Tough

Tough is the boss variant of the damage-reduction buff, granting 2 stacks of Brace instead of the enemy version's 1 stack. Each stack reduces all incoming damage by 1, so the boss takes 2 less damage from every single hit. This applies to all damage sources including abilities, status effects, and environmental damage. The minimum damage per hit remains 1, so even with 2 Brace the boss cannot be completely immune to damage. The boss has a dark grey tint.

Two stacks of Brace on a boss is significantly more punishing than 1. Any attack dealing 3 or less damage is reduced to 1, making low-damage multi-hit strategies nearly useless. Damage-over-time effects like Poison and Burn have each tick reduced by 2, rendering low-stack DoTs ineffective. In long boss fights, the cumulative damage reduction across hundreds of attacks amounts to an enormous effective health increase. Tough bosses combined with healing or health regeneration become incredibly difficult to damage meaningfully.

High per-hit damage is essential. Focus on abilities that deal 5+ damage per strike so the 2-point reduction is a small percentage of total damage rather than the majority. Avoid multi-hit attacks that deal small damage per hit, as each hit loses 2 damage. Percentage-based damage, true damage, or effects that bypass Brace counter the mechanic directly. If using Poison or Burn, stack them high so each tick still deals meaningful damage after the -2 reduction. Debuffs that remove Brace or reduce damage reduction are extremely valuable against Tough bosses.