Cardinal Mathias Boss Fight (Archspire Cathedral Route)

Alternative to the Second District poison/freeze route — knives + Angelic Ascension clear for Cardinal Mathias in Mission II: The Archspire Cathedral.

Loadout

Fill inventory before the arena. Use everything — Mission II ends here.

• Throwing knives — chip without melee trades.
• Health potions — as many as you carry.
• Damage buffs — pop before engage if you have them.

Keep one potion for phase two.

Attack patterns

Attack	Telegraph	Dodge	Punish
Horizontal slash	Weapon to side	Roll through swing	1–2 hits
Overhead smash	Weapon overhead	Roll sideways (not back)	2–3 hits, back off
Lunging thrust	Pulls back	Roll diagonally forward	1 hit, reposition

Overhead has small AoE on impact — sideways only.

Fight flow

1. Open with 2–3 knives while he walks in.
2. Maintain ~two rolls of distance.
3. Bait swings, dodge, punish short — don't get greedy.
4. Angelic Ascension after a heavy dodge, sub-50% HP — burst melee or knife flurry.
5. Die once? Second attempt at the checkpoint — learn patterns first run, go all-in second.

Rewards

Mission II complete, district cleared, Mission III unlocked. Upgrade at hub before Elk Grove Academy or Moore Manor.

Hub: Mission II section.