Taking on the first boss of any game can be daunting, and Prophet in Saros: Order of Shadows (SOS) is no exception. Positioned as the inaugural test of your mettle, Prophet serves to familiarize players with the types of mechanics and challenges they'll face as they delve deeper into the game. This guide breaks down each stage of the fight, providing the key strategies and tips you'll need to emerge victorious.

Preparation Is Key

Before confronting Prophet, take time to explore the initial zone thoroughly. Build up your arsenal by finding stronger weapons and gathering resources. This early effort can significantly tilt the odds in your favor. Prophet may be the first boss, but it’s no pushover, so a little preparation goes a long way.

Phase One: Learning the Mechanics

The battle opens with Prophet introducing nearly all of the mechanics you'll encounter for the rest of the fight. Here’s your strategy for getting through Phase One:

1. Target the Yellow Orbs: Prophet’s sides feature stationary yellow orbs. Destroying them forces the boss to expose its chest, which is its primary weak point. Focus on systematically eliminating these orbs.
2. Stay Mobile: While attacking the orbs, you’ll contend with floating blue projectiles and yellow corrupted projectiles on the ground. Jump to avoid the ground projectiles and keep moving to sidestep the floating ones.
3. Avoid the Edges: The arena’s red grass edges significantly slow your movement speed. Staying near the center gives you the maneuverability to evade attacks.
4. Dodge the Stomps: Prophet occasionally stomps its limbs, creating low yellow beams that travel outward. Jump over these while maintaining your fire on the orbs.

After dismantling the side orbs, Prophet’s glowing chest will be exposed. This is your chance to unleash everything you have on its weak spot. However, the boss will eventually close its chest, forcing you to repeat this cycle. Additionally, blue homing projectiles will appear at this stage. Use your shield to absorb them and continue applying damage.

When Prophet deploys yellow projectile waves, they typically come in three forms:

• Two diagonal waves: Use your dash ability to dodge at an angle.
• One horizontal wave: Simply jump over this.

Keep firing throughout this sequence. With patience and precision, you’ll whittle down Prophet’s first health bar and move to Phase Two.

Phase Two: Increased Intensity

Phase Two sees Prophet significantly ramping up its attacks and adding a few new tricks to the mix:

1. New Orb-Shaped Masses: Prophet now generates glowing masses that release yellow bullets on impact. Eliminate these quickly to prevent them from flooding the arena with projectiles.

2. Expanded Projectile Patterns: The ground projectile waves (corrupted waves) now ripple outward in circular patterns. Additionally, the wave count increases from three to four. Plan for the extra step in your dodging rhythm.

3. Upgraded Stomp Attack: During its stomps, Prophet will now release an increasing number of yellow beams:

   • First stomp: One beam.
   • Second stomp: Two beams.
   • Third stomp: Three beams.

   Jump over the first two sets of beams, but for the third, use a well-timed dash to avoid getting caught mid-jump.

Continue to destroy the yellow side orbs to expose Prophet’s chest and focus your fire there. Blue projectiles return in force during this stage, so keep your shield ready to neutralize these threats. If your power weapon is recharged, this is the perfect time to use it.

Phase Two is all about recognizing the familiar patterns while adapting to the heightened aggression. Stay calm, and respond to attacks systematically.

Phase Three: Confinement and Chaos

The third and final phase presents a twist: the arena becomes significantly smaller as vine walls enclose you. This reduces your room to maneuver, sharpening the need for precision and quick reactions.

1. Create Space: Back up whenever possible to extend your reaction time. The limited space means you’ll need to prioritize movement over aggression.
2. Reserve Dashes: Save your dashes for unavoidable swarm attacks or waves. Jumping remains your primary method for evading ground projectiles.
3. Use the Shield Amplifier: If you’ve unlocked the Shield Amplifier perk from the armor matrix skill tree, it can absorb both blue and yellow projectiles. While this adds corruption and reduces your max life, it's a safer alternative to taking raw damage.
4. Stay Aggressive: Even in this crowded space, don’t let up on your attacks. If your power weapon gives you an opening, make sure it counts.

The vine walls themselves are harmless, which allows you to use the edges of the arena strategically without worrying about taking damage from them. Prophet cycles through its previous patterns during this phase, but the restricted movement will make evasion more challenging. As long as you stay focused and don’t stop shooting, you’ll emerge victorious.

Final Thoughts

Prophet tests your adaptability, timing, and resource management. It’s not just an introductory boss, but a well-rounded encounter that sets the tone for the challenges ahead in Saros: Order of Shadows. Every phase introduces layers of mechanics that build on each other, ensuring the fight remains engaging and rewarding.

Take the time to master Prophet’s patterns, equip yourself properly, and stay patient. With these strategies in hand, you’ll defeat the boss and move into the next biome ready for whatever Saros throws at you.