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Part 54
High on Life 2

Part 54

Master the Gonarch boss fight in High on Life 2's Part 54. Learn strategies for damaging its weak spot, avoiding acid attacks, and navigating the cave tunnel.

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
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Master the Gonarch boss fight in High on Life 2's Part 54. Learn strategies for damaging its weak spot, avoiding acid attacks, and navigating the cave tunnel.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Locate the cluster of three spiky plants near a large rock wall. This is your initial hiding spot.
  2. 2
    Hide behind the rock wall to avoid Gonarch's attacks.
  3. 3
    Use the ledge behind the rock wall to reach a healing pool.
  4. 4
    To damage Gonarch, fire hornets through the gap between the rock wall and the plant cluster, aiming slightly below its hanging sac. Hornets will also target baby headcrabs.
  5. 5
    If Gonarch fires acid, quickly move along the ledge behind the rock to evade it. Standing further back can prevent this attack.
  6. 6
    After damaging Gonarch enough, it will break through vines blocking a cave tunnel. Ensure all baby headcrabs are dealt with before proceeding.
  7. 7
    Enter the cave tunnel and use your flashlight to find an armor battery and ammo canister near a dead HEV suit wearer.
  8. 8
    Save your game at this point, as a very difficult part of the game is approaching.
  9. 9
    Continue past the HEV suit wearer to reach the next section.
  10. 10
    As the next section loads, run forward to avoid a rockfall.
  11. 11
    Equip the gluon gun and continuously fire at Gonarch's sac. Adjust fire if Gonarch moves.
  12. 12
    If Gonarch spits acid, run forward to avoid it.
  13. 13
    If gluon ammo is insufficient, switch to the RPG or assault rifle and target the sac.
  14. 14
    If Gonarch hits you, consider quick-restoring and retrying. An alternative is to start with RPG rockets before switching to the gluon gun.
  15. 15
    Alternative Strategy (Gauss Gun): Use fully powered altfire blasts from the gauss gun. Stay back near the cave-in, charge a blast, and hit Gonarch when it appears. Move to a corner near the rubble to charge another blast. After the third blast, switch to the hornet gun for baby headcrabs, then back to the gauss gun.
  16. 16
    After defeating Gonarch, locate the large trapezoid-shaped hole in the back corner of the area.
  17. 17
    Drop into the hole and walk until you find a small stick-out rock.
  18. 18
    Turn around, crouch-walk backward onto the rock, and be ready to shoot a headcrab that appears with hornets.
  19. 19
    Stand up, turn around, and quickly jump to the rock on the left to prevent more headcrabs from spawning.
  20. 20
    Enter the small room past the rock for a healing pool. Heal to 100% health.
  21. 21
    Return to the stick-out rock and jump to the remaining unexplored rock.
  22. 22
    Quickly kill the headcrab in the next room with hornets.
  23. 23
    Collect the ammo canister and armor batteries.
Tips
  • Gonarch's vulnerable spot is the large sac hanging beneath its body.
  • Aiming hornets slightly below the sac will cause them to swerve up and hit it.
  • The acid attack can be avoided by moving along the ledge behind the rock wall.
  • Save your game after finding the armor and ammo in the cave tunnel.
  • For non-Source versions, avoid the strategy of shooting up at Gonarch from below the healing pool, as it may cause Gonarch to become invincible.
  • If using the gauss gun strategy, be aware that Gonarch can still hit you with acid while you are in the rubble corner.
  • The trapezoid-shaped hole is the safest way to access the lower area, though dropping directly to ledges is possible but more error-prone.

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