Short Answer

Emerald-Armed Mantis is the Chapter 6 armor boss that opens after the other mandatory armor bosses are handled. Go to Mantis-Catching Swamp, trigger the cutscene near Zhu Bajie and the large tree, then fight inside the cramped body arena. Save spells for the faster phase, punish when its claws stick in the ground, and use the Plantain Fan or Immobilize only when it cannot immediately slip away.

Route And Unlock Context

Emerald-Armed Mantis is not the first armor boss to chase. Clear Gold Armored Rhino, Cloudtreading Deer, and Feng-Tail General first, then return to the Mantis-Catching Swamp shrine near the golden-leaf tree. Walk around the tree and speak with Zhu Bajie to start the cutscene.

Defeating Emerald-Armed Mantis gives the Dian-Cui Loong-Soaring Bracers, the final armor piece in this part of Chapter 6. Once the set is complete, the route naturally points toward Water Curtain Cave and the Jingubang pickup.

Fight Plan

The arena is small, so camera discipline matters as much as damage. In the first phase, let the mantis commit to claw strings and stinger pressure, then punish from the side. When the claws burrow into the ground and do not pull free immediately, step in for your safest combo.

At roughly the later phase shift, the mantis becomes faster and chains more slashes. This is where saved mana pays off. Immobilize can stop a dangerous rush, but it is better after a whiff or wall pressure than as a panic cast while the mantis is already crossing the room.

Plantain Fan is strong because the enclosed arena lets the wind pin the boss long enough for a burst window. If you use A Pluck of Many, cast it while the mantis is controlled, not while it is free to carve through the clones and you.

Moves To Respect

  • Claw strings: dodge the full sequence before answering.
  • Buried claws: this is the clean punish window; move in quickly and leave before recovery ends.
  • Stinger pressure: do not stand directly behind it for long after a combo.
  • Faster phase slashes: shorten every punish until you confirm the new rhythm.
  • Wall pressure: use it in your favor with Fan or Immobilize, but roll out if the camera is trapped.

Bring Plantain Fan if you are comfortable using it, plus Immobilize for short control windows. A quick Spirit helps confirm stagger without locking you into a long animation. Save a transformation for the faster phase if your first phase is already stable.

If your deaths come from camera loss, lower the damage plan. Stay closer to the center, avoid backing into the wall, and use the claw-burrow window as the main punish rather than chasing every retreat.

Common Mistakes

  • Entering before the other armor bosses are done and assuming the trigger is broken.
  • Spending all spells in phase one when claw-burrow punishes are enough.
  • Casting A Pluck of Many before the mantis is controlled.
  • Continuing a combo after the boss speeds up.
  • Letting the wall trap both camera and dodge direction.

Quality Check Before You Move On

You are done with this branch when the Dian-Cui Loong-Soaring Bracers are collected and the full armor route is complete. Rest at Mantis-Catching Swamp before flying toward Water Curtain Cave.

FAQ

Why will Emerald-Armed Mantis not trigger?

Make sure Gold Armored Rhino, Cloudtreading Deer, and Feng-Tail General are cleared, then return to Zhu Bajie near the Mantis-Catching Swamp tree.

What is the safest punish?

Attack when the mantis buries its claws in the ground. That recovery is safer than trying to interrupt fast slash strings.

Is Plantain Fan worth using?

Yes. The arena is tight enough that the Fan can create a strong burst window if you position the boss near a wall.

Sources