SWTOR Nul Acolyte Boss, Children of Nul Operation Guide (PTS)

The first boss for the new operation Children of Nul is now on the Public Test Server! (PTS) This boss is available for testing in Story and Veteran, in 8-man mode. This boss has many mechanics, and relies on all raids members paying attention and handling their mechanics – it is not an “easy” story mode at the moment on the PTS.

If you test the new boss, leave feedback on the Nul Acolyte Boss fight on the forum thread here.

M4R-TN

A new droid has been placed in the boss room for the Nul Acolyte encounter. This helpful droid can be used to change parameters of the fight and balance it on the fly for players who are struggling or needing to test certain parts and mechanics of the fight by increased or decreased increments. Here’s the forum explanation of how to use M4R-TN effectively:

These adjustments will be shown as buffs/debuffs on the boss when applied.

Story Mode

This fight is very chaotic with many mechanics and visual animations.

Venn Diagram

When the boss does his ability literally named ‘Venn Diagram’, two players will be randomly selected to receive a red circle and blue circle. They should come together and overlap their two circles in the middle. Then, a third, different player should run in between them.

When done successfully, the middle player will get a purple icon.

Manifested Light and Dark Echoes

There will be some floating men around the room. Keep your eyes open for them. They can be stunned, pushed and pulled. They attempt to cast “Light Empowerment” or “Dark Empowerment” on the boss, which will shield him. Stun them and/or kill them.

Notes: My team mate mentioned after a while they just kinda.. stop and disappear. I’m unsure if its a timer or if its after trying to cast the empowerment three times then despawn. 

Latent Light and Dark Remnants

Aggressive enemies will spawn around the room casting big conal attacks to step out of. Keep your eyes open for them and kill them as soon as possible. If they are attacking you, maybe try turning them away from your group mates.

Light Side and Dark Side of Room

The room is divided into Dark (Red, creepy stuff on side of room, triangles on ground) and Light (Blue, holorecording bookshelves on side of room, flower symbol on ground).

As you stand in the red side of the room, you will get stacks of the Tainted Shadow debuff, which makes you do more damage and receive more damage. If you get 5 or more stacks, you become Overloaded and start taking damage. You can clear this by going to the blue light side of the room. This Overloaded effect is also shown by an animation of red lightning crackling down on your character.

As you stand in the blue side of the room, you will get stacks of the Tainted Radiance debuff, which makes you do more damage and receive more healing. If you get 5 or more stacks, you become Overloaded and your damage towards the boss is massively reduced. You can clear this by going to the red dark side of the room.

Split Forces

The half-circle with red arrows on the floor means you will be knocked back in that direction if you stand in it. Just walk out of it.

Freeze Tag and Purple Puddles

The boss will randomly select a player for Freeze Tag.

When unfrozen, you will drop a purple puddle. All players should avoid the purple puddle.

Notes: I don’t know exactly how this one works because it never goes on the tank LOL. Purple eyeball symbol? Purple lightning symbol? Heck if I know.

Tanking

I can’t imagine you’d need more than 1 tank for this fight in its current default balancing. The tank does very little in this fight.

The boss stands still and jumps around, you can’t really control him. If you run too far away he’ll pull you back to him as a tank.

Dual Saber Throw is aimed at a random player that isn’t the tank, and you can’t taunt during this time. (long red rectangle on floor) Others should step out.

Deadly Dual Saber Throw is aimed at the tank. (long light orange rectangle on floor). Others should step ou and the tank should aim it away from the group.

Veteran Mode

Veteran Mode is available for testing! I don’t have any guides of any sort though (yet). If it’s useful, here’s an amazing chart that player Night has done that shows how each buff and debuff is related in this fight.

Loot? No.

Nothing drops when you kill him on the PTS.

Thank you to Team Disco and Guests for helping me fight this boss on the PTS! Especially thank you to Val for his patience explaining what he knew of the fight.