Finding it hard to cope with the final boss fight of Spider-Man 2? Don't let it get you down. The Symbiote is the ultimate challenge, so we've put together the ultimate guide to help you beat Venom in the Spider-Man 2 final boss fight.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that there are several phases to deal with, each a bit different and a bit more difficult than the last. After several hours of dealing with lesser baddies like the Lizard and Kraven the Hunter, dealing with Venom will let you get back to the open world to hoover up all the Spider-Bots and tokens you missed.
While you're here, check out the 50+ guides we've got ready for you in our Spider-Man 2 walkthrough hub - there's a bit of everything from webbing enemies to walls to getting XP fast.
How to beat Venom in Spider-Man 2
Before the Peter-versus-Venom fight can properly begin in the 'Together' mission, you'll need to complete a segment as Mary Jane. It's got strong Resident Evil 7 vibes as you sneak through a Symbiote-infested cave, shooting anything that moves before it pounces.
That segment eventually culminates in a mini-boss fight against the Symbiote Behemoth. The boss should go down fairly easily - guide it towards the barrels in the arena before shooting them for maximum damage.
First Phase
When the fight against Venom begins, get ready to dodge. The boss has a lot of three and four-hit combos that will quickly melt through your health, so it's usually best to wait until he's stopped attacking before landing some hits of your own.
The anti-venom suit's powers are very similar to the ones provided by the symbiote suit, so use them wherever possible. Note that you can block or parry Venom's overhead slams and any other attacks that trigger Peter's Spidey Senses, but not the grab attack. Look out for the small hop Venom does to know when it's coming, then try to dodge or get behind him.
Unfortunately, Venom is totally immune to webs - sonic bursts will distract him long enough to land some hits, however. If you need to get away and heal, the arena has some other segments you can swing to; make use of these when Venom covers the arena in mouths, as they're very difficult to dodge.
When you're on the football field, look out for a speaker in the environment; Venom hates loud noises, and the distraction can make for a great damage opportunity with moves like the swing kick.
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+ 4Second Phase
After dealing with the Symbiote's first health bar, you'll get a short cutscene before being launched right back into the action. In typical final boss fashion, several smaller minions will join the fight. You can make short work of them with combat finishers.
You'll notice police cars dangling overhead, too; these can help if you use your webs on them (L1+ R1) to emit a sonic blast. It may be tempting to defeat Venom's minions right away, but beating them up recharges abilities like Surge, and these suit abilities are vital now that Venom's health bar is armoured against regular attacks.
When you've broken his armour, the fight's second phase is familiar territory. Venom's attacks deal more damage, and he'll begin using a shield to disrupt your combos. Eventually, his armour will regenerate, and you'll have to fight more minions while using your powers to get rid of it.
It's worth noting that your gadgets, while not particularly effective, will be a nice source of additional damage. If you're struggling with the hand-to-hand, bringing some damage-dealing gadgets and making sure they're upgraded may help.
click to enlarge + 4Third Phase
Venom finds his wings in this phase, and you'll take control of Miles for a phase that's more aerial than the first two. You'll need to dodge some spiky projectiles and redirect (L1 + R1) the larger pieces of rock. After hitting Venom with the rocks, swing over to him and land some punches - using sonic blasts will let you attack for longer.
Don't forget Miles' special electricity powers, either. A well-timed outburst deals some nice bonus damage. When Venom's health reaches three-quarters, he'll crash to the ground and ground combat begins.
This is more of what you're used to, with some twists. Remember to block the attacks that you can, and note that the big 'overhead jump slam' can be interrupted if you land an attack before Venom hits the ground. It's also worth using finishers when your focus bars fill up for some easy damage.
When the boss' health reaches the final quarter, he'll get his wings back, so players should prepare for more rock-throwing. Don't hold back - the boss is more-or-less defenceless when you're close, so staying close and aggressive is the best way to end the phase.
click to enlarge + 4Fourth Phase
This phase is more like the first, a straightforward punch-out that you'll need to rely on skills to beat. Venom will re-learn his 'send horrible things out of the ground' move, so you'll need to perch on top of Symbiote stalagmites to stay out of their attack zone.
Attached to the stalagmites are sonic barrels; like the rocks before them, you'll need to throw these barrels at Venom for a great damage opportunity. On his final third of health, the wings will return once again - wait for the projectiles to end before attacking, or you're liable to take a lot of damage.
You'll also need to dodge multiple times in a row when Venom starts lunging at you from the air - use sonic blasts to make the attacks stop temporarily. By landing hits only when it's safe, another phase will end.
click to enlarge + 4Venom's Final Phase
Don't panic - the fifth phase is effectively just a bunch of quick time events, so be ready to mash square and hold L2 + R2 as needed. Enjoy the end of the game - we hope this guide helped with the fight!
That's all there is to know about Venom. We've got plenty more guides to enjoy, and now that you've beaten the story you should learn more about Ultimate difficulty and find out if there's a New Game Plus.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Spider-Man 2 page.