The Game Before the Gate is one of the most unique (and visually stunning) weekly bosses in Genshin Impact, introduced during the Paralogism chapter of the Archon Quests. With its chessboard themes and dual-phase challenge, this fight pushes players to think more tactically and build their team around a specific elemental strategy, which we’ll go into detail later on. If you’re struggling to counter the boss’s movements or you just want to be prepared beforehand, this guide has everything you need to win!
How to Unlock The Game Before the Gate Boss
Before you can challenge this boss, you’ll need to complete a few prerequisites:
- You must be level 40 or higher Adventure Rank
- And, you need to finish the Archon Quest Interlude Chapter: Act 4 – Paralogism
Once unlocked, you can access the domain either through the Adventurer’s Handbook under Trounce Domains > Unresolved Chess Game OR by heading east of Windrise in Mondstadt, near the cliffs at the Hexenzirkel tea party location!
Battling the King
The first half of the encounter pits you against the King, which is a mobile, shielded enemy that uses chess-themed patterns and summons.
King’s Moveset/Patterns
King’s Attacks
The King’s initial attacks consist of slamming onto the player’s position on the chessboard or jumping in place, dealing AoE damage.
This is the easiest part to counter since the moves are mostly telegraphed. Move out of the way, and when the King is in cooldown, start attacking.
Bishop Hover Phase
The King rides a Bishop that moves in an X-shaped AoE attack pattern.
Do your best to overwhelm it with Cryo or Pyro to knock him off and create a window where you can deal some damage.
Rooks, Knights, and Pawns
The king will sometimes be carried by a Rook and can travel in any straight direction.
You can also easily dodge this.
Another attack will consist of Rooks and Knights to attack your location. As mentioned earlier, Rooks can traverse in any straight direction, so dodge on either side of their attack. For Knights, you can dodge in any direction.
Queen’s Entrance
When the King nears defeat, the Queen piece enters the field.
She uses cross-pattern AoE strikes and projectile feathers.
She’s very straightforward and can be easily be brute-forced. Just make sure to dodge her attacks and prepare for her “ultimate”. Once defeated, the King returns for a time before triggering the second phase.
Battling the King and Queen Tag-team
The second phase is a combo between the King and Queen. This is where many players hit a wall due to the Lethal Blow mechanics.
King and Queen’s Moveset/Patterns
Neither boss can be permanently Frozen, but triggering Cryo + Hydro reactions is required to interrupt their Lethal Blows (which are non-dodgeable). Watch for the “Frozen” text!
King’s Attacks
He charges a massive sword attack in the center of the arena.
Apply Hydro and Cryo until he is Frozen to cancel the attack and deal huge physical damage.
Queen’s Attacks
She begins a Hydro-based arena-wide strike while the King charges the player.
Make sure to freeze the Queen, then position yourself so the charging King collides with her. This can instantly take her out of the fight.
Dual Revive
If you defeat one boss too early, the other may revive them.
To prevent this from happening, you should focus on reducing both bosses’ HP evenly and finishing them off in quick succession.
If you need more help taking down some of the new bosses in Genshin Impact, check out my guide to defeating the Secret Source Automaton: Overseer Device!
Best Units for The Game Before the Gate
Because so many mechanics rely on Freeze reactions, building around Cryo and Hydro characters is essential for this boss. The following units are the ones I would personally recommend you use to make the fight easier to finish.
For Cryo
- Ayaka
- Shenhe
- Wriothesley
- Ganyu
- Escoffier
For Hydro
- Furina
- Kokomi
- Yelan
- Xingqiu
- Ayato
Great Support Options
- Kazuha (Swirl reactions and grouping)
- Diona (Shielding and Cryo application)
- Sucrose (Swirl and elemental mastery boosts)
Co-op is also a viable option if you’re lacking some of these units or need stronger elemental coverage!
Boss Rewards
When you’ve successfully defeated The Game Before the Gate Boss (or bosses), players will receive the following unique boss materials:
- Ascended Sample: Knight
- Ascended Sample: Rook
- Ascended Sample: Queen
These items are used for talent level-up of select characters. As of the latest patch, only Ifa uses these drops, but additional characters may be added in future updates.
Now that you know how to beat The Game Before the Gate boss, it’s time to go out there and apply what you’ve learned. While the encounter can seem overwhelming at first, mastering Freeze reactions and managing the bosses’ dual mechanics is the easiest way to victory. Once you understand the patterns and build the right team, this boss fight will turn from a frustrating experience to a fun one.
