Where The Artist appears
The Artist is the first Resonant at the end of Orientation in Downtown. Follow Reach the Source of the Patterning until the giant face and boss health bar appear; the next objective is Defeat the Artist. This is a story encounter, so you do not need to start a separate hunt.
Your first attempt uses movement, dodging and your Aberrant forms. The three Combat Abilities offered by this boss are rewards, so a strategy requiring one of them cannot help yet. Use lock-on if keeping the face in view is difficult, then approach diagonally rather than waiting at the far end of the street.
Read the poles, then return to the face
Watch how the two traffic-light clusters move before committing to a long combo. Upward movement warns of a vertical slam; movement to the sides signals a horizontal sweep. Staying close lets you deal damage, but staying planted through either attack costs health.
| Tell | Response |
|---|---|
| Poles lift and glow | Dash clear of the landing area. Return to melee range once they have struck the ground. |
| Poles separate to the sides | Jump toward the forehead and hover above the sweep. Land and reset your position when it passes. |
| Taxis, rocks or signs are thrown | Keep moving laterally. Time your dodge near the incoming object, then close the distance. |
| The face retreats under falling rubble | Move beside the trail. Chasing along the same line puts you under the falling debris. |
Keep your attack sequences short until you recognize the next tell. If the boss retreats, jump and dodge back toward the face instead of waiting at range for another volley.
Use the blue markers for health recovery
The blue dots on the boss bar mark your recovery opportunities. As damage passes a marker, Dylan’s health recovers; these markers do not mean The Artist is healing. Watch your own bar at the lower left as the boss approaches the next dot.
If you are one safe opening away from a marker, use it to regain health. Avoid trading hits just because a heal is coming: you still have to survive the attack. After the last marker, do not expect another refill.
Watch the first marker and Dylan’s health · 0:55 ▶
Climb the slabs when the face rises
When The Artist rises beyond melee range, sections of the street lift into platforms. Jump onto the nearest reachable slab, continue upward, then jump toward the face and strike its glowing underside. This interrupts the aerial attack and brings the fight back down.
Check your height before swinging. Repeated attacks from the street cannot reach the elevated face. Once it drops, return to the same dodge → short attack → reposition rhythm.
Use the finisher and pick one ability
Once the health bar empties, approach the glowing face and use the displayed finisher. The recording uses L3 on PlayStation; follow the prompt for your platform and bindings. More normal swings do not replace that final interaction.
| Choice | Choose it for |
|---|---|
| Barrage | Direct ranged projectiles when you want a simple damage option. |
| Shield | Protection and a Shield Bash after dodging when staying close feels risky. |
| Volatile Anomaly | A summoned ally you can throw and detonate; an extra setup step for an explosive attack. |
The menu offers three options, but you select one at this point. Confirm it and continue the ability tutorial. Choose a tool you will use rather than assuming one is required for the next boss.
Performance note: Remedy’s 1.4.0 update fixes a VFX framerate drop during The Artist’s special attack. If that phase stutters, check your installed version.
Watch the walkthrough
Select a time to play it here.
Watch on YouTube ↗The original video contains all bosses and the ending. This guide uses its opening Artist segment; later chapters contain spoilers.
Sources & image credits
Walkthrough sources, patch notes & image credits
- BEN-GUN — Recorded fight, health-bar changes, platforms, finisher and ability menu; selected 1080p frames.
- I.Eat.Games. — Narrated approach and sweep demonstration.
- GamesFuze — Attack tells and aerial interruption.
- Method — Story encounter and combat cross-check.
- Control Resonant Game — Health-marker and reward cross-check.
- Remedy update 1.4.0 — Special-attack VFX performance fix.
Checked October 7, 2026. BEN-GUN records on PS5 Pro; the exact game build is not displayed. Selected frames retain the creator’s watermark. Ability damage varies with your stats, so the table describes function rather than fixed damage.