The formidable boss Kargalgan, familiar to players from Story Mode and the Battlefield of Time, makes a comeback as the ruler of a new instance dungeon in Solo Leveling: Arise. Just like in previous content, Kargalgan's HP can be quickly reduced by utilizing the powerful strike of West Wind. To successfully counter his shield and claim victory, it is essential to include either Meilin or Hwang Dongsoo in your party.

 “Demonic Plum Flower Sword” and “West Wind” recommended for Sung Jinwoo’s weapon

This new instance dungeon offers players the opportunity to farm for new necklaces and bracelets, making the Kargalgan encounter particularly appealing. As the Almighty Shaman of the Orc tribe, Kargalgan's attack patterns are already familiar to many players, having appeared in previous content. This familiarity makes him one of the more approachable bosses among the new challenges.

Kargalgan's elemental strengths and weaknesses are key to formulating an effective strategy. While he is resistant to Fire and Light attributes, he is notably weak to Wind and Dark attributes. For this reason, Jinwoo’s Dark attribute weapons like Demonic Plum Flower Sword and Moonshadow, along with the Wind attribute West Wind, are ideal choices for this battle. Combining the unsheathing technique buff from Demonic Plum Flower Sword with the powerful strikes of West Wind is a proven strategy for success.

In essence, the key to defeating Kargalgan lies in mastering the use of West Wind. Its long-range, cooldown-based attack not only shortens the time needed to take down the boss but also significantly reduces the difficulty of the encounter. This is why West Wind, despite being an SR weapon, is often recommended at an SSR level for Wind attribute strategies.

Meilin or Hwang Dongsoo Are Essential for Shield Breaking!

In the battle against Kargalgan, it is essential to prepare Sung Jinwoo's skills with Break effects to quickly shatter the boss's Break gauge. Kargalgan receives significant damage reduction while the Break gauge is active, so breaking it swiftly is crucial for dealing substantial damage during the fight.

To efficiently destroy Kargalgan's shield, known as the Hymn of Protection, it's recommended to include Hunters like Meilin or Hwang Dongsoo in your support team, as they possess shield-breaking abilities. Failing to break the shield can lead to a prolonged and challenging battle, making the inclusion of Meilin or Hwang Dongsoo vital. Among them, Meilin is particularly effective due to her ability to provide additional buffs, including HP recovery, increased attack power, and reduced incoming damage.

Another recommended support Hunter is Min Byung-gu, who not only offers HP recovery but also applies a debuff that increases the damage Kargalgan receives. With Sung Jinwoo handling most of the offensive duties, having support Hunters like Meilin and Min Byung-gu enhances the overall effectiveness of the team.

Additionally, it's important to consider Kargalgan's elemental weaknesses when selecting other team members. Hunters like Amamiya Mirei, Hwang Dongsoo, Woo Jinchul, Lim Taegyu, Baek Yoonho (Silver Mane), and Lee Bora are viable options. However, it's worth noting that Hwang Dongsoo, Woo Jinchul, and Lim Taegyu may be less effective due to their weaker attack performance and limited support capabilities.

On the other hand, Silver Mane Baek Yoonho is a strong choice for boosting attack power, while Lee Bora can apply a debuff that increases the damage enemies receive within a certain area, making them valuable additions to your team. Given the buffs provided by Meilin and Min Byung-gu, adding Amamiya Mirei for her high attack power is also a strategic option.

Quickly Destroy Sculptures with Ultimate Skill! Key Strategy for Kargalgan

In the early stages of the battle, Kargalgan employs relatively simple attack patterns, such as area-of-effect (AoE) flame attacks and charging moves. However, as the fight progresses, Kargalgan introduces more complex magic, starting with the Hymn of Giants, which increases his size and power. Most of his attacks are telegraphed with circular or linear indicators, giving players ample time to dodge by watching the ground.

Several of Kargalgan's skills, particularly those named with Hymn, such as Hymn of Giants, Hymn of Agony, Hymn of the Fire Dragon, Hymn of the Blazing Fire, and Hymn of Lethargy, are AoE attacks that deal significant damage over a wide area. For instance, Hymn of Giants creates a circular damage zone centered around Kargalgan, while Hymn of the Fire Dragon unleashes a straight-line breath attack from a dragon's head, and Hymn of the Blazing Fire causes flames to erupt from the ground.

Among these, Hymn of Agony requires special attention. This skill inflicts sequential damage radiating outward from Kargalgan, followed by summoning vines that deal additional hits. The AoE for this attack is particularly large, and being struck can cause a player’s character to become staggered, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. To avoid this, it's crucial to quickly move out of the area and then counterattack with West Wind.

While most of Kargalgan’s song-based skills are focused on dealing fire-based AoE damage, the Hymn of Protection is different—this skill generates a shield. As Kargalgan deploys various spells and reaches the mid-battle phase, he will use Hymn of Protection to create this shield. At this point, it’s essential to summon a support character like Meilin or Hwang Dongsoo to effectively break the shield and continue the offensive.

In addition to his various Hymn skills, Kargalgan employs Gravitation Magic, which creates a circular area in front of him that lifts players into the air. Once airborne, players are unable to control their characters and become vulnerable to subsequent attacks. To avoid being caught in this spell, quick evasion is essential.

Another key attack involves Kargalgan charging forward with a wall of flames. If hit, players are launched into the air and subjected to multiple hits, emphasizing the importance of timely dodging. These attacks, which can severely restrict player movement, have the potential to lead to mission failure in an instant, so caution is advised.

During the battle, Kargalgan may also teleport away to create distance before launching a barrage of flaming blades in multiple directions. To counter this, players should activate Shadow Step with perfect evasion to quickly reposition behind the boss. This tactic not only avoids the attack but also provides a critical opportunity to land hits while the flaming blade skill is active.

In the final phase of the encounter, Kargalgan unveils a major pattern by summoning three Flame Ritual Sculptures. To continue the assault, these Sculptures must be destroyed swiftly. Although the area around the sculptures is guarded by flying dragon heads that breathe fire to hinder players, using Sung Jinwoo's ultimate skill can obliterate all three sculptures at once.

Saving the ultimate skill for this moment can significantly shorten the battle duration. Additionally, once the sculptures are destroyed, Kargalgan enters a vulnerable state, offering players an excellent window for concentrated attacks.