How to beat the Headbanger in Windblown

Blown by the wind is one of the best roguelite games of 2024 and features a wide range of enemies for players to face in each of their runs. However, one powerful enemy that all players will face is The Headbanger.

This enemy waits at the end of the factory and can end the runs of unprepared Leapers right there and then if they enter unprepared. Here's what players can expect on their way and how they can handle it.

How to beat Headbanger in Windblown

Once players get close enough, the screen will go black for a second before you face The Headbanger. A large health bar that appears on the screen is an iconic feature of boss fights, letting players know they're in for a tough fight. Players will want the right upgrades purchased for their races and know what gear will help them.

Ranged weapons are a great way to always throw some damage at an enemy while you can safely get back on the defensive by dashing. Players should have one of their two weapons as a ranged option for when things get too intense and need to deal with some of Headbanger's canisters.

Here's a list of all the attacks players can expect the Headbanger to do, as well as what they can do to prepare for the fight ahead.

Swipe and headbutt

Two of the easiest attacks to react to are the Headbanger's kick and his headbutt. Headbanger will restrain his hand or head before doing any of these attacks. A player can run in any direction to avoid a slide, but will want to dash to the side to avoid a headshot.

This is because his head kicks will cause an earthquake that moves forward. Headbanger will always perform them as a combo attack, with a headshot after two swipes. As long as players dash to the side, they can continue with melee damage against all of these attacks with a long combo after the headbutt.

Dash

Headbanger is able to perform a fast race just like the players. This is a good reason why players should always keep a small distance from the Headbanger once any of these animations have ended. Players who wish to move in with a melee weapon should do so before they have time to prepare for a follow-up attack. Fortunately, it won't spam this dash like players do.

Slam Down

This boss will occasionally jump into the air. When this happens, players will want to run away immediately, as it will soon collapse. This will cause the ground below it to crack upwards.

Bomb rings

Headbanger will have a ring of purple orbs around him that will detonate shortly after. Players can take some melee hits before running away. This won't be the only ring, as additional ones will drop more than each previous ring.

Once the second ring has detonated, players can move in to continue dealing melee damage. Ranged attackers will have a much easier time as they can maintain consistent damage output from a safe distance from all these rings.

canisters

Headbanger will throw these cylindrical containers which will expand their charge. A part in the middle will then rise up and then cause a shockwave when it slams down. Headbanger is able to throw several of these at once, and this can make the field extremely overwhelming. Players should prioritize taking out these canisters the moment they are deployed, otherwise they won't be able to run to safety and damage will start to stack against them.

Players can damage them at ranged melee, but will want to get away before they send out their shockwave, at which point they can finish it off with ranged damage, or repeat to dodge the shockwave and finish it off with melee attacks.

Laser for eyes

Players can use Headbanger's eye laser attack to their advantage as it is able to damage and even destroy Headbanger's own canisters. Players should always damage his canisters on the opposite side of where the Headbanger is in the hope that he will use this attack and end up destroying them himself. All of these tech-related scraps and hidden weapons really feed into the atmosphere of The Factor level.

Fighting Headbanger in Windblown

While defensive combat is great advice for players in general, there are some specific tips that will help you in this fight in particular. Players will have plenty of opportunities to get good gear to fight the Headbanger, and here are some noteworthy options. Players will want to purchase a Health Flask upgrade as it will allow them to recover 60% of their HP. They'll also want Backstabber to increase his damage output all around, especially from going behind Headbanger after headbutting him.

In terms of gear gained during the race, players will want at least 1 ranged option. This can allow for some extra damage when you're on the other side of the shockwave or when there's a lot of damage around the field at the same time. Even players who prefer melee will welcome all the extra damage they can get when melee attacks are too risky.

Players will want the Frost Nova Trinket as this can completely freeze the Headbanger and open it up to optimal DPS from a player. Another trinket is the Goo Bomb, which can deal damage over time. Goo Bomb is best used at the end of his first swipe or when he uses his laser, as he won't move and will likely take the full effect of the damage.

Players can also talk to the NPC through the canon that starts expeditions, as they can join other players or invite their friends to come with them. There is strength in numbers, and multiple players with Frost Nova can deal a massive amount of damage against this boss. Players who clear this challenge and everyone else ahead will be rewarded with an unlocked new Leaper design.