Boss in Act 1 - Overgrowth.
| Move | Intent | Base attack | Higher-Ascension attack | Other effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Blot | Attack | 7 | 8 | — |
| Inky Lance | Attack | 6 × 2 | 7 × 2 | — |
| Dismember | Attack + Status | 26 | 30 | — |
| Prepare | Buff | — | — | 2 strength (self) |
Ink Blot → Inky Lance → Dismember → Prepare → repeat
Slippery limits several instances of HP loss to one damage each. It is not a conventional Block total: spending a large single-hit attack into a remaining charge wastes almost all that attack’s output. Play the inexpensive hits first, count the charges removed, then commit the larger attack after protection is gone.
Blade Dance and Dagger Spray supply several hits from one card. Their value here is the number of separate damage instances, not just the printed total. A random multi-hit attack is easier to direct when Vantom is the only enemy, though the same card may be less reliable against a group earlier in the act.
The base cycle is Ink Blot, Inky Lance, Dismember, then Prepare. Dismember combines a large hit with Status pressure. Preserve a defensive potion or a useful Block hand for that part of the cycle rather than treating each turn as equally dangerous.
Prepare is a non-attacking turn that adds Strength. Use it to deploy a Power, draw into a damage sequence or remove the rest of Slippery. The following attacks now include the buff; a hand that blocked the opening cycle may need more protection the next time through.
Choose a few useful multi-hit or inexpensive attacks while they can also improve the route’s normal combats. Collect those effects before the last reward if the deck still lacks enough damage instances. If the deck already removes Slippery quickly, another small attack may be less useful than the defense that survives Dismember or draw that assembles the final damage.
The boss preparation guide compares Vantom with the other encounter mechanics.
