Bayle the Dread (LVL1 NG+7 No Blessings)

0:00 - Phase 1
1:52 - Phase 2

Bayle doesn't get any DLC+ scaling, which I guess fits the tradition of having a dragon as an optional super boss.

Despite the jank, this boss is extremely consistent, and the core moveset is quite simple. It's just a longer learning experience to figure out how not to whiff since he has such erratic movement with little recovery time, and there are lots of silly situations that can happen.

I only have a couple things to comment on since the boss is mostly straightforward. For the phase transition, you have a lot of control over where he lands, so you can almost always make him land just close enough to the wall to land a charged R2, but it's risky if you don't know the arena well enough. I always go for it though.

For the super flame breath in phase 2, the tracking can seem a bit unintuitive, but he should land close as long as you don't move too far away during the rising flames. Although, I have noticed he can land farther away especially if he starts near the walls of the arena.

On another note, I decided to do this with the fog gate instead of reloading before he spawns in, but it doesn't change much. There are just some unique opening sequences you can get on the first attempt, but with the fog gate, you have to deal with other moves like the flame breath, and he's also more likely to use long-range moves that he wouldn't really use otherwise.

Also, I did several other fights which show a bit more of the strategy:    • Bayle the Dread