Lies of P: How to Defeat King of Puppets with Determination Build (No Specter) ~ HaploGamingChef

Determination Build Guide: Defeating the King of Puppets (No Specter)

Welcome to another Lies of P guide, friends! Today, we’re diving into one of the more challenging bosses in the game: The King of Puppets, or the Puppeteer. If you’ve been struggling or simply want to take down this formidable foe without relying on spirits or throwing items, this is the guide for you. We’ll be tackling this fight with the Determination Build, so you’ll be hitting hard and dealing tons of damage while keeping things straightforward.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how I managed to defeat the King of Puppets, providing details on the gear and strategy I used. The goal is to help you get through this battle with ease, even if you're not using all the fancy items or spirits that some players rely on.

Equipment Overview

Before jumping into the battle, let’s go over the equipment I used to get through this boss fight:

Weapon: Bone Cutter Saw Blade +5

The Bone Cutter Saw Blade (upgraded to +5) is my weapon of choice for this battle. It provides solid damage output and decent range. If you want to further increase your chances, you can always upgrade it to +6 or higher.

Handle: Exploding Pickaxe

The Exploding Pickaxe handle is important for the Determination build, as it gives an A-rank boost to Determination. This significantly increases your damage output and ensures you’ll be dealing plenty of hits.

Amulet: Patience Amulet

The Patience Amulet helps by boosting stamina regeneration, increasing damage against puppets, and improving your carry weight. With this amulet, you can carry heavier gear without being slowed down, which is essential for surviving longer fights.

Heavyweight Frame

For extra defense, the Heavyweight Frame reduces damage and helps keep you in the fight for longer. Its ability to mitigate damage is crucial for staying in the fight, especially during the later stages.

Belffort Superior

The Belffort Superior provides a significant punch. It’s useful for both offensive and defensive capabilities, allowing you to deal strong hits while also reducing damage from attacks.

35 Feeding Unit

This unit is lightweight but still offers a decent amount of protection, ensuring that you have mobility and defense.

Pandemonium Plug

Finally, the Pandemonium Plug is an excellent addition. It’s especially helpful for poisoning the King of Puppets, particularly in the first phase of the fight, when the boss remains relatively stationary. Poisoning him early will help weaken him as you move through the fight.

Boss Fight Strategy: First Phase

Now, let’s get into the actual fight. In this first phase, you’ll be focusing on dealing damage while carefully dodging the King of Puppets’ attacks.

Set Up Poison Early
- As soon as the fight begins, drop the Pandemonium Plug to poison the King of Puppets. The poison will do continuous damage, which is crucial for wearing down the boss, especially when he’s stationary during the first phase.
Dodge His Spin Attacks
- The King of Puppets’ spin attack consists of two hits, so be sure to dodge to the side when he starts spinning. You’ll want to avoid getting hit by both strikes, as they can deal significant damage if you're not careful.
Use Your Weapon for Maximum Damage
- After dodging, immediately go in and land a couple of hits with your Bone Cutter Saw Blade. This weapon’s decent range will allow you to attack from a safe distance, and the Determination Build will help you hit hard.
Watch for the Double Strike
- Whenever the King of Puppets starts his combo, you can anticipate him striking twice. After dodging the first hit, you can counter with two or three quick strikes of your own before backing off.
Sharpen Your Weapon
- Before entering the second phase, make sure to sharpen your weapon. This is crucial, as you’ll need to maintain high damage output throughout the entire fight. I didn’t do this perfectly on my first attempt, but I still managed to succeed.

Boss Fight Strategy: Second Phase

Now that you’re through the first phase, you’ll enter the second phase, which can seem daunting at first but is actually quite manageable once you know what to expect.

Dodge His Jump Attack
- The King of Puppets will often use a jumping attack, and this is your chance to strike. When he jumps, dodge his attack and land two solid hits on him. Afterward, back off and wait for his next move.
Watch for the Fire Attack
- When you see the King of Puppets start charging up his sword, be ready. This is when he’ll use his flaming attack, which can drain all your health if you don’t interrupt it. Get in two hits before the flames activate to interrupt the attack and avoid getting hit.
Be Mindful of His Special Attacks
- The King of Puppets’ special attack (the one where he charges up flames or a large combo) requires careful timing. Once you see him charge, step in and land two quick hits to interrupt him. Don’t let him complete the attack, as it’s a game-changer if you miss it.
Keep Your Distance
- When he’s not using his jump or double strike combo, make sure to keep your distance. Don’t get greedy with your attacks—only go in when you’re certain you can land two solid strikes without taking damage in return.
Repeat the Process
- Continue dodging and landing your hits, especially during his jump attack or double strike combo. These are your windows of opportunity to deal damage safely. With enough patience and precise timing, the King of Puppets will soon be defeated.

Key Tips for Success

Poison Early: Dropping the Pandemonium Plug early is crucial. It helps soften up the boss and gives you extra time to focus on dodging and attacking.
Weapon Sharpening: Keep your weapon sharp. A dull weapon can significantly reduce your damage output, which is especially important when you’re relying on a Determination Build.
Patience is Key: Don’t rush in during the second phase. Focus on dodging and landing a few solid hits at a time.
Interrupt His Special Attack: Pay attention to his special fire attack. Get in two quick hits to stop it before it drains your health.

Additional Tips for the King of Puppets Fight

While the first and second phases of the fight may seem straightforward, a few additional techniques and strategies will give you an edge, especially as you face off against the King of Puppets without the use of spirits. Here’s how to fine-tune your approach:

Optimize Your Build for the King of Puppets

The Determination Build is all about maximizing your damage while being efficient with your stamina usage. Below are some additional tips to fine-tune your build for success against the King of Puppets:

Maximize Your Damage Output

Focus on High-Damage Weapons: Since you’re using a weapon like the Bone Cutter Saw Blade +5, you’ll be relying on the weapon’s damage stats. It’s a good idea to upgrade your weapon as much as possible before this fight. Even a +6 or +7 upgrade can make a significant difference in your overall damage output.
Boost Your Determination Stat: The Determination Build heavily relies on enhancing your Determination stat, which will increase your damage when your stamina is high. Make sure to equip gear or amulets that specifically enhance this stat (like the Exploding Pickaxe Handle with A-ranked Determination). You’ll notice a noticeable difference in damage as a result.

Stamina Management

Use Amulets and Frames to Increase Stamina: The Patience Amulet is one of the best choices for improving your stamina regeneration, ensuring that you’re not running low on stamina too quickly. Having a solid stamina pool is crucial for maintaining damage output while dodging and blocking attacks.
Keep a Sharp Eye on Stamina Levels: When you’re in the middle of the fight, it’s easy to get carried away with attacking. But, be sure to watch your stamina bar carefully. Running out of stamina mid-fight can lead to disastrous results. With the Patience Amulet and other gear to boost stamina, you’ll be able to fight for longer periods without worrying about getting exhausted.

Phase One: Handling the Puppeteer’s Moves with Precision

Understanding His Movements

The King of Puppets has a range of attacks in his arsenal, but the key to surviving the first phase is understanding when to dodge and when to strike. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of his key moves and how to counter them:

The Spin Attack:
- The King of Puppets uses a spin attack that strikes twice. The trick is to dodge after the first hit, as this will give you enough time to step in and land two hits of your own. You can even get a third hit in if you're quick enough, but be cautious about his follow-up moves. Once he completes the spin, he’ll often try a second spin, so stay aware.
Jump Attack:
- The jumping attack is a classic move that he will frequently use in both phases. When you see him leap into the air, dodge sideways. This will help you avoid getting hit by his attack, and after you dodge, you can quickly land two hits. The window is small, but the attack is predictable once you get used to it.
Double Strike Combo:
- The King of Puppets will often start with a double strike combo. The trick here is to dodge the first strike and immediately go in for two or three quick hits before backing off. If you miss the first window of opportunity, you’ll have to wait for him to reset and perform another move before you can get back into attacking.

Phase Two: Handling the King’s Fire and Special Attacks

The second phase of the King of Puppets is often where players struggle, thinking that this phase is harder. In reality, the second phase is easier once you understand the patterns and the importance of interrupting his fire attack. Here's what you need to watch for:

Fire Charge Up:

The King of Puppets has a devastating fire attack where he charges up his sword. If you don’t interrupt this, he’ll unleash flames that can wipe out a significant chunk of your health bar.
- Interrupting the Fire Attack: As soon as you see him charge up the fire, it’s your chance to quickly move in and land two hits. This will stop the attack from going off and save you from the fiery devastation. This is crucial, as failing to interrupt it could lead to a tough recovery.

Jumping Attack Revisited:

The jumping attack in phase two behaves similarly to the first phase, but he becomes a bit more aggressive with his follow-ups. Remember, the best strategy is to dodge the attack and immediately counter with two hits. When performed correctly, this gives you a consistent rhythm and damage cycle.

Sword Charge Attack:

If you see the King of Puppets charging up his sword, be sure to dodge and land two quick hits to break his charge. This is another opportunity to interrupt his most dangerous attack, preventing him from draining your health.

Staying Close and Avoiding His Spin:

When the King of Puppets begins his spin attacks in the second phase, get closer to him to avoid the outer edges of his strikes. When you stay close, you’re in a better position to dodge and land your own hits while avoiding damage.

A Few Additional Recommendations

Keep Potions Ready, But Don’t Overuse Them

While it’s great to save your healing potions, you want to be prepared for any surprises. Although I didn’t use any potions in my fight, it’s a good idea to carry at least 2-3 healing items just in case things go wrong. The King of Puppets has a lot of ways to throw you off, and having an extra health potion might be the difference between winning and losing.

Don’t Rush the Fight

The key to defeating the King of Puppets is patience. Don’t get greedy with your attacks—take your time to dodge, wait for the right openings, and only land a couple of strikes at a time. This will not only keep you safer but also ensure you’re dealing consistent damage throughout the fight. Rushing the battle will only lead to mistakes.

Why the Determination Build Works

At the heart of this strategy is the Determination Build, which plays a pivotal role in making this fight more manageable. The A-Rank Determination boost from the Exploding Pickaxe Handle makes your hits devastatingly strong when your stamina is high. This allows you to dish out consistent damage without getting overly tired or having to rely on constant healing.

High Damage Output: With the Determination stat scaling, every hit becomes more impactful, which is essential for taking down the King of Puppets before he can deal too much damage.
Sustainability: Thanks to the Patience Amulet, you won’t run out of stamina quickly, allowing you to stay in the fight longer without exhausting your resources.

In Summary

Defeating the King of Puppets with the Determination Build in Lies of P is completely achievable. By leveraging the right equipment, carefully dodging attacks, and timing your own strikes, you can make the fight feel more manageable. Focus on getting two hits during the jump attack or double strike combo, and always watch out for his fire attack to interrupt it before it wipes you out. With some patience and strategy, you'll take down this puppet master in no time.

Conclusion

Defeating the King of Puppets in Lies of P with the Determination Build is a satisfying and rewarding challenge. By focusing on high damage output, managing stamina efficiently, and learning his attack patterns, you can conquer this boss without relying on spirits or items. With the right gear and strategy, the King of Puppets will fall before you, and you’ll come out of the fight victorious, without losing much health or relying heavily on potions. Remember to stay patient, dodge effectively, and always watch for his key attack cues, especially the fire charge-up, which is essential to interrupt. Good luck, and enjoy the fight!

FAQ

Q1: What’s the best weapon for a Determination Build?
A: The Bone Cutter Saw Blade +5 is excellent for high damage output. You can upgrade it further for even better results.

Q2: How do I maximize stamina during the fight?
A: Equip the Patience Amulet and other gear that boosts stamina regeneration. This allows you to keep attacking without running out of energy.

Q3: How do I interrupt the King of Puppets’ fire attack?
A: When he charges up for the fire attack, quickly land two hits to interrupt it before he releases the flames.

Q4: Can I defeat the King of Puppets without using potions?
A: Yes! If you manage to dodge well and time your attacks properly, you can defeat him without using any potions.

Q5: Is the second phase harder than the first?
A: No, the second phase is actually easier once you get the hang of dodging and interrupting his special moves, particularly his fire attack.

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Lies of P: How to Defeat King of Puppets with Determination Build (No Specter)