Medusa
When Petrifying Gaze starts, stop attacking and turn your back to Medusa; wait until the gaze ends before turning back to counterattack. Normal dodges and parries cannot negate this petrification check.
Entry requirements
Go to Serpents' Lair in Holy Innocents' Cemetery. You do not need to obtain Joan’s Infernal Pyre first to claim this battle’s rewards.
Spawn locations
Area
Holy Innocents' Cemetery
How to clear
Phase one
Gaze cycle: Turn your back to the main body to avoid petrification
Moves and states
After raising its head, it unleashes Petrifying Gaze. Petrification also checks whether Rose is facing Medusa; this move ignores normal dodge and parry checks.
Dodging and handling
As soon as you see the gaze windup, stop attacking, turn your back to Medusa, and keep it turned until this gaze phase ends. Simply moving backward while still facing the main body is not enough; do not try to force through the gaze with a dash or parry either.
Counterattacking and advancing
Only after the gaze ends and recovery begins should you turn around, approach, and make a brief attack; keep watching the tail and melee windups; do not turn back early just to squeeze in another hit.
Phase two
Tail-swipe and falling-rock cycle
Moves and states
The tail attack sweeps across the arena, after which multiple waves of rocks may fall in succession.
Dodging and handling
First move out of the tail's path, then watch overhead and the landing spots on the ground; the first rock landing does not mean the whole phase is over.
Counterattacking and advancing
Attack when both the tail attack and falling rocks have ended and the approach is safe; do not charge attacks while rocks are still falling overhead.
Phase three
Reposition after the side switch
Moves and states
The main body submerges and switches sides, changing the threat directions of the tail, melee attacks, and adds.
Dodging and handling
Stop chasing in the old direction, locate the main body and tail again, and first clear space to retreat.
Counterattacking and advancing
After identifying the next windup, counterattack during the recovery phase of the gaze or tail attack.
Post-battle rewards
Post-battle steps
Complete the post-battle story sequence and absorb the reward orb to obtain Petrifying Gaze and The Prophetess's Key; then open the weapon chest that appears to claim Rusted Harpè and Aegis.
Base stats
Base HP: 1500