The Crimson Hunt Edmund boss fight serves as the final confrontation of Chapter 3, pitting the half-blood hunter Victoria against the ancient vampire lord Edmund Blackthornnene in a ruined church setting. This encounter tests your melee parrying, ranged precision, and resource management across multiple combat phases.
Defeating Edmund requires managing tight melee exchanges, dodging teleport attacks, and eliminating waves of summoned minions before delivering the final blow.
Boss Overview: Edmund Blackthornnene
Edmund Blackthornnene is the primary antagonist responsible for the murder of Victoria's parents and the abduction of Eleanor. The encounter takes place at the climax of Chapter 3 inside the church. Throughout the fight, Edmund taunts Victoria regarding her human heritage and the execution of her mother.
| Encounter Details | Official / Playthrough Data |
|---|---|
| Location | Church (Chapter 3) |
| Protagonist | Victoria |
| Primary Mechanics | Melee sword dueling, parrying, firearm combat, minion waves |
| Key Weapon Tools | Sword, shotgun, crossbow, healing syringes, wooden stake |
| Key Achievements | Defeat Edmund, Defeat Edmund in his first phase without taking any damage |
Phase 1: Melee Duel and Parrying
The encounter opens as a close-quarters sword duel. Edmund utilizes quick blade swings and sudden teleports across the cathedral floor.
Key mechanics and patterns to track during Phase 1:
- Teleport Strikes: Edmund frequently teleports directly behind Victoria or closes large distances instantly. His reach extends further than his visual model suggests, meaning backing away alone will not prevent incoming damage.
- Melee Clashes and Parries: Players can parry Edmund's sword strikes to stagger him. Performing successful parries during combat also contributes toward the 15 required for the Parry Master achievement.
- Stamina Management: Continuous swinging depletes Victoria's stamina, leaving her vulnerable to counter-attacks. Attack in controlled bursts rather than spamming melee swings.
Strategy for the No-Damage Phase 1 Achievement
The game includes a dedicated achievement: "Defeat Edmund in his first phase without taking any damage." Earning this requires clean execution:
- Watch the Teleport Recovery: As soon as Edmund disappears, prepare to pivot immediately. He regularly reappears right behind your back.
- Controller Input Advantage: Playthrough testing shows controller inputs often register faster than keyboard bindings for quick reaction dodges and blocks against his teleport swings.
- Patience Over Aggression: Wait for Edmund to finish his forward attack chain before executing light counter-slashes. Do not overextend when stamina runs low.
- Dialogue Markers: The phase concludes once dialogue triggers where Edmund mocks Victoria's human father and Victoria retaliates regarding her mother. If you are hit at any point before the projectile sequence begins, reload your save to try again.
Phase 2: Ranged Combat, Projectiles, and Minions
After enduring Victoria's initial assault, Edmund shifts tactics, unleashing ranged attacks and relying on summoned backup.
Projectiles and Movement
Edmund begins hurling dark projectiles and blood energy from elevated platforms and distance. Keep moving laterally across the church floor to avoid direct hits. When Edmund teleports back into range, equip heavy firearms such as the shotgun or crossbow to deal substantial damage while maintaining a safe distance.
Clearing Minion Waves
During this phase, Edmund summons vampire minions into the arena:
- Prioritize eliminating additional enemies quickly so you are not swarmed while tracking Edmund's location.
- Conserve ammunition where possible, but use the shotgun if minions group together.
- Keep syringes ready on hotkeys. Healing before health drops completely also tracks progress toward the Blood Is Life achievement.
The Final Blow
Once Edmund's health is depleted and his minion waves are eliminated, Victoria closes the distance to impale Edmund with a wooden stake, triggering his final dialogue before turning to Eleanor's fate.
Achievements Tied to Edmund's Fight
Several Steam achievements can be completed during or directly after the Edmund boss encounter:
- Defeat Edmund: Awarded for completing the final boss encounter and finishing the fight.
- Defeat Edmund in his first phase without taking any damage: Earned by clearing the initial sword-fighting stage without sustaining a single hit.
- See What I See: Requires watching all cutscenes without skipping. If you skip the pre-fight dialogue or mid-fight cutscenes during your initial run, this achievement will not unlock.
- The Rebirth: Unlocked upon finishing Chapter 3 and completing the game's story.
- I'm Used to the Pain!: Unlocked if you complete this fight and finish the story on Hard difficulty.
Combat Tips and Technical Glitches to Watch Out For
Players and playthrough footage highlight several combat quirks and glitches during the final chapter:
- Weapon Swap Lock: In some instances, switching between firearms and the sword can cause the character model to freeze or lock weapon inputs. Avoid spamming weapon swap buttons rapidly during active combat animations.
- Cutscene Skipping Warning: If you are chasing the cutscene achievement, do not press skip buttons during the opening argument between Victoria and Edmund or during Eleanor's final cutscene.
- Arena Clipping: Summoned minions have occasionally been observed phasing through church geometry. If an enemy marker appears but no target is visible, listen for audio cues or wait for the boss to reposition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip cutscenes during the Edmund fight?
You can skip cutscenes on repeat playthroughs to save time when attempting combat achievements. However, skipping any cutscenes on your initial run voids the "See What I See" achievement.
What weapons are most effective against Edmund?
The first phase restricts the player to sword combat and parrying mechanics. In the second phase, ranged weapons such as the shotgun and crossbow provide safe, burst damage against both Edmund and his summoned minions.
What happens in the ending after defeating Edmund?
Following Edmund's defeat, Victoria finds Eleanor mortally injured. To prevent Eleanor from dying and to avoid repeating what happened to her own mother, Victoria bites Eleanor, transforming her into a vampire and saving her life.
