In Lords of the Fallen, some bosses push players to their limits, and among them, Judge Cleric stands as one of the toughest challenges in the game. However, with the right approach and a solid strategy, this formidable opponent can be taken down efficiently. This guide breaks down Judge Cleric’s attack patterns, phases, and optimal strategies, making the fight much easier for you.

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Recommended Build for the Fight

For this fight, we recommend running a Radiance build with a shield. While many players may prefer dodging through attacks, blocking and parrying are particularly effective against Judge Cleric’s moveset.

Gear Setup:

• Primary Weapon: A powerful Radiance-based weapon (e.g., P SW).
• Shield: A strong shield to block incoming attacks effectively.
• Spells: Bless Reflections and Orion’s Judgment (optional, but useful for extra buffs and damage).
• Consumables: Healing items and throwable projectiles (to take advantage of downtime between attacks).

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Phase One: Recognizing Patterns & Perfect Parries

The first phase of the fight revolves around Judge Cleric’s predictable attack patterns. The key is to stay close and react to her swings with either well-timed dodges or blocks. Here’s how to handle her primary moves:

Flag Attacks

• She will step back and lunge forward with her flag.
• Pattern: A set of three downward flag swings.
• Best Strategy: Try to perfect parry these attacks, as she repeats them often. Landing a parry consistently will break her posture, allowing you to deal massive damage early on.

Sword Combo

• A four-hit combo, starting with a downward sword swing from the top right.
• Best Strategy: If parrying feels too difficult, simply block all four hits with your shield to avoid unnecessary damage.

By continuously parrying her flag attack, you’ll be able to significantly reduce her health before she enters Phase Two.

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Phase Two: Radiance Imbued & Aerial Attacks

At around 50% HP, Judge Cleric will imbue her weapon with Radiance, entering her second phase. This moment gives you a small window to cast spells or use consumables.

Lunge Attack

• A long-range lunge with her sword.
• Best Strategy: Always keep your shield up when she initiates this move to mitigate damage.

Ground Slam & Shockwave

• She slams the ground, sending out a Radiant shockwave.
• Best Strategy: Wait for the visual cue, then dodge just before the wave reaches you.

Rain of Radiant Swords

• She lifts her sword, marking the ground before summoning a rain of radiant swords.
• Best Strategy: Avoid engagement—run continuously until the attack cycle ends.

Four-Hit Sword Combo Returns

• The same attack pattern as before, but now enhanced with Radiance.
• Best Strategy: Block all four strikes or dodge at the end of the sequence to get an attack opportunity.

At this stage, patience is key. Avoid unnecessary risks and keep an eye on visual cues before committing to attacks.

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Phase Three: Fire Enchantment and Totem Mechanics

Unlike most bosses, Judge Cleric’s final phase is actually easier than the previous ones, despite the addition of fire-based attacks.

Attack Adjustments in Phase Three:

• Her flag and sword swings follow the same patterns but now have fire-based effects.
• She lunges further when attacking with the flag.
• Best Strategy: The fight becomes much simpler if you stay on her right side and continuously circle around her.

Fire Shockwave

• Similar to the Radiant shockwave from Phase Two, but now deals fire damage.
• Best Strategy: Dodge away from the blast just before impact.

Totem Summoning

• She places a fire totem on the ground, which radiates area damage over time.
• Two Ways to Handle This:
  1. Wait it out—the totem disappears after a short duration.
  2. Destroy it—you can attack the totem directly, but this leaves you vulnerable to boss attacks.

Aerial Swoop Attack

• She leaps into the air before swooping down at high speed.
• Best Strategy: Dodge toward her at the last moment to avoid getting hit.

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Final Strategy: Securing Victory

By the final moments of the fight, Judge Cleric’s attacks are largely predictable, and she relies heavily on ranged fire attacks. The key to success is:

• Constantly circling her right side to negate many of her ranged attacks.
• Dodging when necessary instead of blocking, as fire effects can be unpredictable.
• Exploiting her post-attack openings to land counterattacks.

Following these steps will make the final phase much easier than the first two phases.

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Conclusion

Judge Cleric may initially seem like one of the hardest fights in Lords of the Fallen, but with the right strategy, she can be taken down methodically. Whether you rely on perfect parries, shield blocks, or smart dodging, the key is recognizing her attack patterns and exploiting their weaknesses.

By staying disciplined, maintaining control over the fight, and keeping an optimal positioning strategy, you’ll have Judge Cleric defeated in no time.