The Ys series features a lot of different iconic and memorable bosses. Some of them have even appeared in multiple games, whether as references to past games or as part of the overarching plot. With the release of Nordics soon approaching, let’s take a look at some of the best bosses across the Ys series. This article will include spoilers for the games these bosses come from.
Honorable Mentions
Chatelard (Monstrum Nox)
Much like the Avalodragil in Lacrimosa of Dana, Chatelard has a big presence across much of Monstrum Nox’s narrative. Unlike the Avalodragil, he’s only fought once in the game, but his narrative presence is still worth acknowledging. He’s the master of the Gllian chapter of the Hieroglyph Knights, and the man who personally brought Adol into custody at Balduq Prison. The Feral Hawk has a particular interest in defeating Chatelard in a fight, and towards the end of the game, he finally gets his wish. After the battle, it’s revealed that Chatelard was a homunculus like the Monstrums, as the original Chatelard died in the war that took place 8 years before the events of Monstrum Nox.
Scias (Ys Seven)
Scias spends almost the entirety of Ys Seven as an ally to Adol and his party. He’s the person the king sends to let Adol and Dogi out of their wrongful imprisonment, and he helps teach both of them how to use Altaginian weapons. Aside from being a well-respected commander of Altago’s Dragon Knights, Scias is also known as the Altaginian Falcon thanks to his skill in the battle against the Romun navy. However, late in the game, it’s revealed that Scias has no loyalty to the kingdom of Altago. Rather, his loyalty lies with the eldress of Iska.
The Iskan eldress is tasked with starting the Wind of Destruction, while Scias is tasked with killing the Dragon Warrior. The Dragon Warrior’s death completes the ritual that summons Rul-Ende to destroy Altago. In the events of Ys Seven, Adol is chosen as the Dragon Warrior. When Scias is defeated, he reveals that he was the one who assassinated King Kiemarl and apologizes both to Adol and to Princess Aisha.
3. Oceanus (Lacrimosa of Dana)
The Oceanus is the Primordial responsible for sinking the Lombardia at the start of the Lacrimosa of Dana. It is also responsible for sinking an untold number of other ships that came near the Isle of Seiren, including the pirates that were sent to investigate the island almost a century before the events of the game. After the castaways obtain a rare ore to reinforce their weapons, they’re finally able to plan a way to take down the ancient monster so they’ll be able to escape the island. However, they first need to know what they’re up against, and that requires learning both what the beast is and where it makes its nest.
The boss fight against the Oceanus takes place in that same nest, in a part of the island known as the Archeozoic Chasm. To get the monster to retreat there, the castaways attack it as it patrols the island’s waters. From there, it’s up to Adol and his party members to finish the beast off. Between the explosive spores in its nest and good old-fashioned sword swings, eventually, the Oceanus is felled. At last, there’s one less obstacle to the castaways’ plans of escaping the island.
2. Avalodragil (Lacrimosa of Dana, Monstrum Nox)
The Avalodragil is the second boss fought on the Isle of Seiren after the Lombardia is shipwrecked by the Oceanus. Also, a Primordial, appears several times over the first half of the game, much like Ghirahim in Skyward Sword. Before Adol and his party’s weapons are reinforced with orichalcum ore, the Avalodragil can’t actually be killed. Instead, it decides to run away after the conclusion of the fight. In one encounter, the Avalodragil even disposes of another boss following the fight.
Once the party’s weapons can fall Primordials, the Avalodragil still puts up a difficult fight. It’s capable of spitting fire, slashing with its tail, lunging, slamming the ground with its front claws, roaring (which sends the party members flying backward), and sliding to one side. In a first playthrough, some of these attacks can take out a decent portion of the party’s health, so it’s good to be stocked up on healing items as well as revival items.
The Avalodragil also makes an appearance in Monstrum Nox, where it was created through alchemy from Adol’s memories of his many adventures. In place of its moveset from Lacrimosa of Dana, it can now swipe with its front claws, sprint forward, jump up and land on the ground, light itself on fire, summon pillars of fire, and glide. It does retain the ability to roar and send the party back, as well as the ability to breathe fire. When defeated, the Avalodragil disappears into the green mist, revealing that it is merely a homunculus rather than an actual Avalodragil.
1. Io (Lacrimosa of Dana)
Io is first met as a mischievous little girl in one of Dana’s playable sections. Her first appearance is in the Temple of the Great Tree on the day Dana becomes the Maiden of the Great Tree, even though nobody else is supposed to be allowed into the temple. She’s often seen playing with two other girls in the city of Aegias, but she also appears on some of the floors of the Sanctuary Crypt. For most of Dana’s sections, Io is a strange and mysterious character, able to appear in places she shouldn’t have access to if she’s just a regular little girl.
In “White Memory,” Io appears on the final floor of the Sanctuary Crypt. She wants to make sure Dana is worthy, and in pursuit of that, she turns herself into a dragon-like Saurian. Unlike any of the other bosses fought in Lacrimosa of Dana or even Monstrum Nox, Io is also capable of switching her damage types just like Dana. When Io swap between styles, so too does the most effective style to use against her. Defeating her requires actively switching to react to Io’s changes. Each of her styles also gains new attacks as the fight continues.
Io is by far the most fun boss fight in the Ys series. There are three movesets to learn and strategize around, as well as reacting to Io’s swapping for the entire entire fight. It’s a perfect final test for Dana’s sections. Upon her defeat, Io refers to Dana as the “final maiden,” acknowledging the many hardships Dana has faced. As it turns out, Io was also a Maiden of the Great Tree – the very first. She guides her successors to the Sanctuary Crypt, to both ensure their worthiness and tell them of the true duties of the Maiden.
Final Thoughts
There have been many memorable and challenging bosses across the Ys series. With the release of Nordics fast approaching, what kind of thrilling and engaging boss fights will the new game bring? Perhaps, in either Nordics or a future game, developer Nihon Falcom could bring back the strategy-swapping seen in Io’s boss fight. Either way, the Ys series is sure to continue its trend of both fun and difficult bosses.
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