Gladius Got You Growling? Master Elden Ring Nightreign’s First Nightlord With This Essential Boss Guide
So, you’ve stepped into the perilous world of Elden Ring Nightreign, ready to face its infamous Nightlords. These formidable foes are the ultimate test at the end of each expedition, especially daunting come Day Three. If you’re just starting out, your first major roadblock will be Gladius, Beast of Night, the Nightlord capping off the initial mission, “Tricephelos.”
This hound-like, Cerberus-inspired monstrosity is designed to be a stiff challenge for newcomers. In fact, you must defeat Gladius to unlock access to the game’s other Nightlords. Beta players will recognize this beast, as it served as the beta’s final boss. Interestingly, based on full game experience, Gladius seems slightly toned down, relying more on its sword attacks initially, though its fiery wrath truly ignites in its second phase.
Ready to claim your first Nightlord victory? Here’s your battle plan for taming Gladius.
Gearing Up: Essential Preparations for Facing Gladius
Before you charge headlong into battle, a little preparation can drastically improve your odds.
Team Composition: While any skilled trio can triumph, tanks and melee characters (like the Guardian and Raider classes) excel here. Gladius’s sweeping sword attack, often delivered by its tail, has a certain elevation, making it easier to dodge if you’re up close and personal. Having one ranged class (like the Ranger Ironeye) is also highly beneficial to distract Gladius, allowing teammates to heal or reposition.
Fire Resistance is Key: Gladius unleashes potent fire attacks, especially later in the fight. Equip any Relics you’ve found that boost your fire resistance. Keep an eye out for shields with fire resistance during your expedition too, though this relies on a bit of luck.
Hunt for Holy Damage: Gladius has a critical weakness: Holy damage. As you explore during your expedition, prioritize clearing camps and structures marked with the Holy icon (it looks like a blade with a thin, bright circle around it). Bosses in these locations often drop weapons that inflict Holy damage, giving you a vital edge.
Gladius Boss Strategy: Taming the Beast of Night
The fight against Gladius unfolds in distinct phases, each with its own attack patterns.
Phase 1: The Initial Onslaught
For the first part of the battle, Gladius will primarily rely on its sword attacks and bite lunges. Crucially, these initial sword strikes do not inflict fire damage. This phase is your best opportunity to learn its timings and dodge effectively. Focus on staying mobile and chipping away at its health.
Phase 2: Unleashing the Inferno
Once you’ve depleted about a quarter of Gladius’s health, it will transition into its far more dangerous second phase, where fire becomes a significant threat.
Fiery Sword Thrust: One of its most dangerous moves involves Gladius pulling back its sword and then thrusting it downwards into the ground, creating a large explosion. The most reliable way to avoid this is to dodge-roll through the explosion just as it’s about to detonate, or quickly get behind Gladius, as the attack primarily hits in front of it.
The Triple Threat: Gladius will temporarily split into three copies of itself. One will be the main, sword-wielding dog, while the other two will be slightly weaker. The best strategy here is to coordinate with your team and focus fire on one dog at a time, ideally starting with one of the weaker, non-sword-wielding copies to thin the herd. Don’t panic; this phase is temporary. If you can survive long enough, Gladius will eventually reform into a single being.
The Grand Fire Slam: Its ultimate fire attack is an empowered version of the sword thrust. Gladius will visibly set its sword ablaze before slamming it into the ground. There’s a short delay, followed by an even larger, more devastating frontal explosion. The dodge strategy remains the same: a well-timed roll through the blast or positioning yourself behind the boss is crucial for survival.
The Spoils of Victory: Rewards for Defeating Gladius
Congratulations, Nightreign conqueror! Defeating Gladius not only proves your mettle but also unlocks the remaining Nightlords, whom you can then challenge in any order you choose.
More importantly, Gladius will drop an old pocket watch. This unique item can be given to the Priestess in white garb to unlock the Duchess class. There’s a very slim chance (reportedly around 5-10%) that this pocket watch can drop even if you lose the fight, but victory guarantees it.
With these strategies in hand, you’re well-equipped to face and defeat Gladius, Beast of Night. Good luck, and may your expeditions in Elden Ring Nightreign be victorious!
Elden Ring Nightreign is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PCs.
