This Anubis Guide breaks down everything you need to survive the relentless laser spam, heal-blocking Pylon phases, and zero-cover desert battlefield that makes this legendary boss one of the game’s toughest challenges.
Judge Anubis isn’t just another boss—he’s a brutal skill check that strips away your secondary weapons and forces you to fight with only your starting gear. While he has less health than his Forest counterpart Bark Vader (8M vs 18M HP), the completely open desert terrain leaves you exposed to continuous laser tracking, ground explosions, and devastating freeze projectiles. One wrong move, and you’re locked in place for a guaranteed death.
Here’s what makes this Anubis Guide critical for your success:
- Weapon Disable Mechanic – All secondary weapons are locked; only your starting weapon functions
- Pylon Healing Phases – Anubis becomes invulnerable and heals unless you destroy Pylons quickly
- Zero Natural Cover – The open desert provides no terrain to hide behind or break line of sight
- Laser Spam Intensity – Sweeping beams, ground AoE, and blue arrays overlap constantly
- Freeze Projectile Hell – Below 25% HP, getting frozen means instant death
Whether you’re struggling with your first attempt or refining your strategy for a clean run, this Anubis Guide will teach you the circular kiting patterns, optimal character choices (Ninja and Fox dominate here), and build priorities that turn an impossible fight into a manageable challenge. Let’s break down exactly how to conquer the Desert’s final guardian.
🎯 Unique Boss Mechanics
Judge Anubis stands out with three brutal mechanics that’ll test your skills. First, all your secondary weapons get disabled the moment you enter the fight. You’re stuck with just your starting weapon. Second, he enters healing phases where he becomes invulnerable and summons Pylons. Third, the desert offers zero cover from his attacks.
We’ve learned that Anubis punishes players who rely on weapon variety. Unlike Forest bosses where you can switch between tools, this fight forces you to master one weapon completely. Your starting weapon becomes your lifeline. Every upgrade, every stat boost, every enhancement must focus on that single tool. This weapon disable mechanic changes how we build our entire run.
The Pylon healing system creates intense pressure moments. When Anubis drops below certain health thresholds, he stops taking damage. Golden Pylons appear across the desert arena. You must sprint to each one, stand on it to charge it, then destroy it before he heals back to full. Meanwhile, he’s still firing lasers at you. The open terrain means you can’t hide behind rocks or trees while charging Pylons.
Desert terrain amplifies every mistake. In Forest runs, you can break line of sight using trees. You can duck behind elevation changes. The desert strips away these safety nets. Every laser beam has clear sight lines. Every ground explosion finds you in the open. This forces us to rely purely on movement speed and dodge timing. The Anubis Guide teaches us that positioning matters more than raw damage output.
Boss Curse shrines multiply the challenge exponentially. Activating these spawns multiple Anubis copies with overlapping attack patterns. Their laser beams crisscross the arena. Ground explosions stack on top of each other. We strongly advise against Boss Curses for Tier 3 Desert unless you’ve got a perfect build. Even veteran players struggle with multiple Anubis spawns.
⚔️ Boss Attack Patterns
The red tracking laser locks onto your position and rotates slowly. Get close and circle around him in tight loops. The beam can’t rotate fast enough to catch you. Alternatively, stay far away and jump over it when it sweeps your direction. Never stay at medium range where you can’t dodge effectively.
The laser-plus-explosion combo punishes stationary play. While that red beam tracks you, targeted ground explosions appear under your feet. These AoE circles telegraph briefly before detonating. Constant lateral movement prevents both attacks from connecting. We move in figure-eight patterns to maintain unpredictable positioning. Standing still for even two seconds usually means death.
Blue laser arrays cover massive areas with parallel beams. These spread attacks fire multiple beams simultaneously across the arena. Jump perpendicular to the beam direction to clear them efficiently. Multi-jump items become crucial here. With triple jump, you can clear three or four beam waves in one sequence. Timing matters more than speed for these patterns.
Freeze projectiles appear during critical phases. When Anubis enters Pylon healing mode or drops below 25% health, he fires icy shots that immobilize you. Getting frozen in the open desert equals instant death. Aegis shield blocks one freeze hit, giving you breathing room. High evasion stats help dodge these projectiles. Without defensive tools, freeze mechanics end runs instantly.
| Attack Type | Danger Level | Counter Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Red Tracking Laser | Medium | Circle close or jump far |
| Ground Explosions | High | Never stop moving |
| Blue Beam Arrays | Medium | Jump perpendicular |
| Freeze Projectiles | Extreme | Aegis shield required |
Multiple Anubis spawns create pattern overlap chaos. During cursed runs, two or three Anubis copies attack simultaneously. Their lasers intersect from different angles.
Ground explosions blanket the entire arena. Freeze shots come from multiple directions. This scenario demands god-tier builds with maxed movement speed and multiple Aegis stacks. We recommend avoiding this challenge until you’ve mastered single Anubis fights.
👥 Best Characters for Judge Anubis
Ninja dominates this fight through evasion and execution mechanics. High base evasion helps dodge laser spam naturally. The katana starting weapon offers excellent range and damage. Execute passive triggers massive burst damage when Anubis hits low health. Aegis shield synergizes perfectly with Ninja’s defensive playstyle.
We prefer Ninja for several tactical reasons. The evasion stat reduces incoming laser damage significantly. Even when positioning fails, you’ve got backup defense. Katana projectiles pierce through enemies, hitting Pylons from safer distances. Execute passive can chunk 15-20% of Anubis’s health bar in one proc. This character forgives positioning mistakes better than others.
Fox provides ranged safety for cautious players. Starting with Firestaff means you engage from maximum distance. Luck blessing improves every upgrade quality throughout your run. Better items, stronger tomes, higher stat rolls. Fox suits beginners who need extra margin for error. The ranged playstyle keeps you away from overlapping attack patterns.
Calcium offers speed-based advantages. Speed scaling provides excellent mobility for dodging. Bone weapon delivers good range with pierce mechanics. Speed-to-damage conversion creates high DPS without sacrificing movement. Fast Pylon destruction capability shortens dangerous healing phases. We recommend Calcium for players who’ve mastered movement patterns.
Why avoid tank characters? Sir Oofie and Megachad struggle in open desert terrain. Their low movement speed can’t keep pace with laser tracking. Tank builds rely on absorbing damage, but Anubis deals percentage-based damage that ignores raw HP pools. Slow Pylon destruction extends healing phases dangerously. Movement-based characters always outperform tanks against Judge Anubis.
Character selection impacts your entire run strategy. Ninja builds focus on evasion stacking and katana upgrades. Fox builds prioritize luck scaling and ranged damage. Calcium builds maximize speed conversion and bone weapon enhancements. Choose your character before entering Tier 1 Desert, then commit to that build path completely.
🎒 Essential Equipment & Items
Aegis shield tops the priority list. This item blocks laser beams and prevents freeze projectiles. Each stack absorbs one hit, creating defensive breathing room. Without Aegis, laser spam becomes nearly impossible to dodge consistently. We consider this item mandatory, not optional.
Triple jump transforms your mobility options. Jumping over Blue Laser Arrays requires vertical movement. Reaching Pylons quickly during healing phases demands elevation control. Triple jump lets you clear multiple beam waves in one sequence. It provides escape routes when surrounded by ground explosions. Movement speed alone can’t solve every positioning problem.
Speed items matter more in Desert than Forest. The open terrain demands constant repositioning. You need to outrun tracking lasers while dodging ground explosions. Speed scaling affects both combat and Pylon phases. Faster movement shortens the time you’re exposed during healing phases. We stack speed items aggressively in Desert runs.
Armor Tome reduces laser damage significantly. Even with perfect dodging, you’ll take grazing hits in the open space. Armor stacking turns lethal beams into manageable chip damage. Multiple armor upgrades create survivability cushions. This tome works especially well on Ninja, who already has high evasion.
”Since lifesteal doesn’t work during invuln Pylon phases, regen is your only healing source.” - Experienced Anubis Guide players
Projectile count upgrades boost starting weapon effectiveness. More projectiles mean more damage from safe range. Level faster and improve your weapon’s output simultaneously. Firestaff with +5 projectiles melts Pylons in seconds. Katana with extra slashes hits multiple targets per swing. Bone weapon with additional bones creates screen-wide coverage.
Health regen provides consistent healing throughout the fight. Lifesteal stops working when Anubis enters invulnerable states. Regen ticks constantly regardless of boss mechanics. Small amounts add up over long fights. We recommend at least one regen item for sustained battles.
What’s the ideal item loadout? Aegis shield, triple jump, two speed items, one armor tome, one projectile upgrade, and one regen source. This combination covers defense, mobility, damage, and sustain. Adjust based on your character’s natural strengths.
📋 Complete Battle Strategy
Phase 1: Pre-Fight Preparation
Focus all weapon upgrades on your starting weapon exclusively. Every damage boost, every projectile increase, every stat enhancement goes to that one tool. Take only two weapon slots total to maximize starting weapon upgrade frequency. More weapon slots dilute your upgrade pool.
Prioritize movement speed over raw damage early. Speed items appear in Tier 1 and Tier 2 shops. Grab them immediately. Movement keeps you alive longer than damage kills enemies faster. We aim for at least +40% movement speed before entering Tier 3.
Get core items before the final boss. Aegis shield, triple jump, and movement speed form your foundation. Stack Armor Tome to survive laser grazes. Aim for 10+ total items and 2-3 Tomes before challenging Judge Anubis. Rushing the boss undergeared guarantees failure.
Phase 2: Opening Combat
Learn laser patterns while dealing steady damage. Against sweeping lasers, circle close or stay far. Against ground AoE, never stop moving. Against blue arrays, jump perpendicular. Maintain medium range where you can hit reliably while reacting to attacks.
Keep Aegis shield stacks high constantly. Each blocked hit saves your health pool. Refresh stacks between attack waves when possible. Don’t waste shields on avoidable damage. Save them for freeze projectiles and unavoidable laser grazes.
Don’t get greedy with damage windows. Survival matters more than DPS optimization. Take safe shots from comfortable range. Retreat when attack patterns overlap. Patient play wins this fight. Aggressive play gets you killed.
Phase 3: Pylon Healing Phases
Sprint to the nearest Pylon immediately when the phase triggers. Use triple jump to clear any terrain elevation. Stand directly on the Pylon to charge it. A progress bar appears showing charge status. Anubis continues attacking while you charge.
Dodge while charging Pylons simultaneously. You can move slightly without breaking the charge connection. Sidestep ground explosions. Jump over laser beams. Aegis blocks freeze projectiles. Destroy each Pylon before moving to the next one.
Speed determines Pylon phase success. Faster destruction means less healing for Anubis. Slow Pylon clears reset all your progress. We’ve seen fights where players destroyed Pylons in 15 seconds versus 60 seconds. The difference decides victory or defeat.
Phase 4: Final 25% Health
Attack frequency increases dramatically. All patterns overlap simultaneously. Freeze projectile spam becomes extreme. He may trigger one final Pylon phase. Go all-out on damage once Pylons are destroyed.
Use remaining healing and shields wisely. Don’t panic-use items early. Save emergency heals for critical moments. Aegis stacks become precious during freeze spam. Calculate your remaining resources against his remaining health.
💡 Advanced Tips & Desert-Specific Strategies
Use the 360-degree space to your advantage. Unlike Forest where trees block paths, Desert lets you kite in full circles. Learn figure-eight movement patterns to dodge multiple lasers. Don’t rely on terrain blocking because it won’t help you. Keep distance consistent to avoid cornering yourself.
Sweeping laser demands binary positioning. Circle tight or jump far. No middle ground works effectively. Medium range gets you killed. Commit fully to close-range circling or long-range jumping. Half-measures fail against this attack pattern.
Blue arrays require jump timing mastery. Time your jumps to clear all beams at once. Don’t jump early and land into the second wave. Don’t jump late and get hit by the first wave. Practice this timing in Tier 1 and Tier 2 before attempting Tier 3.
What’s the best damage strategy? Projectile count reigns supreme in Desert. Hit enemies while dodging simultaneously. Attack speed helps but movement speed matters more. Range weapons like Firestaff, Katana, and Bone outperform melee options. Critical damage excels if you maintain DPS uptime.
Starting weapon investment pays massive dividends. A maxed starting weapon outdamages three mediocre weapons. Focus creates power. Dilution creates weakness. Every upgrade point in your starting weapon multiplies your effectiveness.
Common mistakes kill most runs:
- ❌ Relying on terrain for cover
- ❌ Focusing damage over movement speed
- ❌ Not practicing dodge patterns in lower tiers
- ❌ Ignoring Aegis shield necessity
- ❌ Slow Pylon destruction speed
- ❌ Using low-mobility characters
Run Tier 1 and Tier 2 Desert multiple times. Learn laser dodge timing in lower-pressure situations. Test different movement patterns against easier versions. Build muscle memory for jump timing. Practice Pylon charging under attack. Master the fundamentals before attempting legendary difficulty.
🌳 vs 🏜️ Desert vs Forest Tier 3 Comparison
Players debate this constantly. Desert has lower HP but demands better dodging skills. Forest has more HP but terrain can help. Both represent legendary difficulty requiring mastery of their mechanics.
Desert Advantages
Lower HP pool makes fights shorter. Judge Anubis has 8 million health versus Bark Vader’s 18 million. Shorter duration means fewer chances for fatal mistakes. Open terrain allows full 360-degree kiting freedom. No elevated Pylon platforms to jump toward. Laser attacks follow more predictable patterns than tree mechanics. Less knockback during Pylon phases.
Desert Challenges
Zero natural cover strips away defensive options. Laser spam covers the entire screen relentlessly. Freeze projectiles prove harder to dodge in open space. Movement speed becomes MORE critical than Forest. Boss Curse combinations create nightmarish scenarios. Can’t use terrain to break line of sight. Requires better mechanical skill overall.
| Aspect | Desert (Anubis) | Forest (Bark Vader) |
|---|---|---|
| Boss HP | 8 million | 18 million |
| Terrain Cover | None | Trees/rocks |
| Primary Mechanic | Laser spam | Tree attacks |
| Skill Requirement | Dodging mastery | Positioning |
| Fight Duration | Shorter | Longer |
We recommend Forest for gear-focused players. Desert suits skill-focused players. Forest forgives positioning mistakes with terrain cover. Desert punishes every movement error instantly. Choose based on your playstyle strengths.
Movement-based characters excel in Desert. Ninja and Calcium leverage speed and evasion effectively. Tank characters struggle without cover to absorb damage behind. Fox provides middle-ground safety with ranged attacks.
The developer acknowledges both bosses are overtuned. Nerfs are planned for future updates. Many players find Desert slightly easier due to lower HP requirements. However, the skill ceiling remains extremely high for both encounters.
Success Formula for Desert
Best Character: Ninja for evasion and execution, or Fox for ranged safety
Core Build: Maxed starting weapon + Aegis + Movement Speed + Triple Jump
Strategy: Master circular kiting, destroy Pylons fast, focus starting weapon only
Mindset: Movement skill beats raw damage. Learn laser dodge patterns in Tier 1/2 first.
Remember that Judge Anubis tests your mechanical skills more than your build. Perfect movement beats perfect items every time. Practice your dodging in lower tiers. Master the circular kiting pattern. Don’t give up after first attempts.
With Ninja, Aegis, and a maxed starting weapon, this boss becomes significantly more manageable. The Anubis Guide emphasizes patience and practice over brute force approaches.
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