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Splatoon 2: How to Beat Octo Expansion's Secret Boss
In Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion DLC, there is a secret final boss fight that awaits you.
To unlock this final challenge, you must have completed all 80 of the station levels in the DLC, and completed the game with all of the collectible Mem Cakes that you can exchange for gear.
Once this has happened, you'll hear the sound of something unlocking. Take the train back to A00 where you started the DLC, and where the path to The Promised Land is. At the end of the platform next to the vending machine is a series of lockers, and one has been opened. Upon inspecting it, you will be thrust into a match within your mind - tasked to defeat your Inner Agent 3, the hero of the previous Splatoon game.
Secret Boss Video Guide
Much like your fight with Agent 3 in The Promised Land, this will be a 1v1 fight in an enclosed environment with few objects to use as cover. Agent 3 will be harder, faster, and more deadly than ever - and there won't be any checkpoints available.The fight comprises of a series of phases, marked by which special weapons Agent 3 is able to use. In addition to her revolving special weapons, Agent 3 also uses a deadly Hero Shot that can break your shield after a few direct hits, and a supply of Autobombs. Meanwhile, all you have access to is a basic Splattershot and Splat Bombs.
Each phase - including the start - will begin with Agent 3 performing a Splash Down, and is best avoided at a great distance. Agent 3 can also perform dodge rolls despite not having Splat Dualies, and will only change phases once her shield breaks (look for a green explosion).
You will need to be incredibly precise, mobile, and evasive when fighting Agent 3. It is very easy to get your shield broken after a few hits and become dead in the water. If your shield is broken, another few hits from her weapon will end your attempt. You'll also be so slow that any nearby autobombs will almost always splat you if they begin to destruct. In order to win, you'll need to be constantly moving, shooting, and keeping an eye on both your ink meter and making sure you have a path to move and escape on the floor.
When the fight begins, you can either choose to rush Agent 3 after the splash down (be sure to fire in short bursts and then strafe, or she'll likely break your shield quickly), or duck to the side and try and flank her. She'll usually throw and autobomb behind you immediatley, which is another big reason to not go head-on - if your shield breaks the autobomb will almost always catch up on you.
After trading fire, she'll prep the Inkjet and take to the skies. Again, if your shield breaks, another hit will likely splat you, and the splash damage ensures that the two pieces of cover in the arena will rarely save you. At this point you can either rush underneath her and gun her down while she can't escape, or wait until she finishes her barrage and is forced to jump back down. Look for the icon of the Inkjet on the ground that marks where she lifted off, and you'll be able to get off a lot of shots as she returns to the ground. Be ready to continue inking to one side as she either dodge-rolls or swims away from you, and press the attack until the shield breaks.
The second phase might be one of the easier phases - if you can call it that - due to her special. She'll usually engage the Bubble Blower special after either taking few hits or several moments after the initial splashdown. The good news is that while she's blowing bubbles she won't be able to shoot at you, and the bubbles are slow and easy to swim around. You can even strafe to the side as she'll often keep moving left or right while spawning bubbles, and if you can get alongside her, she won't be able to use them as cover.
If she does get all the bubbles out - don't waste time attacking them unless they get in the way. They can burst if you get close enough, which often shatters your shield - but you'll have a few moments after that to finish her off before she can splat you. If that isn't possible, save your potshots for her next special time and capitalize on her vulnerable spots.
The third phase will involve Agent 3 launching hordes of Autobombs at you - some will give chase and others will detonate after a few moments. This is a phase you will need to be constantly moving, or risk getting exploded. Like with the Bubble Blower, when she's launching bombs she can't shoot at you, so you can try to go all in and unload your ammo while moving forward to outpace the bombs. Once you get a trail following you, its better to swim away and wait for another chance to ambush. If your shield breaks here, it's likely game over.
Remember that the autobombs cannot be shot down, but they have a moment between stopping to detonate and actually detonating. You can use that to your advantage by moving toward them and then feinting to one side - just make sure you have a place to escape to, and you aren't heading into more bombs, or a waiting Agent 3.
Things get a little crazy in this phase, as Agent 3 will return to a floating platform outside the arena, and start a constant spray of ink onto the arena, alternated by throwing an Autobomb and using Tenta Missiles to harass you. As long as you remain mobile, this won't be too huge of a problem - but making sure you have ink to travel in will be.
Agent 3 will keep up an almost constant stream of ink showering below as the platform revolves around the sides of the arena between shots from the Tenta Missile. Since the only way to damage her is by tossing up an Ink Bomb, you'll be constantly low on ink yourself - so clearing a path without using too much ink is essential.
It only takes 2 direct hits with an Ink Bomb to stop her, but if you wait too long, she may start regenerate. You can try throwing a bomb from the left side, then swiming back and crossing to the right side while dodging the tenta missiles and toss a bomb from the other side just before the platform starts moving. It will take a good mix of patience and planning to complete this phase - just remember that while she's spraying ink - she won't be directly targeting you, but you will likely take damage over time.
The final phase is arguably the hardest, as Agent 3 will start cheating shortly after her defeat on the platform be engaging in multiple splashdown jumps one after the other. From the previous phase, she will jump down a total of 3 times before starting to fight like normal, and if she powers up in the middle of combat, she can either perform an almost immediate splashdown at close range to trap you, or splashdown to where you are for multiple jumps again.
More than any other phase, movement is key. You need to be laying down constant ink to ensure you have places to run between splashdowns - if you don't, you won't make it away in time. You also want to keep a fair distance when engaging, lest she perform another splashdown before you can back off.
There is one important key to this fight that can save you: The splash down move outward from its source point - and cover can save you. Specifically, you should always be moving around the large rectangular piece of cover in the corner, and alternate to the opposite of whatever side she splashes down. That way, you can ensure you won't be caught in the blast even if she's a few feet away - the barrier will nullify the incoming ink. Knowing that, you can also get ready for an immediate counter-attack after the third splashdown, and try and splat her with an all-out assault. Otherwise, be ready to head back to cover at a moment's notice.
If you manage to get through all five phases and break her shield one last time, your Inner Agent 3 will be defeated, and you'll be rewarded with a Golden Toothpick - a hairpin accessory that will show off your cred to the rest of the world. Good job Agent, you've earned it!