KF2 Matriarch Guide: How to Bully the Fifth Boss

The Matriarch is the fifth boss of Killing Floor 2. This community guide treats her as predictable: learn her patterns, bait her attacks and strike during the right windows. The author says the strategy works best in singleplayer; in multiplayer it needs a very well coordinated team.

Know your enemy

Phase 1

• Target far away: Tesla Shot, then Plasma Ray, repeat.
• Target close: a melee attack or an area shock attack.
• She always fires a Tesla Shot after her area or melee attack.
• If her shield is destroyed, she spawns an army of E.D.A.Rs.
• If her cannon is destroyed, she periodically stops and tries to grab you with a large tentacle.
• The Tesla Shot has 100 percent precision regardless of distance.
• The Plasma Ray tracks perfectly at long and medium range but struggles up close.
• Her shield drops briefly while she attacks.

Phase 2

• She spawns an army of E.D.A.Rs as soon as she enters the phase.
• She chases players and punches in range, sometimes followed by an area shock or sonic attack.
• She periodically stops to grab you with the tentacle.

Phase 3

• Same as phase 2, but she can turn invisible.

Getting through phase 1

Before anything else: do not shoot the shield.

1. Bait the Tesla Shot. Have cover to avoid it. In multiplayer, designate one bait player; everyone else waits behind cover.
2. Approach calmly. Stay at moderate distance: too close and she smacks or shocks you, too far and the Plasma Ray hurts. Once she starts charging the Plasma Ray, get as close as you can while avoiding the cannon, preferably near her right side (with the claw) for line of sight to the head. In multiplayer approach with the bait or hold a safe distance with line of sight to the head and cover nearby.
3. Blast the head. The Plasma Ray cannot hit the bait if they stand very close, so while she fires at nothing, shoot the head with everything. When it breaks, retreat to cover or tank the Tesla Shot if you can. Break the head before the cannon.
4. Break the cannon. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the cannon.

Extra tip: the Tesla Shot can be reduced by parrying or blocking with the Bone Crusher's shield, the Medic's damage resistance buffs, the SWAT Riot Shield or the HRG Bastion energy shield.

Getting through phases 2 and 3

1. Clean off the E.D.A.Rs. Run away from the Matriarch while killing any you find. In multiplayer, assign a player to kill them while others focus on her.
2. Run and gun. Once they are cleared, keep moving while shooting her. If she tries to grab you, a well timed knife (or melee) parry stops it. In multiplayer, stick together.

Phase 3 mostly adds more E.D.A.Rs and invisibility. Keep running and gunning and clearing E.D.A.Rs; a Commando helps. If she is about to punch you, jump so the impact launches you away, which might save your life.

See also KF2 boss overview.