Commander Honglan is fought in Worship’s Rise, and the safest plan is to prepare for her fast sword thrusts while avoiding overcommitting after a counter. Before the fight, finish any Worship’s Rise NPC interactions you still want to complete: PowerPyx warns those NPCs disappear after Honglan is defeated, though it does not specify which interactions or outcomes are affected.
Where to find Commander Honglan
- At Palace Hill in Worship’s Rise, look for a purple Buddha Statue behind boxes along the path to the left of the shrine.
- Take the statue to the NPC to the shrine’s right and use it to drain the Tang Palace water.
- Return to Palace Hill and descend into the drained area. Gamer Guides describes the route as draining the Lotus Pond and then using the nearby ladder.
The route is described by Gamer Guides’ Commander Honglan guide, released 23 July 2025 and last updated 30 July 2025. The opened PowerPyx guide page does not state a publication year; neither guide establishes the encounter’s behavior under every later game patch.
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Prepare with the style that suits you
There is no documented universally easiest setup. Choose based on whether you prefer to interrupt attacks, counter precisely, or keep your distance. The equipment and skill examples below are guide suggestions; check that they fit your progression.
| Approach | How it works | Suggested setup | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axe and Clash | Use Clash-enabled attacks to challenge sword attacks and create counter opportunities. | PowerPyx names Axe & Hook and Chop & Weave, suggests the Empyrean Greataxe if available, and recommends Bone Needle – Corruption and the Temperance weapon buff. It reports corruption damage as effective. | Requires choosing the right attack and timing; the sources do not establish it as best for every player. |
| Longsword and Deflect | Bait the sword thrust, Deflect it, then counter toward an Obliterate. | Gamer Guides lists Cloudfrost’s Edge or Lashing Whip and Sword Counter. | Precise timing matters, and a follow-up stomp can punish an extended retaliation. |
| Dual blades and Clash | Use Clash to retaliate through many sword attacks. | Gamer Guides lists Firearm Blades and Blademaster as an example setup. | Energy waves and the punch combo still demand attention. |
| Magic at range | Create space and cast during openings rather than staying in close exchanges. | Gamer Guides’ example uses a one-handed sword with Biding Time and Infernal Flames; PowerPyx also describes a one-handed-sword magic alternative. | Spacing and patience matter, and named gear may not match your current progression. |
PowerPyx recommends level 35 or higher and gives the boss a subjective difficulty rating of 6.5/10. Those are guide recommendations, not official game statistics or requirements; the page does not state its publication year.
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Phase one: punish the thrust, not every opening
Honglan’s first phase includes a rushing sword thrust from medium range, an area stomp, a backward leap that fans out kunai, and a fast unarmed punch combo that often ends in a stomp.
When she rushes with her sword
Gamer Guides identifies the thrust as a useful opening. Dodge at the last moment, or use a longsword Deflect and counter. Keep the retaliation short: Honglan may follow with a stomp, so do not assume a successful counter makes the exchange safe.
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When she closes without the sword-dash tell
Expect the punch combo. Gamer Guides says neither Deflect nor Clash works against this unarmed sequence and recommends backing away. This is a reason to avoid treating every approach as a Clash opportunity.
When she leaps back
The leap can precede fanned kunai. Dodge to avoid them; Gamer Guides notes a Deflect is possible but harder to time. For a magic approach, that guide recommends dodging to the side, taking a backstep, and casting Infernal Flames during an opening. Clash- and Deflect-focused players can instead punish the thrust, then disengage before a likely follow-up.
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Phase two: manage the waves and spinning slash
Gamer Guides places the transition at around 60% health. Honglan leaps back and adds energy waves, then uses a leaping slash and a multi-hit spinning slash.
- Energy waves: Time your dodges rather than assuming you can stay in close and trade safely.
- Leaping slash: Dodge behind her at the last moment to create an opening.
- Spinning slash: Dodge instead of trying to Deflect the multi-hit sequence.
- Healing: Use it when you have a clear opening; Honglan can rush back in.
Clash can help against sword flurries, but it does not remove the energy-wave or punch-combo threats. With Deflect or magic, keep to mid-range where practical, wait for the thrust opening, and avoid long attack strings. These tactics are recommendations in Gamer Guides’ 23 July 2025 guide, updated 30 July 2025, rather than reported hands-on testing.
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Honglan’s listed rewards
PowerPyx lists a Reverent Temple Key, the Wei – Combo Force benediction, and 9,000 Red Mercury as rewards. The opened Gamer Guides material does not independently confirm that reward list.
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