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One of the earliest bosses you face in Stellar Blade is the Stalker, an Elite Naytiba enemy whose ferocity makes them hard to beat if you are still struggling to learn the game's combat system. Reaching the Rail Yard area will see you face off against this mindless yet aggressive foe. You'll need to discover this boss' weaknesses and develop a solid strategy to grow stronger for future fights.
Before you encounter the Stalker, take some time to practice against other enemies in Stellar Blade's large area maps. Various techniques, such as Rush Attacks, Perfect Parries, Blinks, Repulses, and more could be crucial maneuvers to use against this feral boss. Forming a plan of attack early will help you in the long run as you adapt to different moves the Stalker attempts to use against EVE.
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Advanced Strategies Against The Stalker
Use Repulse To Deal Extra Damage
As you can see in the above video by YouTube creator Miduki, there are some moments against the Stalker where your strikes against the boss will cause it to glow purple. When this happens, tilt the left stick on your controller down and press Circle to use a Repulse attack that greatly injures the Stalker. This functions similarly to Blink, but instead of teleporting behind an enemy, it allows you to knock them back.
This brief window of knockback from Repulse gives you a brief opportunity to deal damage with EVE's strongest moves. At this point in the game, you will not have increased your max health in Stellar Blade very much, so you must seize every chance to pressure the Stalker. Be careful not to Blink or Repulse into a bad position in the boss arena, which is covered in rocks and heavy machinery you could get trapped behind.
Although it may seem tempting, you should not guard every attack from the Stalker since doing so will wear down your shields throughout the fight. You want to combine defense with movement against this boss, especially since it has few ways to hurt you if you stay away. Remaining patient and using multiple techniques to challenge the Stalker's strikes will help you eventually take down the mindless enemy once and for all.
How To Defeat The Stalker Boss
Keep Your Distance And Recognize Attacks
Most of the Stalker's moves are close-range physical strikes with their extended claws and head, so the best way to deal with the boss is to keep your distance and wait for the right moment to strike. While the Stalker does have a single ranged move, most of the time the boss will try and chase you down. This gives you plenty of time to analyze the robot's attack patterns and form a strategy on the fly.
Stalker Move List |
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|---|---|---|
| Attack |
Description |
How To Counter |
| Slash Combo |
The Stalker will move forward toward EVE before unleashing a series of slashes in front of it. This combo will always be a series of four strikes, with an overhead slam sometimes used at the end. |
The boss glows red right before starting this attack. Use a Perfect Parry in Stellar Blade to interrupt this move and gain a window to attack. |
| Sweep & Slam |
After a brief moment, the Stalker swipes the ground once before slamming their claws in overhead strikes against EVE. |
Once again, the boss glows red before this attack, so try to Perfect Parry ever strike until the Stalker is stunned. |
| Tantrum |
When at 60% health or less, the Stalker may roll around the ground, swinging their claws all around them in an unpredictable pattern of strikes. |
Move back and avoid the Tantrum, then dodge the final strike where the Stalker glows yellow. |
| Rock Throw |
If EVE is keeping their distance, the Stalker will pick up a large rock from the ground and throw it at you as its only ranged attack. |
Simply dodge to one side with Blink as you see the rock being thrown. |
| Leaping Strike |
The Stalker gets low to the ground before crawling forward toward EVE extremely quickly, dealing damage along its path. |
Perform a Perfect Dodge as the Stalker is charging at you to gain a small attack window as the boss struggles to get back up. |
Some of the Stalker's strongest moves only appear when it has taken 40% or more damage to its health. Keep a watchful eye on the boss' health bar and shields to know when it will start becoming more aggressive with additional attacks.
Stalker Move List (cont.) |
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|---|---|---|
| Attack |
Description |
How To Counter |
| Jumping Dive |
The Stalker leaps into the air, then dives back down to the ground head first while swinging its claws to attack its target. |
Wait until the Stalker almost hits the ground, then perform a Perfect Dodge to move out of the way at the last second. |
| Double Grab |
After a long wind-up, the Stalker glows yellow and then blue as it stumbles and tries to grab EVE into its claws. The boss tries to do this twice in a row. |
When you see the Stalker turn blue, activate a quick Blink to teleport behind the boss and attack while avoiding the grab. This technique also builds Burst Energy when done correctly. |
| Roar |
The Stalker glows yellow while raising its claws into the air, letting out a mighty roar that damages EVE and pushes you back if you are too close to the boss. |
As you see this attack start, immediately back away from the boss to avoid taking any damage. |
| Predator Lunge |
Similar to the Jumping Dive attack, Stalker leaps forward into the air toward EVE. However, this time the boss lunges with a single claw hand extended after glowing blue before the attack. |
Watch the Stalker carefully before it jumps to see if it glows blue. When it does, Blink out of the way a few moments ahead of when the boss hits the ground. |
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Rewards For Beating The Stalker
Enjoy Some Currency And Skill Points
Taking down the Stalker will reward EVE with a large amount of money that you can spend on better items or other tools you may need as you progress further in the game. You also receive SP in Stellar Blade for defeating this boss, giving you a resource used to gain new skills and abilities. This will give you plenty of new tricks against stronger enemies and bosses found later in your adventure.
When you are ready, head back to a camp to spend the money you've earned from the boss fight to upgrade EVE in new ways. Managing to beat the Stalker in Stellar Blade not only teaches you a lot about the game's intricate combat systems but also opens the door to many evolving styles of fighting.
Source: Miduki/YouTube
- ESRB
- M for Mature
- Developer(s)
- Shift Up
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PS5
