The mechanics of the tutorial clash at the burning manor
In the opening sequence of The Blood of Dawnwalker, Coen confronts the vampire lord Brencis inside his burning ancestral estate. The encounter is intentionally designed to simulate a scripted defeat where Brencis overwhelms Coen and subjects him to the dark vampiric infection that kickstarts the entire game.
However, unlike traditional hard-scripted cinematic losses, Rebel Wolves programmed Brencis with actual hitboxes, stamina bars, and damage thresholds. Players possessing extreme defensive mastery and patience can deplete his entire vitality reservoir right in the prologue.
Accomplishing this feat triggers an immediate narrative diversion: with the head progenitor slain on night zero, the dark curse fails to spread across the valley, causing the game to roll an exclusive alternate credits sequence celebrating Coen's early triumph in under six minutes.
Frame-perfect parrying and 200ms kinetic counter windows
Because Coen begins the prologue with only standard recruit militia armor and a rusted iron arming sword, taking even a single direct blow from Brencis will instantly deplete your vitality bar. The key to surviving legitimate swordplay is total commitment to directional parrying and posture control.
Brencis relies on a signature three-hit lunging sequence signaled by a crimson shimmer across his left gauntlet. Do not attempt to parry the initial lunge as its startup frames are irregular; instead, backstep to avoid the opener, then immediately directional parry the horizontal sweep that follows within the 200ms kinetic flash window.
Successfully deflecting the second strike knocks Brencis off-balance for 1.8 seconds. Deliver exactly two light thrusts, then instantly disengage to recover stamina before his retaliatory shadow pulse discharges.
Ballroom pillar kiting cheese and pathfinding loop geometry
For players seeking the secret achievement without flawless frame-perfect parrying, the collapsing stone pillars flanking the eastern ballroom offer an S-Tier terrain exploit at [Grid A-1: East Flank Fallen Pillar]. By positioning Coen behind the fallen marble column, Brencis's high-speed shadow dashes get trapped against the broken masonry collision.
While Brencis is caught in the running animation against the column, Coen can safely charge heavy thrust attacks through the broken stone gap without placing himself in danger of the boss's close-quarters grab attack.
Keep a minimum distance of three meters from the column surface to avoid Brencis's clipping scythe hitbox. Repeat this loop eight to ten times to whittle down his health bar safely with zero damage taken.
Sub-6 minute speedrun routing and 'Eclipse Averted' rewards
Defeating Brencis unlocks the prestigious gold PlayStation and Steam trophy 'Eclipse Averted' and awards the Progenitor's Signet cosmetic skin for subsequent playthroughs.
Once Brencis collapses to his knees at zero vitality, players must sprint to [Grid A-1: Ballroom Double Oak Doors] within three seconds to deliver the execution prompt. Missing this prompt allows Brencis to regenerate five percent vitality and enter an emergency blood burst.
Successfully triggering the execution triggers the abridged alternate ending credits, granting instant access to New Game Plus gameplay modifiers and master difficulty settings without having to complete the full thirty-day narrative campaign.
Prologue Brencis Boss Encounter & Cheese Strategy Matrix
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| Combat Phase & Move | Boss Telegraph & Tell | Parry & Counter Window | Arena Grid Landmark | Speedrun & Cheese Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Crimson Lunge | Crimson gauntlet flare with 1.2s windup charge | Backstep opener; directional parry 2nd horizontal sweep (200ms window) | [Grid A-1: Ballroom Central Hearth] | Staggers boss for 1.8s; safe for 2 light thrusts before shadow pulse |
| Phase 1: Pillar Kiting (Cheese) | Continuous shadow dash homing on player position | Break line-of-sight around fallen marble column; maintain 3m distance | [Grid A-1: East Flank Fallen Pillar] | Cheese S-Tier: Brencis pathfinding clips into broken masonry; allows free charged heavy thrusts through gap |
| Phase 2: Umbral Step (60% HP) | Vampire vanishes in black vapor; reappears within 0.4s directly behind Coen | Immediate forward roll-dodge upon sound cue; never attempt direct parry | [Grid A-1: Grand Chandelier Shadow Arc] | Evades 100% mortal HP grab; exposes boss back for 1.5s critical counter-thrust |
| Phase 2: Scythe Arc Combo | Two-handed diagonal swipe transitioning to overhead execution slam | Parry 1st swipe, block 2nd, roll forward through delayed overhead slam | [Grid A-1: North Balcony Rubble Pile] | Overhead slam recovery lasts 2.2s; grants full window for 3-hit heavy sword combination |
| Phase 3: Blood Mist Enrage (20% HP) | Red vapor covers ballroom floor; omnidirectional rapid shadow slashes | Climb broken stone banister; drop down with descending plunging strike | [Grid A-1: West Grand Staircase Railing] | Plunging strike deals 12% max HP and instantly cancels mist enrage state |
| Final Execution: Eclipse Averted | Brencis collapses to knees at 0% vitality (3.0s recovery timer) | Press interact prompt for cinematic throat execution finisher | [Grid A-1: Ballroom Double Oak Doors] | Unlocks 'Eclipse Averted' Gold Trophy, Progenitor's Signet, and triggers sub-6 min secret credits |
Frequently asked questions
Does the secret ending erase your regular save file?
No. Beating Brencis in the prologue unlocks a dedicated clear save slot that enables New Game Plus modifiers without overwriting your standard campaign saves.
Can you defeat Brencis in the prologue using vampire abilities?
No, Coen has not yet been bitten or turned during the prologue, meaning the fight must be won entirely using mortal swordsmanship and footwork.
Is there an achievement for getting the secret ending?
Yes, defeating Brencis in the tutorial awards the hidden gold trophy 'Eclipse Averted' on all supported platforms.