The Fall of the Emperor Norton

Learn how to defeat the Norton Dragon in Sunset Overdrive! This guide covers its attacks, weak points, and the best strategies to take it down.

Alright, so you've met the Norton Dragon, and now it's time to send this oversized lizard packing. This is basically a boss fight, but don't let that scare you. The key here is to keep moving and stay airborne as much as possible. If you hit the ground, you'll get swarmed by the regular OD enemies, and trust me, that's way more annoying than the dragon itself.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• The dragon itself doesn't have a traditional HP bar you'll see, but it takes damage from melee attacks to its head.
• Spiked growths appear on its back, blocking grinding. These must be shot off.
• It shoots fireballs both in front and behind during the final phase.

Phases:

1. Phase 1: The Chase
   The dragon will fly around a block in Little Tokyo, shooting fireballs ahead of it. It'll also fly past a bunch of OD enemies. Your job is to keep up with it. Don't drop to the ground, or you'll be overwhelmed. Stick to grinding and bouncing.
2. Phase 2: Spikes and Grinding
   Once you've dealt some damage (by grinding up its back and using melee on its head), the dragon will grow spikes on its back. These make it impossible to grind. You need to shoot all these spikes off first. Once they're gone, you can grind up its back again and melee its head to deal more damage.
3. Phase 3: Fiery Finale
   For the final attack, the dragon adds fireballs that shoot backward, directly at you, in addition to the ones in front. This makes lining up your jumps and grinds a bit trickier. Just like in Phase 2, you'll need to clear the spikes off its back before you can grind up to its head for the final melee blows.

Strategy:

• Stay Mobile: This is the most crucial part. Constantly grind on wires, bounce off objects, and wall-run to keep pace with the dragon. If you fall behind or land, you'll be in trouble with the ODs.
• Target the Spikes: When the spikes appear, switch to your guns and focus fire on them. You can't progress until they're gone.
• Melee is Key: Once the path is clear, grind up the dragon's back and get close to its head. Use your melee attack to deal damage. It feels pretty satisfying, honestly.
• Watch for Fire: Especially in the final phase, be aware of where the fireballs are coming from. Try to anticipate their trajectory so you don't get caught in the blast.

Completing 'The Fall of Emperor Norton' nets you $20,000, 9,000 Overcharge, the Samurai Helmet clothing item, and unlocks the 'Fast Travel: Harbour' point, plus three challenges: 'Bomb Delivery #5', 'Buck Ep 3 - Buck’s Revenge', and 'Traversal Challenge #10'.