Dragon's Lair - Final Boss - Bartoli in Dragon Form
"No Grill Today" Achievement/Trophy
IMPORTANT: The main walkthrough includes several strategies for this boss fight and related achievements/trophies. Be sure to skim it before proceeding. This video guide shows both sneaky dragon-killing strategies. It was made using the classic game, but works just as well in the remaster.
When you're ready to take on Bartoli, approach the center of the room on the left side, staying behind the pillar.
As you move close to the pillar, you'll enter the trigger zone and Bartoli will transform.
As soon as the DRAGON (11) appears it will start blowing flames, but the pillar should protect Lara. Stand with Lara's chest against the pillar and wait for the dragon to breathe fire five times.
This unlocks the "No Grill Today" achievement/trophy.
Now, hop back once.
Pivot to the right so Lara is facing the dragon's body. It won't come around the pillar if you're positioned correctly.
Equip the grenade launcher, which allows you to hit the dragon without actually getting a target lock on it, and start firing at its back leg/belly. If you have Boss HP Bars enabled in the Controls menu, you can easily see if you're doing damage. If you hit squarely each time, it will take exactly 10 grenades to bring down the dragon. Earlier I suggested saving about 15 grenades in case you miss a few times as you're lining up your shots.
Now, move in for the kill, as shown below.
- OR -
Alternatively, if you don't have enough grenades, you can use Uzis or even pistols, but you'll need to be more careful about where you stand. Move into the same spot, behind the left pillar, to trigger the transformation. Unlock "No Grill Today," as described above, if you like.
Then carefully back away from the pillar. Not too far, though, or the dragon will come around toward Lara. Observe the rhythm: A gout of flame...
...followed by a brief pause as the dragon lowers its head then inhales before breathing fire again.
In classic graphics, the entire pillar lights up when the flames hit it, making the timing a little easier.
Draw weapons, and while the dragon is dragon is breathing fire at the pillar, side flip to the right, so Lara can get a target lock on it, and start shooting.
Then immediately flip to the left so Lara lands behind the pillar before the next blast can hit her. Continue to hold Action to maintain the target lock. Lara will stop shooting once she's behind the pillar and no longer has line of sight, so you won't waste ammo. But the dragon will continue to breathe on the pillar instead of her.
Now just keep repeating this as long as it takes, adjusting Lara's position if necessary to make sure she lands safely behind the pillar each time.
Now, move in for the kill: Whichever method you use to fight the dragon, once it has taken enough damage—10 grenades, 300 Uzi rounds, etc.—the dragon will raise its head with an agonized roar, and magical sparkles will swirl around the dagger wound on its belly. Then the dragon will fall down stunned, but its health will regenerate quickly.
You have about 10 seconds to run up to it and press Action to pull the DAGGER OF XIAN from its belly. (The dagger is not counted as an official pickup.) This is the only way to defeat it permanently. If you don't get the dagger in time, the dragon revives, and the whole ordeal starts again.
NOTES: You may want to save the game in a new slot as soon as the beast starts to fall. That way, if he revives, you can reload and try to grab the dagger without having to fight it again. If you're having difficulty pulling out the dagger, there are a few additional notes in the main walkthrough.
There's a brief cutscene when you succeed: Lara yanks the dagger from the dragon's belly and examines it. Then the dragon's flesh melts away, leaving only a gnarly skeleton behind.
When you've got the dagger, the exit opens and the place starts to collapse. The earthquake is mostly for show. There's no time limit, but you do need to watch out for the falling rocks and open flames.
If you like, you can now go into the water underneath the floor...
...and collect the rest of the goodies: 3 sets of Uzi ammo in two separate pickups (22-24). (If you didn't get any of the underwater items earlier, there will be 10 sets of Uzi clips and 2 large medi packs in all.) These supplies won't carry over to the next level, but you'll need them for 100% completion.
When you have everything, climb out of the water and head for the exit.
Keep running as you follow the passageway to the end, and the falling debris should miss Lara.
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