You can win, but you do not have to
The opening General Lothaire encounter in Chapter 1 — Revival is winnable. Defeat also continues the story: Lucjan rescues William and the next part of the game begins.
If you have already lost, keep following the normal route. You do not need to restart your run to make progress.
How to approach an opening win
Use Fire while you have the resources to keep burning damage on Lothaire. In the first part of the fight, parry attacks you can read to build posture and create critical-attack opportunities.
As the fight develops, prioritize survival. Avoid a readable sequence, use the opening for a short counter, then prepare for the next attack. Preserve enough Endurance to defend instead of spending it all on damage.
Rewards for winning the opening encounter
The rewards have two separate parts:
| Reward | How you receive the Catalysts |
|---|---|
| 10,000 Catalysts | Awarded directly for the victory |
| General’s Catalyst Clot | Consumable that gives another 10,000 Catalysts when used |
The consumable’s value is additional to the direct reward; it is not all automatically added at once.
Does losing miss Torn Banner?
No. The normal Chapter 2 story fight with General Lothaire awards Torn Banner. Losing the opening encounter does not make the trophy permanently unavailable.
Once you reach Valley of Ashes at the end of Chapter 2, use the full General Lothaire guide for the later fight’s attack cues and second phase.