Meet Nikola Tesla, the first—and arguably most iconic—boss in Dead Rails. With a devastating set of attacks, an enormous health pool, and a lightning-charged design, Tesla isn’t just a fight. He’s a statement.
This boss doesn’t appear on every run—he has to be rebuilt by the player in a hidden lab deep into your journey. But once summoned, Tesla becomes the final, electrifying obstacle standing between you and victory at Outlaw Town.
🧬 How to Summon Tesla
You won’t just stumble into Tesla. To fight him, you need to:
- Reach the Tesla Lab (around 50,000 meters in).
- Collect and assemble five werewolf body parts and place them on the revival table.
- Insert Tesla’s brain, found on a nearby desk.
- Pull the lever to begin the resurrection.
This triggers a stormy, cinematic defense event: 35 zombie scientists swarm the lab. Survive the onslaught, and you’ll notice massive footprints leading out—Tesla has been reanimated.
He will spawn automatically at Outlaw Town around 2 minutes after you lower the final bridge.
🛑 Note: In the Eggstravaganza event mode, Tesla is replaced by the Easter Bunny, even if rebuilt.
⚔️ Combat Strategy: How to Beat Tesla
Make no mistake—fighting Tesla solo is brutal. Here are your best bets for survival:
- 🔫 Use the Electrocutioner
Tesla’s signature weapon, obtained from the lab, is one of the only guns that can realistically bring him down fast. - 💀 Aim for the Head
Like many enemies, Tesla takes more damage from headshots. Time to sharpen your aim. - 🐍 Snake Oil Is Your Best Friend
A few bottles of Snake Oil will help you outrun Tesla in short bursts. Stack them up before the fight. - 🪙 Crucifixes & Holy Water
While not immune, Tesla’s massive HP makes these options costly. Expect to need 12–14 crucifixes for an instant kill, or 5–8 holy waters (not recommended unless you’re desperate). - 🚂 Train Kill Trick
Lure him onto the tracks and ram him with the train. It deals about 80% of his health in one hit—just be ready to finish the job before he zaps the conductor. - ⚡ Lightning Rod Shortcut
Place a lightning rod on Tesla’s body before the storm and he’ll get struck down automatically. You won’t get the corpse (or full rewards), but it’s a safer win. - 🧍♂️ Teamwork Helps
Fighting Tesla in multiplayer is significantly easier. One player can bait him while others snipe from roofs or use ranged weapons.
📜 Lore: Who Is Nikola Tesla in Dead Rails?
In the game’s lore, Tesla was tasked by the U.S. government in 1895 to develop a biological weapon—Agent-15, aka the zombie plague. Unfortunately, he was infected by his own creation and preserved only his brain in a jar. Now resurrected, he serves as the final gatekeeper between players and escape from the apocalypse.
🎖️ Rewards & Fun Facts
- Badge Unlocked: Defeat Tesla to earn the “Electric Remains” badge.
- Fuel Boost: His body grants max fuel if burned in your train.
- Sell Value: $300 — the highest of any item in the game.
- Weapon Drop: The Electrocutioner, Tesla’s lightning gun, is essential for future boss fights.
🧠 Fun Fact: His sell value is a nod to real-life Tesla’s estimated modern net worth—$300 million.
⚠️ Quick Trivia
- First boss ever added to Dead Rails.
- Has the second-highest health in the game (5,800 HP), only behind the Easter Bunny.
- Can throw Tesla coils through walls — hiding won’t save you.
- Can be instantly resurrected using the Jade Mask (if you dare).
- One Tesla = 10 werewolves worth of health. Yeah, he’s that strong.
💡 Whether you face him for the loot, the badge, or just for the challenge, Nikola Tesla is the boss fight that defines a Dead Rails run.