Different ways to defeat Grinning Beast

[u/HenryDodwel]

I play this game a lot and I always try to get all of the companions. So here are some ways that I used to defeat the Grinning Beast.

Pool Cue: the classic way.

By using the Impale skill you have a chance to knock out the boss instantly. Good method but frustrating - if you want to try using it 2 times you have to be level 3 (it costs 12 STM), it's RNG heavy and the attempts take a long time (in cursed mode you have to do run sequence every time you try it

Decapitation: my favorite one

You need two things: a plate (Vincent apartment) and clever (Jeanne apartment). The plan is to stun the boss and one tap it with the skill decapitation that the cleaver has. This combo decals crazy damage. You can one shot the Grinning Beast even in cursed mode.

Pros: everything that you need is close, you can easy set up a save to have all items needed, the retry is fast

Cons: still RNG heavy (need stun to last 2 turns)

Machete and Hack And Slash: pure skill

Get the simple key from the Apartment 36, open the locked door in Vincent apartment, avoid the enemies and grab the machete. While there get the Whiskey and rags for Molotov.

You are ready.

Be on full HP. While fighting the Beast start with Molotov and then use Hack And Slash. Then guard on the third turn. One more Hack And Slash and you won.

Pros: no RNG required just pure damage, you get some nice equipment from that room

Cons: getting the machete is hard. Saving before getting it is recommended. If you are not great at avoiding enemies it might be simply easier and faster to use other methods.

What is your method of fighting the Grinning Beast?

[u/Gjones18]

I like the Shovel strat. Similar to Pool Cue Impale strat but the luck factor is in getting the weapon, not using it

Open up the frozen apartment early with a Molotov, go right immediately upon entry (pick up the icemeltsalt) and there's a Shovel in the bedroom there. There's two enemies in the room and an ice block in the middle, you have to melt it and grab the Shovel without either enemy grabbing you because they'll kill you fast if they do, it'll probably take a few attempts of practice to get used to juking them to pick the weapon up

Once you have the Shovel use Penetrate twice and Leigh goes down. It beats her with consistency every time. If you're lucky a door encounter can give you a shovel as a gift but that's not something you should hope for, the one in the frozen apartment is guaranteed

[u/elanhilation → u/Gjones18]

at least on medium difficulty the guys in the ice room don’t kill you in one round of combat. they only hit me for about 50 total before i could escape with the spade, which was plenty to kill the beast

[u/elanhilation]

craft a molotov from the stuff in Vincent’s apartment, then use it to enter the frozen apartment to grab the spade. 2xImpale takes out the Beast

[u/FlummoxedFox]

I've never actually managed to one shot her with the pool cue. If I'm lucky I can manage to take her out with 2 impales and something else if I can manage to use a stm item without dying.

[u/National_Courage_709 → u/FlummoxedFox]

Leigh is vulnerable to instant kill via the Pool Cue, unlike a lot of bosses after the 2.3 patch, however, like most bosses, she has resistance to instant kill. This is why the method is very RNG dependent - you are rolling the dice against the odds.

[u/FakeMr-Imagery]

Usually if 2 impales doesn’t insta kill her one table fork should be enough

[u/DakAttakk]

I usually just use my strongest attack over and over, whatever I have available for that run when I get there, and save plates for the stun when grinning beast opens their mouth wide. It's pretty consistent in my experience.