Did Patch 86328 fix the Tar Golem achievement?

The patch notes say the achievement should trigger more reliably, but they do not guarantee it. If it still fails, report it with your platform and patch version.

What is the best Shell for the Tar Golem?

Eredrim is the safest choice due to his high health. The Tar Golem's attacks hit hard enough to one-shot lighter Shells.

How do I avoid the shockwave attack?

Dodge backward if you are at medium range. If you are close, dodge through the attack toward the Golem's back.

Bosses

Mortal Shell II Tar Golem Boss Guide: How to Beat

Published 2026-08-25 · Updated 2026-08-25

Defeat the Tar Golem in Mortal Shell II with safe positioning, posture tactics, and advice for the achievement trigger after Patch 86328.

Accuracy note: Source-backed and checked 2026-08-25. Patch-sensitive values are excluded unless verified.

Sources

Checked on 2026-08-25. Store details and balance may change after patches.

Official Patch 86328 notes

Tar Golem Overview

The Tar Golem is a heavy, slow boss with massive damage output and high posture. Unlike faster bosses, the Tar Golem's attacks are heavily telegraphed but cover wide areas. The main challenge is patience: greed for extra hits is punished harder here than against most enemies.\n\nPatch 86328 improved the reliability of the Tar Golem achievement trigger. If you defeated the boss before the patch and did not receive the achievement, retry on the updated client.

Attack Patterns and Safe Windows

The Tar Golem uses a limited but devastating moveset:\n\n1. Slow overhead slam: Long wind-up, massive damage, narrow hitbox. Dodge sideways and punish from the side.\n2. Wide horizontal sweep: Covers almost the entire front arc. Dodge through the attack toward the Golem's back.\n3. Ground slam shockwave: Creates a radial area attack. Jump or dodge backward depending on your distance.\n4. Charge attack: The Golem rushes forward. Sidestep at the last moment; the charge has poor tracking.\n\nThe safest punish window is always after the overhead slam. The recovery is long enough for two light attacks or one heavy attack. Never attempt a full combo unless you are certain the next attack will not start before you finish.

Shell and Weapon Recommendations

This fight rewards tanky builds and heavy weapons:\n\nShells:\n- Eredrim, The Venerable: Essential for learning the fight. His health pool lets you survive one mistake, which is valuable when the overhead slam can one-shot lighter Shells.\n- Any Shell with a defensive ability: If your Shell has an ability that blocks or reduces damage, save it for the overhead slam or an unexpected shockwave.\n\nWeapons:\n- Greatswords and greathammers: The Tar Golem's long recovery windows are perfect for heavy weapons. Each heavy attack builds significant posture.\n- Axes and halberds: Good middle ground if you want some speed without sacrificing posture pressure.\n\nAvoid daggers and rapiers unless you are extremely confident in your dodge timing. The low per-hit damage means you must stay in the fight longer, increasing the chance of a mistake.

Posture Break Strategy

The Tar Golem has high posture, but it also has long recovery. The most reliable posture break method is:\n\n1. Land two light attacks after every safe punish.\n2. Use your Shell ability whenever it is available and the Golem is in recovery.\n3. Heavy attack after the overhead slam whenever you have time.\n4. Use sidearm shots to maintain pressure when you are too far for melee.\n\nDo not expect a fast posture break. This is an endurance fight. Build posture consistently over five to ten cycles rather than trying to rush it.

Achievement Trigger (Patch 86328+)

Patch 86328 states that the Tar Golem achievement should trigger more reliably. If you defeated the boss before the patch and did not receive the achievement:\n\n1. Confirm you are on Patch 86328 or later.\n2. Defeat the boss again on the updated client.\n3. If the achievement still fails, capture your platform, patch version, and whether you were online or offline during the kill.\n\nThe patch note says 'should trigger more reliably,' not 'guaranteed.' If it fails after the patch, report it as a reproducible bug with evidence.