This fight isn't inherently problematic, but its length will force you to play strategically. So, the first steps require preparation.

Here's a setup strategy:

1. You don't want to get surrounded, so picking ranged classes can keep Zhossa at bay. For the one companion I could choose, I selected Shima, which works well with Nathalie (the companion I cannot choose).

2. I also ensured that my character and companions had Scarabs emphasizing DPS and health, whether through endurance or healing. You should be between levels 20 and 30 by reaching this point, unlocking three scarab slots.

Order of importance: DPS > Healing > Utility (such as resistances)

Check for more Scarabs from Smith Duman.

3. While at Smith Duman, if you have the coin, purchase as many potions of Vitality, Health, Recovery, and Speed as you can. You also want to buy Blessing Crystal. Lightning and Resurrection scrolls are also vital. These serve dual purposes: DPS and keeping your group alive for the fight's duration. You'll want to distribute these items among your companions, reserving more for yourself.

4. Ensure you're using the Magic Forge next to Nicodemus to combine Runestones to help buff your DPS, health, and protection (in order of importance).

So a bit of context. Early in the fight, Zhossa creates seven clones of itself positioned around the room that converge toward your team. While the clones eventually die off, their sheer number demands survivability. The goal of the encounter is to force Zhossa to use all its energy to create copies of itself until it depletes its energy pool, allowing you to face it alone.

There are two goals you want to achieve:

1. Cluster together Zhossa and its clones.
2. Use AOE damage to hit as many as possible. Utilize the companion's native skills and lightning scrolls, anything that can damage all the Zhossas simultaneously.

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I found the most success by placing my team inside this room. Either side works fine, but I prefer the left room because it's more accessible due to the game's perspective.




I place one ranged companion in the back corner (preferably the one that does more damage) and position my character and another companion near the entrance. This placement serves two purposes: it blocks Zhossa and its copies from entering the room, and the companion in the back is typically out of range of any dragon fire, allowing you to focus on the health of just two characters.

The other advantage of placing the companion in that corner is they have a line of sight past the entrance. You can move the character one or two tiles forward and unleash AOE damage on 4-5, perhaps 6 Zhossas.




A placement map shows your team's positions relative to how the Zhossa and its clones converge to the "kill zone."

Thanks for reading! 🙂👍