Amygdala

Amygdala:

Information:
Amygdala is the only boss (optional) in the Nightmare Frontier and a Great One. Gain three Insight for finding it and three for killing it. Activates the Amygdala's Chamber Lamp.

Special Notes: Killing this boss is required to enter the Ailing Loran Chalice Dungeons.

Lore:
Amygdala was once one of the Great Ones slumbering beneath Yharnam along with Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos. However, it transcended with the other Great Ones and now resides in its own domain, the Nightmare Frontier. In Yharnam, Amygdala is very obviously an object of great reverence as shown by the multitudes of Amygdala statues around Cathedral Ward and Yahar'gul; probably due to the upper members of the Healing Church being able to see the Lesser Amygdalae around those areas and believing it to be a similar being to their own Ebrietas. Other humans were unable to see them due to the fact that Rom the Vacuous Spider created a wall of sorts to keep them invisible.
Patches the Spider is an especially avid follower.

References and Dialogue:
-It is possible that the Amygdala in the Chalice Dungeons exists in the Pthumerians' version of the Nightmare of Mensis and isn't the true Amygdala but a creation of the Pthumerians' ritual.
-"The gift of the godhead will grant you strength.Oh Amygdala, Oh Amygdala. Have mercy on the poor bastard. What a joy it is, to behold the divine. It must be such a pleasure....You're nigh on a beast on the field, but here you are, treading a measure of the gods....Lord Amygdala. How did this come to pass? Hmph. Now, wait just a moment. Do you think ill of me, me?...Now, say in my heart, you were as a lamb to my god...On the good grace of a certain god, and the way he meted out his love....My god is lost to me, so I must away to find another... Oh, think not of poor Amygdala. Upon that piteous bastard, you bestowed salvation." Patches the Spider
-Amygdala is the Latin word for almond as well as being the fear center of the brain (also almond shaped). 

Description:
While the Lesser Amygdalae have a more Cthulu like appearance with tentacles and a slightly darker color, this Amygdala is lighter and is missing tentacles. It has a large almond shaped head covered with thousands of misshapen eyes and short "hairs". It has eight arms, each with six fingers, and two very heavily armored feet with talon-like claws. It has a short plated tail with fine whiskers protruding from the end.

Location:
From the Nightmare Frontier Lamp head to the left until the first Silverbeast, head down the passage directly in front of it and take the elevator down. It will let out by another Silverbeast, move past it and go down the raised path and enter the archway. If you have stepped in the poison lake you have done something wrong.

Combat:
Weak to Bolt, Fire, and Arcane
Strong against Blunt

Amygdala's arena is a circular courtyard surrounded by high walls. It is relatively flat and grassy with no real obstacles although there are nooks and crannies around the wall though.

First Stage:
Amygdala mostly sticks to melee attacks at this point although it is capable of firing a laser (h) at the hunter. Its eyes will become engorged and it will drag one long line across the ground and an explosion will follow a few seconds after. It will also stomp (m) and do a leaping attack (h), where it leaps up into the air before slamming down on you. It will also curl all its arms around its body and slam them out (m), as well as curl in pairs of its arms at a time (m). It can also do regular swipes (m) as well as slam all its hands down on the ground (h). Can also spew acid (m), by shaking its head wildly.

Second Stage:
After about half its health is gone, Amygdala will gain two new attacks. The first is a modification of the laser where it will instead fire in six short bursts (m) and during the hand slamming attack it will gain wormholes on its palms (Galaxy hands).

Third Stage:
At about a third of its health, it will gain increased reach by ripping off its arms and using them as weapons. Blood will now shoot in geysers from its back. It keeps all of its previous move set.

Drops:
-21,000 Blood Echoes
-Ailing Loran Chalice

Tips and Tricks:
-Ludwig's Holy Blade, Church Pick, or the Burial Blade +7 or higher in its transformed state is the best weapon when equipped with Bolt or Fire damage (paper or gem). Any weapon with a bit of reach is good as it can hit several of its arms at once.
-A Flamesprayer or Cannon +5 or higher can be used to deal damage to its head, enough will make it stagger, so that you can visceral attack it. Rush in after an attack, spray its head for a few seconds and retreat or shoot its head with Cannon and wait for it to drop to the ground. Using the Executioner's Gloves or Simon's Bowblade (DLC) is also possible.
-A Call Beyond does a hefty amount of damage.
- You can either stay in front of Amygdala and wait for it to do either version of the Galaxy hands attack. It will drop its head down and use that time to get in a few hits. If your stamina is depleted use the Flamesprayer.
-You can also stay to the side of Amygdala and wait for the attack animations to stop before hitting its arms or rushing underneath it to do overhead damage.
-If a long battle is alright, you can stay to the sides of its feet (be mindful of the curled arm attack as it hits behind) and swipe at its ankles and crotch (will deal about ten damage to the ankles). If you hit its legs enough it will collapse.
-Attacking its arms, hands and head to deal the most damage. Its ankles and tail are the most heavily armored although the crotch is vulnerable.
-To avoid the continuous laser attack continue to dodge to the side. Avoid the shorter laser attack by dodging erratically in all directions or just slowly walk to the sides.
-Molotov Cocktails can help speed the fight along. Make sure to lock onto the head or else they will be thrown towards the crotch.

Glitches:
-In the Chalice Dungeons, Amygdala can become stuck behind the ceiling while performing the leap attack. Link

Damage Indicator:
Slight damage (s)
Moderate Damage (m)
Heavy Damage (h)
Stun (st)