Boss: Gorgun / Beholster
The first chamber of the Gungeon will always present you with one of two formidable foes: the Gorgun or the Beholster. While both serve as an early test of your Gungeoneering skills, they each demand distinct strategies and offer unique challenges. Mastering these initial encounters is crucial for a successful run, as they drop your first key and a valuable item, setting the tone for the rest of your descent.
Gorgun: The Petrifying Presence
The Gorgun is a serpentine boss who relies on a mix of bullet patterns and a dangerous gaze attack. Her arena is typically a rectangular room with a few pillars or obstacles that can offer temporary cover, though relying on them too heavily can restrict your movement. Constant, fluid movement and well-timed dodges are paramount.
Gorgun's Attack Patterns & How to Counter Them:
- Circular Bullet Waves: The Gorgun frequently unleashes wide, circular waves of bullets that expand outwards.
- Counter: These are best dodged by rolling through the gaps in the waves. Don't try to outrun them; a well-timed dodge roll provides invincibility frames (i-frames) that will carry you safely through. Aim to roll perpendicular to the bullet's path.
- Targeted Bullet Volley: She will occasionally fire a concentrated burst of bullets directly at your last known position.
- Counter: Keep moving! As soon as you see her wind up for this, strafe quickly to the side. A small dodge roll can also help create distance if you're cornered.
- Petrifying Gaze: This is her signature and most dangerous attack. The Gorgun will rear back, and a cone of green light will emanate from her eyes, sweeping across the arena. If caught, you will be petrified, leaving you vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
- Counter: The gaze has a distinct wind-up animation. As soon as you see it, immediately dodge roll through the cone of light. Do not try to run away from it, as it's often too wide. The i-frames from your dodge roll are your best defense. Alternatively, if there's a pillar between you and her, you can use it for cover, but be mindful of your positioning for subsequent attacks.
- Spiral Bullet Pattern: Less common, but she can also fire bullets in a tight spiral pattern.
- Counter: Similar to the circular waves, find a gap and dodge roll through it. Maintain a medium distance to give yourself more reaction time.
Optimal Gorgun Strategy:
- Maintain Mid-Range: Staying too close makes her gaze harder to react to, while being too far can make dodging bullet waves more challenging. A medium distance allows you to weave through patterns effectively.
- Prioritize Gaze Avoidance: Her petrifying gaze is the biggest threat. Always be ready to dodge roll through it.
- Focus Fire: While dodging, continuously fire at her. She has no specific weak points, so any hit counts.
- use Blanks: If you find yourself overwhelmed by bullets or caught off guard by the gaze, don't hesitate to use a blank. It clears all projectiles and provides a brief moment of invincibility.
Beholster: The Eye of the Gungeon
The Beholster is a large, floating eye that hovers around the arena, unleashing a barrage of rockets and a devastating laser beam. Its arena is often more open than the Gorgun's, emphasizing continuous movement and precise dodging over cover.
Beholster's Attack Patterns & How to Counter Them:
- Rocket Volleys: The Beholster will launch multiple rockets that home in on your position. These rockets leave behind small fire puddles upon impact.
- Counter: The rockets are relatively slow. Keep moving in a consistent direction (e.g., circling the arena) to bait them into missing. When they get close, a quick dodge roll can easily evade them. Be mindful of the fire puddles, as standing in them will deal damage.
- Eye Laser: The Beholster charges up a powerful, continuous laser beam that sweeps across the arena. This laser deals significant damage if you're caught in it.
- Counter: The laser has a clear charge-up animation. As soon as you see it, immediately start moving perpendicular to the laser's sweep. You need to outrun it. Dodge rolls can be used to quickly reposition or clear small obstacles, but don't rely on i-frames for the entire duration of the laser.
- Bullet Ring: The Beholster can also fire a ring of bullets outwards, similar to the Gorgun's circular waves.
- Counter: Find a gap in the ring and dodge roll through it. This is usually a less threatening attack compared to its rockets and laser.
- Summoned Bullet Kin: Occasionally, the Beholster will summon 1-2 Bullet Kin to assist it.
- Counter: Prioritize eliminating these adds quickly, especially if you have a weapon with good crowd control. They can distract you and make dodging the Beholster's main attacks more difficult.
Optimal Beholster Strategy:
- Constant Movement: The Beholster punishes stationary targets. Keep circling the arena to make yourself a harder target for rockets and to prepare for the laser.
- Prioritize Laser Avoidance: The laser is its most damaging attack. Always be ready to outrun it.
- Clear Adds: If Bullet Kin are summoned, take them out quickly to simplify the fight.
- Exploit Vulnerability: The Beholster is a large target, making it easier to land hits. Focus fire on its eye.
- use Blanks: If you're cornered by rockets or caught off guard by the laser, a blank can save your run.
Recommended Loadouts & General Tips for Both Bosses:
Weapon Types:
- High DPS Single-Target Weapons: Weapons like the Shotgun, Crossbow, or AK-47 are excellent for quickly burning down either boss.
- Beam Weapons: The Laser Rifle or Proton Pack can be very effective against the Beholster due to its large hitbox, allowing for continuous damage while dodging.
- Explosive Weapons: While less precise, weapons like the Grenade Launcher can deal good splash damage, especially if you're struggling with accuracy.
Active Items & Passives:
- Blanks: Always save at least one blank for the boss fight. They are invaluable for clearing the screen or escaping a tight spot.
- Armor: Any armor pick-ups are fantastic for survivability.
- Damage-Boosting Items: Items like the Scope, Heavy Bullets, or Bullet Kin's Eye will significantly speed up the fight.
- Movement Speed Boosts: Items like the Boots of Speed or Rolling Eye can make dodging easier, especially against the Beholster's laser.
Common Pitfalls:
- Panicked Dodging: Don't just spam dodge roll. Each roll has a cooldown, and mis-timing it can leave you vulnerable. Be deliberate.
- Ignoring Adds (Beholster): Letting Bullet Kin accumulate can quickly overwhelm you.
- Standing Still: Both bosses punish static players. Keep moving!
- Running Out of Ammo: Manage your ammo carefully. Switch to your starter weapon for weaker enemies in the chamber to conserve better guns for the boss.
By understanding their distinct attack patterns and applying these strategies, you'll be well-equipped to overcome either the Gorgun or the Beholster and continue your descent into the Gungeon.