Facing Commander Niall in Elden Ring is no small feat; this formidable boss awaits players at the pinnacle of Castle Sol, ready to test even the most seasoned warriors. Known for his punishing attacks and the ability to summon two spectral knights, Niall transforms what could be a straightforward encounter into a chaotic battle of survival. With strategic insights and clever tactics, including using Bewitching Branches to turn his own minions against him, players can level the playing field. Prepare for an epic showdown where patience and precision are your greatest allies as you aim to conquer this notorious guardian of the Haligtree Medallion.
Niall is encountered at the end of Castle Sol. After passing through the castle and several rooms, you will end up in at a Site of Grace place called Church of the Eclipse. There you will find a side exit from the church, in front of which is the entrance to the building that you must pass through. Once you exit it, there is a boss arena at the top of the stairs in front of you. Along the way, watch out for a few stronger enemies that will follow you up to the fog. Niall is characteristic for his dual swords.
Reward for defeating
Defeating Commander Niall in Elden Ring yields significant rewards that enhance your gameplay experience. Upon his defeat, players are granted the Veteran’s Prosthesis, a unique item that not only serves as a trophy of victory but also symbolizes the formidable challenge he presents. Additionally, players will receive the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left), which is essential for accessing new areas within the game. This makes Commander Niall a key target for completionists and adventurers eager to explore the deeper mysteries of the Lands Between.
For defeating Commander Niall you will receive Runes ( 67,500 ) and Veteran’s Prosthesis – a weapon from the Fist category.
General tips
To effectively tackle Commander Niall in Elden Ring, it’s essential to adopt a strategic approach. Preparation is key: ensure your character is at least level 100 and equipped with weapons that deal Bleed damage, as Niall is particularly vulnerable to this type of attack. Focus on the spectral knights first; eliminating them will make the fight significantly easier. Utilize items like the Bewitching Branch to charm the knights, turning them against Niall for added support. Positioning is crucial; always maintain space to avoid being overwhelmed and use ranged attacks when necessary to chip away at Niall’s health while dodging his powerful melee and elemental attacks. Lastly, patience and timing your strikes will be vital in overcoming this challenging boss encounter.
- Commander Niall employs attacks dealing lightning damage . In addition, he can alsoimpose a Frostbite status . As a result, consider wearing armor that protects against this type of damage.
- Commander Niall is vulnerable to bleed, frostbite, poison, and scarlet rot . Therefore, it is recommended to use a weapon that imposes these statuses. The River of Blood katana would be invaluable during this fight – more on it can be found here.
- If you have a Bewitching Branch on you, you can use it to turn the boss’s aides against him.
- You can attack Niall’s aides even before they materialize . If you are fast enough with your strong attacks, you will unbalance them and give you the opportunity to deliver a critical hit.
- As the fight begins, start dealing with summoned aides as soon as possible. Focus on dual wielding knight first, as he is the most dangerous of the lot. Commander Niall won’t do much to stop you. His behavior will change when you kill the aides – after that, he will become aggressive.
- Wait for the right moment with attacking, as after using the “frost tornado”, accompanied by a charge, Niall will tire and kneel down. You can use this short moment to deal a few hits .
- The shockwave from the stomp can be avoided by jumping.
- If needed, use ashes and other players’ help.
How to defeat?
To defeat Commander Niall in Elden Ring, players should adopt a strategic approach that focuses on managing his summoned knights while exploiting his vulnerabilities. The fight begins with Niall summoning two spectral knights, which can be overwhelming due to their aggressive tactics and the confined arena. Prioritize eliminating the dual-wielding knight first, as he poses a greater threat than the shield knight. Utilizing items like the Bewitching Branch can turn Niall’s knights against him, allowing them to inflict damage while you focus on dodging Niall’s powerful attacks. Once the knights are dealt with, capitalize on Niall’s weaknesses, particularly his susceptibility to Bleed damage, and summon allies to help distract him during your assaults. Stay patient and aware of his attack patterns to emerge victorious from this challenging encounter.
After crossing the barrier, you can quickly reach the enemy – aides summoned by him materialize on both sides. Before they manage to materialize, you can deal a lot of damage to them. If you’re fast enough, you might be able to throw them off balance and thus gain an opportunity to land a critical hit.
The knight with two swords poses a greater threat than the others Therefore, you have to deal with him as soon as possible. If you’ve thoroughly explored Sol Castle , you should have had an opportunity to encounter him – he appears before entering the arena, but in this instance he doesn’t teleport. Watch out for his spin attack during which he lands a series of hits.
Once you deal with the first knight, consider activating a Spirit Ash. Someone with high durability will come in handy here. The second knight is equipped with a large shield and often attacks with a frost tornado as he charges forward. The shield will be useless to him if you are equipped with a good katana and make use of its special attacks. Otherwise, you will have to wait for the moment for his guard to drop down. You can also try to get behind him, but this is difficult, as the enemy adjusts his position as soon as you attempt the move.
Commander Niall will become much more aggressive after you kill his helpers . Most of the time, he starts attacking immediately after you’ve defeated the minions. If you’re not in the melee range, he can strike with a frost tornado (consisting of three strong gusts) and then hit the center of it with lightning. If you see him swinging his spear, get away as soon as possible. A well-timed dodge will save you from exposing yourself to frostbite status.
If you notice that your opponent is lifting his leg up, get ready to dodge. Commander Niall after such animation will hit the ground with his foot, causing lightning. He can also stamp his foot (and thus cause a “snow blast”) and then jump high up and land heavily, causing lightning and frost damage . Dodge when he is about to hit the ground to avoid getting injured. The best way is not to stray too far from your opponent to be able to hit him as soon as an opportunity appears.
it is quite possible that during the encounter the boss will start to accumulate energy to perform a powerful frost attack. You will recognize that it is coming by the condensed snow floating over a large area around him. It will take a while for him to get ready to attack, but when he does, it will cover a large portion of the arena. As a result move as far away from him as possible when that happens (with raised shield, to be on the safe side) The combination consists of two gale blasts, and a forward charge concluded with a spear attack. Such an attack will tire the opponent, and he will kneel for a moment. You can use this short moment to deal at least a few hits.
What are the best strategies to use Bewitching Branch on Commander Niall’s spectral knights
To effectively use the Bewitching Branch against Commander Niall’s spectral knights, follow these strategies:
- Timing is Crucial: As soon as you enter the boss arena, summon your spirit ally and quickly move to the right side of the area. This positioning allows you to target the dual-wielding knight first, who poses a greater threat than the shield knight.
- Quick Activation: Use the Bewitching Branch on the dual-wielding knight as he approaches. If timed correctly, he will turn against Niall and start attacking him. This distraction is vital for managing Niall’s aggressive attacks while you focus on dealing damage to him.
- Target the Right Knight First: Prioritize defeating the dual-wielding knight with your Bewitching Branch. Once he is under your control, you can then work on charming the shield knight. This strategy allows you to reduce the number of enemies attacking you simultaneously.
- Utilize Ranged Attacks: While your bewitched knights engage Niall, maintain a safe distance and use ranged attacks or spells to chip away at Niall’s health without putting yourself in harm’s way.
- Prepare for Phase Two: Once Niall reaches half health, his phase two begins, which is significantly more aggressive. Be ready to evade his powerful lightning and frost attacks, using your previously bewitched knights to help mitigate some of his damage.
- Maintain Distance: In phase two, keep your distance from Niall to avoid his rapid attacks. After dodging his moves, take quick strikes when openings arise, ensuring you retreat before he can counterattack.
By employing these strategies with the Bewitching Branch, you can turn Commander Niall’s own minions against him, making this challenging fight much more manageable.
Where can I find more Bewitching Branches after buying the initial ones
To find more Bewitching Branches in Elden Ring after purchasing the initial ones, consider these locations and methods:
- Nomadic Merchant: You can buy Bewitching Branches from a merchant located near Bellum Church in Liurnia of the Lakes. He sells up to five branches for 1,600 runes each. This is a reliable source for replenishing your supply.
- Church of Pilgrimage: Three Bewitching Branches can be found on a corpse surrounded by bats at the Church of Pilgrimage in the Weeping Peninsula. The corpse is located on a ledge north of the church, making it a good spot to collect some for free.
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Crafting: After obtaining Fevor’s Cookbook, you can craft Bewitching Branches using one Sacramental Bud and one Miquella’s Lily. The cookbook can be acquired from Gideon Ofnir after completing certain quests.
- Sacramental Buds can be found in regions like Caelid, Mt. Gelmir, and Writhblood Ruins.
- Miquella’s Lilies are located in Liurnia of the Lakes, Caelid, and around the Haligtree, often dropped by Haligtree Knights.
- Finite Resource Awareness: Be mindful that both crafting materials do not respawn after being harvested, so it’s essential to collect them whenever you find them to ensure you have enough for future crafting.
Utilizing these methods will help you maintain a steady supply of Bewitching Branches for your encounters in Elden Ring.
