How to Beat Boss: Major General Ezra Shields

Overcome Major General Ezra Shields in The Surge 2. Master parrying and environmental awareness to defeat this mech-piloting boss in his multi-phase fight.

Major General Ezra Shields is a formidable opponent, piloting a heavily armored mech that combines ranged and melee attacks. This fight is a true test of your parrying skills and environmental awareness. Prepare for a multi-phase encounter where adaptability is key.

Recommended Gear and Implants

• Weapon: A fast-hitting weapon with good impact, such as a Twin-Rigged or One-Handed weapon, is recommended for quickly breaking armor parts. The Codename: Valkyrie or Jaguar's Paw are excellent choices if you have them.
• Armor: Prioritize armor sets that offer high physical defense and some elemental resistance (especially to electric damage). The Lynx Gear for stamina regeneration or the Proteus Gear for defense are solid options.
• Implants:
  • Medi-Voltaic Injection: Essential for health recovery.
  • Vital Boosters: Increase your maximum health, providing a larger margin for error.
  • Stamina Enhancer: Crucial for maintaining offensive pressure and dodging.
  • Rigged Bypass: Can provide a small energy boost on successful parries, which will be frequent in this fight.
  • Kinetic Absorber: Reduces stamina cost of blocking, useful if you struggle with parrying consistently.
• Consumables: Stock up on Small Energy Drink and Large Energy Drink for quick energy generation, and Health Injectors for emergency healing.

Phase 1: The Armored Mech

Ezra Shields begins the fight in his heavily armored mech. His primary attacks in this phase include:

• Triple Shot: Shields fires three rapid projectiles from his arm cannon. These can be parried or dodged to the side.
• Ground Slam: He will raise an arm and slam it down, creating a shockwave. Dodge backwards or parry the arm.
• Charge Attack: Shields will charge directly at you. This is a prime opportunity for a directional parry to stagger him.
• Melee Swings: Standard horizontal and vertical swings with his mech arms. These are predictable and can be parried.

Strategy for Phase 1:

1. Target the Arms: Your primary goal is to sever both of Ezra's mech arms. This will disable his ranged attacks and significantly reduce his melee reach. Focus on one arm at a time.
2. Parry, Parry, Parry: Shields' attacks are generally well-telegraphed. Master the directional parry to build energy and create openings. A successful parry on his charge attack will often stagger him, allowing for a few free hits.
3. use the Environment: The arena has several pillars. Use these for cover against his Triple Shot if you need to heal or regroup, but be aware they can be destroyed.
4. Energy Management: Use your energy for healing with Medi-Voltaic Injections or for powerful finishing blows on his arms.
5. Maintain Distance (Initially): While learning his patterns, keep a medium distance to react to his ranged attacks and charges. Close the gap after a successful parry or dodge.

Once both arms are severed, Ezra Shields will enter Phase 2.

Phase 2: Exposed Core

With his arms gone, Ezra's mech becomes more vulnerable, but also more aggressive. His attacks change:

• Flamethrower Sweep: Shields will sweep a flamethrower in a wide arc. Dodge through this or sprint away.
• Electric Pulse: He will periodically emit an electric pulse that deals damage in a small radius around him. This is telegraphed by a glowing effect. Dodge away quickly.
• Body Slam: Shields will attempt to jump and body slam you. This creates a larger shockwave than his arm slams. Dodge to the side.
• Melee Kicks/Headbutts: He will use his legs and head for close-range attacks. These are faster but still parryable.

Strategy for Phase 2:

1. Target the Core: The glowing core on his chest is now your primary target. This is his weak point.
2. Exploit Openings: After his Flamethrower Sweep or Electric Pulse, he will have a brief recovery period. Use this to get in a few hits on his core.
3. Aggressive Parrying: His melee attacks are still parryable. A successful parry will often stagger him, exposing his core for a short duration.
4. Stay Mobile: Due to the Flamethrower and Electric Pulse, continuous movement is crucial. Don't stand still for too long.
5. Finish Him: Once his health is low, you'll be prompted for a finishing blow on his core. Execute this to defeat Major General Ezra Shields.

Rewards

Upon defeating Major General Ezra Shields, you will receive:

• Ezra Shields' Weapon: A powerful weapon, often a heavy-duty single-rigged or twin-rigged weapon, depending on which parts you severed.
• Ezra Shields' Gear Schematics: Schematics for crafting his unique armor set, which typically offers high defense and energy-related bonuses.
• Tech Scrap: A significant amount of Tech Scrap for upgrades.
• Core Power: An increase in your maximum Core Power.

Congratulations on overcoming this challenging boss! The path forward is now clear.