Facing off against August in Wanted: Dead can feel like slamming into a cyberpunk brick wall, especially if you’re not packing the optional grenade launcher. But fear not — even with just the basics and a melee-focused setup, you can dismantle this boss with precision and patience. This guide breaks down the fight across all its phases and offers practical advice for mastering it, even on Japanese Hard difficulty.

Before the Fight: Core Skills Setup

Here’s a minimalist but effective skill loadout for this fight:

• Parry Follow-Up
• Severed Arm Finishing Strike
• Guard Strength Increase
• Power Parry
• Parry Window Increase (not mandatory but helpful)
• Extended Dodge
• Bullet Time

This set gives you all the defensive and offensive tools you need, focused heavily on parry reliability and survivability. Power Parry especially simplifies input complexity — it lets you treat every attack as parryable with just one button, including those dreaded red-glow unblockables.

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Phase 1: Warm-Up Round

The opening segment is straightforward. It’s all about dispatching a handful of enemies before August truly joins the fray. Take this as a chance to build rhythm and get your fingers warm. There’s no heavy threat yet — just keep your guard up, conserve stim packs, and clear the area quickly.

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Phase 2: The Real Fight Begins

August enters the scene properly in this phase, and this is where things get much more serious.

Enemy Adds: At the start of this stage, you’ll often get one to three additional enemies alongside August. Prioritize them immediately — take them out fast. Don’t try to fight August and the adds at the same time. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. While clearing them, keep one eye on August and try to avoid getting clipped by his ranged attacks.

Cover Use: Use pillars and environmental cover to dodge August’s ranged shots. This is especially helpful when repositioning or healing. Bait him in, block line-of-sight with the pillar, and prep for close-range combat.

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Phase 2 Combat Strategy: Learn His Rhythm

August attacks in clear sequences — usually combos of three strikes. You must resist the urge to counter immediately after the first parry. That’s the trap. If you strike too early, August will interrupt with a kick or a follow-up attack.

Instead:

• Parry each attack one by one.
• Only retaliate after the last strike in his combo.

If you’re unsure whether he’s finished attacking, wait. You’ll still have a window for a counterattack even with a slight delay.

Patience is your deadliest weapon here.

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Phase 3: Up Close and Personal

In the final phase, August drops his firearm entirely. This makes the fight feel more manageable — but it’s deceptive. His melee combo strings change, and they get longer. Watch for:

• Four-hit sequences instead of three.
• Feints and fakes, where he pauses briefly before resuming the combo.

Apply the same logic as before: only counter when you’re absolutely sure the attack string is over. Dodge if needed — you don’t need to parry every hit, especially if you’re unsure.

Power Parry really shines here, simplifying timing and letting you focus on spacing and flow. If you don’t have it, extended dodge will keep you alive. The point is — you have options.

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Final Notes: What Makes This Fight Work

• Don’t attack recklessly. Wait for the moment.
• Use the environment. Pillars are your lifeline.
• Learn the combo patterns. The game telegraphs everything — if you’re paying attention.
• Parry red attacks with the pistol or just dodge them altogether. This is a forgiving fight if you play it clean.
• Use stim packs wisely. If you’re not panicking, you shouldn’t need more than one.

This guide was done on Normal, but the method holds strong even for Japanese Hard. The real challenge is discipline. Once you lock into August’s rhythm, the fight transforms from chaos into choreography.

Master the dance, and August won’t stand a chance.

Good luck out there.