The Scarecrow

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### Reward

Scarecrow's Sickles (1st kill)6 Scarecrow Outfits (1 for flawless kill and 1 for each BSC difficulty)

“*Roses are red and violets are blue. I’m dead and soon you'll be too.*„

**The Scarecrow** is the second tier 2 boss in the game and is an alternative to the Time Keeper and The Giant. He is encountered in the Mausoleum, the paths of which requires wearing the Cultist Outfit to open the gate to the Undying Shores for the first time. His boss room can also be accessed from the Undying Shores or the Cavern.

Requires the *Fatal Falls DLC*.

## Moveset

### First phase

In 1+ BSC, the Scarecrow goes straight to the second phase.

* **Description:** The Scarecrow runs up to the player and swings out with a scythe.
 ***Seed planting***
* **Description:** The Scarecrow throws two or three seeds across the platform that will sprout mushrooms. Interacting with these mushrooms will cause them to explode soon after. Before exploding, a red aura will appear as a warning signal to the player.
 ***Shovel swing***
* **Description:** The Scarecrow swings burrows underground and periodically pops out to attack the player with a big shovel.
 ***Flying sickles***
* **Description:** The Scarecrow jumps up and summons two flying sickles that will fly in an arc reaching the limits of the chamber. He then smashes downwards on the platform and his sickles return to him shortly after.
 ***Acid rain***
* **Description:** Vines will sprout from the Scarecrow and allow him to be suspended. He will then summon a watering can and follow the player, raining down purple acid that will inflict high damage upon contact.
* Can be dodge rolled.
* Be particularly careful not to be bounced upward into it.

### Second phase

At 50% HP, the Scarecrow speeds up and gets an extra attack.

* **Description:** Vines will sprout from the Scarecrow which allows him to be suspended in the air. From there, they will move horizontally and stab downwards in an attempt to stab the player. After each stab, a Jerkshroom will be spawned at the location where the pitchfork hit the ground.
* Can be blocked, parried, and dodge rolled.
* Be careful with the Jerkshroom that was just spawned, as it may be a slight element of chaos when trying to avoid other attacks.

## Strategy

### Attacks

* During his Scythe Swing attack, alternating between rolling away from, and into the Scarecrow is a good way to avoid the attack. If a shield is available however, parrying the swings is excellent not only at repelling the attack, but triggering the shield's effect multiple times in a row.
* His Seed throwing attack is often followed up by his Shovel attack, in which case the Scarecrow will fling the planted mushrooms towards the player, triggering their explosion in the process. However, the mushrooms don't travel very far, so often the best way to avoid them will be to run/roll away from them. Also keep in mind that, unless the Scarecrow does so himself with the Shovel attack, the mushrooms will only start to explode once jumped upon, or hit with an attack or projectile. Even so, if given the opportunity, try to get these mushrooms out of the picture as soon as possible.
* The Shovel Swing is only used by the Scarecrow after a Seed Planting attack, once all the mushrooms have been triggered. To dodge the following 3 swings, simply roll behind the Scarecrow when he appears from the ground. This is also an opportunity for a counter attack.
* One of the best ways to avoid the sickles is to stay on one side of the Scarecrow. Once he jumps up, stand close to him, and the sickle will fly away behind you. When he is about to land, jump up, and double-jump away from him to dodge the incoming sickle.
* During the Acid Rain attack it's best to take it slow, and cease attacking the boss. He moves very slowly in the air, and if he ever gets close, merely roll through the rain, and walk away. Done correctly, this attack is a breeze to avoid, as any leftover exploding mushrooms won't trigger from walking by them. Using the bouncy mushrooms at the sides of the arena during this attack is highly unrecommended.
* The Pitchfork Jab attack itself is not a difficult one. simply rolling out of the way of an incoming jab will do the trick. The real danger is the aftermath. By the time the attack finishes, the spawned Jerkshrooms should start getting offensive. Having a weapon or grenade that can quickly give them a DoT status effect, to whittle down their health by the end of the attack is very useful, and so are deployable skills. If none of these are on hand at the moment, then prioritizing them with your attacks while dodging the Scarecrow's Scythe Swings, which are most likely to follow, is your best option.
* Overall, this boss battle is a game of concentration. Identifying the next attack, taking a note of your surroundings (if there are any exploding/bouncy mushrooms to look out for/exploit), and acting accordingly. The last part of the fight is only intimidating and intense because his Scythe Swings come out in higher speed and numbers. Most attacks will have a Scythe Swing attack between them, so always prepare for that after the end of an attack.

### Weapons/Skills

* Since the Scarecrow's scythe swings increase in number throughout the boss fight, being able to parry each swing will be essential to take the least amount of damage possible during this boss fight.
	+ This is especially true for shields like the Rampart and Punishment since their effects will be activated on each and every parry you make.
* The Scarecrow has relatively low defense and HP even for a Tier 2 boss, so very high DPS weapons that can out speed him, such as the Meat Skewer or Sadist's Stiletto, with proper synergy, can easily defeat him before he can do much.
	+ Conversely, slower weapons, such as the Scythe Claw. can struggle, so mutations that can speed up attacks such as Kill Rhythm can be exceptionally helpful when dealing with the rapid attack onslaught, especially when complimented with a shield.

## Lore

The Scarecrow was once the Royal Gardener, working at the arboretum under the protection of the crown.

When the malaise struck, not only did the dead rise, but also the plants. The royal gardener would do his experiments such as trapping infected into a large tree connected to a flask with a skull of a giant crow mixed with various mashed organs, entrails, and local roots.

The king had ordered the gardener to have the arboretum burned to the ground, and Castaing, (The Concierge) in written letter, reminds him to follow his orders lest him be fed to the ticks in the Morass, although the gardener ignored them anyway. He was then stripped of the crown's protection and the king ordered his men to burn the Arboretum. However, the mutated mushrooms killed the soldiers before it could be destroyed.

The Gardener was then infected with the Malaise and died in the Prisoners' Quarters with the key to the Arboretum. After the player takes the key from the gardener and visits the Arboretum, the gardener's body disappears in future runs.

The resurrected Gardener visited the Arboretum again and wrote a letter which said that he was alive again, but he could feel the effects of the Malaise changing him. He journeyed towards the Morass of the Banished, whose inhabitants greeted him with open arms. Evident in another letter stating the natives of the Morass were "stunningly friendly". The Swamp Priest of the Morass helped concocted a potion from local herbs which the Gardener thought would help him, but it only seemed to have induced stomach pain. He also learned that the "Mama" the natives worship likes flowers.

The Gardener continued towards the Fractured Shrines, The gardener hoped ‘her’ (the queen of the shrines) people would help, but they couldn't recognize him any longer. He writes about it in a journal and makes his way to the Undying Shores, where the "Apostates' Hideout" isn't far. He doubts if they would accept strangers during this difficult time.

Upon reaching the shores, he notes that the Apostates "didn't fare any better than the rest of us". The Gardener's illness has reached to an extent that his moments of consciousness become rarer and rarer. He had initially planned on reaching the lighthouse visible in the background of the Shores, though his current state rendered this impossible. Again in his note, he says, "Maybe I'll find a decent place to rest down there." He presumably moved to the Mausoleum where he would transform into the Scarecrow.