The Orphan Boss 8 of 10 · University
- Health
- 4,000
- Posture
- 1,550
- Catalyst reward
- 40,000
- Unblockable attacks
- 7
- Methodology
- Data Methodology
- Author
- Dakota Chinnick
The Orphan is boss 8 of 10 in Valor Mortis, fought in University (Chapter IX In Ruins). It has 4,000 HP across 2 phases, uses 16 attacks of which 7 are unblockable, and is weak to nothing in particular. Defeating it awards 40,000 Catalysts.
- Health
- 4,000#2 of 10 bosses by HP
- Location
- UniversityChapter IX In Ruins
- Catalyst reward
- 40,000 CatalystsPaid out on the kill screen
- Unblockable attacks
- 7Pipe, Phase 2 Combo (right), Combo Five Hit, Phase 2 Combo (left)
- Weak to
- nothing in particular
- Nearest Lantern
- Sewage DrainAbout 39 m from the fight
How to beat The Orphan
Strategy built from the boss's data: which attacks to dodge, what it is weak to and how to open it up.
The Orphan is the most aggressive fight so far: 4,000 HP and a long list of combos, many of them unblockable, including the Pipe swing (100 damage), the five-hit combos and the phase-two combo enders. Its grab also infects you. Expect to dodge, not block.
Do not count on fire. The Orphan's base sheet lists a double fire weakness, but both phases of the fight reset its Fire resistance to 0%, so fire only deals normal damage, and it shrugs off 70% of Ignite build-up. Bring your best-upgraded weapon instead. It is immune to Infection, and its head takes double damage while its legs take less. Its 1,550 posture is high, but a critical attack deals 700. The nearest Lantern, Sewage Drain, is only about 40 m away.
- Watch for the red attacks: Pipe, Phase 2 Combo (right), Combo Five Hit, Phase 2 Combo (left) cannot be blocked, so dodge them instead of holding block.
- Avoid relying on Ignite build-up; it resists that damage type.
- It is immune to Infection, so don't waste that damage type on it.
- Its head takes ×2 damage, so aimed firearm shots to the head pay off.
- Its posture pool is 1,550. Break it with heavy and parried hits, then land a critical attack for a fixed 700 damage (18% of its HP).
- It has a grab: grabs cannot be blocked, so keep your distance when it lunges in.
- Some attacks build up Infection on you; back off and let the meter drain before trading hits.
- The nearest Lantern is Sewage Drain, about 39 m from the fight, where you respawn after a death.
Recommended build for The Orphan
CalculatedWeapons, statuses, Ambers and Transmutations that fit this fight, from The Orphan's resistances and the hits-to-kill maths.
- Fewest blade hits (level 10)
- Claymore: 40Body hits, before upgrades and Ambers
- Fewest firearm shots (level 10)
- Blunderbuss: 126 to the head
- Fire damage taken
- ×1Base profile ×2; the phase records override it
- Ignite build-up resistance
- 70%
- Stasis
- 6 segments · 0% resistanceFull freeze breaks for 750 damage
- Posture → critical
- 1,550 → 700
The Orphan's base profile lists Fire as a double-damage weakness, but both of its phase records override Fire resistance to 0%, so plan on neutral fire damage; Ignite build-up is resisted 70% and it is immune to Infection. Stasis has no resistance over 6 segments, and a full freeze breaks for 750 damage.
Its head takes double damage and 1.5x posture damage, so aim high: a Musket needs 14 headshots at level 1 or 7 at level 10. Blocking is expensive, at 70 Endurance per blockable combo hit and 90 for the phase-two right combo, so dodge and punish. The Claymore needs 80 light hits at level 1 and 40 at level 10.
The Shield Transmutation from the University, this boss's region, blocks attacks at a Nephtoglobin cost and its barrier protects from Infestation effects, useful against an Infection-spreading grab; at level 4 Impenetrable Defence makes it stop red attacks such as the 100-damage Pipe. Ambers: Iron Grip, Wound that Heals and Tomorrow's Promise for sustain through a long fight.
The Orphan attacks and moves
Game dataEvery attack The Orphan uses, grouped into combos, with damage per hit and whether you can block it.
Used in any phase (16 attacks)
Damage is the base value per hit (bosses always fight at level 1, so no level scaling applies). Move names marked * come from the game's internal tags, because the game never shows attack names.
Weaknesses and resistances
Game dataResists Ignite build-up (−70%). Immune to Infection.
Red = takes extra damage of that type; filled to the right = resists it (100% = immune).
Weak points
| Body part | Damage taken | Posture damage taken |
|---|---|---|
| Head | ×2 | ×1.5 |
| Chest | ×1 | ×1 |
| Hands | ×1 | ×1 |
| Legs | ×0.8 | ×1 |
The Orphan's phases
Game dataWhen each phase starts and what changes: the posture pool and the resistances each phase record sets.
| Phase | Starts | Posture | Resistance changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Fight start | 1,550 | Fire damage 0% (base -100%) |
| Phase 2 | Scripted transition | 1,550 | Fire damage 0% (base -100%) |
HP thresholds are shown only where the phase record holds an absolute health value below the boss's maximum; other phases change on a scripted trigger, so no number is printed. Resistance changes compare the phase record's overrides with the base profile in the Resistances section.
The Orphan stats
Game dataHealth, posture and reward compared with the other bosses.
- Health
- 4,000#2 of 10
- Posture
- 1,550
- Critical attack damage
- 700Fixed damage of a critical attack after a posture break
- Stasis segments
- 6
- Hardest single hit
- 100 · Pipe
- Catalyst reward
- 40,000 Catalysts
Data: Steam build 25907482 (1.0 launch). How we source this
How many hits to kill The Orphan
CalculatedHits needed with each weapon's basic attack at weapon levels 1, 5 and 10, after the boss's resistances.
| Weapon | Weapon level 1 | Weapon level 5 | Weapon level 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Pistol | 13430 per hit67 to the head | 9642 per hit48 to the head | 6760 per hit34 to the head |
 Musket | 27150 per hit14 to the head | 20210 per hit10 to the head | 14300 per hit7 to the head |
 Blunderbuss | 27150 per hit14 to the head | 18230 per hit9 to the head | 12350 per hit6 to the head |
 Saber | 20020 per hit | 10040 per hit | 6760 per hit |
 Rapier | 16025 per hit | 11535 per hit | 8945 per hit |
 Claymore | 8050 per hit | 5080 per hit | 40100 per hit |
Basic light attacks (blades) or single shots (firearms; the Blunderbuss at point-blank range). Upgrades, Ambers, coatings, charged attacks and critical attacks all cut these numbers.
Where to find The Orphan
The Orphan is fought in University during Chapter IX In Ruins. The closest Lantern is Sewage Drain.
- Location: University
- Chapter: Chapter IX In Ruins
- Nearest Lantern: Sewage Drain · about 39 m away
- Open the University map
Everything placed in University
Ability altars: 1
Bosses: 1 (The Orphan)
Boss arenas: 1
Chests: 13 (Ferrofluid Flask Power Upgrade, Distilled Blade Material, Distilled Transmutation Material, Masterwork Firearm Parts, Empty Ferrofluid Flask, Lunatic's Grasp, Superior Firearm Parts, Quintessential Transmutation Material)
Keys: 3 (Lift Shaft Key, Library Key, Auditorium Key)
Lanterns: 4 (Main Hall, Laboratories, Sewage Drain, Lift Shaft)
Mouse holes: 1
Letters: 2 (Project Volunteer — Experimental Report, Excerpt from Dr. Moreau's Journal)
Rewards and achievement
Game dataWhat defeating The Orphan gives you.
- Catalyst reward: 40,000 Catalysts
Coup de Grâce · 0.8% of Steam players · Defeat the Orphan.
Journal entry
Game dataSpoilerRead William's journal entry on The Orphan
The Orphan is among the most pitiful horrors yet encountered. There is nothing human left within its gaze — no kindness, no memory, no trace of peace. It prowls the underground endlessly, condemned to an existence without purpose, without light, without escape.
One cannot help but feel that whoever created this creature despised it from the beginning. It was not merely made, but punished into existence.
The Orphan is the boss of University and boss number 8 of 10 in the campaign, with 4,000 HP. Of its 16 attacks, 7 are unblockable (Pipe, Phase 2 Combo (right), Combo Five Hit, Phase 2 Combo (left)); the hardest single hit is Pipe for 100. No damage type gets a bonus against it. Beating it pays 40,000 Catalysts.
See Also
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The Orphan FAQ
How do you beat The Orphan in Valor Mortis?
The Orphan is the most aggressive fight so far: 4,000 HP and a long list of combos, many of them unblockable, including the Pipe swing (100 damage), the five-hit combos and the phase-two combo enders. Its grab also infects you. Expect to dodge, not block. Do not count on fire. Watch for the red attacks: Pipe, Phase 2 Combo (right), Combo Five Hit, Phase 2 Combo (left) cannot be blocked, so dodge them instead of holding block. Avoid relying on Ignite build-up; it resists that damage type. It is immune to Infection, so don't waste that damage type on it.
What is the best build for The Orphan in Valor Mortis?
The Orphan's base profile lists Fire as a double-damage weakness, but both of its phase records override Fire resistance to 0%, so plan on neutral fire damage; Ignite build-up is resisted 70% and it is immune to Infection. Stasis has no resistance over 6 segments, and a full freeze breaks for 750 damage. Its head takes double damage and 1.5x posture damage, so aim high: a Musket needs 14 headshots at level 1 or 7 at level 10.
How much HP does The Orphan have?
The Orphan has 4,000 HP, #2 of the 10 bosses. Its posture pool is 1,550.
Where is The Orphan in Valor Mortis?
The Orphan is fought in University during Chapter IX In Ruins. The nearest Lantern is Sewage Drain, about 39 m from the fight.
What is The Orphan weak to?
Resists Ignite build-up (−70%). Immune to Infection.
What do you get for beating The Orphan?
Defeating The Orphan awards 40,000 Catalysts. It also unlocks the Coup de Grâce achievement.
How many phases does The Orphan have?
The Orphan fights in 2 phases, and its posture and attacks can change between them.
Which attacks of The Orphan are unblockable?
7 attacks are unblockable: Pipe, Phase 2 Combo (right), Combo Five Hit, Phase 2 Combo (left). Dodge these instead of blocking.
Which boss comes before The Orphan?
The Orphan is boss 8 of 10; the boss before it is Experiment 83.