Can You Beat General Lothaire in Valor Mortis? Boss Guide

Facing the First Boss: General Lothaire

In Valor Mortis, available on Steam, players encounter General Lothaire, the Eagle-Bearer, as the game's opening boss. Many players wonder if this initial confrontation is winnable or if it is a scripted defeat intended to progress the narrative.

Based on player reports, it is indeed possible to defeat General Lothaire. However, the game is designed to move forward regardless of the outcome. If you are defeated, a cutscene featuring the character Lucjan will play, providing essential world-building information, after which the boss disappears from the area. Because this encounter is intended to be a "soulslike" introduction rather than a traditional gatekeeper, the game does not offer a standard "retry" button if you lose.

The Strategy to Defeat the General

If you are determined to overcome this challenge, you must approach the fight with caution and precision. According to community experience, the encounter is balanced against the player's early-game stats, making it a significant test of skill.

Tip

To maximize your chances against General Lothaire, focus on these tactical priorities:

• Utilize Fire Damage: Ignite the boss for damage-over-time (DoT) effects whenever your Nephtoglobin is fully charged.
• Master the Parry: During the first phase, parrying is your most reliable tool to open the boss up for critical attacks.
• Aggression Management: In the second phase, prioritize dodging his predictable combos, but look for windows to deal damage rather than playing too defensively.

While the rewards for winning are substantial for a new character, Valor Mortis does not feature boss-specific weapons that would otherwise be permanently missable. Therefore, the decision to repeatedly attempt this fight is entirely up to your preference for an early-game power boost.

How to Retry the Encounter

Since the game automatically triggers a progression cutscene upon your death, you technically only have one "natural" attempt at the fight. If you fail and want to try again, you must bypass the game's save-state logic.

1. Monitor your health bar closely during the fight with General Lothaire.
2. If your HP drops to zero, immediately use ALT + F4 to close the game before the death animation or cutscene fully initializes.
3. Relaunch Valor Mortis and load your save file.
4. If executed correctly, the game should place you just outside the boss arena, allowing you to re-enter and challenge the General again.

Please note that this method relies on the game's save-loading behavior and should be used with caution to avoid potential save file corruption.

Rewards and Achievement

Defeating the General provides a significant economic advantage for the early stages of the game. Specifically, players receive 10,000 catalysts, which function as the primary currency for leveling up. Additionally, you earn the "General's Catalyst Clot," which can be consumed to gain another 10,000 catalysts.

Because Valor Mortis does not utilize a boss weapon system, you can safely spend these catalysts on character stats without fear of missing out on unique equipment. Furthermore, winning this fight unlocks the "Torn-Banner" achievement, a badge of honor for those who manage to overcome the intended narrative path.

FAQ

Does General Lothaire appear later in the game if I don't defeat him now?

Current player reports suggest that if you lose the fight, the boss disappears to facilitate the story progression. It is currently unconfirmed if he returns as a boss later, making the initial encounter the only guaranteed opportunity to earn the "Torn-Banner" achievement.

Is it worth the effort to keep retrying?

Valor Mortis is not considered excessively difficult by soulslike standards. While the 20k catalyst boost is helpful, it is not strictly necessary for progression. Only commit to the ALT + F4 retry method if you are a completionist aiming for the achievement.