Aava, the King’s Pet: Unmasking Her Weaknesses and Defeating Her in Dark Souls 2
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Aava, the King’s Pet, is a formidable boss encounter in the Crown of the Ivory King DLC for Dark Souls 2. This majestic, saber-toothed white tiger presents a unique challenge, requiring players to understand its weaknesses and adjust their strategies accordingly. So, to answer the burning question, Aava is weak to Fire and Dark damage. However, that weakness to dark is somewhat mitigated, as she has some dark resistances due to being covered in matted darkness. This makes fire damage the most effective option to exploit.
Understanding Aava’s Vulnerabilities
While the general principle of exploiting a boss’s weakness applies here, there’s more to it than simply spamming fire spells. Her resistance to Dark damage, although not as strong as some other enemies, can impact the overall effectiveness of dark-based attacks. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Fire Damage: Your Best Bet
Fire-based attacks are where you’ll see the most significant damage output against Aava. This can come in the form of spells like Fireball, Great Combustion, or Flame Weapon. Infusing your weapon with Fire, and using pyromancies are excellent ways to take advantage of her weakness.
Dark Damage: Proceed with Caution
While she is technically weak to Dark damage, the darkness covering her body provides a layer of resistance. This doesn’t mean Dark attacks are entirely useless, but you will likely see that it is less effective than fire. Consider using Dark damage only if it is your primary damage type and you are not able to switch to fire.
Other Elemental Considerations
It’s also important to note that, as the original source material states, “Other elements are unconfirmed at this time”. This implies that standard physical, lightning, and magic damage types do not provide any significant damage increase over your baseline weapon attacks.
The Importance of Observation
The key to any Dark Souls encounter is observation. Watch Aava’s patterns, understand her timings, and don’t get greedy with your attacks. You will need to be prepared to dodge, roll, and position yourself to exploit her weaknesses effectively.
15 Frequently Asked Questions about Aava, The King’s Pet
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Aava, to help you prepare for the fight:
1. How do I make Aava visible to my co-op phantoms?
Aava is initially invisible to other players. To make her visible, you as the host must possess the Eye of the Priestess. This item is essential for summoning assistance for this boss fight.
2. Does Aava’s health increase with co-op phantoms?
Yes, like all other DLC bosses in Dark Souls 2, Aava’s defenses and health pool increase with the addition of co-op phantoms. Keep this in mind as you decide whether or not to seek help.
3. Is Aava the hardest boss in the Crown of the Ivory King DLC?
While Aava is certainly a challenging boss, she is not ranked as the hardest in the DLC. Most players find that the Burnt Ivory King presents a more difficult encounter, with other challenging fights like Lud & Zallen also in the mix. Aava tends to be seen as less difficult than both of those, and is also less difficult than Sir Alonne or the Fume Knight, found in the other DLC areas.
4. What are Aava’s attack patterns?
Aava utilizes a variety of melee attacks, including claw swipes, a pounce attack, and a tail swipe. She also has a leaping attack. Learning these patterns is key to dodging effectively and finding openings to attack.
5. What weapon types are effective against Aava?
Any weapon can be viable if you understand Aava’s weakness and movement, but weapons that can be infused with fire or have natural fire damage are most effective. Fast weapons are best for quickly getting in hits between her attacks.
6. Should I use a shield against Aava?
Shields can be useful, but you will still need to dodge many of her attacks, as her attacks will be too strong to easily block. A shield with good physical defense is a solid option. The real difficulty lies in timing your dodges to evade her fast attacks.
7. Can I use spells effectively against Aava?
Yes, spells that inflict fire damage are highly effective. Spells that inflict dark damage can still be used effectively but won’t hit as hard, and should only be used if you can’t easily respec or switch gear. Be careful of your spell casting timings, though, as Aava can interrupt spell casts with her quick movement.
8. What armor should I wear for the Aava fight?
Armor with high physical defense and some fire defense is recommended. Light armor can be used to allow you to evade her fast attacks, but bear in mind she will hit hard when she does make contact.
9. How can I prepare for the Aava fight?
Preparation is key. Make sure you have your equipment repaired, use a fire weapon buff such as gold pine resin or fire resin and are stocked up on any consumables you might need, such as lifegems. Try to fight her on your own first and only summon phantoms once you understand the move patterns.
10. Is Aava weak to any status effects?
Based on available information, Aava does not have any specific weaknesses to status effects. Focus primarily on exploiting her elemental weaknesses for the most effective damage.
11. Where is Aava located?
Aava is located in the Frozen Eleum Loyce area, within the Crown of the Ivory King DLC. She can be accessed after reaching the inner walls bonfire.
12. Does Aava drop any unique items?
Upon defeating Aava, she drops the Soul of Aava, the King’s Pet. This soul can be used to create powerful weapons and items.
13. Can I summon NPCs for the Aava fight?
Yes, you can summon NPC phantoms for the Aava fight. These can provide extra support, but keep in mind that summoning too many phantoms will increase Aava’s health and defenses.
14. What is the best strategy to beat Aava solo?
A good strategy for soloing Aava involves baiting out her attacks, dodging, and then attacking her from the side or behind. Be patient, as rushing her can lead to mistakes. Use weapons or spells that exploit her fire weakness to do the most damage you can.
15. Does Aava have a second phase?
No, Aava does not have a second phase. Once you deplete her health bar, the fight is over, meaning she only has one set of attack patterns to learn.
Concluding Thoughts
Aava, the King’s Pet, is a challenging but rewarding boss in Dark Souls 2. By understanding her weaknesses to Fire and slightly less so to Dark damage, utilizing the correct equipment, and observing her attack patterns, you can triumph over this formidable foe. Always remember to adapt your strategy and stay focused, and you’ll soon be able to celebrate your victory over this majestic creature.