Mastering The Calus Room: Easy Cheese Strategies For Quick Wins

The Calus Room in Destiny 2's Leviathan raid is notorious for its complexity and challenge, but savvy players have discovered strategies to cheese the encounter, bypassing its intended mechanics for a quicker and easier victory. By exploiting specific positioning, damage phase timing, and team coordination, guardians can minimize the need for precise execution and resource management. Common tactics include using well-placed supers, strategic relic usage, and clever movement to avoid Calus's devastating attacks while maximizing damage output. While cheesing may not align with the raid's original design, it offers a viable alternative for less experienced teams or those seeking a more efficient run. However, mastering these techniques requires practice and communication, ensuring even the cheesiest strategies demand a level of skill and teamwork.

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Exploiting Safe Rooms: Use safe rooms to avoid damage during specific phases, minimizing risk

In the Calus encounter, safe rooms are often overlooked as mere respawn points, but they can be strategically exploited to minimize damage during critical phases. By understanding the timing and mechanics of Calus’s attacks, players can use these rooms to avoid taking damage altogether, effectively “cheesing” the encounter. For instance, during the Throne Room phase, when Calus slams his fist, coordinating a retreat to the safe room just before the attack can save your team from significant damage. This tactic requires precise timing and communication but can drastically reduce the strain on your team’s resources.

Analyzing the encounter reveals that safe rooms are most effective during phases with predictable, high-damage attacks. For example, during the Shadow of Calus phase, the safe room can be used to avoid the devastating beam attack. Players should position themselves near the safe room entrance, ready to dash inside as soon as the beam begins charging. This not only prevents damage but also allows the team to focus on DPS without interruption. The key is to recognize the attack patterns and communicate the timing effectively, ensuring everyone enters the safe room simultaneously.

To implement this strategy, follow these steps: First, assign a caller who will monitor Calus’s animations and call out when to move to the safe room. Second, position at least one player near the safe room entrance during high-risk phases, ready to sprint inside at the caller’s signal. Third, ensure the team practices the timing in lower-stakes scenarios to build muscle memory. Caution: Over-reliance on this tactic can lead to complacency, so balance it with active engagement in other phases. Additionally, be mindful of the safe room’s cooldown—entering too frequently can render it unavailable when needed most.

Comparatively, while other cheesing methods involve glitching or exploiting mechanics, using safe rooms is a legitimate, risk-free approach that aligns with the encounter’s design. It requires skill and coordination rather than relying on unintended behaviors, making it a more satisfying and sustainable strategy. Teams that master this technique can significantly reduce the encounter’s difficulty, allowing them to focus on optimizing DPS and mechanics in other phases. By treating safe rooms as tactical retreats rather than passive respawn points, players can transform them into powerful tools for minimizing risk and maximizing efficiency.

Sniper Cheese Strategy: Position snipers to bypass mechanics, focusing on long-range damage

In the Calus room encounter, the Sniper Cheese Strategy leverages long-range damage to bypass complex mechanics, allowing teams to focus on sustained DPS rather than constant repositioning. Positioning is critical: place snipers on elevated platforms or safe corners with clear sightlines to Calus’s crit spots, such as his chest or exposed areas during specific phases. Use weapons like Whisper of the Worm or Izanagi’s Burden for consistent, high-damage shots, ensuring snipers maintain distance from Shadow of Calus explosions and other hazards. This approach minimizes risk while maximizing efficiency, turning a chaotic encounter into a methodical takedown.

To execute this strategy effectively, coordinate sniper placement during the damage phase. Assign two to three team members with high-damage sniper rifles to hold positions on the left and right sides of the room, ensuring they can alternate fire to avoid overheating or cooldown delays. The remaining team should focus on ad control and relic management, freeing snipers to maintain uninterrupted DPS. Communication is key: call out when Calus is vulnerable and ensure snipers time their shots to align with damage windows. Avoid overcommitting to a single position; have backup spots ready in case of unexpected mechanics or stray Shadow explosions.

Comparatively, the Sniper Cheese Strategy offers a stark contrast to traditional melee-focused approaches, which often require precise timing and riskier positioning. While melee strategies rely on close-quarters combat and exploit specific mechanics like the relic shield, snipers allow teams to play defensively, reducing the chance of wipes due to missteps. However, this method demands high-damage output per shot, making weapon choice and champion mods critical. For instance, equipping Taking Charge or Impactful Sniper mods can boost damage, while using special ammo finder perks ensures sustained firepower.

A practical tip for optimizing this strategy is to pre-position snipers during the plate phase, using the downtime to scout ideal angles and ensure line-of-sight. Use the environment to your advantage: the pillars near the back of the room provide cover while still allowing shots to land. Additionally, pair snipers with a well-lock running Font of Might for a 25% damage boost, significantly increasing overall DPS. Be cautious of Calus’s teleportation mechanic, as it can disrupt positioning; assign a spotter to call out his movements and adjust sniper angles accordingly. With proper execution, this strategy transforms the Calus encounter into a sniper gallery, bypassing much of its inherent complexity.

Shadow Step Skip: Skip Shadow of Calus using precise timing and positioning

In the Calus encounter, the Shadow of Calus phase can be a daunting challenge, requiring precise coordination and execution. However, with the Shadow Step Skip technique, it's possible to bypass this phase entirely, saving time and resources. This method relies on exploiting the game's mechanics, specifically the Shadow Step ability, to teleport past the Shadow of Calus, avoiding the need to engage in combat.

To execute the Shadow Step Skip, players must position themselves at the edge of the platform, facing the direction of the next phase. As the Shadow of Calus begins its attack animation, the player must activate their Shadow Step ability, timing it precisely to teleport just as the attack connects. This requires a deep understanding of the attack's timing and range, as well as the player's own movement and ability cooldowns. A successful skip will result in the player being teleported past the Shadow of Calus, effectively bypassing the entire phase.

The key to mastering this technique lies in practice and patience. Players should experiment with different positioning and timing, taking note of the attack's animation and their own ability's cooldown. It's essential to maintain a consistent rhythm and not get discouraged by failed attempts. With persistence, players can internalize the timing and execute the skip consistently. Additionally, communication is crucial when attempting this skip in a fireteam, as all players must be aware of the strategy and coordinate their actions accordingly.

One of the primary advantages of the Shadow Step Skip is its efficiency. By bypassing the Shadow of Calus phase, players can save significant time and resources, allowing them to focus on the subsequent phases of the encounter. This can be particularly beneficial in speedrunning or challenge modes, where every second counts. However, it's essential to note that this technique requires a high level of skill and coordination, and may not be suitable for all players or fireteams. As such, it's recommended that players practice and refine their technique in a controlled environment before attempting it in a live raid.

In comparison to other cheese strategies for the Calus room, the Shadow Step Skip stands out for its precision and technicality. Unlike methods that rely on exploiting glitches or bugs, this technique demands a deep understanding of the game's mechanics and requires players to execute a series of precise actions. While it may be more challenging to master, the payoff is a highly efficient and satisfying skip that showcases the player's skill and knowledge. By investing time and effort into learning the Shadow Step Skip, players can elevate their gameplay and tackle the Calus encounter with confidence and finesse.

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Damage Phase Optimization: Stack damage buffs and heavy weapons for quick phase clears

In the Calus room, time is your greatest enemy, and maximizing damage output during the damage phase is crucial for a swift victory. The key to achieving this lies in the strategic stacking of damage buffs and the judicious use of heavy weapons. By combining these elements, you can create a synergistic effect that exponentially increases your team's damage potential, allowing for quicker phase clears and a more efficient run.

To begin, consider the various damage buffs available in your arsenal. For instance, the "Melting Point" ability from the Sunbreaker subclass can increase damage dealt to the target by 50% for 10 seconds. Pair this with the "Code of the Devastator" subclass's "Hammer Strike," which deals massive damage and can be used to stun enemies, creating a window of opportunity for your team to unleash their most powerful attacks. Additionally, don't overlook the power of consumables like the "Damage Boost" mod, which can be applied to your armor to increase damage output by 10-25% for a limited time.

When it comes to heavy weapons, the choice is critical. High-damage, slow-firing weapons like the "Whisper of the Worm" or "Outbreak Perfected" can deal substantial damage to Calus, but their slow rate of fire may not be ideal for quick phase clears. Instead, opt for weapons with a balance of damage and fire rate, such as the "Anarchy" grenade launcher or the "Two-Tailed Fox" rocket launcher. These weapons can deal significant damage while allowing your team to maintain a steady stream of attacks, maximizing the benefits of your stacked damage buffs.

A well-coordinated team can further optimize their damage output by synchronizing their abilities and weapon usage. For example, a team of six players can rotate their "Melting Point" and "Hammer Strike" abilities, ensuring that Calus is constantly under the effect of a damage buff. Meanwhile, designated heavy weapon users can focus on dealing damage during these windows, while other team members provide support through abilities like "Lunar Grenade" or "Blade Barrage." By dividing tasks and communicating effectively, your team can create a seamless damage phase that minimizes downtime and maximizes efficiency.

To illustrate the effectiveness of this strategy, consider a hypothetical scenario where a team of six players employs the aforementioned tactics. With a well-timed rotation of damage buffs and heavy weapon usage, they can potentially deal upwards of 50 million damage per phase, significantly reducing the time required to clear each phase. However, it's essential to note that this approach requires practice, coordination, and a deep understanding of each team member's role. As such, it's crucial to establish clear communication channels, assign roles, and practice the strategy in a controlled environment before attempting it in a live raid. By doing so, you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of damage phase optimization and achieving quick, efficient Calus room clears.

Add Control Tactics: Prioritize add spawns to prevent overwhelming waves during the fight

Managing add spawns in the Calus room is a delicate balance between offense and defense. Ignoring this aspect often leads to chaotic, unmanageable waves that overwhelm even well-coordinated teams. The key lies in understanding spawn mechanics: adds emerge in predictable patterns tied to damage thresholds and player positioning. For instance, Shadow of Calus and Psions spawn more frequently when the boss reaches 75%, 50%, and 25% health. Prioritize these phases by assigning one player to monitor and clear adds while the rest focus on boss damage. This division of labor prevents the fight from devolving into a survival test.

Effective add control requires strategic loadouts and positioning. Equip weapons with high add-clear potential, such as a Trinity Ghoul or Riskrunner, paired with abilities like Thundercrash or Dawnblade for area denial. Position the add-clearer near spawn points—typically the side platforms or the back of the arena—to intercept enemies before they reach the team. Caution: avoid clustering near the boss during these phases, as Calus’s Shadow Teleport attack can decimate grouped players. Instead, maintain distance and use cover to mitigate damage while clearing adds.

A common mistake is underestimating the Psions’ ability to disrupt the team with their teleportation and shielding. These enemies should be the top priority during their spawn phases. Designate a player with a sniper rifle or fusion rifle to eliminate Psions from a distance, preventing them from reaching the team and causing chaos. If Psions do close in, switch to a shotgun or sword to neutralize them quickly. Coordination is critical: communicate Psion spawns immediately to ensure swift elimination.

Finally, integrate add control into your overall strategy rather than treating it as an afterthought. Time your damage phases to align with add waves, using supers and heavy ammo to clear both the boss and adds simultaneously. For example, a Well of Radiance paired with a Blade Barrage can decimate adds while boosting DPS. Practice this rhythm in lower-stakes encounters to refine timing and positioning. By prioritizing add spawns, you transform a reactive scramble into a proactive, controlled strategy, turning the Calus fight from a test of survival into a showcase of teamwork and efficiency.

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