Howlex (Crimson Demon) Guide

Published August 10 2020

Last Updated February 22 2023

Unlocked after completing Chapter 7 of the main story, Howlex is a Demonic Beast with a violent nature. It can be summoned by filling up the Death Match meter in Boss Battles. It is the main source of Howlex’s Ear, a material used to Limit Break heroes to Level 75 and above. To beat this demon, it is strongly advised to bring one strong attacker and two supports that can help sustain and boost your attacks. Like the Gray Demon, Howlex is also immune to CC, which makes freeze/petrify/stun moves useless.

## Howlex: Basic Info

* Attribute:  HP
	+ Weak to  Strength-type and strong against  Speed-type heroes
* Weak to  Demons and strong against  Goddesses
* Meliodas’s “Bad Blood” with the Demonic Beast Howlex decreases the boss’ damage by 30%.
* Immune to Incapacitation, Disable, and Stat Decrease.
* Decreases damage taken from counters by 30%.
* Recommended skill effects: **Ignite**, **Weak Point**, and **Infect**. Howlex receives an additional 50% damage from Weak Point attacks.
* Notable debuffs from Howlex are:
	+ Spike - 2x Crit Damage Increase
	+ Ignite - Damage taken by targets +10% (can be stacked)
	+ Disable Recovery Skills (has it in all 3 phases)
	+ Lifesteal - Heals a portion of the damage dealt
	+ Weak Point - 3x damage against debuffed enemies
* **Howlex gradually increases its stats when attacked by heroes**
	+ Normal
		- Phase 1: Increases Attack-related stats
		- Phase 2: Increases both Attack and Defense-related stats
	+ Hard
		- Phase 1: Increases Defense-related stats
		- Phase 2: Increases both Attack and Defense-related stats
	+ Extreme
		- Phase 1: Increases Attack-related stats
		- Phase 2: Increases Defense-related stats
		- Phase 3: Increases both Attack and Defense-related stats
	+ Hell
		- Phase 1: Increases Attack-related stats
		- Phase 2: Increases Defense-related stats
		- Phase 3: Increases both Attack and Defense-related stats
* For all phase 1 including phase 2 of the Extreme difficulty, Howlex casts a self-buff every 3 turns which decreases the damage taken by 50%.
* In the final phase of all difficulties, Howlex gains a Brand ability which removes debuffs from self and cancels buffs on one enemy. The demon prioritizes attacking Branded enemies. In addition while brand is active all enemy uniques are disabled.

### Notable info for each Difficulty and Phase

 **Hard** | * **Phase 1**: Has Lifesteal, Spike, and Disable Recovery Skill effects. Ultimate attacks one enemy and depletes 2 Ultimate Move Gauge orbs.
 **Extreme** | * **Phase 1**: No Ultimate Move Gauge. Has Spike, Ignite, and Disable Recovery Skill effects.
* **Phase 2**: Has Lifesteal, Spike, and Disable Recovery Skill effects. Ultimate attacks one enemy and depletes 2 Ultimate Move Gauge orbs.
 **Hell** | * **Phase 1**: No Ultimate Move Gauge. Has Spike, Ignite, and Disable Recovery Skill effects.
* **Phase 2**: Has Lifesteal, Spike, and Disable Recovery Skill effects. Ultimate attacks one enemy and depletes 2 Ultimate Move Gauge orbs.
* **Phase 3**: Has Ignite, Weak Point, Disable Recovery Skill, and Brand effects. Ultimate attacks all enemies and depletes 2 Ultimate Move Gauge orbs.

## Strategy and Team Composition

Much like the Red Demon Death Match, Crimson Demon Howlex is a boss that can be brute-forced. However, it is not as easy as Red Demon to defeat but not by too much more unlike Bellmoth or Original Demon. It is important to know that the longer you take on the final phase, the harder things will be for you. Please refer to the above sections for more information on gimmicks the boss has. In general, you’ll want two DPS units along with a support unit of some sort.

In terms of damage-dealing characters, there are many choices to choose from. Red Sariel is a common character to use, even though the boss does greater damage to Goddess race characters, as Sariel’s damage is good enough to use him anyway due to the strength of his Power Strike skill. Other Strength (Red) Attribute characters that are decent to use for damage are Red Escanor or Red Derieri if you need some backups options that are easier to acquire. You can also use Light and Dark attribute units such as Dark Traitor Meliodas or Light “The One” Ultimate Escanor.

Support units can vary. You could use a unit that offers a rank-up ability such as Red Gowther, or a unit that can Buff stats directly like Red Summer Diane. Another good option is Red Kizuna, who is able to Buff basic stats and grant Debuff Immunity on a rank 3 Buff card. A free-to-play friendly option for a stat Buffer is Red Arthur but he is less reliable than the aforementioned stat Buffers as he needs Red Gowther to rank up his skills, and is much weaker overall due to his old stats.

The general strategy within each phase is dependent on the team composition. If you are using a unit such as Light “The One” Ultimate Escanor and Dark Purgatory Meliodas for example, you can just apply the Buffs to him and Meliodas and attack at will as they do not require any buildup to get going. However, if you are using units such as Red Escanor and Red Derieri, please note that Escanor requires a support unit that provides Buffs, and Red Derieri needs to build up her damage over time. Support units like Red Summer Diane can provide this immediately assuming her Unique Abillity’s condition is fulfilled which makes her an excellent choice.

## Rewards

Various rewards are given after clearing the Death Match which is necessary for Hero Limit Break, Hero Awakening, and Equipment Awakening.

### Reward Rules

* Increased chance to acquire better rewards for winning while alive.
* Increases Village Friendship upon clearing a Death Match.
* Gives buff to apply discounts to all items purchased with gold in the village shop.