Heavy Is The Head

Heavy Is The Head

The quest "Heavy Is The Head" marks a pivotal moment in your alliance with Ceolwulf, culminating in a full-scale siege and a challenging confrontation with King Burgred. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to overcome Tamworth Fortress and secure Mercia for your allies.

Recommended Power Level & Preparation

It is highly recommended that your Eivor be at least Power Level 55-60 before attempting this quest. While it's possible to complete it at a lower level with exceptional skill, the sheer number of enemies and the difficulty of the boss fight will be significantly more challenging. Ensure you have:

• Full Rations: Stock up on at least 6-8 rations for sustained healing during the siege and boss fight.
• Full Quiver: Arrows are crucial for taking down archers and exploiting weak points.
• Upgraded Gear: Ensure your primary weapons and armor are at least Superior (Fine) quality or higher, and fully upgraded within that tier. Focus on gear that complements your playstyle (e.g., Raven Clan for stealth, Bear Clan for direct combat).
• Key Abilities:
  • Brush with Death: Invaluable for slowing time and getting critical hits during the boss fight.
  • Man's Best Friend / Raven Distraction: Useful for diverting enemy attention during the siege.
  • Dive of the Valkyries / Harpoon Impalement: Excellent for crowd control and dealing significant damage to elite enemies.
  • Poison Strike / Fire Strike: Adds damage over time, particularly effective against armored foes and the boss.

Walkthrough: The Siege of Tamworth Fortress

The siege of Tamworth is a multi-stage assault that requires both brute force and tactical thinking. Follow these steps to breach the fortress:

1. Rendezvous with Ceolwulf's Forces:
   • Travel to the quest marker just outside Tamworth Fortress in Ledecestrescire. You'll find Ceolwulf and his allies preparing for the assault.
   • A brief cinematic will play, outlining the plan.
2. Breaching the Main Gate:
   • Your primary objective is to push the battering ram to the main gate.
   • Strategy: Stay with the ram. While it's tempting to rush ahead, the ram needs protection. Prioritize enemies directly attacking the ram.
   • Enemy Types: Expect numerous Soldiers (Light & Heavy), Spearmen, and Shieldbearers.
   • Environmental Advantage: Keep an eye out for oil pots and explosive jars near the gate. Shoot them with an arrow when enemies are clustered around them for massive area-of-effect damage.
   • Archers: There will be archers on the walls above the gate. Use your bow to eliminate them quickly, as their sustained fire can be very disruptive. Aim for headshots for one-hit kills.
3. Opening the Inner Gate:
   • Once the main gate is breached, you'll enter the outer courtyard. Your next objective is to open the inner gate.
   • Strategy: The inner gate is barred from the inside. You'll need to find a way around. Look for a climbable wall or a weak wooden barrier you can break.
   • Specific Path: Typically, there's a destructible wooden barricade to the right or left of the inner gate. Break it with a heavy attack or an arrow to create a path.
   • Enemy Types: More Soldiers, often accompanied by a few Elite Guards (identifiable by their unique armor and larger health bars). Focus on parrying their attacks and exploiting weak points.
   • Environmental Advantage: use any remaining oil pots or explosive jars. There might also be ladders you can kick down for your allies.
4. Securing the Courtyard & Reaching the Keep:
   • After opening the inner gate, your forces will flood the courtyard. Your goal is to push towards the keep where Burgred is located.
   • Strategy: This section is often a chaotic melee. Focus on eliminating priority targets:
     • Standard Bearers: These enemies buff nearby allies. Take them down quickly.
     • Elite Guards / Champions: They pose a significant threat. Use your strongest abilities and parries.
     • Archers: Always a nuisance, clear them from vantage points.
   • Healing: Don't be afraid to use rations here. The fight can be prolonged.
   • Loot: Keep an eye out for small chests and resource nodes in the courtyard, but prioritize the objective.

Confrontation: King Burgred

Once you reach the keep, a cinematic will trigger, leading to your direct confrontation with King Burgred. This is a boss fight, so be prepared for a more challenging opponent than the regular soldiers.

King Burgred's Attack Patterns & Weaknesses:

• Weapon: Burgred wields a large, two-handed axe, capable of slow but powerful swings.
• Attack Types:
  • Heavy Swings: These are often unblockable (indicated by a red rune). Dodge these attacks.
  • Standard Combos: A series of 2-3 blockable attacks. Parry these to open him up for a Stun Attack.
  • Charge Attack: He may charge at Eivor, attempting to knock you down. Dodge to the side.
  • Ground Slam (Rare): If you get too close for too long, he might perform a ground slam, creating a small AoE.
• Weak Points:
  • Left Shoulder: A prominent weak point. Hitting this with an arrow will significantly drain his stun bar.
  • Right Knee: Another weak point, though sometimes harder to hit during his aggressive movements.
• Strategy:
  1. Maintain Distance & Observe: Burgred is slow but hits hard. Don't rush in. Observe his attack patterns.
  2. Parry & Stun: His standard attacks are your best opportunity to parry. A successful parry will open him up for a Stun Attack (R3/RS), dealing massive damage and creating a significant opening.
  3. Exploit Weak Points: When he's recovering or performing a slow attack, quickly aim for his weak points with your bow. Draining his stun bar will allow for another Stun Attack.
  4. Dodge Unblockables: Always dodge attacks marked with a red rune. Dodging towards him and behind him can often give you a few free hits.
  5. Abilities:
     • Brush with Death: Use this when he performs a heavy attack. Dodging at the last second will slow time, allowing you to land several critical hits or weak point shots.
     • Dive of the Valkyries / Harpoon Impalement: Excellent for burst damage, especially after a successful parry or weak point hit.
     • Poison/Fire Strike: Apply these to deal damage over time, allowing you to focus on dodging and parrying.
  6. Rations: Don't be shy about using rations if your health drops below 50%. Burgred's hits are punishing.
  7. Environmental Hazards: The fight area is relatively clear, but be mindful of the edges so you don't accidentally dodge off.

Securing the Region & Quest Completion

After defeating King Burgred, a final cinematic will play, showing his capture and the securing of Tamworth. This marks a significant step in establishing Ceolwulf's claim to Mercia.

• Objective 3: Secure the region for your allies. This is automatically completed after Burgred's defeat and the subsequent cutscene.

Rewards for "Heavy Is The Head":

Common Pitfalls & Missables

• Under-leveling: Attempting this quest significantly below Power Level 55 will make the siege and boss fight unnecessarily difficult. Grind some side activities or explore other regions first if you're struggling.
• Ignoring Archers: During the siege, archers on the walls can quickly whittle down your health. Prioritize them with your bow.
• Forgetting Rations: It's easy to get caught up in the action. Always keep an eye on your health and use rations proactively, not reactively when you're almost dead.
• Rushing Burgred: Burgred is not a foe to be rushed. Patience, parries, and dodges are key to victory. Don't get greedy with attacks.
• Missing Weak Points: using Burgred's weak points with arrows is crucial for quickly draining his stun bar and creating openings for high-damage Stun Attacks.

With these strategies, you should be well-prepared to lead the charge on Tamworth and bring King Burgred to justice, securing a vital alliance for the Raven Clan.