Returnal: How To Defeat Nemesis (Boss Fight)

Returnal is made more difficult due to a lack of save options, besides the one-time use checkpoints of reconstructors. Due to the lack of saves, it can be frustrating going through an entire run just to lose to a boss at the end of the biome. Players can put their minds at ease after learning how to defeat the bosses in Returnal they are struggling to beat.

The third of Returnal’s five bosses, Nemesis, can be found in the Derelict Citadel biome. Once players have successfully made their way through the biome, Nemesis will be found floating in a giant expanse. Selene is situated on a platform quite a distance from Nemesis, tasked with accomplishing three separate phases of the boss fight. The first phase occurs on this platform. Players need to shoot the red glowing orb fixed into Nemesis’s chest throughout each of the three phases.

How to Beat Nemisis in Returnal

Phase One:

During the first phase, there are three different colors of orbs Nemesis will fire at Selene: red, blue, and purple. Nemesis also has two alien figures attached to each side of him; these aliens will periodically fire yellow lasers at the player throughout each phase. The red orbs and blue orbs are fired simultaneously, with red orbs moving slower than blue orbs. The orbs will be stacked on top of each other and fired in different patterns, so players must stay vigilant to properly dodge these attacks. The purple orbs are smaller in diameter than the red and blue orbs but have a different firing pattern. Nemesis will gather purple orbs into a floating mass, then fire the orbs after a slight delay. It is important to keep track of the delay so that players can time their dodges correctly.

Phase Two:

The second phase of the Nemesis boss fight puts Selene on a floating platform. Nemesis will disappear and reappear in different spots throughout this phase, but players will be able to tell where it will pop up by locating the alien figures. Nemesis will always reappear where the aliens are floating. During this phase of the boss fight, the platforms will change periodically, which requires players to use their grappling hook to maneuver. It is important to stay aware of the patterns of red and blue orbs in this phase, as they are different from the first phase. There is also a part of this phase when the alien figures will shoot laser rings onto the platforms. Players must time their dodges so they do not end up inside these rings.

Phase Three:

Phase three is a bit more straightforward compared to the first two phases. Selene is placed on a series of floating, constantly shifting platforms, requiring her to get closer to Nemesis using the grappling hook. The closer Selene is to Nemesis, the more damage she will do. The patterns of orbs Nemesis shoots in phase three are simpler than the previous phases’ patterns; the red and blue orbs alternate predictably here. These patterns can be dodged by simply strafing. The alien lasers do not prove as much of a threat in this phase, so make sure to focus on Nemesis as much as possible! The boss can periodically shoot you back to a previous platform, which can be avoided by beating the boss quickly enough. Once Nemesis’s red core has taken enough damage, players will successfully beat the third boss fight in Returnal.

Returnal is available exclusively on PlayStation 5

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Joe Johnson
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Joe Johnson is a Game Guides writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. Working in journalism since his graduation from Appalachian State University, Joe is a fan of all things video games!

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