I'm having a hell of a time in Chapter 28 (playing on Hard mode)... At first I was getting to the 2nd round, now I can't even get passed the 1st round. Any suggestions?
My first play through was on Hard as well. To beat the trials, you need to pass three stages. Each stage is broken into two parts, and each stage gets easier as you move forward. The toughest challenge is the second part of the first stage.
To get through both parts of the first stage with enough health to easily beat the final two stages, you'll want to stick mostly with your fire weapon since it builds up your meter the fastest. Start off by releasing your clone, who fights very well independent of you, and also your float bubble. These two tools should be activated as often as they recharge, and hopefully you maxed them to their second tier.
With your clone fighting and an enemy trapped in a bubble, build up Rage meter by attacking with the full [],[] [],[] constantly. The last hit of this string is what spikes up the Rage meter a lot on hit. Interrupt your attacks with dodges and/or blocking as necessary, knowing you can block anything but the Medusa Stone Gaze and the Siren scream.
You can not block immediately after dodging too much, so try to get in parry deflections as well (hold block, tap X before you are hit). If successful, this causes an AOE effect that stuns enemies around your parried target - a very useful technique.
When ever you need to get some room, switch to your soul weapon and activate your Hades magic. It is really good because if its damage combined with the wide range of attack. Switch back to fire weapon for more Rage build up.
If possible, get your Rage built up to the full max for two levels of it. If you have to activate it early, go ahead but do so with Hades Rage. This works the best because it sends a ton of soul demons flying around to distract/hurt enemies while you and your clone continue to attack. Swith back to your fire blades.
If you use Rage and you still have 50% left, you can spam [] for a longer, more powerful attack string which continues to build rage quickly. Use your bubble floats on Sirens when they appear so they are easier to take out. Once you finish both parts, the first stage ends.
The second stage is easier. Just activate your items like before and spam throws against the flying demons. Parry the amazons, and attack while dodging backwards since they spear attack at mid range. The Mace beast is slow. Use your tolls to float him and clone attack him, spam your attacks from max distance, and roll past him once he walks you to a wall to start all over again.
The last stage is easiest. The mini boss can be killed with QTEs, and you can dodge his attacks with ease as you peck at him. The scythe spirits can not do anything if you wait until they go underground where you can then easily grab them with R1 for a combo starter.
After you get in a rhythm, the Trials are manageable. It was tough for me in my first play through, but it was because I played too defensively. You need to be on offense or parrying most times, using your magic and tools and Rage as generously as you can in the scone half of the first stage. In my second play through, I beat the Trials on my first attempt.
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