Julia "Yuuki" Guzairova
Split Fiction is a highly discussed cooperative game where players not only encounter the beauty of the world but also face bosses that are far from easy to defeat. In this article, we will explain who Dark Mio is, when we encounter her, and how to defeat her.
Who is Dark Mio?
Dark Mio is a personality created by one of the two main heroines subconscious mind to protect her from the traumatic events of reality. We meet her somewhere in the middle of the game when the main villain, Rader, realizes that stopping the players on their path to destroy the machine is becoming more difficult. As a result, the corporation’s employees send them into the subconscious—a labyrinth that is not easy to escape from.
Image: youtube.com
Unlike the concepts we encounter in the first hours of the game, here we enter the subconscious of the main heroine, and we must face the fears and anxieties that torment her. It can be said that at this point in the game, we get to know the characters more deeply and understand them better.
The fight can be divided into three phases, so to make things easier to follow, we decided to break them down this way. Let’s start with the first phase!
Phase One
The first thing to know is the scythe strike on the ground. Dark Mio circles around the arena, and the ground begins to glow. After 2-3 seconds, she strikes the scythe, and patterns begin to appear on the ground.
Image: youtube.com
Your task is to look at the pattern and position yourself in the safe zone. But where is that? It’s in the area where there is no pattern. So, you need to stand in the small space between the patterns. Be cautious, as Mio will change the pattern after each strike, meaning you’ll have 2-3 seconds to move into the next safe zone.
Image: youtube.com
In this way, the scythe strikes in 3 ticks, and you need to dodge them. If you’re not sure if you can avoid them, simply jump twice and use the dash to dodge.
Next, Mio starts throwing crescent-shaped projectiles at you. It’s fairly easy to avoid this attack. Use running and dashing to dodge. She casts them quite quickly, so be careful. Afterward, she throws a grey-colored ball at you, which the player controlling Mio must break, while Zoe, on her part, should use her super ability to throw it back at the boss.
Image: youtube.com
But it’s not as simple as it seems. When Mio breaks the ball, the boss starts casting small meteors, and the area where the ball will land is highlighted 3-4 seconds before they fall to the ground. You need to dodge these attacks and try to use your ability. When Zoe succeeds, the boss will take a small amount of damage, and we will move on to the next attacks.
Image: youtube.com
Now Mio draws patterns directly on the floor. Just use a double jump to dodge. If you get hit by this attack, you will die, and you’ll have to start from the last checkpoint!
Image: youtube.com
Next, the boss uses her scanning ability (usually where you’re standing), and then attacks the same area that was highlighted. Use your dash and quick running to get out of there. Then she will throw another ball, and you’ll need to repeat the same action.
Image: youtube.com
Mio no longer draws patterns on the floor: instead, she strikes the ground with her scythe just like the first attack. This time, there will be not two ticks, but three, so try to move quickly across the field or use a jump to dodge.
Image: youtube.com
Then the boss will fly up to Mio, knock her down, and begin choking her. To counter this attack, the player controlling Zoe should use their ability. This will save your partner and move you on to the next attack.
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Dark Mio will summon her clones, which will move one after another to the opposite side of the field. The best strategy here is to use your dash: avoid crossing their path. Then she will throw another ball, which you will need to break and throw back at the boss. A cutscene will play, and this means the first phase is over!
Image: youtube.com
Phase Two
Now, you need to run forward and dodge the boss’s comets. Don’t forget to pay attention to Dark Mio’s words, which help us learn more about the heroine. For example, "I won’t rely on you anymore" or "No one will hurt us ever again".
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An unusual attack to note is the AoE that Mio uses while you’re overcoming obstacles. Try not to rush and pay attention to the boss before deciding to move forward.
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The finale of this phase will also feature the ball, which you need to hit the boss with. This will stun Dark Mio, and the player controlling Mio will need to use their ability to enter her mind. This marks the end of this phase, and we move on to the final one.
Image: youtube.com
Phase Three
Since Mio is inside Dark Mio’s mind, the players will be separated, and their tasks will differ. In this section, we break down the boss mechanics according to the players' gameplay.
Zoe
She will encounter attacks such as crescent-shaped projectiles, comets, and Dark Mio, who also needs to be repelled using Zoe’s ability. The player must move around the arena and interact with the green mechanisms located above the platforms.
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When Dark Mio kneels on the platform, Zoe must repel her using her ability, which will cause a flower-like device to open, and Mio must break it. This needs to be done three times.
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When the player controlling Mio throws balls at you, you should hit them like in baseball, attacking the boss.
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Next, you will encounter lasers that you need to jump over. Overall, you will need to do the same as at the beginning of the phase, but this time, just one flower will be enough for Mio to regain access to the system. When boss throws a ball at you, you will need to hit it three times to make it reach its target.
Image: youtube.com
Mio
The player controlling Mio will need to dodge lasers and comets that the boss will direct at them. Once the flower opens, you need to strike it with a sword to break it. After doing this three times, you'll gain access to the system and be able to control the boss.
Image: youtube.com
Now, simply take the devices—the orbs that Zoe previously interacted with using her power—and direct them towards the boss.
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Once Dark Mio regains control over her mind, the boss’s attacks will become stronger—in some areas, the floor will disappear, and the attacks will intensify. Dodge the attacks and wait for Zoe to manage to open the flower. This time, you must break it as soon as it opens because you only have 2-3 seconds. If it closes again, you’ll have to wait until your partner opens it once more.
Image: youtube.com
Final
As the third phase comes to an end, Dark Mio’s scythe will be directed towards her stomach, and the players will be given a chance to control both characters. However, this is a trap set by the developers, so don't fall for it! If the player controlling Mio presses the button faster, the partner will die, and you will start exactly from this point. To avoid wasting time, only the player controlling Zoe should press the button!
Image: youtube.com
Dark Mio is a challenging but interesting boss in Split Fiction who helps reveal one of the heroines from a different perspective. During the battle, her subconscious unveils the character in a new light, making the story deeper and more engaging. We hope our article has been helpful, and that you’ve learned all about the boss mechanics that might cause you difficulty. Have you encountered her yet? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Main image: ensigame.com
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