Archarin

Warning: Spoilers/plot details follow.

Archarin
Aliases	The Blood Slave
Type	Regular
Weapon	Claymourn
Shield	Prime
Helmet	Blue Steel
Armor	Plate Armor
Appears in	Infinity Blade I

“I was... chosen. Offered a choice. I chose to serve - to taste immortality, to unlock the power of the sword and return it to our Master.”— Archarin, to Siris, Infinity Blade I

noicon

Archarin, otherwise known as the Blood Slave, is the true final boss of Infinity Blade I. Once the Sacrifice from one of the villages in Lantimor, Archarin was sent to challenge the God King Raidriar in ritual combat. When offered a choice, however, he instead chose to join him as a loyal servant, and was subsequently granted immortality (but was not made Deathless).

History

In one of Ausar's many reincarnations, the man who was meant to become the Sacrifice shirked his responsibility. He instead wedded a mortal woman who bore a son, Archarin, who was chosen to take his father's place as the next Sacrifice. When he came of age and left to meet his fate at the hands of the God King, he travelled to the Dark Citadel as his forefathers had.

Although he lacked the inherited combat prowess of Ausar's reincarnations, Archarin succeeded in defeating the Titans and standing before the God King himself. However, during the battle, he was disarmed by his foe, who commended his skill and offered him a choice: swear allegiance, or die. Kneeling before his new lord, Archarin accepted the God King's offer. For his fealty, he was granted immortality and ownership of the Zero Mech as its pilot.

Years later, the last Sacrifice -- a man named Siris -- succeeds in slaying the God King, claiming the Infinity Blade as a prize and using it to unlock the Soul Cells in the dungeons of the Dark Citadel. After defeating the Deathless prisoners within, he enters the God King's rebirthing chamber, and is confronted by Archarin within the Zero Mech, who engages him in a duel. When Siris renders the Zero Mech inoperable, Archarin climbs out from its wreckage and applauds him for his prowess. Archarin reveals that he abandoned his calling as the Sacrifice, having chosen servitude instead. Furious, Siris duels Archarin a second time, killing him.

With his dying breath, Archarin reaffirms his faith in the God King, declaring that he will return to reclaim what is rightfully his, and that he will become unstoppable.

Infinity Blade: Awakening

Archarin is first mentioned by the God King when he reclaims the Infinity Blade and confronts Siris. He notes that his enemy not only slew the prisoners in the dungeons, but Archarin as well, something he finds unfortunate, as he considered Archarin a useful servant.

After his rebirth following the incident at Saydhi's Estate, it is revealed to Siris in his rebirthing chamber by TEL that Archarin was in fact his son; a son from a bloodline in which TEL was unable to alter the old reincarnation's memories enough to make him the Sacrifice.

Combat

Archarin is a Normal sized Enemy with dark attacks, and fighting style not unlike enemies of similar stature such as the Iron Guard or Hedge Knight. He wields the Claymourn, Plate Armor, Blue Steel and Prime, similar to the first reincarnation of Ausar who fought against the God King, with the exception of a different sword. However Archain does have a few unique abilities, the first being that he actually copies the base Stats of the player, making it so you are almost always on a even playing field. Additionally, he moves much quicker than other Titans of his class. But since his health can only match the players, it's likely a fight with him will not take very long.

Stepbacks

Archarin has three Stepbacks

Slash and Kick

Analysis

In this Stepback Archarin retreats slightly, before doing a spinning slash from the right, following up with a kick to the center, and then finishing with a diagonal slash from the left. This Stepback can be avoided in multiple ways, the most optimal is to block the first attack, dodge any direction to avoid the kick, and tahn parry the final attack from the left. This will grant you a parry break and give you the largest window to attack. (Note: In IB1, only parrying the FINAL attack will allow you attack and interrupt a Stepback, so make sure you parry the final swing and not the first one). If you're having trouble with this then holding shield for the duration will also work, it's just the least efficient sense it will give you the least amount of time to strike back, and Archarin can still deal damage sense he has attacks, provided you don't have a defense shield.

Slash Hilt Bash

Analysis

In this Stepback Archarin takes a defensive stance, and then starts with a sword slash from the left, then, he hits the center with the hilt of his sword, before finishing with a Shields bash from the right. This Stepback is buggy in Infinity Blade I, but it can still be avoided in multiple ways. The first slash is undodgeable, but also simultaneously unblockable. There is some instances were sometimes you are able to block the slash, but it's very inconsistent and the attack is likely glitched. However the other attacks work fine. After the first slash the Archarin will follow up with a hilt bash to the center, which can be avoided by dodging in any direction or shielding. Than, right before the Archarin delivers his shield bash, a stab icon will appear on his chest, hitting it will allow you to interrupt the rest of Stepback and Deal maximum damage (going for the stab prompt is preferred sense it will give a larger attack window than a dodge break). However due to the inconsistent first attack, it is only recommended you do this when you have the health to spare. If you are at low health, than parrying the first swing will stop the Stepback, but it wont give you any opportunity to attack back. Shielding is not advisable here, as the First Swing and the Shield bash can go through your guard. So, if you are going to Shields, only do it for the first attack, and make sure you have a corresponding elemental defense Shields or gem so he does not damage you though your guard.

Triple Slash 1

Analysis

In this Stepback Archarin repositions, then does three slashes in quick succession, one from the left, right, and right in that order. Archarin uses this Stepback more often than his other two. This Stepback can be avoided in multiple ways. The most optimal and the easiest is to just parry the first attack by swiping to the left, this interrupts the rest of the Stepback, however, in Infinity Blade I, only intercepting the final blow will grant a attack window. So the only way to get a break on this attack, is to either block, dodge or parry the final attack. A common strategy to do this is to hold block for the first two attacks and than parry the final one to get the break. But this is not advisable if you don't elemental defense to the God Kings Element. If have If you're having trouble with either of these then holding Shields will also work, it's just the least efficient sense it will give you the least amount of time to strike back, and The Archarin can still deal damage if he has elemental attacks, provided you don't have a corresponding elemental defense Shields. Overall its usually better to skip out on the break by parrying the first attack in order to avoid heavy damage.

Combat tips

Archarin is much weaker in comparison to Zero Mech, despite this he could still pose a challenge due to him being fought immediately after Zero Mech with no break. Because of this, it is recommended to kill Archarin as fast as possible. To do this, a high damage weapon will be necessary, the Infinity Blade is a great choice, as it has the highest base damage of any weapon in Infinity Blade 1 and you have it by this point in the game. Additionally, buy a Rings with a high damage spell, such as The Cog, Thorne, or Illuminatus just to name a few. Then, save up both your Super Move and Magic window in the Zero Mech fight, for use against Archarin. Then, when the fight with Archarin begins, use the Super Move immediately, due to Archarin's low hp, this alone should put him into his third phase, or just before. Then use the ring, which should hopefully be enough to finish him off. Using this method, you can kill Archarin before he even makes a single attack. or at the very least, reduce him to very low hp.

Trivia

• The moment when Archarin swears fealty to the God King can be seen in gameplay, should you choose to join the God King when given the option. Doing so will award you the "Not in Kansas" achievement. However, it is unlikely that your current equipment will match Archarin's.
• Archarin was also known as "Bill" on the Infinity Blade branch of the Epic Games Fourms.
• Despite the similarity in equipment, Archarin is not the Ancestor from the introductory Bloodline.
• Archarin notably is one of the only named characters that does not appear in future games. Unlike The Deathless Kings, Archarin did not even appear in any ClashMobs or other events.
• Archarin has a distinct shade of green in the original games. This is absent in the Infinity Blade I PC port.

Dialogue

• Defeat Zero Mech
  • Archarin: Heh - the bloodline has indeed grown strong. You are most impressive.
  • Siris: Wha... Who are you?
  • Archarin: Our kin have served the God King well. We have tempered the Blade, and proven its power by killing the Deathless imprisoned here.
  • Siris: WHO ARE YOU!
  • Archarin: I was... chosen. Offered a choice. I chose to serve - to taste immortality, to unlock the power of the sword and return it to our Master.
  • Siris: The God King is dead - killed by this very blade!
  • Archarin: Hmph. You are a fool, blind to the truth of the world around you.
• Defeat Archarin
  • Archarin: He... He will find you. He will claim what is rightfully his. (cough) And when he gets it, he will be...unstoppable.
  • Siris: When he comes - I'll be waiting.

Gallery