Grenade Puppets and the Froze… — Thank Goodness You're Here!

AntMag.NET

This section of the guide details a challenging segment of the game, focusing on navigating treacherous rooftops, overcoming formidable puppet enemies, and uncovering vital lore and rewards. exercise caution, precise movement, and strategic combat to progress effectively.

Navigating Elysion Boulevard Rooftops

The rooftops of Elysion Boulevard present a significant environmental and combat challenge. This walkthrough provides a step-by-step approach to clearing the area, securing all valuable items, and reaching the next Stargazer.

Initial Descent and Hidden Moonstone:
Begin by proceeding forward from your current location. You will reach a point with two ladders. Take the ladder that descends directly beside the ledge. At the bottom, immediately turn left. Carefully navigate past a spotlight. At the corner, you will encounter a Puppet Butler. Defeat this enemy to obtain a Hidden Moonstone, a crucial crafting material for weapon upgrades.
Unlocking a Vital Shortcut:
After defeating the Puppet Butler, turn the corner. At the very end of this path, you will find a locked gate with a device to activate. Interacting with this device unlocks a critical shortcut, allowing for much faster traversal back to an earlier section of the map. Before proceeding, collect the Dim Ergo Fragment located directly in front of this gate. This fragment provides a small boost of Ergo.
Ascending to Rooftop Dangers:
Return to the area with the two ladders and now take the one further ahead, which leads upwards. Once at the top, your immediate priority is survival. Immediately roll through the boxes to your right. This evasive maneuver is essential to avoid the explosive projectiles of a Grenade Puppet positioned on an upper rooftop. Continue moving swiftly along the ledge.
Collecting Ergo and Facing More Butlers:
As you move along the ledge, keep an eye out for a Vivid Ergo Fragment. Collect this for a moderate amount of Ergo. Around the next corner, you will face another patrolling Puppet Butler. Defeat it to clear the path.
Bridge Crossing and Commoner Encounters:
Proceed across the bridge to the next rooftop. Here, you will encounter and must defeat a Commoner Puppet. These are often found in groups and can be dangerous if not dealt with efficiently. Behind this enemy, you will find another Dim Ergo Fragment.
Further Rooftop Threats:
Turn the corner and defeat the next Commoner Puppet. Be aware of your surroundings, as more enemies may be present.
Descent into a Hazardous Zone:
Take the ladder down. You will find a Puppet Butler waiting. Exercise extreme caution in this area, as another Commoner Puppet and a dangerous Grenade Puppet are present on the same level. Prioritize eliminating the Grenade Puppet from a safe distance if possible.
Acquiring the Legion Magazine:
At the very end of this lower path, you can collect a valuable Legion Magazine, which restores uses of your Legion Arm.
Seeking Cover and Clearing Apartments:
Turn the corner and descend the stairs. Enter the apartment directly ahead for much-needed cover. Inside, you will find and must defeat a Commoner Puppet. Clear this interior space before proceeding.
Accessing Upper Rooftops and Grenade Puppet Elimination:
Ascend the ladder inside the apartment, then immediately take the next ladder up. This will lead you back to the rooftop area containing the two Grenade Puppets you had to avoid earlier. Now is your chance to confront them directly. Defeat both Grenade Puppets. Their defeat will reward you with a Fable Catalyst and another Vivid Ergo Fragment.
Beware of the Pitfall:
Pay close attention to a hole located near the Vivid Ergo Fragment on this upper rooftop. Falling through this hole will drop you back into the apartment below, forcing you to retrace your steps and potentially re-engage enemies. Be mindful of your footing.
Discovering the Frozen Man's Letter:
Instead of falling, carefully descend both ladders you just climbed. Proceed into the bedroom area. On the sofa, you will find the Frozen Man's Letter. This is a key lore item providing context to the world.
Obtaining the Remembrance Gesture:
Reading the Frozen Man's Letter in its entirety will reward you with the Remembrance Gesture. Ensure you read the full text to trigger this reward.
Clearing the Adjacent Apartment:
Exit the bedroom door, turn right, and clear the adjacent apartment. A Commoner Puppet resides here. Secure any items within this room.
Confronting the Brawler Puppet:
After clearing the apartment, cross the bridge to the large platform. Here, you will face a formidable Brawler Puppet. This is a mini-boss encounter. Focus on its highly telegraphed head and arm attacks for effective evasion and counter-attacks. Its powerful swings are well-indicated, providing openings for you to strike.
Acquiring the Life Amulet:
Upon defeating the Brawler Puppet, open the nearby chest. This chest contains the valuable Life Amulet, an accessory that significantly boosts your maximum health.
Discovering the Next Stargazer:
Continue your progression into the next apartment. Here, you will find the second Stargazer of the area: Inside the House on Elysion Boulevard. Activating this Stargazer will allow you to rest and fast travel.

Key Items and Rewards

Throughout this challenging segment, You can acquire the following significant items:

Hidden Moonstone: (Quantity: 1) - A rare crafting material used for upgrading unique weapons. Essential for enhancing your combat effectiveness.
Dim Ergo Fragment: (Quantity: 2) - Provides a small amount of Ergo, used for leveling up and purchasing items. Collect these to gradually increase your stats.
Vivid Ergo Fragment: (Quantity: 2) - Provides a moderate amount of Ergo, offering a more substantial boost. These are more valuable for quicker progression.
Legion Magazine: (Quantity: 1) - Restores all uses of your Legion Arm, essential for combat utility. Keep this item handy for prolonged engagements.
Fable Catalyst: (Quantity: 1) - A key item potentially used for weapon upgrades or specific crafting recipes. Its exact use may vary, but it's always worth collecting.
Frozen Man's Letter: (Quantity: 1) - A lore item that provides insight into the game's narrative and grants a gesture upon reading. Crucial for understanding the world's backstory.
Remembrance Gesture: (Quantity: 1) - A non-combat item obtained by reading the Frozen Man's Letter, adding to player expression and potentially unlocking hidden interactions.
Life Amulet: (Quantity: 1) - An accessory that boosts maximum health, increasing survivability. A highly valuable item for any player.

Enemy Encounters and Strategies

Puppet Butler:
These enemies are moderately dangerous and often patrol specific areas. They have a predictable attack pattern, typically involving sweeping arm attacks and a lunging strike. They are manageable with dodges and well-timed strikes. Blocking is also effective, but be mindful of their stamina drain.
Grenade Puppet:
Their primary threat lies in their explosive projectiles, which have a significant blast radius. Maintain distance and use cover effectively. Rushing them can be risky due to the explosion. Consider using ranged attacks or luring them into a more controlled engagement. Their slow projectile speed can be exploited with quick dodges.
Commoner Puppet:
These are the most numerous enemies. While individually less threatening than others, their sheer numbers can overwhelm the player. Prioritize crowd control and efficient takedowns. Weapons with wide swings or Legion Arts that hit multiple targets are highly recommended. Keeping them at bay with area-of-effect attacks is key.
Brawler Puppet:
This is a mini-boss encounter. Its attacks are heavily telegraphed, giving ample opportunity to dodge. Focus on its wind-up animations for its powerful swings and counter when it finishes its combo. Patience is key; do not get greedy with attacks. Its slow recovery after heavy attacks is your primary opening.

Combat Recommendations

For this section, a balanced loadout is recommended. Consider a weapon with good reach and a decent attack speed to manage the Commoner Puppets and Butlers from a safe distance while still being able to punish openings. For the Brawler Puppet, a weapon with quick attack chains can be effective for punishing its openings after dodges. Ensure your Legion Arm is charged, as abilities like the Flame Grinder or Electric Blitz can be useful for dealing with groups or staggering tougher enemies. The Aegis Legion Arm can also provide valuable defensive utility against the Brawler Puppet, allowing you to block its powerful blows.

Potential Pitfalls and Missables

The Pitfall Hazard:
As mentioned, the hole near the Vivid Ergo Fragment on the upper rooftop is a significant hazard that can waste time and resources by forcing players to backtrack. Be extremely mindful of your footing in this area and prioritize safe movement. Always look before you leap, especially on precarious rooftops.
Frozen Man's Letter and Gesture:
While not strictly missable in terms of being permanently lost from the world, players might overlook reading the letter after finding it, thus missing out on the Remembrance Gesture. Ensure you read all lore items to completion to receive their associated rewards. Actively seek out and interact with all found documents.
Ergo Collection:
Some of the Ergo fragments are located in slightly out-of-the-way spots or near hazards. Double-check all corners and ledges, especially before and after major enemy encounters, to ensure you don't miss any valuable resources that could aid in your progression. Thorough exploration is rewarded.
Shortcut Activation:
Failing to activate the shortcut gate can lead to significantly longer travel times if players need to return to this area. Make it a priority to unlock it early in your exploration of this section. This will save you considerable time and frustration on subsequent visits.
Hidden Moonstone Location:
The Hidden Moonstone is located in a somewhat hidden area after the initial descent. Ensure you are not rushing past the initial descent area and are thoroughly checking all accessible paths to avoid missing this valuable upgrade material.