Astel, Naturalborn Of The Void: A Comprehensive Guide

by Jhon Lennon 54 views

Hey everyone! So, you've stumbled upon Astel, Naturalborn of the Void in Elden Ring, huh? This cosmic horror is a tough cookie, but fear not! We're diving deep into Astel's weaknesses and how to exploit them. Get ready to turn this terrifying boss fight into a win. This guide is all about giving you the edge you need to conquer this formidable foe. We will cover everything from understanding its attacks to finding the best strategies to finally take down Astel. Whether you're a seasoned Souls veteran or a newcomer to the Lands Between, this guide is designed to help you triumph. So, grab your favorite weapon, summon your trusty spirit ashes, and let's get started!

Understanding Astel's Strengths and Weaknesses

Alright, let's talk about what makes Astel tick. Understanding Astel's strengths and weaknesses is the first step towards victory. This boss is all about ranged attacks, huge AoE (Area of Effect) damage, and a generally intimidating presence. Astel is a gigantic being made of stardust or some kind of void energy, and it uses this to its advantage in battle. Its attacks are visually stunning and can be incredibly deadly if you're not careful.

Astel's Strengths:

  • Massive Reach: Astel has ridiculously long-range attacks, capable of hitting you from across the arena. This is where a good ranged strategy, or timing your dodges perfectly, comes into play.
  • AoE Attacks: Many of Astel's attacks have wide area coverage, meaning you need to be mindful of your positioning. These can be devastating if you get caught in them.
  • Teleportation: Astel loves to teleport, making it difficult to predict its next move. This adds a layer of unpredictability to the fight.
  • Gravity Magic: Astel uses gravity magic to pull you in or lift you into the air, setting you up for devastating follow-up attacks.
  • High Damage Output: Its attacks hit hard, and you can get quickly killed if you're not careful. This is why having enough Vigor is extremely important.

Astel's Weaknesses:

  • Head and Tail: Astel's head and tail are its primary weak points. Hitting these areas deals increased damage.
  • Melee Vulnerability: While it has ranged attacks, Astel is vulnerable when you get up close. This is the biggest opportunity for dealing damage.
  • Stagger: Astel can be staggered, interrupting its attacks and opening it up for critical hits. This is where your heavy weapons and charged attacks come in handy.
  • Magic Resistance: While not entirely weak to magic, Astel isn't particularly strong against it, making magic builds viable.
  • Frostbite: Surprisingly, Astel is susceptible to Frostbite, which can deal significant damage and interrupt its attacks.

So, as you can see, Astel is a challenging boss, but it's not unbeatable. The key is to understand its strengths and weaknesses and adjust your strategy accordingly. Now, let's delve into the specific strategies that will help you take down this cosmic horror. Understanding how to exploit these weaknesses is the cornerstone of success.

Strategies to Exploit Astel's Weaknesses

Now that you know the ins and outs of Astel, let's get into some winning strategies. This boss fight is all about smart play, timing, and knowing when to attack and when to defend. Here's a breakdown of effective strategies:

Melee Builds: Getting Up Close and Personal

For those of you who love getting up close and personal, melee builds are definitely viable, but you need to be patient and know when to strike. Timing is everything, guys! Here's the plan:

  1. Weapon Choice: Choose a weapon with a good balance of damage and reach. Greatswords and colossal swords are excellent choices because they can deal high damage while still allowing you to roll away quickly. Katanas are also great.
  2. Learn Attack Patterns: The most important aspect of success is knowing Astel's attack patterns. Observe each attack and learn the timing of your dodges. This is the difference between life and death.
  3. Exploit Openings: Wait for Astel to finish its attacks, then run in and hit it a few times. Don't get greedy! If you get too greedy, you will quickly be punished. The best openings are after its melee swipes or when it finishes a teleport.
  4. Stay Close to Astel: Staying close to Astel will help you avoid some of its ranged attacks. It will also help you get in some extra hits when it's vulnerable. However, you must always be ready to roll away because of its wide-ranging AoE attacks.
  5. Staggering: Aim to stagger Astel. Heavy attacks and charged attacks are useful for staggering. This gives you a window for a critical hit.
  6. Vigor and Endurance: Ensure you have enough Vigor to survive a few hits and enough Endurance to roll away from its attacks. This is not the time to be a glass cannon.

Ranged Builds: Keeping Your Distance

Ranged builds offer a safer approach, but they demand excellent positioning and timing. Here's how to succeed with ranged attacks:

  1. Weapon Choice: Sorceries, incantations, or bows are your best friends here. You need to keep your distance. Try to maximize your range and damage output.
  2. Spells and Incantations: Utilize spells and incantations that deal high damage from a distance, like Comet Azur or Rock Sling. If you use incantations, keep in mind that faith builds are going to be more useful than ever.
  3. Positioning: Stay as far away from Astel as possible while maintaining a clear line of sight. Use the environment to your advantage. There are many obstacles in the arena you can use to avoid its ranged attacks.
  4. Dodging: Be ready to dodge! While you're at a distance, Astel will still unleash its deadly attacks. Perfect your dodge timing. Don't be too greedy with your attacks, and always leave enough stamina for a dodge.
  5. Spirit Ashes: Summoning Spirit Ashes is incredibly helpful for ranged builds. They can distract Astel and give you time to cast spells.
  6. Buffs: Use buffs to increase your damage output and survivability. Magic-enhancing talismans and tear flasks can boost your damage and ensure your survival.

Hybrid Builds: A Balanced Approach

Hybrid builds are a great option for those who want a blend of melee and ranged combat. These builds offer flexibility and adaptability.

  1. Weapon and Spell Choice: Choose a weapon that complements your spells or incantations. A weapon that deals a lot of physical damage is a good choice since you will be casting spells at the same time.
  2. Mix and Match: Use your spells and incantations to wear down Astel. Then, when the opportunity arises, switch to melee attacks for high damage. This combination allows you to adjust your strategy to the situation.
  3. Adaptability: Be prepared to switch between melee and ranged combat as needed. You need to be aware of what is happening on the battlefield and adjust your plan on the fly. This way you'll always have a backup plan.

Frostbite: An Effective Strategy

Frostbite is a powerful tool against Astel. Here's how to use it:

  1. Frost Weapons: Use weapons that inflict Frostbite. Some great options are the Icerind Hatchet or the Death's Poker (which also does some great damage).
  2. Frost Sorceries and Incantations: Spells like