Salt and Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary

How to Beat That Stench Most Foul

Overcome That Stench Most Foul in Salt and Sanctuary with our guide on its unique attack patterns and environmental hazards found within the Mire of Stench.

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That Stench Most Foul

The Mire of Stench lives up to its name, and at its heart lies the putrid boss, That Stench Most Foul. This hulking, grotesque creature is a significant challenge, especially for those unprepared for its unique attack patterns and environmental hazards. This guide will walk you through navigating the Mire, preparing for the fight, and ultimately overcoming this foul beast.

Navigating the Mire of Stench

Before facing the boss, you'll need to traverse the Mire itself. This area is characterized by its poisonous pools and numerous aggressive enemies. Careful platforming and environmental awareness are key.

  • Poison Pools: The green liquid throughout the Mire inflicts poison damage. Avoid prolonged contact. The Mossy Charm or Bandaged Ring can provide some resistance, and Antidotes are essential for quick recovery.
  • Enemies:
    • Poisonous Skulls: These floating enemies shoot toxic projectiles. Prioritize them from a distance.
    • Rotten Walkers: Slow but resilient, they can inflict poison on contact.
    • Mire Lurkers: Ambush predators that emerge from the poison. Be ready to dodge their lunges.
  • Key Items to Find:
    • Stone Alchemist: Located early in the Mire, this NPC can transmute items. Useful for upgrading your gear before the boss.
    • Sanctuary: There's a sanctuary relatively close to the boss arena, making it a good place to rest and prepare. Ensure you've claimed it.

Boss Strategy: That Stench Most Foul

That Stench Most Foul is a large, slow-moving boss with powerful, poison-based attacks. Melee and ranged strategies are both viable, but require different approaches.

Preparations

  • Antidotes: Carry a full stock. Poison is a constant threat in this fight.
  • Armor: Equip armor with high poison resistance if available. The Iron Rampart Set or anything crafted from Mire materials can be beneficial.
  • Charms/Rings:
    • Mossy Charm: Reduces poison damage.
    • Bandaged Ring: Increases poison resistance.
    • Stone Ring: For melee builds, helps with poise to avoid being interrupted.
  • Weapons:
    • Melee: Fast weapons are generally better for getting hits in and dodging. Consider weapons with fire damage if you have them, as many Mire creatures are weak to it.
    • Ranged/Magic: Spells like Flame Barrage or bows with fire arrows can be very effective.
  • Consumables: Flasks of Cerulean Wine for magic users, and Red Shard for extra damage.

Phase 1: The Initial Assault

The boss will start by lumbering towards you, often initiating with a ground slam or a toxic breath attack.

  1. Toxic Breath: The boss will rear its head back and unleash a wide cone of green gas. This inflicts heavy poison damage. Dodge through it or roll away to create distance.
  2. Ground Slam: A slow, telegraphed attack where the boss raises one arm and slams it down, creating a small AoE. Roll towards the boss and under its arm to avoid this and get a few hits in.
  3. Melee Combos: It performs slow, sweeping claw attacks. These are easily dodged by rolling under its arms or away.
  4. Summoning Minions: Periodically, That Stench Most Foul will summon Poisonous Skulls. Prioritize these immediately as they add to the poison threat.

Phase 2: Enraged Stench

Once the boss reaches approximately 50% health, it becomes more aggressive and introduces new attacks.

  1. Toxic Vomit Stream: The boss will stand still and spew a continuous stream of toxic vomit in a straight line across the arena. This is a good opportunity for ranged attackers to deal damage from a safe distance. Melee users should sprint to the side and get behind the boss for a few hits.
  2. Leaping Slam: The boss will occasionally jump into the air and slam down, creating a larger poison AoE than its regular ground slam. The wind-up is noticeable; roll away as it begins its descent.
  3. Increased Minion Spawns: Expect more frequent summons of Poisonous Skulls. Keep an eye out for them and clear them quickly.

General Tips for Both Phases

  • Stay Mobile: This boss is slow, but its attacks cover a wide area. Constant movement and well-timed dodges are crucial.
  • Hit and Run (Melee): Get a few hits in after dodging an attack, then roll away to reposition. Don't get greedy.
  • Maintain Distance (Ranged): Keep your distance and pepper the boss with projectiles. Be mindful of the toxic breath and vomit stream.
  • Manage Poison: Use Antidotes as soon as you get poisoned, especially if your health is low. Don't let the poison tick down your health while you're focused on attacking.
  • Targeting: Aim for the head if possible, as it often takes slightly more damage.

Upon defeating That Stench Most Foul, you will receive its Salt and Black Pearl. You will also earn the Redshift Brand, which allows you to teleport between Sanctuaries, greatly improving your traversal capabilities.