Legends of Windemere

Now, there are all types of final ‘battles’ that one can do with an action-based story.  A grand chase to freedom, armies crashing, slaying of a great beast, defeat without killing the enemy, and many others.  I could spend the entire day creating various scenarios.  Instead, I’m going to list a few components that can help focus a final battle:

1. Villain Speech–  It’s written into nearly every villain contract that a gloating speech must be made at least once.  Typically, when the hero is captured or on the ropes, which tends to happen in a final battle.  It could be the starting point or the mid point of the event.  If you want to be unique, have it at the end when their head is no longer attached to their body.  (Note: It only works with villains who can talk after a beheading.)  This helps focus a character’s mentality, reasons, and stall for a page or two to help figure out what you’re going do.  Besides, your characters are civilized and simply slamming into each other without talking is so barbaric.
2. Hero Speech–  This isn’t in the contract, but your heroes might have the urge to talk before battling.  Instead of gloating, this is in the form of noble declarations and/or accusations.  Many times it’s reminding the villain that he’s bad, which is either denied or gets a ‘No Shit, Sherlock’ comment.  One area where such a speech helps is when the hero is on the ropes and feels like he/she/it is about to lose.  Without going for too long or making it internal, the hero can use it as a personal rally for a second wind.
3. Landscapers’ Nightmare–  If action is necessary for the confrontation then you’re going to need some property damage.  Look at any superhero movie and realize that you can’t beat a villain without messing up several buildings or famous monuments.  Trees uprooted and craters left by magic, sword slashes in the priceless tapestries, broken windows, and busted furniture are par for the course.  After all, this is a life and death struggle where only one person will come out alive.  The destruction helps showcase the level of importance and release of limits.
4. Innocent Bystanders for Various Reasons–  Nobody ever evacuates before a disaster in some books and movies.  The most obvious reason is because the common folk are idiots in all stories.  Still, they make good distractions and human shields.  Heroes will dive into attacks to save them and villains will hold them up to put the hero in a difficult position.  If anything you need witnesses for the big battle.  Not that these characters have names or will talk to the reader.  Maybe they act as surrogates for the reader or explain how news of the events carry.
5. Death Isn’t Always the End–  Most final battles end with one of the main characters, but this isn’t always necessary.  Sure, you confirm that the loser isn’t going to return and the winner’s agenda carries on.  Yet, it can be more powerful to have a hero or villain break at the end instead of die.  It’s more of a strike against what they stood for if they simply give up.  On the other hand, death really drives home the fact that the story is over.
6. Battle Damage!–  You see in a lot of movies, shows, and read in books about final battles where the action is high and the personal damage is low.  Did that normal guy really just step out a fallen building with nothing more than a splinter?  Fireball to the face equals an annoying sunburn?  In general, a great final battle should have the winner nearly collapsing at the end.  Broken bones, cuts, burns, missing parts, and whatever else you can put in without killing the character.  People might complain that you go too far, but remember that a life/death fight can create a powerful adrenaline rush.  It isn’t a cure all, but it can explain an injured character continuing to fight.