How To Beat Rudolf Captain of Stonedale in Absolum

Rudolf, Captain of Stonedale, is an early-game boss who serves as a crucial skills check, teaching players the core combat mechanics of Absolum, particularly deflecting. Armed with an axe and shield, he possesses high defense and dangerous power. Mastering this fight is key to unlocking the rest of the game's difficulty curve.Key Philosophy: Be extremely aggressive, using deflects and dodges to turn his powerful attacks into punish opportunities.

Absolum: Beat Rudolf Captain of Stonedale

General Battle Strategy

The fight is divided into two rough phases: when Rudolf has his shield, and after you've broken it.

• Prioritize Defense to Offense: Do not spam attacks. Focus on recognizing Rudolf's attack cues, using a deflect or dodge to negate the damage, and immediately following up with a punish attack.
• Maintain Momentum: Keep applying pressure. After a successful counter, continue your strikes, heavy attacks, and special attacks to wear down his shield and health.
• Use Throwables: Rudolf tends to stay on-screen, making him a great target for any throwable items you've collected. Stack them up and use them for quick, reliable damage.
• Save Your Ultimate: Avoid wasting your character's ultimate attack on Rudolf, especially if you plan to push further into the run.

Countering Rudolf's Attacks (Phase 1: Shield Intact)

Most of Rudolf's attacks in this phase can and should be deflected to maximize your punishment window.

Attack Name	Visual Cue	Recommended Counter	Notes on Countering
Rising Slash	Scrapes the ground, then performs a rising axe slash. If far, throws rocks.	Deflect the axe when he raises it from the ground. Deflect the rocks if you're too far.	Deflecting the slash allows for an immediate punish. Being in proximity is generally safer than dealing with the projectiles.
Downward Slash	Axe blinks, raises it high, then brings it down in a curved single hit.	Deflect.	A straightforward deflect opportunity. Follow up with a punish and continue your combo.
Guard Counter	A quick flash/blink, then bashes his shield toward you.	Deflect when you see the flash.	This is triggered after you've landed several hits on his shield. Deflecting this attack is crucial for maintaining your offensive pressure.
Charged Shield Bash	Rudolf flashes RED and enters a low squat; charges forward with a shield and leaves a fire trail.	Dodge out of the way (ideally below him).	DO NOT DEFLECT. Red-flashing attacks typically break your guard and leave you stunned.This particular attack hits multiple times, so a deflection of the first hit will still leave you vulnerable to the follow-up strikes.

Countering Rudolf's Attacks (Phase 2: Shield Broken)

Once his shield is broken, Rudolf becomes more aggressive, replacing his Shield Bash with a dangerous grab.

Attack Name	Visual Cue	Recommended Counter	Notes on Countering
Red Flashing Attack – Grab	Rudolf flashes RED, raises his hand, then dashes towards you for a command grab.	Simple Dodge (if close). Walk below him (if at moderate distance).	DO NOT JUMP. He will catch you mid-air. The safest way to dodge is a simplesidestep, allowing him to dash past your character. If successful, thegrab leads to an inescapable combo.
Downward Slash	Axe blinks, raises it high, then brings it down.	Deflect.	He retains this attack even after losing his shield. Use the same deflection timing.
Shield Rally	Pounds his now-broken shield and calls for reinforcements (minions).	Interrupt with attacks.	While you can interrupt the animation, the reinforcements will often startappearing anyway. Focus on dealing with the summoned minions quicklybefore returning your attention to Rudolf.

Achievement Unlocked

Successfully beating Rudolf, Captain of Stonedale, for the first time will unlock the Brother in Arms achievement/trophy.

This fight is a fundamental training exercise in Absolum. Once you can consistently deflect his non-red attacks and safely dodgehis charged dashes, you'll find Rudolf becomes one of the game's easierencounters on subsequent runs.

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