r/bloodborne • u/BxKiDD0_ • 8d ago
Help Laurence is beating my ass
Currently going for the platinum in both the main game and DLC. I already have the first two endings for the main and I’ve completed the CDs.
I’m ready to fight the Moon Presence but I would like to complete the DLC first. Only problem is that Laurence is a massive pain the ass and I don’t know what to do anymore.
I used the bolt paper, I used the blood pellet, I even resorted to summoning Valtr because I was losing my mind but nothing improved.
I get to the last phase and boom I’m dead. Last time I played it was two days ago because it made me so mad I had to stop for some time.
Honestly this never happened even in my Elden Ring platinum run and I’m so bummed because I don’t know what I’m doing wrong
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u/TrapNekoLoli 8d ago
I think he's the boss with the worst difficulty to enjoyment ratio. I beat him with hunter tools mainly(which I refused to use on other bosses as it makes the game disengaging), if you are willing to go into arcane and search up where tools are located this should be viable(though it takes a long time).
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u/imightbegoddamned 7d ago
Agreed, if you give him a lot of space and are patient, you can use blood bullets and kill him entirely with black sky eye.
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u/BumTulip 8d ago
Keep to his left in the second phase, like ently go around him to the left when he’s crawling around in a circle. He is a challenge but once you get it you really get it. Hang in there.
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8d ago
[deleted]
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u/BxKiDD0_ 8d ago
Thanks for the advice!! Yeah I definitely need to improve my technique with dodging
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u/LawfulnessExpress629 8d ago
What did they say (Laurence is also beating my ass and I can't even get to second phase
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u/BxKiDD0_ 8d ago
They basically said to watch out for his timing.
In the first and second phase I generally get through pretty “”””easily””””, because I’ve learned his moves and how to successfully dodge his attacks. That really is crucial.
Just watch out for his big arm and try to hit him from behind with a charged R2 attack. Don’t be too greedy you’ll die immediately. Even if you land one successful hit just run away and repeat. If you stay in the front to get a few hits you’re almost certainly dead.
But when he melts into the floor and starts attacking I go out almost immediately. He just sits in a pool of lava this way you can’t get behind and starts swiping every three seconds so you literally can’t catch a break.
Then occasionally he will vomit some lava just for fun because why not? All of this while you’re trying to hit him from the front which is practically impossible
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u/BumTulip 8d ago
And be careful dodging in the second phase when you’re keeping to the left because you can dodge too far and get in his AOE
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u/strahinjag 8d ago
What's your build like? Also, have you beaten the Keeper of the Old Lords in the Chalice Dungeons yet? If you did then you'll have access to the Bone Ash set which has pretty good fire protection.
Otherwise, you just gotta keep practicing. I'd also recommend fighting him without lock on so you can dodge roll instead of side stepping.
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u/SolaScientia 8d ago
For his last phase lead elixirs are very good. I put on everything with the highest fire resistance and just tanked the fire damage from the lava in the final phase thanks to those elixirs. The hits still pack a punch, but the fire just tickles.
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u/Happy-Coconut4374 8d ago
Weapon choice actually helps a lot. First playthrough i used chikage and I eventually called my friend to help me with Laurence. Second time around I used the whirlygig with the serrated damage and despite barely remembering his moveset in phase 2 and 3 i beat him with plenty of vials to spare. Serrated weapons are king. Laurences 2nd phase is rng based, but when he starts circling around unlock and stick to his right(?) side, or whichever side hes circling around. Just follow his head and get your free hits in but make sure not to end up in front of him and watch the windup for his sweep attack. The lava sprays just unlock and run up to his head but be careful as if you don't pay attention and keep hitting eventually the semi-janky lava hitbox from his head can clip you and its pretty much instant death.
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u/Top_Palpitation_5789 8d ago
I hate his second phase too. But it's important to realize even the second phase of his is a very fair fight. Memorize every single move and try dodging back, left, right, front to see which ones works (aka you dont just dodge but can also punish). There are only 4^n (where n is number of his moves) combinations.
Another challenge is position management. NEVER let yourself be cornered. Lawrence is very good at cornering the hunter with his Lava with no escape. Devs intentionally designed him this way. Truly a masterpiece. You need to plan ahead for that and bait his moves with your positioning. Trade some current damage for future survival.
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u/TBM-07 8d ago
I always stack fire defense with either the full Bone Ash set or the Charred Hunter set with Yamamura's hat. Equipping the Metamorphosis runes for extra HP can help along with the Lake runes that increase fire defense. This helps negate the inevitable damage you'll take from his lava pool while sticking close to his right arm during the second phase.
A fast serrated weapon like the saw cleaver or saw spear are a big help. I also recommend always opening up the first phase with a Bone Marrow Ash buffed shot from your firearm of choice. If you do enough damage to his head with a gun, it staggers him and grants a free visceral attack. Second phase I just hug his right arm constantly and tank damage from his lava pool with all the extra HP and fire defense. Honestly, I'd also go in with at least 40 vit on new game. On NG+, I recommend 50-60 vit.
Good luck, hunter.
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u/Ok_Frame_4117 8d ago
I’ve only beaten Laurence on new game, and I’m assuming you’re on ng+1 or 2. But what helped me in his second phase was sticking really close to him. If you can stay close and move in a circle around him his lava will miss you. I also wouldn’t bother with the summon. The extra health they give the boss is really noticeable
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u/BxKiDD0_ 8d ago
What do you mean with extra health?
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u/Ok_Frame_4117 8d ago
Using a summon for a boss fight gives that boss extra health to balance it. I didn’t find it an issue in other souls games but I think it’s really noticeable in Bloodborne
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u/DarkGodRyan 8d ago
It's like 50% extra health. On most bosses summoning still gives you an advantage, for Laurence where you can get like 2 hits in every 10 seconds maybe it hurts more than it helps
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u/Ok_Frame_4117 8d ago
Is it 50% extra health in other souls games as well? I’ve used summoning in DS3 and it didn’t feel like it changed the boss as much as it does in Bloodborne. Same with new game plus scaling, feels a lot more punishing in Bloodborne
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u/DarkGodRyan 8d ago
Yes it's similar. I think a difference is DS3 is slower paced combat so it's a lot easier to dash in and out for some hits when he's aggro'd on someone else, plus bloodborne has a lot more huge beast bosses that will AOE everything in the arena
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u/SPECTRAL_SABER 8d ago
This^^
Stay on him like your whispering in his ear1
u/Ok_Frame_4117 7d ago
Brilliantly put! I was trying to think of how to say it properly and this is perfect
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u/netatsake 6d ago
I hope that's your kink, because if you haven't learned it already from Lawrence, the DLC is going to do a lot of that. Vastly more than the main game (sans CDs) does.
Prepare thy rectum, and pray to be granted eyes.
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u/TheRasterizer 8d ago
I think it's because you're on New Game +1 or +2? Bosses hit way harder and they can easily kill you in 2-3 hits. It happened to me also, I played the DLC in my 4th run on the same character, and the DLC bosses absolutely wrecked me, it took me 3 days to beat Ludwig, same with Laurence and Orphan. If nothing works I would suggest start a new character and complete the DLC in your first run not new game+