Quick Answer
The SULFUR Dungeon boss is the Novanian Guard: break its helmet, shoot the exposed weak spot, then retreat immediately. You can attack the helmet during its ball-and-chain windup and retrieval. Keep moving, use cover, and stay away when it kneels before exploding.
How do you beat the Novanian Guard?
You beat the Novanian Guard by breaking its helmet and shooting the glowing weak spot underneath.
The rest of its body is immune to damage. Your first target is the large, pointed helmet, rather than its armored torso. Follow this sequence through the fight:
Keep your distance from the ball and chain
You face a spiked ball attached to a chain, with a long windup before each throw. Keep moving and use cover while avoiding the weapon. Contact with the ball deals continuing damage, so avoid touching it even when it is lying nearby.
Shoot the helmet during the attack windows
You get openings while the Guard winds up its throw and pulls the chain back. Aim at the helmet during those windows. The visor glows during the windup, hinting at the weak spot beneath it.
Keep watching the ground as you shoot. Shooting the Guard generates lava pools, adding another hazard while you avoid the ball.
Shoot the exposed glowing weak spot
Breaking the helmet reveals a glowing orb: a miniature sun where its head would normally be. Focus your shots there until the Guard stops moving. Keep your distance throughout this part of the fight, too.
Retreat before the death explosion
Move away immediately when the Guard collapses into its death animation. It kneels and holds its head for a few seconds before exploding. Stay away through the explosion, then continue avoiding the spiked ball left on the ground.
Why are your shots failing to hurt the Dungeon boss?
You are hitting armor if you attack the body instead of breaking the helmet and targeting the exposed weak spot.
The helmet hides the Guard's vulnerable point. You need to work through that protection before you can finish the fight. Shooting its torso does not bypass this requirement.
| Target or hazard | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Armored body | Immune to damage outside the weak spot. |
| Pointed helmet | Attack during windup and chain retrieval to break it. |
| Exposed glowing orb | Shoot this weak spot after the helmet breaks. |
| Spiked ball | Contact keeps dealing damage, including after the Guard dies. |
| Lava pools | Appear when you shoot the Guard. |
Explosive ammunition is particularly effective in this fight. You still need to follow the helmet-and-weak-spot sequence. For broader equipment choices, check the best weapons for SULFUR before another attempt.
How do you survive the death explosion?
You survive by retreating immediately and keeping your distance throughout the Guard's death animation.
Its kneeling pose signals danger. You have a few seconds before it explodes, and the blast can kill you. Do not treat the moment it stops attacking as permission to approach.
The spiked ball remains dangerous after the Novanian Guard dies. You can still take contact damage from it after surviving the explosion.
Keep watching both the corpse and the weapon as you move away. The explosion and the lingering ball are separate hazards.
What happens after you defeat the Dungeon boss?
You open the route to the Castle after defeating the Novanian Guard.
You can encounter the Novanian Guard again as an uncommon Castle enemy. Remember the same helmet, weak spot, and death hazards when you recognize it there.
Use the SULFUR bosses overview to identify other major encounters. If you need help with your route, return to the SULFUR walkthrough.
FAQ
The Novanian Guard is the ball-and-chain enemy you face at the end of the Dungeon.
It is the Novanian Guard, a heavily armored Black Guild enemy. You first encounter it as the Dungeon area boss.
Yes. The executioner-like miniboss with the cone-shaped helmet is the Novanian Guard. Its weapon is a spiked ball and chain.
Its weak spot is the glowing orb beneath its helmet. You expose it by breaking the helmet during attack openings.
Yes. It kneels and holds its head for a few seconds, then explodes. You should retreat as soon as that animation begins.
Yes. The spiked ball stays on the field after the Guard dies and still damages you on contact.