Ready to take down one of High on Life 2’s most unique bosses? Finance Wiz James Stevenson combines wealth, magic, and illusions into one challenging encounter that requires a completely different approach than your typical shootout. This wealthy wizard won’t go down without a fight, but we’ve got everything you need to defeat him and complete this bounty!

Who is Finance Wiz James Stevenson?

James Stevenson earned his “Finance Wiz” nickname because he’s literally a wizard who deals in finance. He’s rich, powerful, and uses magical spells to keep bounty hunters like you at bay. Unlike straightforward boss fights where you blast away with conventional weapons, Stevenson protects himself with illusions that make him completely invulnerable to normal attacks.

This means you’ll need to rely heavily on Bowie’s Soul Hole ability to reveal his weak spots and deal any damage whatsoever. Without mastering this technique, you’ll spend the entire fight shooting harmlessly through his magical defenses while he pelts you with spells.

Complete Mission Walkthrough

The sixth mission in High on Life 2 takes you on a wild journey through a magical realm before you can even confront Stevenson. Here’s your complete step-by-step guide:

Objective	What to Do	Key Tips
Locate the Penthouse	Travel to the marked hotel location and approach the elevator	A worker will block access, claiming only tenants can use it
Find Alternative Route	Exit the building and head left to find a parked truck	Use the truck to reach the balcony above
Climb to Penthouse	Press Q to hover from the truck, then navigate left along the hallway	Use mechanisms scattered around to create your climbing path
Disable Security	Reach the penthouse entrance and use your guns to disable the security system	Standard shooting works fine here
Search for Clues	Press TAB to scan the penthouse interior	Look for two missing books and strange paintings
Secret Toilet Portal	Jump into the painting above the vent to access James Stevenson’s Secret Toilet	Grab the red book inside
Find Second Book	Exit the portal and locate another painting opposite the first one	Collect the second book here
Unlock Secret Room	Place both books on the shelf to reveal a hidden chamber	Another painting portal awaits inside
Enter Prismeria	Jump through the final painting portal to enter the magical realm	This transports you to a fantasy world called Prismeria
Cross the Bridge	Head straight toward the bridge and exit through the cave	Defeat creatures along the way
Talk to Apples	Meet the NPC named Apples who guides you	He’ll direct you toward the Blue Wizard and his cave contains breakable vases
Navigate to River	Follow Apples through the gates near him	Straightforward path progression
Cross the River	Use moving wooden planks to cross the water	Use Sweezy’s Time Bubble to slow down the planks
Climb Waterfall	Scale the waterfall using the same time-slowing technique	Time Bubble makes this section much easier
Enter Town	Defeat ambushing ghouls at the top and enter the town of Prismeria	Apples cannot follow you inside
Navigate Town	Use planks and mechanisms to reach the next marker	Power up the gate to unlock it
Stop Execution	Convince various townspeople to halt the Gatlian’s public execution	Talk to multiple citizens to build influence
Save the Gatlian	Successfully prevent the execution and discover the Blue Wizard’s identity	The Blue Wizard is actually James Stevenson!
Answer Tax Riddles	Cross the bridge to the castle while answering finance trivia questions	Answers are retryable if you get them wrong (see section below)
Reach the Castle	Battle through ghouls blocking your path to the castle	Watch for Boulder-Chucking Ghouls
Climb to Entrance	Continue fighting enemies while ascending toward the castle gates	Use your full arsenal here
Solve Puzzles	Use Bowie and other guns to solve the Blue Wizard’s riddlesand gate mechanisms	These unlock the final boss arena
Boss Fight	Face Finance Wiz James Stevenson in the final confrontation	Follow the strategies outlined below

Blue Wizard’s Tax and Finance Riddles

Before reaching the castle arena, you’ll cross a bridge where the Blue Wizard tests your financial knowledge with trivia questions. Don’t worry if you’re not a tax expert because these answers are retryable if you get them wrong!

Question 1: Section 27J Capital Gains “According to Section 27J of the Tax Code, when reporting capital gains…”
Answer: “The gain may be short term or long term.”

Question 2: Section 93P Intangible Fixed Assets “Section 93P addresses intangible fixed assets…”
Answer: “Amortization lowers its value over a set period.”

Question 3: Section 13Q Fixed Liability “Section 13Q defines fixed liability as…”
Answer: “Liabilities are what you owe other parties.”

Question 4: Webinar on Nontaxable Income “During the webinar on nontaxable income…”
Answer: “Income not subject to taxes like municipal bond interest or disability benefits.”

Question 5: Section 318X AGI Deduction “Section 318X covers AGI deductions including…”
Answer: “Interest on student loans.”

Question 6: Section 6Z Casualty Loss “Section 6Z addresses casualty loss, which…” Answer: “Casualty losses are caused by the complete or partial destruction.”

Successfully answering these riddles unlocks an achievement called “Why do you know all that stuff?” and lets you progress to the castle gates. If you fail any question, simply retry until you get it right!

Understanding the Invulnerability Mechanic

When the boss fight begins, you’ll immediately face a frustrating reality: James Stevenson is completely invulnerable. Your bullets pass through him harmlessly while he taunts you and launches magical attacks. This isn’t a glitch or bug; it’s intentional game design forcing you to adapt your strategy.

Why You Can’t Damage Him Normally: Stevenson surrounds himself with powerful illusion magic that makes conventional weapons useless. Every shot you fire without using the proper technique will phase through him like he’s not even there. This mechanic separates the Finance Wiz fight from every other boss encounter in the game.

The Only Solution: Bowie’s Soul Hole Ability

Bowie’s Soul Hole becomes absolutely mandatory for this encounter. This special ability creates portals that pierce through Stevenson’s illusions, revealing his true weak points. Here’s exactly how it works:

Soul Hole Mechanics Breakdown:

1. Aim at any nearby surface (walls, floors, pillars)
2. Activate Bowie’s Soul Hole ability
3. A glowing portal appears, showing what lies beyond that surface
4. Look through the portal to spot Stevenson’s glowing sigils
5. These sigils represent his magical vulnerability points
6. Shoot the sigils through the Soul Hole to inflict real damage
7. Sigils disappear after being hit, requiring new portals throughout the fight

Master this technique early because Soul Hole shots are your only damage source for the entire boss battle. Getting comfortable with portal placement and sigil targeting makes the difference between a smooth victory and a frustrating defeat.

James Stevenson’s Complete Attack Pattern Guide

The Finance Wiz cycles through four distinct magical attacks throughout the encounter. Learning each spell’s behavior helps you dodge effectively while maintaining your Soul Hole offensive.

Blue Wall Spell: Stevenson conjures a massive solid blue wall that travels horizontally across the arena toward your position. Fortunately, this attack moves slowly and telegraphs its trajectory well in advance. Simply strafe left or right to avoid it completely. Don’t waste mobility trying to jump over it when simple sideways movement works perfectly.

Laser Dart Spell: Multiple glowing blue laser darts materialize around Stevenson before homing in on your current location. These projectiles track your movement, so standing still guarantees multiple hits. Keep constantly moving in circular or erratic patterns to make the darts miss. They deal moderate damage individually, but taking several hits simultaneously can quickly deplete your health.

Triple Wave Attack (First Phase – 100% to 50% HP): Stevenson launches three consecutive waves at staggered heights:

• First Wave: Travels high, passing over your head (no action needed)
• Second Wave: Also travels high above you (no action needed)
• Third Wave: Ground-level trajectory requiring a well-timed jump

The pattern stays consistent during the first half of the fight. Simply wait for the first two waves to pass overhead, then jump over the third when it approaches. Mistiming your jump results in solid damage, so watch the wave’s approach carefully.

Modified Wave Attack (Second Phase – 50% to 0% HP): After depleting half of Stevenson’s health, he modifies his wave attack significantly. Now all three waves travel at ground level instead of varying heights. This change forces you to execute three consecutive jumps with precise timing. Missing even one wave interrupts your rhythm and leaves you vulnerable to follow-up attacks. Practice the timing to nail all three jumps consistently.

Detailed Phase-by-Phase Boss Strategy

Phase 1: Establishing Your Rhythm (100% to 50% Health)

Begin the encounter by immediately creating your first Soul Hole on a nearby wall or pillar. Look through the portal to scan for Stevenson’s first glowing sigil. Once spotted, line up your shot through the portal and fire. Landing this first hit confirms you’ve grasped the core mechanic.

After dealing damage, Stevenson will reposition and launch his blue wall spell. Strafe sideways to avoid it while keeping mental notes of his new location. Watch for laser darts materializing around him; start moving immediately when you see them spawn.

When the triple wave attack begins, position yourself centrally in the arena. Let the first two high waves pass overhead without moving, then prepare your jump timing for the ground-level third wave. Successfully clearing all three waves gives you a brief window to reposition.

Create a new Soul Hole targeting Stevenson’s current location. His sigils appear in different spots after each repositioning, so scan thoroughly through your portal. Continue this pattern: dodge attacks, create Soul Hole, shoot sigil, repeat. Maintain this rhythm until his health drops to 50%, triggering Phase 2.

Phase 2: Adapting to Increased Pressure (50% to 0% Health)

Stevenson becomes significantly more aggressive once you hit the halfway mark. His spell casting accelerates with noticeably shorter cooldowns between attacks. The most dangerous change involves his modified wave attack where all three waves now require jumps instead of just one.

Prioritize constant movement even more than before. Laser darts come faster and more frequently, punishing any hesitation. Position yourself strategically between dodges to maintain good angles for Soul Hole placement. The arena contains several pillars and obstacles; use these for temporary cover when you need breathing room.

Continue the core loop of dodging, portal creation, and sigil shooting. Don’t panic if you miss a few shots; patience remains key even as the tempo increases. Focus on surviving his spell rotations first, then capitalize on openings to create portals and land hits.

Watch his health bar carefully as it approaches zero. Keep applying pressure with Soul Hole shots until Stevenson finally falls. At the conclusion, Apples arrives for a clutch moment, taking responsibility for the situation. Mission complete!

Advanced Combat Tips and Strategies

Movement is Your Best Defense: Standing still for even two seconds makes you an easy target for laser darts and wave attacks. Keep moving in unpredictable patterns between Soul Hole shots. Circle around the arena’s perimeter while maintaining sightlines to Stevenson for quick portal placements.

Optimal Soul Hole Positioning: Place portals at angles that give clear, unobstructed views of Stevenson’s sigils. Avoid positioning portals too close to environmental obstacles that might block your shooting angle. Experiment with different surfaces; sometimes floor-placed portals offer better perspectives than wall portals.

Prioritize Survival Over Damage: Surviving takes absolute priority over landing extra shots. If Stevenson launches multiple attacks simultaneously, focus entirely on dodging until the danger passes. One clean sigil hit every 15 seconds beats dying while trying to force aggressive plays.

Watch Attack Animations: Stevenson telegraphs each spell with distinct animations. Learning these visual cues lets you prepare dodges before attacks actually launch. The blue wall spell has a clear charging animation, while laser darts show a brief sparkle effect before firing.

Use Arena Cover Intelligently: The boss arena contains pillars and obstacles providing temporary cover. Duck behind these when overwhelmed by multiple simultaneous attacks. However, don’t camp behind cover; Stevenson’s attacks eventually flush you out, and you need mobility for effective Soul Hole usage.

Manage Your Timing: Don’t rush Soul Hole shots. It’s better to land one perfectly aimed sigil hit per portal than waste multiple attempts while dodging poorly. Take your time lining up shots, especially during Phase 2 when the pressure intensifies.

Reload During Safe Windows: Keep your weapons topped off by reloading during natural safe moments, such as right after dodging the triple wave attack. Running out of ammo while a sigil is exposed wastes valuable damage opportunities.

Ensure Proper Upgrades: Make sure you’ve upgraded Bowie and Sweezy before tackling this mission. Bowie’s Soul Hole is mandatory for the boss, while Sweezy’s Time Bubble makes the river crossing and waterfall climbing sections significantly easier. Having your full arsenal upgraded also helps with the numerous ghoul encounters throughout Prismeria.

Common Mistakes That Cost You the Fight

Shooting Without Soul Hole Active: New players often waste entire magazines shooting Stevenson directly without activating Soul Hole first. Remember: conventional damage deals absolutely zero harm. Every single hit must go through a portal targeting his sigils.

Standing Still for Perfect Shots: Trying to line up the “perfect” Soul Hole angle while stationary gets you hammered by laser darts. Accept that some shots will be slightly awkward; movement keeps you alive longer than perfect aim ever will.

Ignoring Wave Attack Timing: Many players panic-jump too early or too late during wave attacks, especially the modified ground-level version in Phase 2. Practice the timing during Phase 1 so you’re prepared when all three waves require jumps.

Panicking When Laser Darts Appear: Laser darts look intimidating with their homing behavior, but steady circular movement handles them effectively. Panicking causes erratic directional changes that actually make you easier to hit. Trust in consistent movement patterns.

Forgetting to Reload: Getting caught with an empty weapon when a sigil appears wastes precious opportunities. Develop the habit of reloading during attack dodges rather than waiting until you’re completely dry.

Getting Greedy with Consecutive Shots: After landing one sigil hit, players often try forcing immediate follow-up shots instead of resetting their position. Stevenson typically repositions after taking damage, requiring new portal placement anyway. Reset, dodge, then engage again.

Optional Achievements and Secrets

“All Your Vase Are Belong to Us” Achievement: When you first meet Apples in his cave or home area, take time to break all the vases scattered around. This unlocks a fun achievement referencing the classic “All your base are belong to us” meme.

“Why Do You Know All That Stuff?” Achievement: Successfully answer all six tax and finance riddles on the bridge leading to the Blue Wizard’s castle. The questions are retryable, so don’t stress if you need multiple attempts!

What Happens After Defeating Stevenson?

Once you successfully deplete Finance Wiz James Stevenson’s health bar, a concluding cutscene plays out. Apples makes a dramatic entrance, taking all the blame for the situation in a clutch moment. With Stevenson defeated and the bounty complete, you’ll automatically exit the magical Prismeria realm.

Return to your home base and check in with Gene to claim your reward for completing this bounty. This victory marks another successful mission in your High on Life 2 playthrough. With Stevenson eliminated, you can now select your next target from the remaining bounties available on your list.

The Finance Wiz fight stands out as one of the game’s most mechanically unique encounters, testing your ability to adapt to unconventional combat requirements. Successfully mastering the Soul Hole technique here prepares you for other creative boss battles later in the campaign.