You’re riding through the golden fields of Argolis, minding your own business, when you see it. A massive, tan shape lounging in the center of a sinkhole. That’s the Nemean Lion AC Odyssey players talk about with a mix of awe and genuine frustration. It’s not just a big cat. Honestly, it’s a brick wall for players who haven’t mastered the game's combat rhythm.
This isn't your standard mercenary fight.
The Nemean Lion is the first real "gear check" in the Daughters of Artemis questline. Given to you by Daphnae near the Temple of Artemis in Phocis, this hunt sends you straight into the maw of a legendary beast with hide that—according to myth—is completely impenetrable. While Ubisoft didn't make it literally invulnerable to swords, they certainly gave it enough health to make it feel that way.
Finding the Nemean Lion in Argolis
Where is this thing? You’ll find it in the Sinkholes of Herakles. That’s in the southeastern part of Argolis. If you’re looking at your map, it’s a big, dusty depression that looks like a natural arena. Because it is.
The arena itself is a trap.
It’s sandy, open, and offers almost zero verticality. You can't climb a pillar to cheese this fight with a bow like you can with some of the other legendary animals. You’re in the pit with a predator that is faster than you.
Most people stumble into this fight around level 20 or 25. If you’re under-leveled, don't even bother. The Lion has a high "burst" potential, meaning it can take you from full health to a loading screen in about two swipes. It's aggressive. It doesn't wait for you to heal. It just keeps coming.
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The Actual Mechanics of the Fight
Let's get real about the moveset. The Nemean Lion AC Odyssey fight is built on three main behaviors.
First, the pounce. This is the one that kills most people. The lion crouches, glows red (meaning it's unblockable), and launches itself across the arena. If you dodge too early, it tracks you. If you dodge too late, you’re pinned. You have to wait for that split second when it’s actually in the air.
Then there’s the roar. It’s an AoE (Area of Effect) stun. If you’re standing too close when it screams, Kassandra or Alexios will stumble, leaving you wide open for a follow-up bite. It’s annoying. It breaks your flow.
Finally, there’s the "pride" mechanic. The Nemean Lion isn't alone. It has a small pack of regular female lions protecting it.
Dealing with the minions
Do not ignore the other lions. Seriously. While you’re focused on the big guy, a regular level 22 lioness will sneak up and nip at your heels, interrupting your Hero Strike or Overpower Attack.
- Kill the small ones first. It makes the arena manageable.
- Use Multi-Shot. If you have the Hunter skill, use it to thin the herd early.
- Don't waste Adrenaline. Use basic attacks on the small lions to build your bars for the main event.
Once the minions are dead, the fight becomes a dance. You and the big cat.
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Best Builds and Gear for the Kill
You can't just swing a heavy blunt weapon and hope for the best here. The Nemean Lion is too fast for the slow recovery times of axes or maces. You’ll get punished during your swing animation.
Swords and Daggers are your best friends. The goal is high DPS (damage per second) and quick recovery. You want to get in, hit twice, and be ready to dodge. If you’ve been focusing on an Assassin build, this is where things get tricky. While Hero Strike deals massive damage, you can't sneak up on this lion. It’s a forced open-combat scenario.
The Fire vs. Poison Debate
Honestly? Use fire. The Nemean Lion has a massive health pool, and the "burning" tick damage adds up over the course of a five-minute fight. If you have the Mallet of Everlasting Flame (which you might not have yet) or just the Flaming Attacks ability, keep it active.
Poison is okay because it weakens the lion’s damage output, but in my experience, the faster you end this fight, the better. Fire helps end it faster.
Common Mistakes That Get You Killed
People try to stay at range. It seems logical, right? Use a bow, keep your distance.
The problem is that the Nemean Lion AC Odyssey AI is programmed to close gaps instantly. If you stay far away, it will spam the pounce attack. This makes the timing harder to read. If you stay at mid-range—just outside of its claw reach—you can bait out the basic swipes. Those are much easier to parry or dodge for a "Slow Motion" perfect dodge effect.
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Another mistake? Healing too late.
The "Second Wind" ability is mandatory for this fight. Don't wait until your health bar is red. If you’re at 50%, heal. The lion can easily do 60% damage in a single unblockable combo.
The Reward: Is the Pelt Worth It?
Once you finally skin the beast, you take the pelt back to Daphnae. She’ll give you the Kopis of Pandora.
This is a legendary sword that gives a specific bonus: +15% Damage to Animal enemies. It also boosts your Petrified Progeny ability damage. Is it the best sword in the game? No. But it’s a solid mid-game weapon, and finishing the quest moves you one step closer to completing the Daughters of Artemis line, which eventually grants the full Artemis Armor set—one of the best Hunter sets in the entire game.
Plus, you get a decent chunk of XP and the satisfaction of knowing that the hardest part of Argolis is behind you.
Strategy Summary for the Impatient
If you’re currently staring at the "Desynchronized" screen, try this specific sequence:
- Enter the arena and immediately use Multi-Shot to clear the female lions.
- Switch to a sword.
- Stay to the side of the Nemean Lion. Never stand directly in front of its face.
- Wait for the red glow. Dodge sideways, not backward.
- Use Hero Strike whenever it's off cooldown. It’s the most reliable way to chunk its health safely.
- If you get stunned by the roar, mash the dodge button immediately.
The Nemean Lion isn't a test of how hard you can hit. It’s a test of how patient you can be. If you get greedy and try to land a five-hit combo, you’re going to get swiped. Hit twice, move. Hit twice, move.
Actionable Next Steps
To conquer the Nemean Lion and make the rest of your Odyssey easier, focus on these immediate upgrades:
- Upgrade your Second Wind ability to at least Level 2. This allows you to clear fire/poison effects and restores 35% health.
- Engrave your gear with "Damage with Swords" or "CRIT Chance." In a long fight like this, one or two critical hits can shave a minute off the encounter.
- Visit a Blacksmith to ensure your primary weapon is at your current character level. A level 20 sword against a level 24 lion is a recipe for a very long, very painful death.
- Track the other Legendary Animals. If the Lion was too hard, head to Elis to fight the Keryneian Hind. It's generally considered an easier fight and will help you level up before coming back to finish the Nemean beast.