Being a survival game, Grounded 2 features a bunch of tough enemies and insects that you’ll meet throughout your journey. As you progress with the game, you’ll gradually start facing harder enemies. Since it is early access, however, future updates will continue to add more content. The Masked Stranger boss fight represents the ending of early access, and it can be quite tough. This is because you will need to face two bosses in a row – and they are far from a cake walk. However, in this guide, we’ll show you some strategies (and cheeses) that you can use to make the Masked Stranger specifically easier. Without further delay, let’s get into it!
Masked Stranger Boss Guide
The Masked Stranger is a tough boss fight with the boss having two phases. In this guide, we’ll be looking at tricks that you can utilize to defeat it.
Additionally, we’ll also show you how you can defeat her legitimately. In this way, you can go for whichever method you want.
Since this is early access, some of the methods that rely on cheeses might get patched out soon.
Masked Stranger Fight Strategy – The Legitimate Way
The key to defeating the Masked Stranger is to master parrying – since she relies heavily on melee attacks. By parrying her, you will be able to punish her attacks. This is especially crucial on the harder difficulties since she’ll deal a lot of damage.
Of course, for her larger AoE attacks you will need to dodge at the right time.
It is normal that you’ll get hit during the fight, even if you’re using the cheeses. In that case, you will want to bring Bandages and any other healing items.
Besides that having the best gear and weapons can help you out as well, i.e. the highest possible tier ones you can craft. Do not skimp out on armor either, or bring a shield if you like to play defensively.
Additionally, players have also had success bringing the ORC Bomb.
While this has not been confirmed, some players have said that she is weak to fire – because she deals the Sizzling effect during combat. So, bringing along the Ice Sickles can be incredibly useful as it can also freeze her and deal a lot of damage.
Our frostbitten key guide will show you how you can get the Ice Sickles and the material to craft duplicates.
Masked Stranger Boss Strategy – Using Obstacles
If you would like to use the environment to your advantage in the boss fight, this method method is for you.
The Masked Stranger has two phases, so we’ll be utilizing these same strategy a bit differently for the second phase. The main thing that you need to bring is a ranged weapon. In our case, we brought a bow and arrow with a lot of arrows (think 70+).
Phase 1
During the first phase, the Masked Stranger will rely solely on melee attacks. In this case, you should immediately head to the tube on the left, where you can see some fallen consoles. Get to the other side of the tube, while making sure she is on the opposite of you.
After that, pull out your bow and arrow and shoot at her. She will try to attack you, but will get stuck on the obstacles.
However, the key to making this strategy work is to get close to her to trigger her attack animation. If you play it too safely, she will come around and the strategy will fail. So, you want to keep her attacking constantly – otherwise, you will need to reset her.
Here is a breakdown of the attack rotation you’ll be utilizing:
- Get to the other side of the tube
- Go back and shoot her
- Get near her to trigger her attack animation
- Shoot her again.
Keep repeating this until she goes into her second phase. At times, she may end up going over the obstacles but this is manageable and you can simply reset her.
Also, if she does end up hitting you a few times, you can simply heal up.
Phase 2
When she reaches her second phase, she will regain all her health. Her melee attacks will mostly be the same. However, this time, she will also do an AoE attack that can inflict the Sizzling effect on you.
In this case, you will need to attack a dodge to your attack rotation. When the AoE attack visuals come up, dodge back immediately so that you are out of the circle. Once the attack finishes, simply dash back into position and continue the attack rotation.
We also recommend dodging at the right angle, so she does not change her position. Otherwise, you’ll need to reset her.
So, here is the attack rotation for Phase 2:
- Go near her to trigger her melee attack animation
- Back up and shoot her
- Dodge back when the AoE attack visuals come up
- Shoot her again and repeat the steps.
Masked Stranger Boss Fight Strategy – Getting Her Stuck
This strategy is the hardest to execute but makes the Masked Stranger boss fight a cake walk. The great thing is that you can use it for both phases. As before, you will need to bring a bow and arrow with a lot of arrows.
Even if you get everything right, it’s more than likely it won’t work. So, you’ll need to keep trying until you get it right.
To get this strategy to work, you’ll be heading to the same tube. This time, you’ll be crouching on the outer rim of the tube and walking into it. At the same time, you want to ensure that the Masked Stranger is on the other side.
Provided your positioning is right, she will simply stop in place. Once that’s done, slowly poke your head from the right side and aim your bow. You want to slowly inch out, making sure that she does not move.
If you do it too fast, she will simply start moving again and come towards you. Stop moving once you can aim and shoot on to her.
Provided she is still stuck in place, all you need to do now is simply fire your arrows and she won’t do anything. Once her health is down in both phases, the boss fight will end and you won’t even have to deal with any of her attacks!
Final Thoughts
That’s everything you need to know about how to defeat the Masked Stranger boss in Grounded 2. As you can see, she is definitely one of the harder fights you’ll come across. We have given you three strategies that you can utilize, and it is up to you which one you want to use. While cheesing her makes her very easy, executing the method can be quite frustrating. In that case, the second strategy is the most reliable one as we were able to do it multiple times without too much trouble. Once you’re done with her, don’t get too happy as there is another boss fight coming right after.
Speaking of frustrating, have you been trying to find or kill the praying mantis nymph in Grounded 2. Our praying mantis location guide can help you out there!
