TL;DR
- Lucian Bastier is fought as Damiane at the end of Chapter 8 (“A Fleeting Dream”), at Elemore Estate in east Demeniss
- He has two phases — a mace-and-shield phase and an Awakened teleport phase
- Equip the Golden Vanguard spear (dropped by Gregor) — it breaks his guard far better than Damiane’s default rapier
- Always dodge sideways in circles — never backward. Lucian punishes retreating in straight lines
- Use Blinding Flash to interrupt his charge-up attacks in Phase 1
- Spectral demons in Phase 2 cannot be damaged — just dodge until they vanish
- Reward: Spire of Clockwork Key + Official Knight’s Plate Armor set pieces
Where to Find Lucian Bastier
Lucian Bastier is a main story boss in Chapter 8: Blood Coronation (sub-chapter: Traitor). The quest is called “A Fleeting Dream” (Quest 118), and the fight takes place at Elemore Estate in the east of Demeniss, near the Spire of Clockwork.
At this point in the story, Kliff is injured, so you’re forced to play as Damiane. For many players who have focused entirely on Kliff, this comes as a surprise. This guide covers how to handle the fight whether you’ve invested in Damiane or not.
For all main story quests and chapters, see our Crimson Desert all main story quests guide. For everything else in the game, visit the Crimson Desert hub page.
How to Prepare for Lucian Bastier
Weapon — Use the Golden Vanguard. This is the most important preparation tip. The Golden Vanguard is a two-handed spear dropped by Gregor the Halberd of Carnage (previous boss). It attacks fast, has long reach, and — most importantly — breaks Lucian’s guard far more effectively than Damiane’s default rapier. Lucian blocks frontal attacks constantly in Phase 1, and without guard-breaking, you’ll deal almost no damage. See our Gregor boss guide if you haven’t beaten him yet.
Armor — Upgrade Damiane’s gear 1-2 levels. Her default starting armor is tier 3, which is underleveled for this point in the game. Even a small armor boost makes a noticeable difference in how much Lucian’s heavy attacks hurt. Read our guide on how to reinforce equipment in Crimson Desert to do this quickly.
Accessories — equip everything. Damiane may be missing rings, earrings, or a necklace by default. Fill any empty slots before the fight. See our Crimson Desert accessories guide for what to look for.
Food — bring 100+ Grilled Meat. You can eat every 2 seconds during combat. Grilled Meat (140 HP per piece, costs just 1 raw meat to cook) has the best value per piece. You will take damage in this fight — the question is whether you have enough to outlast both phases. Check our guide on how to cook the best healing food in Crimson Desert.
Palmar Pills — bring a few. If you die near the end of either phase, a Palmar Pill lets you revive on the spot and finish the job. See how to get and use Palmar Pills.
Skills to have ready:
- Shield Toss Level 1 (R3 / RS / Right Click) — throws a shield that reliably hits Lucian from a safe distance
- Smiting Bolt Level 3 (R2 / RT / Right Click hold) — calls down a lightning spear that cannot miss, can be spammed at the cost of Stamina, and deals great damage
- Blinding Flash — use this to interrupt Lucian when he charges a heavy attack in Phase 1. This stuns him and gives you a free window to attack
The Pillar Cheese Method (Optional)
If you want an easier time, there’s a simple cheese available for both phases.
Phase 1: When facing the castle entrance, jump onto the pillar on the left side. From up here, spam Shield Throw (R3) while locked onto Lucian. He cannot reach or properly attack you up there, and Shield Throw will keep hitting him.
Phase 2: Jump out of the arena or go down the stairs. Awakened Lucian will rarely follow you down. You can safely use Smiting Bolt from below and he’ll come to you slowly.
How to Beat Lucian Bastier — Phase 1 (Mace and Shield)
Lucian blocks frontal attacks and punishes anyone who fights him head-on or retreats in a straight line. The key to Phase 1 is patience and positioning.
Core strategy:
- Keep your distance and open with Smiting Bolt (R2 / RT) to deal steady, safe damage from range.
- Dodge sideways in large circles — never backward. Lucian punishes straight-line retreats. Sidestepping around him gets you behind him for free hits.
- When Lucian charges a heavy attack, use Blinding Flash (L1+R1 / LB+RB / Ctrl+Left Click) to interrupt and stun him. Follow up immediately with your spear combo.
- After baiting his combos and dodging, attack from behind with 2-3 quick hits, then back off before his next swing.
- Use Shield Throw (R3) from distance for safe chip damage whenever you can’t get behind him.
- If you want to parry, use Focus (L3+R3 / LS+RS) to slow time and watch for his attacks, then press L1 / LB / Ctrl to parry. Parrying opens a small free-hit window.
Keep the fire patches in mind. Lucian’s mace creates explosive fire patches on the ground that persist for several seconds. Don’t stand still, and avoid fighting in the same spot twice.
Lucian Bastier Phase 1 — All Attacks and Counters
Ground Shockwave — Lucian slams his mace into the ground, sending a volcanic shockwave forward. Dodge sideways to avoid it. Never dodge backward.
Mace Charge-Up — Lucian spins his mace to charge a powerful attack. Use Blinding Flash immediately to cancel it. If the charge completes, he unleashes a volley of strikes — dodge each one sideways and wait for it to end.
Two-Hit Combo + Jump Slam — Lucian hits twice with his mace, then finishes with an unblockable jump attack. Parry the first two hits, then dodge the third. Never try to block the jump slam.
Invulnerable Darkness Attack — the screen goes dark. Lucian will try to juggle you with fire attacks from all directions. Spam dodge (Circle / B / Space) until this phase ends. Don’t try to attack during this window.
How to Beat Awakened Lucian Bastier — Phase 2
When Lucian’s first HP bar depletes, he transforms using Abyss power. The fight becomes significantly faster and more chaotic.
Core strategy:
- Prioritize survival over damage. This phase is a war of attrition. Do not try to fight aggressively.
- Wait for him to attack, then dodge. After he finishes a combo, he’ll stand still briefly — that’s your window to land 2-3 hits.
- Shield Throw and Smiting Bolt from a safe distance are still your best tools.
- When he teleports, immediately dodge — his follow-up strike lands almost instantly after reappearing.
- Watch for the arms-in-front signal. When Awakened Lucian holds his arms in front of his body, he’s about to counter your next attack. Hit him once, then immediately dodge sideways before he retaliates.
Awakened Lucian Bastier — All Attacks and Counters
Ground Slam (Sword Arm) — Awakened Lucian slams his sword arm into the ground. Can technically be parried, but the window is tiny. Dodge sideways instead.
Teleport + Instant Strike — Lucian teleports and immediately strikes. Dodge the moment you see the teleport animation. Do not try to anticipate where he’ll reappear.
Teleport Lunge Combo — a forward lunge, followed by a teleport, another strike, and another teleport. These come fast. Dodge each hit individually rather than trying to parry the chain.
Shadow Demon Summoning — Awakened Lucian summons spectral beings to attack you. These demons cannot be damaged. Do not waste time attacking them. Just keep dodging until they disappear, then focus back on Lucian.
Invulnerable Teleport Chain — Lucian teleports on repeat and strikes multiple times. Spam dodge until the chain ends, then punish during his brief recovery.
Vulnerability Window — After any major attack sequence, Awakened Lucian will briefly stand still or walk slowly. This is your best opening. Move in and hit hard, then get out before he resets.
What Do You Get for Beating Lucian Bastier?
Completing “A Fleeting Dream” by defeating Lucian Bastier rewards you with:
- Spire of Clockwork Key — grants access to the Spire of Clockwork area. As Kliff, you should revisit this location after the fight — it leads to the Storm Veil elemental ability
- Official Knight’s Plate Armor pieces (4x armor items)
- Completion of Chapter 8: Blood Coronation
- After the fight, you return to playing as Kliff for Chapter 9
More Boss Guides in Crimson Desert
- How to Beat Gregor the Halberd of Carnage
- How to Beat Kearush the Slayer
- How to Beat Cassius Morten
- How to Beat Myurdin
- How to Beat Tenebrum
- How to Beat the Titan
- How to Beat Kailok the Hornsplitter
- How to Beat the Crimson Nightmare
- How to Beat Marni’s Excavatron
More Useful Crimson Desert Guides
- How to Parry, Counter, and Dodge
- How to Use Blinding Flash
- How to Reinforce Equipment
- Crimson Desert Accessories Guide
- How to Get Max Health
- How to Get Max Stamina
- Best Skills to Level Up First
- Crimson Desert All Characters and Companions Guide
- Spire of the Sun Puzzle Solution
- Crimson Desert HUD Explained
- Keyboard & Mouse vs Controller
