Lords of the Fallen - First Warden, shield, spinning attack, Persistence Greatsword

Your opening boss fight against the First Warden isn't particularly difficult, but it's certainly a tougher encounter than anything you've faced so far. His standard attack consists of two or three sword swipes which you should be able to block with your shield, before darting in and delivering your own damage from the rear. You can also try rolling away from danger before you counter - just don't try smacking him in the face at any point, as he'll block most of your attacks then punish you hard for it.

How to kill the First Warden

After a few rounds of his standard attack, the Warden will start using a much heavier assault pattern. When this happens, either roll out of the way or get behind him. Do not try to block it with your shield, as a large amount of damage will still make it through. The good news is that the Warden drops his shield after delivering this mighty blow, giving you the chance to quickly counter-attack.

At approximately 50 per cent health, the Warden will drop his shield and start using a devastating spinning move. Get as much distance as you can between you and your target, as it's tough to block or dodge this rapid onslaught. When he's finished this fancy flourish, get up close and do as much damage as you can while he's recovering.

This process repeats until the Warden gets ready to unleash his heavy attack once more. Dodge, counter-attack, and play things cautiously and you should have the monster down in a couple of attempts at most.

When your opponent drops to the floor, grab the Unknown Rune (Big) and the Persistence Greatsword, then use the portal we mentioned earlier to get your hands on some extra treasure. Just be aware that when you leave this bonus area, all of the trash enemies will have resurrected in your absence.

Continue on to Gauntlet in Lords of the Fallen or head back to the rest of our Lords of the Fallen walkthrough and guides for more help and advice on the game.