Patch 8 boss guide

Bosses and Encounter Preparation

Use the current official boss-count wording and verify two Patch 8 encounter fixes.

Last checked: 2026-08-08Version: Patch 8 source reviewPlatforms: PC / PS5; per-patch scope not assumedHands-on: not tested
Quick Answer

The answer first

The current Steam description says The Relic: First Guardian includes up to 80 bosses; an older PlayStation article used more than 70, so this page follows the newer dated wording. Patch 8 fixed boss or NPC duplication after death and respawn, and changed a Harlan retry to begin at the encounter instead of before the initial Looter wave. No specific weakness, phase, reward or how-to-beat strategy is verified here.

Last updated: 2026-08-08 · Current Steam store data and the official Patch 8 announcement. Specific boss tactics, weaknesses, phases and rewards are not claimed without versioned evidence.

How many bosses are currently advertised?

Boss-count wording by source date
SourcePublished wordingEditorial use
Current Steam descriptionUp to 80 bossesUse as the current dated wording
Older PlayStation developer articleMore than 70Retain as older context, not the current headline

“Up to 80” is store-description wording, not a site-verified checklist of 80 named encounters. A complete boss database remains on hold until each entry can be tied to a current source or reproducible play record.

Which encounter problems did Patch 8 address?

Official Patch 8 encounter fixes
Affected areaOfficial statusEvidence
Bosses and NPCs after death / respawnA duplication issue was fixed.RFG-BOSS-002
Harlan retryRetry now starts at the encounter instead of before the initial Looter wave.RFG-BOSS-003

The announcement does not state a separate platform scope for each bullet, so this page records the official change without promising identical behavior on every platform or save.

Checklist

What should I verify before reporting an encounter issue?

  1. Confirm the installed version includes Patch 8 or a later update.
  2. Record the platform, boss or NPC name, checkpoint and whether the issue follows death or respawn.
  3. For Harlan, note exactly where the retry begins and whether the initial Looter wave is repeated.
  4. Capture a reproducible sequence rather than assuming an old report still applies.
  5. Do not publish a weakness, phase or reward claim unless its current evidence is registered.
Confirmed

What is verified

  • The current Steam description advertises up to 80 bosses (RFG-BOSS-001).
  • An older PlayStation article used more-than-70 wording; the two dates are kept distinct (RFG-BOSS-001).
  • Patch 8 fixed boss or NPC duplication after death and respawn (RFG-BOSS-002).
  • Patch 8 changed the Harlan retry starting point (RFG-BOSS-003).
Not Confirmed

What needs more evidence

  • A complete current list of 80 named bosses is not established here.
  • Specific vulnerabilities, patterns, phases and timing windows are not verified.
  • Boss drop tables, guaranteed rewards and unlock requirements are not verified.
  • No named how-to-beat tactic or universal encounter response is published here.

What should happen when retrying Harlan?

According to Patch 8, a retry should start at the Harlan encounter rather than before the initial Looter wave. If your result differs, record the platform and installed version before treating the behavior as a current bug.

Why are there no boss strategies on this page?

The approved evidence establishes count wording and patch status, not combat observations. Publishing specific phases, weaknesses or rewards from competitors would create unsupported claims. Those modules can be added after versioned first-hand or corroborated evidence is registered.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bosses are in The Relic: First Guardian?

The current Steam description advertises up to 80 bosses. That is newer than the older more-than-70 wording.

Did Patch 8 fix duplicated bosses or NPCs?

Yes. Patch 8 lists a fix for bosses or NPCs duplicating after death and respawn.

Where does a Harlan retry begin?

Patch 8 says the retry begins at the Harlan encounter instead of before the initial Looter wave.

What is Harlan vulnerable to?

No current vulnerability is verified in the approved evidence pack.

Does this page include boss drops?

No. Complete drop tables and guaranteed rewards are not verified.

Sources

Source scope and verification

Current Steam store data and the official Patch 8 announcement. Specific boss tactics, weaknesses, phases and rewards are not claimed without versioned evidence.

Source IDs: RFG-S01, RFG-S09

Author: independent site editor · Reviewer: Codex evidence review · Corrections require the page URL, platform, installed version, and a current official or reproducible source. No external game image is used on this page.

Update log

What changed on August 8, 2026?

Updated the boss-count wording to the current Steam description, added two official Patch 8 encounter fixes, removed pre-release framing, and retained the same canonical URL.