Mama Tick

"Pray for your salvation... with a sacrifice."

- Swamp Priest

Mama Tick is the third tier 1 boss and is an alternative to the Concierge. She is encountered in the Nest, in which main path requires the.

Her fight can be skipped if the player sacrifices in the Morass of the Banished. However, attacking her eye when it pops above the water will re-initiate the fight.

Requires the Bad Seed DLC.

First phase
Mama Tick only has her eye out of the water which can be hit.

In 1+ BSC, Mama Tick goes straight to the second phase.

First hidden phase
At 75% HP, Mama Tick hides her eye beneath the water and can't be hit.

Second phase
Mama Tick reveals her body, which forms the edge of one side of the arena.

Second hidden phase
At 50% HP, Mama Tick hides her body beneath the water and can't be hit.

Third phase
Retains all attacks from the previous phase.

Vulnerabilities and immunities

 * Mama Tick is submerged in water. This make and  debuffs effective in rooting and slowing her, while items with  damage and  will always deal critical hits.
 * However, this also makes her immune to unless she or the water itself are also covered in.

Attacks
Stab
 * This attack is telegraphed by a splash in the water and a yellow exclamation mark if this option is enabled in the options menu.
 * The stab has a long cooldown which enables you to take your time and strike at the eyestalk.
 * When you are close to the eyestalk and moving a lot the splash before the stab can be hard to see through the splashes of your own movement.
 * Can be blocked,, and dodge rolled.

Quick stabs
 * Same as Stab, the attack is telegraphed by a splash in the water and a yellow exclamation mark if this option is enabled in the options menu.
 * Unlike Stab, which is aimed at the player, these are performed in a random location and pattern.
 * Can be blocked,, and dodge rolled.
 * The best strategy is to hug one of the arena walls and roll to dodge towards it whenever a stab comes close enough to hit you. Because of how the stabs are aimed, this will only require you to dodge twice during the whole attack sequence.

Slash
 * This attack is telegraphed by Mama Tick raising a single claw which will glow yellow before slashing downwards.
 * Can be blocked,, and dodge rolled.

Spit bomb
 * A small tentacle surfaces from the water next to Mama Tick and spits out three bombs in a high arc. The bombs are spread over the second part of the arena.
 * Can be blocked,, and dodge rolled.
 * Because the bombs land relatively far away from Mama Tick, getting close to her will keep you safely away from the bombs.

Lightspeed claws
 * Attack is telegraphed by a yellow glowing line for each strike of the claw.
 * Can be blocked,, and dodge rolled.

Slasher
 * Attack is telegraphed by raising her claws and they glow yellow.
 * Her forward movement is limited to 3/4 of the arena before diving below the water, making it easy to stay beyond the attack's range.
 * Her movement can be stopped by using or  effects but she will still perform the slashes.
 * This will also prevent her from diving beneath the water.
 * This is a perfect moment to use long-range weapons and skills.
 * Can be blocked,, and dodge rolled.
 * The attacks are performed in rapid succession, so it can advantageous to use a shield that has an offensive effect when parrying like or, or the , whose force field can block the rest of the blows.

Weapons/Skills

 * As mentioned before, Ice-based weapons can easily and  her since they only have to hit the water.
 * in particular will also deal critical damage constantly while slowing down the boss. The same can be applied to any attack such as the, as they will also constantly inflict critical hits.
 * attacks are ineffective, since the water will simply neutralize them, unless is used to douse the boss.

Lore

 * Mama Tick appears to be a worshipped figure for her defense to the morass and its inhabitants. In order to gain her favor and protection, the locals sacrifice other humans, as evidenced by the numerous dead bodies in a large lore room in the morass, the bodies littering the boss arena, and the dialogue from the cultist who stands in the altar room within the morass. Whether being sacrificed is voluntary or not is unknown, however, a certain “Cellar” indicates that it is unlikely to be voluntary.

Trivia

 * According to a journal written by the Royal Gardener, Mama Tick appears to like flowers.

Gallery
TBA