James Stevenson, also known as the Finance Wiz, is one of the more technical boss fights in High On Life 2. Unlike other bounties that rely on raw damage and quick reflexes, this fight focuses on mechanics, positioning, and puzzle-solving. Players who try to brute-force the encounter will quickly realize that standard weapons are not enough.
This guide breaks down how to reach James Stevenson, how to solve the key puzzles before the fight, and how to defeat him using the correct strategy.
Who Is James Stevenson?
James Stevenson earned his nickname "Finance Wizard" for good reason. He combines actual magical abilities with his obscene wealth, making him a formidable target on your bounty list.
When you first engage him, you will notice something frustrating immediately: your shots do absolutely nothing. The magician has wrapped himself in invulnerability, and no amount of firepower will break through his defenses using conventional methods.
Important
Standard weapons cannot damage James Stevenson directly. You must use Bowie's Soul Hole ability to reveal his weak points.
How to Reach James Stevenson’s Penthouse
Before fighting Stevenson, players must reach his penthouse in Arcadia. The tracker will guide the way, but access to the building is initially denied.
Outside the penthouse, there is a large truck nearby. Using Travis and Jan’s levitate ability, players can lift the truck and use a nearby mattress to jump onto it. From there, follow the tracker path using the skateboard to move quickly through the area.
Several environmental puzzles block progress. These include activating highlighted structures to extend bridges, shooting green flowers to spawn platforms, and slowing down fans with Sweezy’s ability. In some sections, players must use Gus on orange-marked walls to climb higher or Sheath to connect generator cells and complete power relays.
The final puzzle involves:
Slowing a fan
Moving a blob to a wall near a small window
Shooting a central structure until two blue cells align
Connecting generator points with Sheath
Activating a flower to complete the relay
Once completed, bridges open and the penthouse becomes accessible.
What to Do Inside the Penthouse
Inside the penthouse, the main puzzle centers around two large paintings. Players can optionally interact with a phone for extra lore, but the objective is to enter both paintings and retrieve a book from each.
One painting leads to a washroom where the book is on a nearby shelf. The second painting requires waiting for dialogue to finish before picking up the book from a table.
After collecting both books, place them in the bookshelf to the right of the firepit. This reveals a third painting that transports players to the next area of the bounty.
Reaching the Boss Arena
After exiting the third painting, players move through a cave and encounter enemies before freeing a character named Apples. Apples helps guide players through a maze.
The correct path order through the dark maze is:
Straight ahead from the entrance
Left near Apples
Right path
Eventually, players reach Prisemeria. Progress requires slowing drifting logs with Sweezy to cross rivers and waterfalls. Gus and Sheath abilities are also required in later platforming sections.
In town, guards confront the player about Apples. Choosing to trust Apples can impact later events, but the story continues regardless. Follow the tracker to the execution area, collecting Luglox chests along the way if desired.
To reach the final area, use Gus on generator cells to open the door.
How to Stop the Execution
At the execution area, the goal is to disrupt the event and draw James Stevenson out. Players can either convince three citizens that the execution is wrong or fail to persuade them and deal with heavier resistance later.
Either path leads to the boss encounter.
How to Damage James Stevenson
Once the fight begins, standard weapons will not damage him. The key mechanic is Bowie's Soul Hole ability.
High On Life 2 Boss Guide: How to Beat James Stevenson
To deal damage:
Equip Bowie
Activate Soul Hole
Look through the portal to reveal glowing sigils
Shoot through the portal to hit the weak points
Repeat until the sigil disappears
Sigils move around the arena, so players must constantly reposition Soul Holes to maintain damage windows. Without Soul Hole, Stevenson remains completely invulnerable.
Keeping Soul Hole active as often as possible is critical to winning this fight.
Phase Changes and Strategy
At around 50 percent health, Stevenson becomes more aggressive. He does not gain new attacks, but he casts faster and modifies the wave pattern.
During the first phase, focus on learning attack timing and safely placing Soul Holes between casts.
In the second phase, stay calm during the triple ground waves. The spacing remains consistent, so jumping in a steady rhythm is more effective than reacting late.
High On Life 2 Boss Guide: How to Beat James Stevenson
Recommended Weapons
Bowie is mandatory due to Soul Hole. For secondary weapons, Gus pairs particularly well because of his strong burst damage when shooting through portals. Kenny offers reliable general damage, Creature provides passive pressure, and Lezduit helps maintain consistent hits.
Gus combined with Soul Hole is one of the fastest ways to break sigils and reduce Stevenson’s health efficiently.
Final Tips for Beating the Finance Wiz
The James Stevenson boss fight in High On Life 2 tests awareness and mechanic understanding more than reflex speed. Keep moving, maintain Soul Hole portals, and respect his spell patterns.
Once players understand that Soul Hole is the only way to deal damage, the encounter becomes structured and manageable. With steady positioning and clean execution, the Finance Wiz bounty can be completed without unnecessary frustration.