Tips for Defeating Josee in Code Vein 2

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Josee the Blind Hero is one of the five formidable foes you’ll face in Code Vein 2’s main storyline, and she’s the first challenge you’ll encounter after venturing into the open world from MagMell. Once you defeat the Metagen Remnant and return from the Sunken City’s past, you can finally break open Josee’s cocoon.

If you head straight for Josee the Blind Hero like I did, you might find yourself a bit underleveled for the encounter. While you can grind and return later, it’s possible to take her down right after freeing her. It just requires some practice. Here’s what you need to know to defeat Josee the Blind Hero in Code Vein 2.

Before diving in, make sure to bring De-Snares for this battle. Josee’s attacks can inflict Bind, which can leave you vulnerable.

Josee wields a massive katana that can cover most of the tight boss arena with a single swing. Her range is the main challenge here, but her sword has significant end lag. Stay close and be aggressive to land some hits between her combos.

Watch out for her orbs: Josee will periodically launch golden orbs at you during the fight. These inflict Bind, so you definitely want to avoid them. She’ll pull her arm back and her hand will glow before throwing them, so be ready to dodge when you see her wind up.

Be cautious of her AOE: If you get too aggressive, Josee will stab her sword into the ground, unleashing a large AOE blast that inflicts Bind. If you see her raise her katana as if preparing for a big attack, sprint away and take the opportunity to heal.

Bait her gap closer: If you stray too far from Josee, she’ll charge at you with a powerful downward stab. This move has a lot of end lag, so roll behind her and get in a few slashes.

Dodge her slashes: Josee’s main combos consist of wide, sweeping katana slashes that can hit all around her. Instead of backing off, dodge roll through them to maintain pressure. Keep a close eye on her, as she can sometimes delay her slashes and hit behind her after you’ve dodged.

Parry the flash: One of Josee’s most dangerous moves is a single katana slash. She’ll sheathe her sword and perform a wide attack that can take out most of your health if it connects. Just before she attacks, her sword will flash. Dodge right after that flash to avoid damage, or parry it if you’re feeling bold. This is your best chance to deal reliable damage!

You’ll likely die a few times during the first phase, but don’t get discouraged. Use your initial attempts to learn Josee’s combos and the spacing for the fight. Let your companion take the brunt of the damage until you feel more comfortable.

Halfway through the battle, a cutscene will trigger, marking the start of phase two. Like other bosses in Code Vein 2, Josee becomes much more aggressive in this phase and has some new tricks.

Avoiding Bind is crucial in this phase, as many of her new attacks can immobilize you. Keep your De-Snares handy!

The orbs return: Josee will use those golden orbs from the first phase more frequently in the second half of the fight. They behave the same way, but she’ll deploy more at once and try to hit you with other attacks while they home in. Keep moving and don’t attack until the orbs are cleared.

Her flash slash gets trickier: In phase two, Josee will repeat her sheathe attack, but this time she’ll stomp her foot to create a Bind AOE beneath you before attacking. Watch her foot and dodge roll to avoid the trap, then dodge or parry the slash when you see the flash.

Dodge the stabs: During this phase, Josee will also perform a series of downward stabs right in front of her. She raises her sword overhead before bringing it down, so be ready to dodge when you see her lift it. You can deal some damage while she recovers from this attack.

Keep your distance: Remember that AOE from the first phase? In phase two, she has a more annoying version. Instead of using her sword, she’ll stomp her foot to create a large Bind AOE. Avoid being overly aggressive during this phase; it’s harder to react to the stomp AOE, so stay alert.

Bind can feel incredibly cheap during this fight, leading to some frustrating deaths. Even if you’re prepared, you might still get caught in a trap during what seemed like a solid run.

To counter this, hit Josee with some tactics of your own. As long as your companion is in the fight, you can survive lethal damage and instantly revive yourself. There’s a short cooldown before your companion returns, but you can exploit this repeatedly.

For the best chance of defeating Josee, don’t be overly aggressive when your companion is down. Only attack when they’re present to have a safety net in case Josee strikes. Save your heals for when you’re alone.

Also, take some time to customize your weapon skills for this encounter. Infusing your weapon with fire can significantly boost your damage output for a minimal Ichor cost, and adding stun to your weapon will tire Josee out and eventually stagger her, giving you a chance to heal and deal massive damage.

Once you take down Josee the Blind Hero, you’ll finally be finished in the Sunken City. You’ll earn a new Blood Code and unlock a Fading Bond, which could allow you to return to Josee’s time for further exploration and additional quests. However, you’ll need to progress further in the story and defeat another of the five heroes to obtain the necessary item.