Elden Ring Nightreign: How to Defeat Gladius, Beast of Night – Boss Strategy Guide

In the harsh and unforgiving world of Elden Ring Nightreign, few foes are more fearsome such as Gladius, the Beast of Night. Residing at the pit of the Spirit Shelter the huge three headed wolf waits for any brave enough to challenge it. Gladius bounds around, chained with a giant sword in hand, and transforms into three separate wolves making him casing with a weapon a deadly test of patience, skill and tactics. This creature shoots lava balls out of its mouth, sweeping arcs of a sword and mistakes only bring doom for the player.

However daunting the prospect may be, Gladius can be overcome with application of the right strategy. This guide will explain everything needed to know about taking down Gladius successfully and emerge victorious from the Nightreign. Make sure you have good stock of the runes to use as and when in the process of defeating the boss.

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Encounter Overview

Gladius, or Tricephalos, is a Nightlord boss in the Elden Ring Nightreign expansion. This fearsome creature is a gigantic, three-headed wolf. Wearing an extra pair of forelimbs, Gladius carries a huge greatsword on a long chain, demonstrating both its raw power and fighting skills. Its attack arsenal is not restricted to melee attacks; Gladius has the ability to deliver devastating fireball attacks, providing a ranged element to its arsenal. A special feature of this fight is that Gladius can split into three separate one-headed wolves, with only the original having the sword flail, presenting a multi-faceted challenge to players.

Encounter Location

Adventurers seeking to confront Gladius can do so by selecting Tricephalos as their target at the Table of Lost Grace. This choice opens the encounter, taking players to the arena located outside the tree door of the Spirit Shelter. As the first Nightlord, Gladius is available by default, and players can attempt this challenge without prior conditions.

Combat Mechanics

Health and Damage Profile

Health: Exact numerical values for Gladius's health pool remain undisclosed.

Damage Types:

• Melee Attacks: Physical damage from the sword flail.
  

• Fireball Projections: Significant fire damage from ranged attacks.

Defensive Attributes: Weaknesses and resistances are not explicitly detailed in the available sources.

Attack Patterns and Player Countermeasures

Observation of Gladius's attack methods allows players to predict and reverse its actions.

Sword Flail Attacks

• Gladius whips its huge chained greatsword back and forth with wide arcs that can hit one or several players repeatedly in quick succession.

• Countermeasure: Side dodging should be used over backward dodging to prevent strings of hits. Dodging patiently after the highest point of the sword's swing is essential.

Fireball Releases

• Gladius summons and fires gigantic fireballs at players, every explosion covering a large area and dealing heavy fire damage.

• Countermeasure: Once the characteristic glow before the fireball attack is seen, players must sidestep or roll diagonally out of the explosion zone.

Tripartite Division

• Gladius divides into three independent one-headed wolves. The original still wields the sword flail, but the other two fight with quick, close-range combat.

• Countermeasure: Prioritizing the original is most important, as removing it concludes the phase sooner. AOE attacks can be used to manage the other wolves.

Strategic Approaches

Calling in Allies

Ash Summons can be used to help control the multi-wolf stage by distracting the other enemies.

Melee Fighters

Heavy armor reduces damage taken, but agility is more important. Dodge through attacks instead of away. Two-handed weapons can take advantage of gaps between Gladius's attack cycles.

Ranged Fighters

Keep at a distance and use spells or projectiles. Think about standing behind environmental cover when evading fireballs.

Class-Specific Strategies

Each class in Elden Ring Nightreign offers unique abilities and playstyles. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effectively confronting Gladius.

Wylder: The Versatile Warrior

Overview

Wylder is a well-rounded melee fighter, skilled in close-range weapons. With the Claw Shot, Wylder is able to draw enemies in or quickly close distances, and the Onslaught Stake enables strong, explosive strikes.

Strategy Against Gladius

• Claw Shot Usage: Make use of the Claw Shot to move around Gladius and attack its sides to prevent direct attacks. This ability can also help in closing distances rapidly when Gladius starts its fireball attacks, enabling interruption on time.

• Onslaught Stake Deployment: Save the Onslaught Stake for times when Gladius is briefly immobile, like when it's done a sweeping chain attack. Charging up the ability is more potent, giving high damage at key openings.

Guardian: The Stalwart Defender

Overview

Guardian acts as the tank, using an enormous shield to deflect powerful attacks. Skills such as Whirlwind produce area-of-effect damage, while Wings of Salvation provide offensive and defensive aid.

Strategy Against Gladius

• Whirlwind Application: As Gladius calls its extra wolf forms, Whirlwind can disorient and damage several targets, dominating the battlefield.

• Wings of Salvation Timing: Use Wings of Salvation when Gladius is in its more aggressive stages to protect allies and reduce incoming damage, particularly helpful when the beast uses its fireball projectiles.

Duchess: The Agile Assassin

Overview

Duchess has superior speed and accuracy, using a special quickstep for improved mobility. Restage ability is used to repeat recent damage, and Finale makes the Duchess and surrounding allies invisible for strategic purposes.

Strategy Against Gladius

• Restage Execution: Leverage the high-damage situations by triggering Restage after a critical hit on Gladius, thereby doubling the damage.

• Finale Deployment: Deploy Finale to reposition during the body split phase of Gladius, so the team can regroup or surprise attack the original wolf without triggering immediate aggression.

Recluse: The Arcane Artificer

Overview

Recluse is a strong magic wielder, with expertise in sorceries. It has skills such as Magic Cocktail for gathering elemental traces and Soulblood Song to tag enemies, boosting damage taken.

Strategy Against Gladius

• Magic Cocktail Preparation: Activate weaker enemies prior to the Gladius fight in order to acquire elemental residues so that high-level spells are available when confronting the boss.

• Soulblood Song Activation: Apply Mark Gladius at the beginning of the fight to strengthen all subsequent attacks from the team, speeding up the emptying of its health pool.

Community Observations

• Aggression Levels: Gladius favors close-range attackers more forcefully, requiring careful dodging.

• Hitbox Issues: Others point out disparities in Gladius's hitbox, which creates difficult precision attacks.

• Pattern Adaptability: In contrast to its aggressive look, limited move set by Gladius may be memorized with constant practicing.

Conclusion

Fighting Gladius, the Beast of Night isn’t just a matter of brute force. It needs to be played with care, precision and full unwavering concentration by the players. And since Gladius is constantly in the attack mode, this confrontation is about pushing your character as far as you can go, using every class specialization that can give advantage and remaining hyper-vigilant throughout.

When surviving the battle, it is not only for the win - it‘s a badge of honour that you‘ve vanquished one of Nightreign‘s deadliest foes. The ordeal comes to an end, but the memory will remain and Gladius shall be remembered as a menace they had to face. Remain steadfast, Tarnished - old night is dark, but will get lighter with your perseverance.