Ghostrunner 2: How to defeat Ahriman The Destroyer

Ghostrunner 2 may be a tough game, but it amps up the difficulty even further during its boss fights. The very first boss, Ahriman The Destroyer, gives players a solid taste of what's to come. It is a big shakeup in the pacing, so one will need to steel their nerves and grip their controllers because this foe presents a frustrating challenge.

That said, Ahriman is a surprisingly easy encounter if players grasp the patterns and tactics, especially after returning with newly obtained upgrades and skills from later levels. For newcomers, however, this fight will certainly be a wake-up call to hone their combat and movement skills further.

Note: The article contains spoilers regarding the game's narrative.

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Ghostrunner 2: how to defeat Ahriman

Players encounter Ahriman as part of the story mission "Will Bushido Allow It?". He is one of the enemy Ghostrunners who revive Mitra in the cutscene before the fight.

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Phase 1

Ahriman hits hard, but his attacks are well-telegraphed (Screenshot via Ghostrunner 2)

When the battle begins, players best be prepared as Ahriman tries to flank them and strikes with a downward swing that lands directly in front of him. This can be easily dodged sideways and then countered with strikes. If players move away, he might slam onto the ground, creating a 360-degree wave of plasma that can be jumped over.

Ahriman will follow this up with a few other moves, such as creating distance between himself and the player to float mid-air and launch four disc projectiles. Simply strafing to the side can work, but since they slightly track the player, it is best to dodge them diagonally.

Time to get back into action (Screenshot via Ghostrunner 2)

Alternately, he will blink within melee range and try to strike with a left swing of his sword, which may also be followed up by a right swing. Dodge in either case or perfect-parry him to retaliate with counterattacks when he is open. When his health is down to 75%, he blasts protagonist Jack away into a chasm, with an unknown character (later revealed to be Bakunin) swooping in to save him.

Use the Gap Jammer grapple to get back onto stable ground. Unfortunately, there is a series of three verticle walls between Jack and the boss. Use wall run to get back to the fight, but be wary: Ahriman will launch more disc projectiles at Jack while he is platforming. Hold the block button to nullify the attacks, but pay attention to the stamina gauge.

If empty, Jack cannot block subsequent attacks, thus leaving him vulnerable. The next phase begins after getting back to the main platform.

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Phase 2

Rinse and repeat till he is downed (Screenshot via Ghostrunner 2)

Bakunin will have Ahriman paralyzed, meaning players can grapple the boss to deliver a few hits. He will scamper away and repeat the four moves from the previous phase. React accordingly, and with Bakunin as support, players can grapple with him to avoid his AOE (area of effect) attacks like the ring.

Furthermore, the ally's ability can be used to temporarily stun Ahriman and sneak in some damage. Note that, like other Ultimate abilities in Ghostrunner 2, this has a long cooldown, so players cannot spam it. With the first boss beaten, they will obtain the Sword skin called The Undoer as a reward.

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Ghostrunner 2 launches on October 26, 2023, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. Read our review to learn what makes it a successful sequel.