I remember the first time I encountered PG-Geisha's Revenge in Granblue Fantasy: Relink—that moment when the screen darkened and this mechanical behemoth emerged, towering over my party like something straight out of Shadow of the Colossus. It was one of those gaming moments that just sticks with you, not just because of the visual spectacle but because it completely subverted what I expected from what initially seemed like a standard fetch quest. This particular challenge represents what makes Relink such an engaging action-RPG experience, blending familiar fantasy tropes with unexpected twists that keep players on their toes.

Having spent approximately 18 hours completing the main storyline—though I've heard some players finish it in as little as 15 hours on easier difficulties—I can confidently say that PG-Geisha's Revenge stands out as one of the most memorable encounters. The setup follows the game's broader narrative pattern: you're essentially trying to rescue a kidnapped girl and confront her oppressors, which sounds like standard fantasy fare. But just when you think you've figured out the pattern, the game throws you a curveball. In this case, what begins as a simple treasure hunt puzzle suddenly transforms into this epic confrontation that tests everything you've learned about combat mechanics and party coordination up to that point.

What I particularly appreciate about this encounter is how it plays with player expectations. The game doesn't telegraph the scale of what you're about to face, and that moment of revelation—when this massive automaton emerges—genuinely took me by surprise. It's these carefully crafted moments that elevate Relink beyond its seemingly conventional premise. The developers clearly understood that while players might be comfortable with familiar narrative structures, they still crave those unexpected twists that make each play session feel fresh and exciting.

From a tactical perspective, PG-Geisha's Revenge requires a solid understanding of the game's combat system. I found that having a balanced party composition—typically two damage dealers, one support, and one tank—worked best for this encounter, though I've spoken with other players who succeeded with different setups. The automaton's attack patterns follow a predictable but punishing rhythm, with its sweeping arm motions covering approximately 70% of the battlefield and requiring precise dodging. What makes it particularly challenging is the way it combines area denial attacks with sudden, focused assaults on individual party members. I learned this the hard way during my first attempt, when my healer went down within the first two minutes because I hadn't positioned them properly.

The phase transitions in this fight are where things get really interesting. Around the 75% health mark, the automaton undergoes what I like to call its "geisha transformation," where its movement patterns become more elegant but also more deadly. This is where the game's narrative and gameplay mechanics beautifully converge—the transformation visually represents the "revenge" aspect of the encounter, with the automaton becoming both more aggressive and more precise in its attacks. During this phase, I noticed its damage output increases by what feels like 40-50%, though I don't have the exact numbers from the developers to confirm this estimate.

What many players might not realize initially is how the environment plays into this encounter. The circular arena isn't just decorative—it actually provides subtle visual cues for incoming attacks if you know what to look for. The faint glowing patterns on the floor during the second phase, for instance, telegraph where the automaton's most devastating attacks will land about three seconds before they actually occur. This gives observant players just enough time to reposition their party members, though the window is tight enough that you'll need quick reflexes and good spatial awareness.

I should mention that the difficulty setting significantly impacts this encounter. On normal difficulty, my successful attempt took about twelve minutes, but on the harder settings, I've seen this fight stretch to twenty minutes or more. The automaton's health pool seems to scale dramatically with difficulty—my rough estimate based on damage numbers suggests it might have around 800,000 HP on normal, though this is purely speculative since the game doesn't provide exact health values. The important thing is understanding that this is an endurance test as much as a skill check, requiring consistent performance throughout rather than brief bursts of excellence.

The reward for overcoming this challenge feels appropriately substantial, both in terms of narrative payoff and gameplay rewards. Without spoiling too much, the resolution of this encounter ties into one of the game's better late-story twists—the one I didn't see coming, unlike the more predictable narrative turn that occurs shortly afterward. From a loot perspective, you're looking at some high-tier crafting materials and equipment that will significantly power up your party for the remaining chapters. In my case, the weapon I obtained reduced my completion time for the final boss by what felt like 15-20%, though your mileage may vary depending on your playstyle and party composition.

Reflecting on PG-Geisha's Revenge within the broader context of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, it exemplifies why this game has resonated with action-RPG fans despite its relatively conventional overarching narrative. The 15-20 hour main story provides just enough time to develop attachment to the characters and world without overstaying its welcome, and encounters like this one ensure that the journey remains engaging throughout. It's the kind of content that encourages discussion among players—comparing strategies, sharing near-miss stories, and celebrating hard-won victories. In many ways, this single encounter captures what makes Relink special: it takes familiar elements and executes them with such polish and occasional surprises that the experience feels fresh despite its traditional foundations. For anyone struggling with this particular challenge, my advice is to focus on learning the attack patterns rather than brute-forcing your way through—the satisfaction of finally mastering this dance of destruction is well worth the effort.