You've finally made it to the Barren Swamp. The air is toxic, the ground is a mess of corrosive muck, and you’re probably already annoyed by those massive puppet-hunting cannons. Then, you find the Lies of P Anguished Guardian. Honestly? It’s a wall. A big, metal, crying wall that hits like a freight train and moves faster than something that size has any right to.
Most players hit this guy and immediately start looking for a cheese. I get it. The reach on those swings is absurd. If you’re playing a Motivity build, you feel too slow. If you’re Technique, one mistake means half your health bar is just... gone. But the secret to this fight isn't some glitch or a magical item. It’s rhythm. It is basically a dance, just a very violent one where the floor is covered in poison.
Why the Lies of P Anguished Guardian is a Skill Check
This isn't just another boss. It’s a gatekeeper. By the time you reach the Barren Swamp, the game assumes you've mastered the Perfect Guard. If you haven't, this fight will be miserable. The Lies of P Anguished Guardian is designed to punish "panic rolling." You know the feeling. You see a giant arm wind up, you dodge backward, and he just catches you at the end of your frames because his reach is deceptive.
The lore here is actually kinda tragic, too. He’s a corrupted guardian, essentially a puppet that’s been warped by the Petrification Disease and the Alchemists' experiments. He’s weeping while he tries to flatten you into a pancake. It’s grim.
Let's talk about the moveset. The Guardian has a nasty habit of delayed swings. He’ll lift that massive fist, pause for a heartbeat longer than you expect, and then slam it down. If you’re tapping the block button based on visual cues alone, you’re going to get guard-broken. You have to learn the sound of his movement. The clanking of the metal is actually a better tell than the animation itself.
Phase One: The Physical Toll
In the first half of the fight, it’s mostly raw physical power. He uses a lot of wide sweeps. The most dangerous one is the overhead slam that transitions into a shockwave. If you aren't right in his face, that shockwave will catch you.
I’ve seen a lot of people try to stay at mid-range. That is a death sentence. You want to be close enough to smell the rust. Most of his heaviest attacks actually overshoot you if you’re hugging his "knees." It sounds counterintuitive to stand right under a ten-foot-tall killing machine, but in Lies of P, the safest place is usually the most dangerous-looking one.
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One specific move to watch for is the "Body Slam." He’ll jump up and try to crush you. The hitbox on this is surprisingly wide. Don't roll away. Roll through it toward his back. If you time it right, you get a solid three seconds of free hits while he’s recovering from the impact.
Dealing with the Disruption Status
This is where things get annoying. The Lies of P Anguished Guardian inflicts Disruption. If that bar fills up, you die. Instantly. No second chances, no "last stand" health—just a game over screen.
You need to come prepared.
- Equip the best Disruption Resistance parts you have.
- Keep "Resistance Ampoules" on your belt.
- Use the "Blue Guardianship" ring if you’ve found it.
Honestly, the Disruption isn't the main threat if you’re aggressive. It only builds up when you get hit by specific shockwaves or lingering gas clouds. If you’re landing your Perfect Guards, the bar barely moves. But if you’re blocking normally and taking chip damage, the status will creep up on you. It’s a psychological tactic by the developers to make you play scared. Don't fall for it.
Phase Two: The Real Nightmare Begins
Once you get him down to about 60% health, he gets angry. The crying gets louder, the movements get more erratic, and he starts chaining those slams together. This is where most people lose the fight. He’ll do a three-hit combo that looks like it’s over after the second hit, but then he brings a backhand swing that catches you mid-heal.
Never heal when he’s standing still. Only heal when he’s finishing a long recovery animation.
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The "Charge" attack is the big one here. He’ll put his head down and barrel toward you. You can try to dodge, but the tracking on it is terrifying. He can practically drift around corners to hit you. The best way to handle this? The Aegis Legion Arm. If you’ve upgraded it even slightly, you can hold the shield up and let him ram into you. It stops his momentum and gives you a chance to reset.
The Best Weapon Loadouts for Success
Choosing the right gear is half the battle. If you’re struggling with the Lies of P Anguished Guardian, you might be using a weapon that’s too short. Reach is your friend here.
- The Bone-Cutting Saw Blade + Bramble Handle: This is a classic for a reason. The heavy attack has incredible forward momentum. You can start the swing from a safe distance, and P will lunge forward to bridge the gap. It’s perfect for punishing the Guardian's slow recovery.
- The Trident of the Covenant: If you’re a Technique build, use this. The critical hit rate is high, and the poke attack keeps a bit of distance between you and his grab move.
- Puppet String (Fully Upgraded): If you have the Level 3 Puppet String, use the "Attack Link." You can fly into the air and come down with a massive overhead strike. It’s great for building up stagger.
Speaking of stagger, that’s your win condition. The Guardian has a massive poise bar, but once he breaks, he stays down for a long time. Use Shotputs. Seriously. When his health bar glows white (indicating he’s ready for a Fatal Attack), don't try to land a charged heavy. Throw a Shotput. It instantly triggers the stagger from a safe distance. It’s basically a "win button" for the final 20% of his health.
The Barren Swamp Environment
Let's talk about the arena. It’s cramped. There are pillars and debris everywhere. I’ve seen players get backed into a corner where the camera glitches out, and they just die because they can't see what's happening.
Keep the fight in the center of the clearing. If you find yourself getting pushed toward the walls, unlock your camera, sprint to the other side, and wait for him to come to you. Controlling the space is just as important as controlling the parry timing.
Also, watch out for the water. It slows your movement slightly. It’s not a huge deal, but when you’re trying to dodge a Fury Attack (the ones where he glows red), that tiny bit of drag can be the difference between a narrow escape and a reload screen.
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Strategy Summary: The "Stay Close" Method
If you take nothing else away, remember this: stay on his left side (your right). Most of his biggest swings start from his right hand. By circling toward his left hip, you force him to use slower tracking moves.
When he does the "Hand Slam," count to one, then parry.
When he does the "Double Sweep," parry-parry, then two quick light attacks.
When he glows red for the Fury Charge, don't try to be a hero. Unless you are 100% confident in the parry, just run. Sprint in the opposite direction.
The Lies of P Anguished Guardian is a test of patience. You aren't going to burst him down in thirty seconds. It’s a slow burn. Chip away, build the stagger, and don't get greedy. Greedy players get Disruption-killed every single time.
Practical Steps for Your Next Attempt
Go back to Hotel Krat. Talk to Pulcinella. Make sure your armor is optimized for "Physical" and "Disruption" resistance.
Check your P-Organ upgrades. If you don't have "Increase Staggerable Window" or "Link Dodge," consider using a Quartz to respec. Those two upgrades make this specific fight significantly easier.
Buy ten Shotputs from the Malum District merchant. I’m not kidding. They are the most underrated item in the game. Having them in your quick-item slot for the end of the fight will save you a lot of frustration.
Finally, take a breath. This boss is hard because he’s meant to be. He’s the peak of the game's mid-point difficulty spike. Once you get past him, the path to the end of the Barren Swamp opens up, and you’re one step closer to uncovering what the Alchemists are actually doing in that tower. Focus on the metal-on-metal sound of the parry, keep your Disruption bar low, and use those Shotputs when the health bar turns white. You've got this.
Check your Legion Plug status before heading back in. If you have a spare, upgrade the Aegis arm to Level 2 so you can attack while shielding. This allows you to poke the Guardian safely while he’s doing his smaller flailing attacks, keeping the pressure on his stagger bar without risking a direct hit to your health. Ensure your grindstone is set to "Acid" or "Fire," as puppets in this stage are particularly susceptible to elemental degradation, which ticks away at their health even when you’re backing off to manage your stamina.