Red-Eyed Ruby: All Boss Guides for 2026 First & True Second Playthroughs – Boss Order & No-Damage Ta

Red-Eyed Ruby looks like a standard 2D Boss Rush at first glance, but once you actually dive in, it’s not just testing if you can roll. It forces players to “watch the boss”, judge their attack rhythm, then use Focus, Mark, Weakness Stab, Flying Needle, and Break Stance to counter. The game officially launched in July 2026. Finishing the main story on your first playthrough is just to get familiar with the system — the “True” difficulty on New Game+ is where the real challenge hits. Your character will be almost one-shot here, plus you’ll face extra battles like Red-Eyed Tree, Dark Ruby, Puppeteer, and more.

If you’re searching for all bosses in Red-Eyed Ruby, this guide organizes everything in the actual play order, including Beast, Guardian Phi, Twin Heretics, Gravekeeper, Martyr Angel, Plague Source, Ghost, Roy, plus the new bosses added in True Difficulty and the final boss Witch Archina. Instead of memorizing every single move, I’d suggest noting down “which moves give Marks, which ones need Break Stance, and which skills are better off just running away from” — this will make New Game+ way easier.

I. 2026 Latest Boss Strength Overview

A. Boss Difficulty Rankings & Recommended Order

In my experience, the early-game bosses Beast and first Guardian Phi are more like tutorials. Twin Heretics introduces multi-target management, while Gravekeeper tests your Flying Needle skills. Mid-game bosses Martyr Angel and Plague Source get noticeably harder; Ghost is about patience, and Roy is a rhythm battle. New Game+ bosses Red-Eyed Tree, Puppeteer, and Phase 3 Archina are the real high-pressure fights. I’d put True Archina, Puppeteer, and Red-Eyed Tree at the highest difficulty tier.

B. Meta Analysis & Version Environment

Right now, the most stable meta is still focused on Weakness Stab, and it’s simple why: regular slashes and projectile damage are more for utility, while a fully Marked Weakness Stab can cut a boss’s HP fast. Perfect Dodge is the core ability for all high-difficulty runs — successfully dodging lets you build Focus quickly, turning the boss’s attacks into your own resource instead.

C. Must-Do Bosses for New Players

Beast is good for practicing Perfect Dodge, Guardian Phi for learning ranged attack rhythms, Twin Heretics for Break Stance, Gravekeeper for Flying Needle, and Martyr Angel teaches you not to spam stabs the second your Mark is full. If you can consistently beat these five bosses, you already have the basics for the rest of the game.

II. Complete Boss Order for First Playthrough

A. Basic Tutorial: Beast & Guardian Phi

Beast is the classic tutorial boss. Standing slightly above it is usually safe — don’t force a Perfect Dodge when it slams the ground, just run away if you’re unsure. Falling rocks are actually great for practicing consecutive Perfect Dodges. Guardian Phi mixes melee, flying swords, and purple grab attacks. The flying swords have a regular rhythm, so it’s a free way to build Focus.

B. Twin Heretics & Gravekeeper Strategies

Twin Heretics are two bosses on the same HP bar, so the key isn’t splitting damage evenly — it’s using both targets to build Marks fast. When the big bird inhales, get close on purpose to trigger its purple grab, then use Break Stance to counter it. For Gravekeeper, start using Flying Needle to handle aerial attacks; you can destroy the green poison orbs on the field directly, and if the smoke is too annoying, pair it with a charm that lets you see through the haze.

C. Martyr Angel & Plague Source Guides

Don’t get too close to Martyr Angel — its eggshell blocks stabs. When it fully curls into an egg, push the egg into the fire pit. If you have enough Marks, using a Stab to change position is safer than spamming regular attacks. The biggest problems with Plague Source are its split body and poison mist; avoid letting it split into too many parts if you can. Any part of its body deals damage, so don’t fixate on the red Focus nodes.

D. Phi & Ghost Weakness Breakdown

When you fight Phi again, it has more flying swords and special moves. Use Break Stance to counter its purple orbs, and Flying Needle for its Phase 2 aerial attacks. The Ghost Grant’s biggest headache is it possessing soldiers. I recommend keeping Marks on the main body when it’s visible — that makes it easier to track its position after it disappears. Archers are the worst, deal with them fast instead of dragging it out.

E. Roy & Witch Move Breakdown

Roy’s melee rhythm is pretty consistent — common patterns are one slash followed by a jump slash, or two slashes followed by a jump slash. The jump slash is a great opening to attack. Smoke itself doesn’t deal damage, so don’t panic. The Witch Archina’s Phase 1 uses swords, scythes, black orbs, and lances. The core rule is don’t greed for full layers: Stab only when you have a safe window, which is way better than waiting for an extra layer and taking damage.

F. Tips for Tainted Priest & Puppeteer Strategies

Some players call Twin Heretics the Tainted Priest, but it’s still just the same two-boss fight as before. Puppeteer is a New Game+ exclusive boss, not part of the normal first playthrough. It

G. Red-Eyed Tree & Final Boss Clear Guide

The Red-Eyed Tree is also a New Game+ exclusive, so the real final boss of your first playthrough is Archina. When you fight the Witch for the first time, focus on nailing the rhythm of Phase 1 and 2: As soon as the Black Fire circle pops up, dash straight into the safe zone. For her consecutive spear attacks, sidestep in the direction the spear’s coming from. After she throws the chain ball, always watch out for her air slam.

III. Real Boss Hard Mode Full Walkthrough

A. Breakdown of Real Hard Mode Boss Changes

The biggest difference in Real Hard Mode isn’t Boss HP—it’s your tolerance being cut to rock bottom. In Normal Mode, you can mess up a hit and heal it, but in Real Mode, one well-placed hit will take you out. So your playstyle shifts from "chasing damage" to "making 100% sure you don’t get hit this round."

B. How to Beat Real Beast & Guardian

Don’t rush damage on the Beast. Dodge its ground slam first, then stay far away, and focus on landing marks on its most predictable attacks like rock falls or throws. For Fei, use her flying sword as a focus charger. If you’re not comfortable with her purple grab, just roll away—don’t blow the whole run on a single counter attempt.

C. Real Twin Cultists & Grave Keeper Guide

Twin Cultists hate it when you get ambushed by the other one, so keep an eye on the battlefield even when focused. For the Grave Keeper’s clone phase, if you can’t nail the perfect dodge, just pull back and run. There’s no need to show off every move in Real Hard Mode.

D. Real Martyr Angel & Source of Plague

The Martyr Angel’s egg shell spin is the last move you should ever try to tank. Prioritize survival before dealing with fire pits. For the Source of Plague, switch to slash or area-of-effect builds—its long body lets you hit multiple times in one go.

E. Real Fei & Weakness Analysis of Ghost

The key to Phase 2 Fei is her flower explosions and air attacks—don’t spam rolls just because there’s flashy effects everywhere. For the Ghost, clear its possessed targets fast. New Game+ soldiers leave way messier field effects, so dragging it out only means more danger.

F. Real Roy & Witch Move Breakdown

Roy’s active mark-based ultimate is super dangerous. If you can’t read it, use environmental obstacles to your advantage. For the Witch, train until you know exactly what move comes next just from her start-up animation. In New Game+ Phase 3, she adds meteors and rotating boomerangs—her usual two-sword combo will now have projectiles mixed in.

G. Real Red-Eyed Tree & Final Fight

The Red-Eyed Tree’s branches and main body share HP, so don’t fixate only on the trunk. The small flowers mess with focus locking—always cut them first. For Dark Ruby, don’t trade light attacks with her. Wait until she enters focus mode, then go into focus mode too, build up enough marks, and counter-thrust safely. Only after that handle the Puppeteer and Phase 3 Archina—this is what completes the Real Mode run.

IV. Deep Dive into Boss Battle Systems

A. Focus System & Gauge Accumulation

Holding Focus keeps you observing the Boss—you accumulate gauge easier when at the right distance. The big risk of Focus is it limits your view and movement, so don’t hold it the whole fight. Unlock it safely when the Boss teleports or charges.

B. Thrust System & Weakness Identification

The more marks you have, the more worth using a weakness thrust. The thrust’s biggest value isn’t just damage—it’s bridging gaps fast. So after many Boss attacks, instead of running over, you can thrust to fully fill your counter window.

C. Perfect Dodge & I-Frames

Perfect Dodge gives you a short slow-motion and Focus boost—it’s the best skill in the whole game to master. Don’t only watch your character; Boss attacks usually have bright flashes or obvious sound cues. Using these as a rhythm will make you way more consistent.

D. Needles & Body-Cleave Techniques

Needles aren’t for DPS—they’re for countering specific air attacks. Body-Cleave is for countering purple grabs or special attacks. Both are mechanic tools—if you don’t use them when needed, you’ll wipe faster than missing a thrust.

E. Mark System & Stun Trigger

Don’t think full marks mean "thrust immediately." Many Bosses are still in the middle of attacks when marks are full—wait until they’re staggered or finishing their move before thrusting, that’s the safe play.

F. Move Reading & Counter Timing

The most important part of move reading is spotting cues, not guessing based on reaction. If you keep failing a move in Real Hard Mode, I suggest skipping attacks entirely and just watching 3-5 start-up animations—you’ll get the rhythm quickly.

V. Talisman & Gear Build Recommendations

A. Top Talisman Combos Overview

For a general thrust build, pick from Precision Strike, Killer’s Instinct, Seal of Courage, Perfect Advance, etc. If you need to explore and pull back, go with Light Butterfly. Mila’s Shadow is super worth equipping when you get it in Real Hard Mode—it takes one fatal hit for Ruby.

B. Blood Butterfly vs Precision Strike

Blood Butterfly adds extra projectile damage right after a thrust.

But after taking damage, the Blood Butterfly will disappear, so it's better suited for players going for no-damage runs or those who are already skilled. Precise Strikes directly boost Weak Point Lunges, have simple activation requirements, so I'd recommend picking the latter for new players.

C. Talisman Cost Cap Management

Don't just slot every Talisman that looks strong—slot cost is the real limiting factor. A high-cost Talisman has to completely change how you fight bosses, otherwise you're better off running two reliable, low-cost Talismans instead.

D. Impure Shard Uses Analysis

Impure Shards are tied to game progression and ability upgrades. Early versions of the game had glitches where these shards wouldn't spawn correctly, but later patches added fixes. If you notice your old save has a weirdly low or high number of these shards, make sure you update to the latest game version before proceeding.

E. Weapon Selection & Skill Builds

Ruby the Crimson doesn't have the traditional ARPG system where you swap out dozens of weapons. What actually matters for combat are your Lunges, Projectile Needles, Slashes, and Talisman setup. For the skill tree, I prioritize upgrading things that directly boost core counters and Lunge efficiency first.

F. Lunge Build & Projectile Needle Build Setups

The Lunge build is the most versatile, working against almost every boss. The Projectile Needle build, on the other hand, requires Projectile-enhancing Talismans to really boost damage. For your first playthrough, don't force yourself to use an underpowered build—mastering the Lunge system is way more important.

VI. Advanced Boss-Specific Strategies

A. Dual Boss Battle Tactics

Against the two Cultists, don't stand between them—try to keep both bosses on the same side. When focusing on one, you can use attacks from the other boss to trigger Perfect Dodges and build up your Markers quickly.

B. Multi-Phase Boss Priority Order

For ghost-possessed minions, handle them based on threat level—Archers are usually top priority. After the Plague Bearer splits, focus on the shorter, easier-to-hit bodies first.

C. No-Damage Tips for the Hardest Bosses

The key to no-damage runs on Archina isn't fast reflexes—it's not messing up your rhythm. Only go for windows you're 100% certain you can nail. In Phase 3, it's better to skip two Lunges than to run around chasing the boss just to deal more damage.

D. Cheese Strategies for Stuck Bosses

If you're really stuck on a boss, you can switch to Story Mode. The game lets you adjust dodge timing, Perfect Dodge windows, and your attack multiplier, and most achievements still unlock normally. Don't let one boss ruin your experience just because you're stuck.

E. Boss Attack Prediction & Positioning

Almost every boss has a fixed attack startup and combo pattern. When you see the first swing, don't just think about dodging that first hit—start predicting the second and third hits too.

F. Attack Windows & Finish Opportunities

The best counterattacks come after a jump slash, when a combo ends, when you successfully parry a special move, or right before a boss gets back up. Regular attacks are just for chipping damage—your fully-marked Lunge is your main finishing tool.

VII. New Player Early-Game Boss Guide

A. Early Talisman & Skill Choices

Early on, focus on speed, Lunge damage, and movement flexibility—don't go for extreme high-damage builds. Defensive Talismans like the Earth Shield are still useful in your first playthrough.

B. First Week Boss Checklist

Stick to the main story and fight the Beast, Fi, the two Cultists, and the Gravekeeper—no need to grind extra mobs for levels. The bosses in this game are your main training ground anyway.

C. Boss Strategy Priority Order

The story already sets up a good difficulty curve for you, so you don't need to look for skip tricks on your first playthrough. What needs planning are the new bosses and Talisman content added in New Game+.

D. Start Reroll Tips (No Reroll Needed)

Ruby the Crimson isn't a gacha game—there's no reroll function. The only thing worth redoing at the start is mastering the combat, not grinding for specific characters, weapons, or SSR rarity stuff.

E. Bad Builds to Avoid

The most common new player mistake is slotting too many high-risk Talismans at once—like ones that boost speed but also increase damage taken. You'll end up being way squishier before you even learn the boss attacks.

VIII. Resource Management & Progression Planning

A. Dust Shard Farming Tips

You can break wooden crates and barrels in the environment to get Dust Shards, and after beating a boss, don't forget to go back to the Goddess Statue to light the candle. Use Dust Shards early on to buy Talismans—don't blow all your currency on random shop items.

B. Pure Shard Uses

Pure Shards are mainly for skills and long-term progression. It's better to invest in combat skills you actually use, rather than spreading points evenly across the entire skill tree.

C. Skill Tree Unlock Order

I'd start by unlocking the Lunge core skills, then add Mechanic Skills like Projectile Needles and Body-Severing Slashes, and only invest in more niche playstyle abilities last.

D. Shrine Prayer System

Don't just ignore the shrines as background during exploration—interacting, lighting candles, and triggering story events can give you Dust Shards or progression benefits, especially in New Game+.

It's easier to miss things when going for a 100% collection.

E. Potion Usage Strategy

In your first playthrough, don't stubbornly hold on with just a sliver of health—use potions whenever you can before a Boss enters its second phase. On New Game+ True Difficulty, health management is barely an issue; the real challenge is avoiding getting hit at all.

IX. F2P & Clumsy Player Guide

A. Recommended Must-Build for F2P Players

Eyes of Ruby is a full-price, single-player game with no gacha, paid characters, or pay-to-win talismans—so every player starts with the same basic combat resources.

B. Beginner-Friendly Boss Order for Clumsy Players

Beast and Fi (first fight) are perfect for practice. If you get stuck on later bosses, just use the story mode—it extends dodge and perfect dodge windows. No shame, the game gives you these tools for a reason.

C. Cost-Effective Talisman Alternatives

Simple-condition talismans like Precision Strike, Step Dash, and Sharp Eye are super useful—you don’t have to go for high-risk options like Killer Instinct or Light Butterfly.

D. No-Build Completion Strategy

There are no gear requirements to beat the game. Even without rare or special talismans, you can clear your first playthrough with just basic stabs and perfect dodges.

E. Long-Term Progression Roadmap

First, learn the systems in your first playthrough. Then on New Game+, go for talismans, skills, hidden bosses, and no-hit runs. Finally, tackle speedruns and leaderboards—it’s way less stressful than chasing limits from the start.

X. Version Updates & Boss Change Analysis

A. Seasonal Update Rundown

The game isn’t seasonal right now. Post-launch updates have mainly focused on bug fixes, performance, saves, and hitbox adjustments. They also did a big optimization for the Plague Source stage back in August.

B. Recent Boss Buff List

No bosses have received major, official buffs lately. The notable changes were hitbox adjustments for Beast, Twin Cultists, Martyr Angel, Fi, Grave Keeper, and Puppeteer—making their attacks line up better with animations.

C. Meta Build Trend for This Version

Stabbing is still the most consistent go-to, especially on True Difficulty where you need to minimize actions and make every hit count. So talismans like Precision Strike, Mark Cap, and survival-focused ones are super practical.

D. Environment Changes & Playstyle Adjustments

If you felt like some bosses were hitting you for no reason early on, this version fixed a lot of hitbox issues. So returning players should definitely give True Difficulty another shot.

E. Future DLC Prediction Advice

Right now, the main confirmed updates are ongoing optimizations, more languages, and console ports. No Boss DLC has been officially announced, so don’t assume community wishes are set in stone.

XI. Popular Boss-Specific Guides

A. Max Damage Build for Beast

Beast is perfect for practicing burst stabs. Use its rock-fall periods to stack marks fast, then stab right after it finishes its attack—no need to trade blows with its ground slams.

B. Multi-Enemy Tips for Twin Cultists

The fact they share a health bar is your biggest advantage—focus on whichever side has a safe window, don’t force killing one first.

C. Weakness Stab Flow for Martyr Angel

Make sure the shell isn’t blocking your path before stabbing. Use marks during its egg phase to reposition—this fight really tests spatial awareness.

D. Ranged Kiting Strategy for Fi

Staying at mid-range is the easiest. Wait for its flying swords to stack marks, then stab in and back out right away. This still works even after it adds new moves in phase 2.

E. Melee Damage Build for Red-Eyed Tree

Small branches are perfect stab targets and share health with the main trunk. Clear the ground flowers first—they’ll mess up your focus if you ignore them.

XII. Boss Strength Comparison & Priority Analysis

A. Horizontal Comparison of Same-Type Bosses

Twin Cultists test multi-target management, Ghost tests minion handling; Fi is ranged-focused, Roy is melee-focused; Red-Eyed Tree is about arena control, Puppeteer is about fast counters.

B. Recommended Battle Order Priority

For your first playthrough, follow the main line. New Game+ adds Red-Eyed Tree, Dark Ruby, and Puppeteer—treat them like new tutorial stages, don’t think “I already beat this”.

C. Priority Breakdown When Resources Are Limited

Prioritize spending Blood Dust on talismans that work across multiple bosses—like Stab, Focus, and survival ones. Don’t blow all your resources on specific talismans for a single boss.

D. Alternative Playstyle Recommendations

If you’re bad at perfect dodges, just roll. If you don’t get the break-mechanic slashes, avoid grabs. If you can’t line up stabs well, skip Killer Instinct. A consistent playstyle is always better than chasing max DPS.

E. Graduation Criteria & Progression Bar

A normal clear is just the first step. True clear, all talismans, all skills, all achievements, then on to all Bo

No-hit runs and leaderboard challenges are required to reach the true ending.

XIII. Boss Recommendations by Game Mode

A. Recommended Loadouts for No-Hit Runs

For Realistic Mode, pair the Seal of Valor with Mila's Shadow, then adjust for puncture damage based on each boss. That extra life you get is way more valuable than a handful of percentage points of extra damage.

B. Best Loadouts for Speedruns

Speedruns go the opposite way—prioritize puncture scaling and focus efficiency. As soon as the boss spawns, stack markers fast and cut down on waiting time and unnecessary rolling.

C. Full Achievement Playthrough Route

Focus on story achievements and chests in your first playthrough (New Game). For New Game+, tackle hidden rooms, all skills, special charms, and Realistic Mode content—this saves far more time than reloading old saves back and forth.

D. High-Cap Loadouts for Realistic Mode

Explosive/Blood Blade-style puncture, max marker count, puncture damage boosts, and a one-time survival item are the most practical directions. Swap utility charms later based on the boss you face.

E. A Casual Player-Friendly Pick

If you just want to enjoy the story, go for Story Mode and widen your dodge/perfect dodge windows. The game doesn’t force every player to torture themselves with Realistic Mode.

XIV. Regional Guide & Info for Traditional Chinese Servers

A. TW/HK Version Boss Name Cross-Reference

Common boss names include: The Beast, Guardian Faye, Grave Keeper, Martyr Angel, Plague-Bearer, Hunter Roy, Puppet Master, and Alcina.

B. Event & Reward Differences for Traditional Chinese Servers

Ruby of the Crimson Eye is a single-player Steam game—there’s no gacha pool difference between Traditional Chinese and global servers. Traditional Chinese is already an official supported interface and subtitle language.

C. Recommended Local Guide Sites

Traditional Chinese players actually have an advantage here: since the dev team is from Taiwan, in-game Traditional Chinese names are the most direct reference. If you run into conflicting translations in guides, go with in-game names.

D. Hot Bosses in Community Discussions

Right now, the most talked-about bosses are the Crimson Tree, Puppet Master, and True Alcina (New Game+). In New Game, the Plague-Bearer and Wraith are the ones that make fights drag on.

E. FAQs for Traditional Chinese Players

The most common question is: “Why didn’t I meet the Crimson Tree in New Game?” The simple answer: it’s a New Game+ exclusive. Another common question is why you one-shot in New Game+—that’s just Realistic Mode’s design.

XV. Long-Term Progression & Endgame Loadout Planning

A. Late-Game Charm Investment Tips

Prioritize filling out charms for puncture, survival, and markers first, then branch into projectile, regular slash, and fun builds. This gives you enough flexibility when swapping bosses later.

B. Resource Allocation for Multiple Loadouts

Keep at least three core builds in mind: general puncture, slash/AoE, and survival-focused Realistic-style. This way, you don’t have to overhaul your playstyle when facing Plague-Bearer, Crimson Tree, or Alcina.

C. Meta Build & Future Trends

The current meta isn’t a specific charm—it’s “Focus + Perfect Dodge + High-Marker Puncture”. As long as this core stays, player skill will always matter more than gear.

D. Full Achievement Timeline

Most players beat New Game in a few hours, then do New Game+ for the Happy Ending and exclusive bosses. After that, tackle charms, hidden achievements, and no-hit runs. The more skilled you get, the faster this end part goes.

E. Quick Catch-Up Guide for Returning Players

When you come back, first check for version updates, re-fight The Beast or Faye to get your perfect dodge rhythm back, then jump into Realistic Mode. Don’t load old saves and rush straight to Alcina—your playstyle will be off, and you’ll keep restarting.

If you want to sum up the core guide for All Bosses in Ruby of the Crimson Eye, only three things matter: observe first, dodge next, puncture last. The game intentionally makes regular slashes not the main focus—it wants you to use Ruby’s Crimson Eye to “read” bosses. The Beast teaches you to dodge, Faye teaches you to track ranged patterns, Twin Cultists demand managing multiple targets, Grave Keeper pushes you to dodge flying needles, and Martyr Angel/Plague-Bearer start testing if you grasp weak points and attack windows.

In New Game, small mistakes can be fixed with health potions, but New Game+ Realistic Mode is a whole different story. The Crimson Tree, Dark Ruby, Puppet Master, and Alcina’s third phase amplify all your bad habits: greed for extra hits, over-rolling, over-focusing on damage. The most effective fix isn’t swapping charms constantly—it’s studying boss tells before they attack.

Once you can tell what a boss will do before they even swing their weapon.

Next, you’ll figure out where to dodge; get ready to trigger your Break Slash the second you spot that purple light, instinctively switch to Flying Needles when you catch an aerial attack, and hold back on Stab even when your gauge is fully charged. Fights in *Ruby the Crimson-Eyed* shift from “what the heck is this boss doing?!” to a smooth, rhythmic 1-on-1 dance. That’s why when you go back to fight the Beast after clearing True Difficulty, you’ll clearly notice it’s not that Ruby suddenly got way stronger—you’ve actually learned to be that Crimson-Eyed Princess who can easily spot weak points.