The short answer: Watch his shoulders, not the blade. Most deaths come from reacting to the wind-up instead of the actual strike.
01 · PREP
Before the attempt
- Upgrade health and defense with Xu Dog if available.
- Use Serpentscale gear if the blood pool pressure bothers you.
- Bring Immobilize and Cloud Step.
02 · RULES
Three rules that solve the fight
- Delay the dodge after his obvious wind-ups.
- Two light attacks, then reassess.
- Cloud Step can reset the stone feint sequence.
03 · PUNISH
Reliable punish windows
- End of the five-hit sword chain.
- Missed leap into the blood pool.
- Roar recovery at medium range.
04 · RESET
Most common run killers
- Button mashing after two hits.
- Rolling on the wind-up.
- Healing directly in front of him.
Note: patches can change numbers, while move recognition, punish windows, and resource planning usually remain useful.