If you’ve ever set foot into Komore Teahouse, you know exactly who the boss is — and it’s not the lady who serves you tea. It’s that adorable, terrifying fluffball of a Shiba Inu, Taroumaru. When the “Versus the Mightiest Warrior” part of Clash of Lone Blades rolled around during the Irodori Festival, I thought, “How hard can a dog be?” Famous last words.

Let me paint you a picture. I’m standing there, sword in hand, staring down a tiny dog with a bigger attitude than a Ruin Grader. He’s got Electro slashes, explosive traps, and this honed technique that made me want to throw my controller across the room. And the worst part? The clock. You have to beat this ninja dog before time runs out, which means playing nice — no running, no dodging, nada.

After about six attempts, a bruised ego, and a newfound respect for Japanese dog breeds, I cracked the code. Here’s the painfully honest guide on how to make Taroumaru eat dirt and claim those primos.

The Mindset: Stop Running, You Coward

The single biggest mistake I made was playing smart. I dodged. I ran away from the glowing circles of death like a sane person would. But dear Traveler, this fight punishes sanity. The key is to stay right in the danger zone, plant your feet, and parry literally everything he throws at you. If you try to avoid his attacks, you lose damage windows, and that timer will laugh in your face.

When Taroumaru starts dropping those AOE bombs, the natural instinct is to get out. Resist that instinct. Stand inside the circle, face the center, and hit the parry button just as the circle fills up. That last bit is crucial — you need to face the trap, or even a perfect parry will still let it smack you from behind. I spent two tries going, “I pressed the button! I pressed it!” before realizing I was facing the wrong way like a total goof. Facing the music, literally.

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That Annoying Electro Slash? Slap It Back

Now, you’d think a ranged attack would be the one thing you dodge, right? Wrong. Taroumaru occasionally launches these Electro slashes your way, and instead of sidestepping, you can actually parry and reflect them back at him. Yeah, you heard me right — this little dog’s essentially playing tennis with you, and you need to be the one smashing returns. Just stand your ground, time the parry, and watch that bolt of electricity zip back into his smug face. The only catch? If you’re too far away, the reflect won’t connect. So stay close, stay personal. Think of it as giving him a taste of his own medicine… literally.

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The Honed Technique: Your Best Chance to Unload Damage

All the opponents in Clash of Lone Blades have a honed technique with that trademark blue flash, and Taroumaru’s is surprisingly the easiest to counter. Just hit parry the moment the blue light disappears, same as everyone else. But here’s the juicy part: when you counter his honed technique, Taroumaru doesn’t just stagger — he flips upside down and lies there like a helpless turtle for about three or four seconds.

This is your moment. Stop everything and wail on him. Don’t reposition, don’t wait — just mash that attack button like your life depends on it. Stacking damage during these windows is how you beat the clock. I can’t stress this enough: the first few times I nailed the counter, I just stood there admiring my handiwork… and then the timer ran out. Don’t be like me. Unleash hell while the ninja dog is seeing stars.

A Few Extra Tidbits from the Trenches

  • Perfect parries stack up fast. Each flawless counter not only stuns but adds massive damage. Get a rhythm going, and you’ll wonder why you ever panicked.

  • The highest difficulty is no joke. After you unlock it, expect to die to the timer even with decent timing. I cleared it on my fifth try, and only because I started treating every single attack as a parry opportunity. Miss two or three, and you’re toast.

  • Don’t psych yourself out. This dog is cute, but he’s still a boss. Treat him like the menace he is.

At the end of the day, defeating Taroumaru comes down to trusting the parry system and embracing your inner daredevil. It’s a beautifully designed gimmick fight that flips everything you know about dodging on its head. So go on — stand in the fire, slap the lightning, and show that Shiba who’s really the mightiest warrior in Inazuma.

When you finally see those rewards pop, you’ll feel like a legend. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll walk back into the teahouse with a little more swagger. Taroumaru can keep his tea — I’ve already got my victory.