Quick answer: Parry the Gold-Masked One’s blue-flash attacks, perfect dodge his red-flash attacks, and stay close so his single health bar keeps falling. Beating him completes Lóng Pillar trial 1 and earns Counterstrike Bracers.
The Gold-Masked One at a glance
The boss bar reads The Gold-Masked One. He has one health bar.
His arsenal comprises a sword plus a long polearm topped by a heavy head.
You fight him in a burning temple compound at night. Walls of fire ring the arena, and a broken bell called “Lóng Pillar” stands at the edge.
During the Bloodline Awakening quest, he serves as the foe for the opening Lóng Pillar trial; victory grants the Counterstrike Bracers.
In our run, on the current patch, the initial Pathbreaker run was fatal; the follow-up on Wayfarer lasted roughly five minutes.
How to start the Lóng Pillar trial at Midlake
The trial belongs to the Bloodline Awakening quest. In our run, the Midlake pillar did not react until one step elsewhere was done first.
When the sequence ends, the quest card reads “BLOODLINE AWAKENING – Return to the Lóng Pillar to investigate” and the screen shows “Days Remaining: 52”, one day lower than before.
In the scene, smoke surrounds the Gold-Masked One; a crying baby is swaddled in gold brocade; a masked man holds the baby before a burning hall; and young Soul wears a straw hat. The instant the scene finishes, the fight begins with you in the arena.
The arena is a burning temple compound at night, surrounded by walls of fire. The game shows the hint “Parry Blue-flash Attacks and Perfect Dodge Red-flash Attacks whenever possible to gain the upper hand!” and the quest card “Find all five Lóng Pillars and complete their trials (0/5)”.
Gold-Masked One attacks and their warnings
Blue-flash attacks
Just before he swings, a vivid blue-white star flashes on him; parry these attacks. A successful parry sends sparks bursting between the blades.
Red-flash attacks
Look for a red glint flashing over him before an attack, such as when he leaps upward to strike. Perfect dodge these attacks.
Crescent slash, red burst, and other moves
A red crescent slash sends a broad arc of red toward you.
At close range, the red burst detonates out of the ground and sends rays of light outward.
He can also launch a leaping strike, rising high with his coat spread before crashing down on you. When using the polearm, he makes a broad overhead swing.
Upright spears and swords are planted throughout the arena, with additional weapons appearing as the battle progresses.
How to beat the Gold-Masked One
Retrying at the broken Lóng Pillar bell
A broken bell stands at the edge of the arena. Its menu is titled “Lóng Pillar” and offers Return to the Waking Realm, Upgrade Equipment, Store, Train Abilities, Save, and Leave.
If you die, you come back at this bell and can change the difficulty before trying again.
After the fight: Counterstrike Bracers and the trial count
When he falls, the Man in Black says, “Very well. You didn’t disappoint me.” Soul answers, “I touched a Lóng Pillar bound in chains… and found myself here.” The Man in Black then tells Soul to remember one name, the Bastion of Mó.
Back at Midlake, the dragon pillar has collapsed into rubble, and the quest card reads “Find all five Lóng Pillars and complete their trials (1/5)”.
Your reward is Counterstrike Bracers, an Offensive accessory with the effect “Increases damage dealt to enemies by 20% for 2 seconds after a Parry.” The card text reads:
“These bracers are clad in irregular metal scales. Blocking enemy attacks causes the scales to gather Sha-Chi, building power for a counterattack. The people of the Bastion of Mó had no desire to vie for supremacy in the Wulin, but neither would they tolerate formidable foes at their gates. Such was their way.”
The game then asks “Equip the new Accessory now?” and gives you a choice of Confirm or Back.
