If you’re just picking up Pillars of Eternity and aren’t sure where to start, check out our complete character creation guide. If you haven’t made a final decision on picking up the game, read our in-depth review to see what you’re missing out on.
This isn’t an easy fight. It will push the limits of everything you think you know about this game, and chances are you’re probably going to fail a couple of times. With that in mind, you need to realize that entering Breith Eaman means there is no going back. This is the final area of the game, and once you’re in, you can’t return to the other parts of Dyrwood unless you have a previous save game. Now that you understand what is at stake, let’s talk about preparations and how you can make sure you’re ready.
The first thing to keep in mind is your character’s progression. By the time you take on Thaos, you want to make sure that everyone in your party is level 12. This is the highest level in the game, which means you’ll have the maximum amount of spells, skills, Health, Mana, and Focus possible. If you haven’t reached this point yet, we suggest heading back out of the Burial Isle and completing any side quests you haven’t finished yet. Be sure to check out our guides to all the side quests in Pillars of Eternity.
The next thing to do is make sure your party is well rested. Don’t simply camp outside the Burial Isle and then take on the boss. Instead, travel to the inn in Twin Elms or even back to Caed Nua and choose one of the rest options that gives Might, Dexterity, and Constitution bonuses. These are some of the most important stats you’ll want to have when taking on Thaos and his two giant allies.
The third and final thing to do is make sure you have the proper equipment for the battle. Gather plenty of potions, scrolls, and other useable items. Refrain from bringing traps since you won’t have time to set and make use of them. You’ll also want to make sure your party members have the best armor you can purchase or find, as well as the most powerful weapons. We suggest enchanting as much as you can before heading into this fight.
Once you’re sure you have all the supplies, armor, and weapons you need, head back to Burial Isle and make your way down to the final boss.
If you haven’t paid attention to the game’s story, Thaos is the guy you’ve been chasing for the majority of the game. He’s the reason you’re suffering from your Awakening, and he also happens to be the reason for the Hollowborn plague that’s been taking over Dyrwood. If you want to stop him, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when facing off against this powerful sorcerer.
First, he has allies. You see those two giant statues near him? Once the fight starts he will bring them to life, and they aren’t lightweights. Once the fight begins, it is imperative that you disable Thaos as quickly as possible. Ignore the statues for now and focus your entire party on Thaos. You’ll also want to avoid standing still for too long, as moving targets are harder to hit, and you don’t want the statues hitting you. You’ll also want to hold off on using all of your scrolls. You’re probably scratching your head and wondering why, but don’t worry, we’ll explain everything.
Once Thaos reaches half health, he’ll transfer his soul into one of the statues. When this happens you’ll want to send your entire party to attack the statue he isn’t inhabiting. By doing this, you’ll cut down the battle time a little, and also ensure that his soul quickly returns to his body for the final phase. An important thing to keep in mind when fighting this battle is to keep your ranged characters dispersed. Never place them too close together, as AOE attacks could take them down if they aren’t far enough apart.
Once both statues are down, Thaos will enter the final phase of the battle. This is when you want to go all out with your scrolls and spells. His health will completely refill once this phase starts, which is why we advised you to hold onto your scrolls. It’s also important to make sure Thaos isn’t focusing on your weaker party members. This is where your warriors come in handy. Use them to pull Thaos’ attacks and keep your squishier party members alive. From here on out it’s all about keeping the full force of your party on Thaos and take him down as quick as you can. It should go without saying, but every minute that Thaos is alive, it’s another minute that allows him to whittle away your party. Once Thaos is down, you’ll need to make your final decision of what to do with him and then finish the game.
Having trouble leveling? Spend some time studying our full guide to leveling up fast in Pillars of Eternity.
