Many of Elden Ring’s open world bosses could be killed while mounted, but there was still a lack of a truly tough dungeon boss to take on with Torrent. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC attempts to remedy this, but it’s by no means certain that the majority of players will attempt to defeat him this way. In any case, there is no doubt in our eyes that Commander Gaius is one of the most formidable bosses in the expansion.
Preparations
- You can reach level 15 and above of Shadow Realm Blessings by searching the Shadow Realm well. Revered Ash levels will help you doubly for once, since they also contribute to increasing Torrent’s health.
- Given the difficulty of this boss, using Spirit Summoning may be necessary, as may Mimic.
- This boss’ damage is mostly physical. Talismans and buffs that can reduce this damage will significantly help you survive.
- Also consider using the talisman that increases damage dealt to your mount if you plan on fighting this way. The same goes for rowan berries, in order to heal your horse.
Horse combat vs. foot combat
As mentioned above, you can summon Torrent on this fight. Given the boss’s speed and mobility, as well as his similarities with enemies like the Tree Sentinel, it may be tempting to use your proud horse. After testing out a few different approaches, we believe your choice should depend on your weapon.
This isn’t very surprising, but melee-focused characters would be better off sticking with infantry, so they have a chance to dodge hits, instead of spending their lives on the ground. Even though he has more health, Torrent will continue to knock you down with every spell you receive, and he’ll even one-shot himself on occasion. Resummoning him every time will quickly drain your stock of healing potions. It’s advisable to use Torrent strategically, for a few seconds each time, in order to quickly avoid some of the boss’s formidable abilities, before getting back on the ground.
For ranged spellcasters, it obviously depends on your preferred spells, but riding Torrent will help you keep your distance, as well as avoid some attacks with the double jump. That being said, it’s still far from easy, and the slightest mistake can be deadly.
Cheese: How to make the fight easier?
This is more of a savvy tactic than a real cheese, but here is a method that makes this fight much more manageable. In order to limit Gaius’ mobility, and to block some of his techniques, you can fight him against one of the walls in the area. To go even further, you can lure him behind the corner to the left of the entrance to the arena. The building will then serve as cover. This is much easier to use when playing a ranged character, but even in melee, it should help you attack the boss without him moving too much.
Phase 1
Commander Gaius is a particularly dangerous and frustrating boss, as he is faster than you, even on horseback, and is able to attack from any angle, which is a rather unfair advantage for a rider. It is effectively as if two annoying enemies have been screwed together. If you are not in range of Gaius’s spear, his boar will give you a big shoulder blow, or even kick you in the face.
The most fearsome combo in the fight is the combination of Gaius’s blows and his boar. They are literally capable of chaining 7 hits in a row, which will force you to multiply the dodges or blocks. Of course, if you are on horseback, you can just double jump and flee.
Commander Gaius is a master of gravity magic. When he summons a series of rocks, you have to be especially careful if you are on Torrent, since the slightest impact will make you fall. They are much easier to dodge on foot, since the game will naturally scatter them. This greatly increases the chances of being accidentally hit while mounted.
Gaius’s gravity spear shots are probably the most dangerous thing you can do on horseback in this fight. In addition to their accuracy and speed, they explode over a wide area, making them very difficult to avoid. Charging at the right time or performing a double jump is your only hope.
A similar attack is used in melee. What makes it particularly frustrating is that even if you dodge the blow, the gravitational blast will still hit you. It is better to try to flee on horseback, or position yourself on the other side of the boss, when he seems to prepare this technique.
Phase 2
Like almost all bosses, Gaius will get angry at around 50% to 66% health, which will unlock new, more formidable abilities. It is best to move away from the boss, since the transition triggers a rather painful explosion.
Gravity Charge: There are different variations, but in all cases, the boss charges at you before spawning an area full of spikes. It is possible to dodge it at the last moment and then counterattack, but it is not without risks, especially with the spikes. The easiest is to climb on Torrent, even if only for a few seconds, and charge, then double jump.
Black Hole: Gaius summons a mini black hole that will pull you in regularly. Rolling at the right time will avoid this effect. The area of effect of the spell is quite large, if you are still inside when the black hole explodes, death is probably waiting for you. Once again, taking out Torrent might be the best choice. If you haven’t already, place it as a shortcut in the satchel.
When Gaius raises his sword and charges it with energy, a massive gravitational explosion will follow, with huge spikes over a wide area. You know the drill: get out on your horse and run.
Reward: Boar Rider’s Souvenir
You can return to the Round Table to trade memories from the expansion’s bosses. You can even purchase armor pieces from the Augur of Fingers in this case, if you want to adopt the style of Commander Gaius.
You have two rewards to choose from:
- Cavalry sword-lance : A heavy thrusting sword, for those who like to fight on horseback.
- Rock blades : An area gravitational sorcery, which inflicts physical damage.
