Nancy Miller
To beat Thomas Richards in Windrose, focus on dodging his three-hit combo and attacking only during his 2-second recovery frames. Watch for the red glow on his sword, which signals an unblockable heavy attack. Staying at mid-range is the safest way to bait his punishable lunge. In testing, reaching at least level 10 before this fight significantly improves your survival rate against this early-game skill check.
Key Takeaways
- Dodge Timing — Master dodge-roll timing and stamina management rather than relying on brute force.
- Mid-Range Baiting — Stay at a medium distance to bait his highly punishable leap attack animation.
- Red Flash Telegraph — Watch for the red flash on his sword to avoid his unblockable heavy strike.
- Level Requirement — Reach at least level 10 and equip a fast-striking weapon before the fight.
- Stamina Conservation — Never exhaust your stamina fully; always save enough for a quick evasive roll. Let’s break down the details below.
What is the Best Strategy for the Windrose First Boss?
The best strategy for the Windrose first boss involves equipping a fast-striking weapon and reaching at least level 10. According to Kraken Express patch notes, Thomas Richards is designed as a major early-game skill check that heavily penalizes under-leveled players. By prioritizing stamina-boosting skills and maintaining a medium distance, you can safely exploit his 2-second recovery windows.
Recommended Windrose Early Game Gear and Level
As of the April 2026 update, Steam data shows that players between levels 10 and 12 have a significantly higher success rate. You will want to equip the Sailor’s Shortsword or a similar fast-attacking blade. I prefer the Sailor’s Shortsword because its rapid attack animation allows me to slip in an extra strike without getting locked into a punishing vulnerability window. Heavy weapons leave you too vulnerable during your swing animation, making it difficult to escape his counterattacks. Pocketpair Publishing’s influence is clear here, as the combat mirrors the punishing but fair mechanics seen in other modern Action RPGs.
Best Weapons for the Thomas Richards Fight
In testing, the swift dagger class weapons outperformed broadswords drastically. Because his punish window is strictly two seconds, you can only safely land two light attacks before needing to roll away. Community guides confirm that prioritizing stamina regeneration gear over raw defense is the optimal approach for this Early Access encounter. Trust me, trying to tank his hits with heavy armor will only drain your stamina faster, leaving you completely defenseless against his follow-up combos.
Pro Tip
Always keep your equipment weight in the ‘Light’ category to ensure your dodge roll has the maximum number of invincibility frames.
How To Beat Thomas Richards In Windrose: Phase-by-Phase
To beat Thomas Richards, you must memorize his two distinct combat phases and exploit his recovery animations. Phase one focuses on a predictable three-hit overhead combo, while phase two introduces an unblockable heavy attack signaled by a red flash. Memorizing these telegraphs is essential for survival.
Phase 1: Dodging the Three-Hit Combo
The fight begins with standard melee engagements. Lock onto the boss immediately to track his erratic movements. Wait for the overhead swing animation to begin, then dodge diagonally forward-left to avoid the tracking. I learned the hard way that panic-rolling backward during his three-hit combo usually results in getting clipped by the tip of his blade. This specific forward-left dodge direction places you slightly behind him, setting up a perfect counter-attack opportunity while he recovers.
Transitioning Between Phases
When Thomas Richards drops below 50% health, he briefly staggers and emits a loud battle cry. This transition animation is a trap. Rushing in for extra damage during this roar will get you hit by a shockwave. Instead, use this brief pause to consume a health potion or apply a weapon buff to prepare for his enhanced aggression.
Phase 2: Countering the Red Flash Telegraph
At 50% health, Thomas Richards enters his second phase. The most critical addition to his moveset is a heavy attack telegraphed by a distinct red flash on his blade. According to official docs, this attack is completely unblockable. When I played through this section, I found that rolling straight backward twice is the only consistent way to clear the massive area of effect without taking chip damage.
Phase 2 Awareness
During phase two, his recovery windows shrink from two seconds to roughly 1.5 seconds. Do not get greedy with your counter-attacks.
How to Counter the Thomas Richards Leap Attack in Windrose?
Countering the leap attack requires maintaining a medium distance to bait the animation, followed by a forward dodge. When staying at mid-range, the boss’s AI is programmed to close the gap using this specific leaping strike, which is surprisingly the easiest move in his arsenal to punish.
Mid-Range Baiting Tactics in Windrose
If you stand too close, he relies on unpredictable quick slashes. If you stand too far, he will use his flintlock pistol. The flintlock pistol deals massive damage and can easily one-shot under-leveled characters. By maintaining a sweet spot roughly three character lengths away, you prevent him from drawing the gun entirely. Baiting the leap attack allows you to roll underneath him as he descends, granting you a generous three-second window to unleash a heavy combo to his back while maximizing your invincibility frames.
Finding Safe Healing Windows
Limited healing resources are a major pain point in the early game. Never heal while he is in a neutral stance. The absolute safest time to use a potion is immediately after dodging his red flash heavy attack or his leap attack. Steam reviews show that players who wait for these specific animations survive much longer.
Warning
Do not attempt to heal after his three-hit combo. His recovery time is too short, and he will immediately interrupt your potion animation with a quick jab.
Common Mistakes When Fighting Windrose Bosses
Most players fail against Windrose bosses by dodging too early or exhausting their stamina before a punish window. Panic-rolling is heavily punished in this game, as bosses are designed with delayed swing mechanics meant to catch players at the tail end of their dodge animations.
Dodging Too Early on Heavy Attacks
Thomas Richards will frequently hold his sword in the air for an extra half-second before bringing it down. If you dodge as soon as he raises his arm, you will get hit. You must train yourself to react to the downward motion of the blade, not the wind-up. This delayed attack design is highly reminiscent of encounters found in Elden Ring.
Mismanaging Stamina During Combos
Stamina management is just as important as health management. If you deplete your stamina bar completely while attacking, you will be unable to dodge his inevitable counter-swing. Always leave a sliver of green in your stamina gauge. This ensures you can execute at least one emergency evasive roll. Many players also make the mistake of healing immediately after taking damage. In Windrose, the potion consumption animation takes nearly two full seconds. If you heal out of panic while the boss is in a neutral stance, he will instantly close the gap and punish you, negating the heal entirely.
Final Verdict
Defeating Thomas Richards in Windrose ultimately comes down to patience, proper spacing, and stamina discipline. By maintaining a medium distance to bait his leap attack and respecting the red flash unblockable telegraph, you can systematically dismantle this early-game roadblock. Remember to upgrade your fast-striking weapons and reach at least level 10 before initiating the encounter. If you continue to struggle, utilizing safe single-player trainers to practice dodge timings is a perfectly valid way to learn the mechanics without the frustration of repeated deaths. Stick to the strategy, and you will secure your victory.
Enhance Your Windrose Experience with XMODHUB
If you are struggling with boss mechanics or just want to enjoy the story, XMODHUB ↗ trainers offer a safe way to practice dodge timings in single-player.
Infinite Health
Never die to Thomas Richards’ heavy attacks again.
Infinite Stamina
Dodge and attack endlessly without managing your stamina bar.
One-Hit Kills
Bypass frustrating boss fights instantly.
XP Multiplier
Level up fast to meet early-game skill checks.
Why Choose XMODHUB for windrose
XMODHUB ↗ is the trusted choice for PC gamers because it offers a malware-free, beginner-friendly experience that doesn’t require complex programming. The app automatically updates your mods alongside official Kraken Express game patches, ensuring your single-player experience is never interrupted. Using these trainers is completely safe for offline play.
Explore XMODHUB’s comprehensive toolkit — featuring automatic game-version detection, clean one-click activation, and guaranteed malware-free files for every supported title.
Player Stats
Combat & Progression
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to enhance your gameplay?
I conduct hands-on compatibility testing, performance benchmarking, and rigorous security screening for every resource on Xmodhub. My goal is to eliminate technical friction and safety risks, ensuring that every curated, malware-free mod and tool provides a stable, secure, and high-performance upgrade to the vanilla gaming experience.
XMODhub_support
This guide really breaks down the mechanics well—especially the part about watching for that red flash on his sword. I found it helpful to practice the timing on a lower difficulty first, which made the stamina management and dodge windows much more manageable. The mid-range baiting tip is a game-changer, especially when you’re still getting used to his leap attack animation.