Is Gabriel Hard in ULTRAKILL? A Deep Dive into the Angelic Challenge
Yes, Gabriel is undeniably a hard boss in ULTRAKILL, especially on a first playthrough. He’s designed to be a significant hurdle, a test of everything the player has learned up to that point. His difficulty stems not just from his raw power, but also from his aggressive moveset, requiring precise timing, movement, and resource management from the player. While players may find some bosses more challenging, Gabriel’s initial encounter is often cited as a major wall for many, emphasizing his demanding nature. While he may not be the hardest boss by technicality when compared to Prime Souls, he is definitely a significant difficulty spike in the base campaign.
Understanding Gabriel’s Difficulty
Gabriel’s difficulty isn’t simply about him having a large health pool or doing massive damage. It’s a combination of factors:
- Aggressive and Unpredictable Moveset: Gabriel’s attack patterns, while having tells, are fast and relentless. He utilizes a mix of melee attacks, ranged spears, dashes, and area-of-effect abilities, requiring players to adapt constantly. He doesn’t allow players to sit back and spam attacks.
- High Damage Output: Many of Gabriel’s attacks deal significant damage, punishing mistakes severely. Even glancing blows can quickly deplete a player’s health, making evasion and proper timing crucial.
- Mobility and Speed: Gabriel is incredibly mobile, dashing around the arena with speed and precision, forcing the player to react quickly and accurately. This agility makes him hard to pin down and makes him less predictable compared to other bosses.
- Stamina Management: The encounter emphasizes good stamina conservation. Dodging Gabriel’s dash attacks, which is a cornerstone of surviving the fight, requires good use of stamina to avoid getting caught.
- Mental Game: The article also mentions “the number one thing to learn is to not get upset with this fight.” This emphasizes the mental fortitude needed for this fight, suggesting the fight is designed to be challenging and will require multiple attempts.
Comparing Gabriel to Other ULTRAKILL Bosses
Many players find Gabriel more challenging than other Act 1 bosses but it is worth comparing to V2, the first boss in the game that players will likely have any problems with. The article mentions that while V2 took some players 50-60 tries, Gabriel only took around 25 tries, showing there is some variety in player’s difficulty with the two fights.
- V2 vs. Gabriel: Some players find V2 more difficult than Gabriel. This is primarily due to V2’s ability to punish overly defensive play, forcing the player to be more aggressive and dynamic. Despite this, many players find Gabriel’s pattern to be more punishing and a bigger difficulty spike. It really does depend on the individual player, especially since V2 is fought before the player is fully adjusted to the core mechanics of ULTRAKILL.
- Prime Souls: The article mentions Minos Prime as a significantly harder boss. He is designed to be more difficult than Gabriel, requiring greater mastery of the game’s mechanics and is a far longer fight. This puts into perspective that while Gabriel is tough, there are bosses who are significantly more challenging.
Tips for Overcoming Gabriel
While the encounter is difficult, it is not impossible. Several strategies can aid in beating Gabriel:
- Mastering Movement: The article explicitly states that “Dashing, dash-lunging, and sliding play the biggest factor in your survival.” Properly utilizing movement is essential for dodging Gabriel’s attacks and creating openings for your own offensive.
- Parrying: The article also mentions parrying. Certain attacks like the spear thrusts and his final combo hit, and his “downfall” attack, can be parried. This can significantly reduce the damage you take and create opportunities to counterattack.
- Resource Management: Managing stamina and weapon switching for maximum damage output is necessary. Do not get tunnel-visioned on one weapon, since the proper use of multiple weapons is vital.
- Observation: Learning and understanding Gabriel’s attack patterns, as well as the tells of when he is about to attack, is vital for reacting in time.
The Significance of Gabriel’s Encounter
Gabriel’s boss fight in ULTRAKILL is designed to be a skill check. It forces the player to utilize everything they have learned up to that point and reinforces the game’s core mechanics. Overcoming Gabriel is a significant milestone and prepares the player for even more challenging encounters ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gabriel in ULTRAKILL
How powerful is Gabriel in the lore?
Gabriel is known as the Will of God and is considered one of the most powerful angels. He earned the title Judge of Hell after defeating King Minos and also ended King Sisyphus’ insurrection, further solidifying his status as a formidable entity.
What is Gabriel’s personality like?
Gabriel is highly egotistical and prideful, believing himself to be superior. He views V1 as insignificant and has a fanatic devotion to the idea that humanity is unworthy of God’s love. His personality adds depth to the fight, turning him into a more compelling character.
Is Gabriel a villain?
Yes, he can be considered a villain. He believes that by bringing Hell to Earth, he can purify humanity. His actions and motivations stem from a warped sense of righteousness.
Why is Gabriel sometimes depicted as female?
In some interpretations, particularly when the angels take the form of swans on Earth, Gabriel is depicted as female. This is associated with an angel of wisdom and has to do with in-game lore. The design has no bearing on the actual boss fight.
What are some of Gabriel’s notable lines?
Some of his iconic lines include: “You make even the DEVIL CRY!”, “BEHOLD! The power of an Angel!”, “You need more power!”, and “Foolishness machine.” These lines add to the boss fight’s intensity and his overall character.
Can you parry Gabriel’s attacks?
Yes, several of Gabriel’s attacks can be parried using the B.R.E.A.C.H. This includes his spear attacks, the last hit of his combo, and his downfall attack. Utilizing parries can be beneficial for the fight.
What are some ways to make the fight easier?
The fight is hard and most players will die multiple times. The best way to make it easier is to learn his patterns, utilize movement effectively, parry when possible, and manage stamina and resources well.
What happens in the second phase of the fight?
Once Gabriel’s health is depleted, he enters the second phase by falling towards the ground. To complete a challenge, this has to be above the pit area in the arena. This phase also changes the moves he uses and the speed at which he uses them.
How does Gabriel’s color palette change?
When enraged, Gabriel originally had a red and gold color palette. This was changed to white and gold to prevent him from looking too much like Iron Man.
Why is stamina important in the Gabriel fight?
Stamina conservation is very important due to how many dashes you will likely be using. Dashing away from his spear attack and repositioning quickly, requires good stamina management for a consistent offense.
Who is the Father in ULTRAKILL?
The Father, also known as God, is an unseen character mentioned throughout the story. He is the creator of Heaven, humanity, and eventually, Hell.
Does heaven exist in the world of ULTRAKILL?
Yes, Heaven has existed since the beginning of time as the residence of the Father and his servants. The Father is said to have watched over humanity from heaven.
Is ULTRAKILL made by a single developer?
Yes, ULTRAKILL is mainly developed by one person, Arsi “Hakita” Patala, a developer from Finland.
How do you get a perfect rank in ULTRAKILL?
A Perfect rank is awarded by completing a level with S ranks in all three categories without dying. This means not only do you need a high enough score, kills and time but also not dying once during the level.
Does Minos Prime hate Gabriel?
Yes, Minos Prime had a strong dislike for Gabriel. Minos was a champion of the people while Gabriel was sent to kill him despite him attempting to reason with him, further showcasing his disdain for Gabriel.