Tar Man Boss Guide — Chapter 1 Lucia Boss Fight

How do you beat Tar Man in one sentence?

Scratch with a machine gun, break the oil pit so Tar Man cannot heal, delete Drum Carriers with handgun jump shots, then convert scratch to direct damage before you run out of bezels—the same scratch-then-direct loop from the battle system guide, just with environmental priority.

What should I prepare before Room 5?

Review Hero Actions and Tri-Attack resonance points if the Arena tutorial is still fresh—this is the first fight that punishes random running.

Flank paths avoid Tar Man’s bulk blocking straight Hero runs—TrueAchievements gives the same side-arc advice used on later large bosses.

What happens in the arena layout?

You enter facing a raised platform with two Drum Carriers (Lv 11) while Tar Man (Lv 17) waits on the ground beside an oil pit. Crates on the left and far side block flame balls; ramps let carriers—and sometimes Tar Man—reach the platform.

The leader readout matches threetimes’ and TrueAchievements’ Lv 17 listing (350 HP on the main body)—scratch the hard plates, then break the oil pit so Tar Man cannot refill (Lex + threetimes).

Phase-by-phase strategy

Phase 1 — Control the pit and carriers

1. Machine gun user runs to left crates, firing Metal-Coated rounds at Tar Man so his fire hits the box (threetimes opener).
2. Send each handgun user up the platform with a jump attack to one-shot a Drum Carrier—customized handguns kill carriers without wasting MG scratch (threetimes).
3. If Tri-Attack meters fill, spend them on Tar Man for early scratch and a possible gauge break.

Lex’s alternate if Tri-Attacks feel risky: MG Hero Action to the far side, destroy the tar pit first, then alternate MG scratch with HG direct while carriers die in passing.

Phase 2 — Break Tar Man’s body gauge

With carriers down (or one left for bezel play):

• Grenade the body from cover if gauges are still hardened (threetimes simplified route).
• Machine gun scratch when shields open; handguns finish direct damage.
• Stand and shoot if bezels hit one pip—Tar Man can push you into Critical Condition when every action was a Hero run (threetimes warning).

Drum Carriers (Lv 11 in threetimes’ Lucia map) share the rooftop—jump handgun shots delete them without wasting machine-gun scratch on Tar Man’s armor.

Phase 3 — Cleanup and exit

Room 6 is safe loot (Fetid Crystal, Multi-Aid) before you Escape Hex out of Lucia. Spend Rubies on weapon customization before Chapter 2’s longer dungeon.

Why do players wipe here?

Resonance of Fate 4K HD Tar Man Chapter 1 boss — YouTube

Resonance of Fate 4K HD Tar Man Chapter 1 boss

Sources

• threetimes — Resonance of Fate Walkthrough (GameFAQs) (Chapter 1, Room 5 Tar Man section and stat table)
• Lex — Boss Tips I (LiveJournal) (Chapter 1 Tar Man oil pit + MG/HG rotation)
• TrueAchievements — Story walkthrough part 4 (Tar Man level note and positioning tip)
• Footage frames: JasonDoesWhatever — Resonance of Fate 4K/HD - VS Tar Man || Ch 1 Final Boss (YouTube, video ID DUfjg4vNNYU)

Last verified: 2026-10-31