Elden Ring DLC - Metyr, Mother of Fingers - No Hit, No Blessings

Just like Malenia, they've managed to waste another chance at lore-accurate counters to a spectacular, but broken, move. In this fight, we have:
- lasers/blasts that need precise positioning/timing
- summoned minions
- invisible walls

All of those factors can happen at the same time, randomly, and usually ends up wasting a good attempt, because I don't end up learning anything. I once used a dozen rainbow stones to mark the walls, but F that if I had to do it for every attempt.

She might be the first boss ever that has made me equip 4 weapons at once (maybe I didn't need the bow). Wave of Gold just for the minions, Bloodhound's Step just for the close range triple laser (which I didn't end up needing in this attempt), and the bleed/rot rapier. The bow helped me shave some of her health off, and maybe skip another cycle.

Phase 1 - Easy and simple. I wrote some stuff down, but I've run out of characters, so I deleted them. Nothing too complicated.

Phase 2 - When her health reaches to around 55%, phase 2 begins for me. For others, I've seen her go down to way less before switching phases. As for why I switch between range and melee, I'll explain further below.

0:56 - Her transition move. Immediately run away so you don't have to dodge the whirlwind that appears. Then comes possibly one of the most precise dodges in FromSoft history. When she raises her arms up, I had to wait until she's kinda T-posed before I can dodge. Just a little early or late will get me hit. Not sure if BHS helps.

1:05 - This is one of her trick moves. This can easily be avoided by running away, BUT she will deal you positional damage in a sense that you lose spacing that you need for the big move. The final key element that I needed to learn is to dodge towards her old space, to improve the chances that I end up in a spot with enough space. I have been able to dodge this without BHS, using the whirling audio hint. Still does not guarantee that you won't hit the invisible wall, but it improves the odds that you won't.

1:14 - She hugs herself to prepare for a forked AoE. Long punish window, especially up close.

1:21 - She now has the triple laser, the main reason I bring BHS. From afar, you can just run to the side, but from melee range, this can roll-catch. I have dodged this once or twice without BHS, and even with BHS, it still hits if not timed properly.

1:25 - She gives birth to 3 babies. The ONLY reason I carry the greatsword. If I had the sword 2-handed, or if I didn't have the bow on the left hand, Wave of Gold would be available and safe to immediately use. If I have to swap before doing it, she can attack before I can recover, so in this case, I decide to just wait. Even if I end up not getting hit after WoG, I will have low stamina and space for the big move.

2:24 - Another spacing move. These orbs are easy to avoid if you lock-off, but if you chose to move forward, she may end up using the big move. If you move back, you lose ground and be put in a no-win situation. Try your best to keep track of where you are, maybe you'll be ok lol.

1:51 - This shit right here. If this is not on cooldown, I need to have enough stamina and space. If she does this and I'm too close, I won't have enough time to run away. Obviously, if I reach the invisible wall, I die. Once it's on cooldown, I can switch back to melee, with BHS on the ready. I don't know exactly when her cooldown ends, so I just guess and I backed out at 2:52.

Maybe the new hefty pots can stagger her mid-animation. Nope

Surely she's not familiar with dragon bolts. Doesn't work

Carian Retaliation? That big thing won't fit

Maybe breaking the orbs with gravitas stops the ult? Nope

Oh the new items from nearby areas? Maybe the cannon can blast the supernova? Nope (though I didn't try to aim at the black hole, and I got the new ammo after the fight)

The new black mirror shield? Negates a lot of the laser damage. Same with the Erdtree Shield. But that's a hit. For casual play, these work.

Miriam's Vanishing? I tried it, but I need to use 2 accesories and burn through Rune Arcs every attempt, or respec. Then I'll need a staff and ash on the ready, or I need to swap to both as soon as she starts. JUST FOR THIS ONE MOVE. I saw the footage of others using it after the fight. This, then BHS right after, it's a legit strategy, but if it's the only one, then it's terrible design.

The boss has a HUGE ASS AOE that can't be dodged normally, AT LEAST MAKE THE WALL VISIBLE so I can control my spacing, or make a wall of fingers. FromSoft games have always been tough but fair, but even after beating her without getting hit, she feels like an RNG fight. Instead of feeling the "F YEAH!!!" that I got from Bloodborne's Ludwig, I got a "Lucky me, I didn't run into a wall." Another wasted potential.

Oh and the summons where very unnecessary. I get it, she's the Mother of Fingers, but not all moms give birth mid-fight.