Introduction
Taking on your first major boss in Elden Ring: Nightreign can feel overwhelming—especially when it's the ferocious Tricephalus, also known as Gladius. Whether you’re venturing in solo or teaming up with other hunters, this guide will help you prepare, survive, and ultimately defeat this three-headed beast. We’ll break down the fight step-by-step, with a focus on Iron Eye strategies, holy damage usage, and how to manage each phase without getting wiped out.
If you’re struggling with positioning, dodging, or keeping up with the chaos when Gladius splits into three separate enemies, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know to come out on top in this tough but manageable boss battle.
Prepare for the Fight: Gear Up with Holy Damage
Before entering the battle with Tricephalus, the most critical thing to do is equip yourself with holy damage weapons or spells. The boss has a noticeable weakness to holy-based attacks, which makes them your best bet for maximizing damage. If you're playing as Iron Eye, use ranged options like holy arrows or spells that scale with your build. Check nearby merchants, chests, or item drops in the area for anything tagged with holy bonuses. This choice can significantly shorten the length of the fight if used properly from the start.
Before the arena loads, observe the boss preview—it’s a helpful hint that shows what kind of damage works best. Make sure your team members also understand the importance of holy damage. Even if you're matched with random players online, having one person focused on healing and another on holy DPS helps keep things balanced. If possible, go in with a full group to spread out aggro, since this boss tends to switch targets quickly and unpredictably.
Watch the Attack Patterns: Dodging Matters
Tricephalus uses sweeping sword strikes and fast lunges that can easily overwhelm an unprepared team. One of the most dangerous moves comes from the leftmost head, which swings a large sword in a wide arc. The best way to handle this is to dodge roll into the attack, not away from it. Doing so reduces the window of impact and helps you get back into position quickly. For frontal lunges, side rolls are more effective at dodging cleanly.
Positioning is everything. Even when you're behind the boss, some of its moves—especially stomps and tail whips—can still land. Try to always keep an eye on the movement of the heads. As soon as you see one wind up, anticipate a strong area-of-effect move. If you’re playing as a ranged character, stay at mid-range—not too far to miss out on team synergy, and not too close to eat heavy damage. Mastering these dodge timings will make or break your run.
Use Your Abilities Often and Rotate Aggro
In this fight, your ultimate abilities aren't just flashy—they're essential. Don’t hold back waiting for a perfect moment. Tricephalus can soak up a lot of damage, and using ultimates early and often helps push it toward its next phase faster. Iron Eye’s ranged ult can keep you safely distanced while still contributing serious DPS, and it pairs well with marking skills to amplify team damage. Tag the boss to draw attention and give your allies room to breathe.
Team coordination is key. Since Tricephalus tends to rotate targets between players, try to manually switch aggro to avoid overwhelming one player. Use ranged attacks to pull its focus when a teammate is low on health. Spreading out aggro also creates natural windows for healing or revives, especially when someone goes down. Iron Eye’s healing arrows are clutch here—you can bring allies back without ever stepping into danger, making him an ideal support during hectic moments.
Phase Shift: Prepare for the Three-Dog Split
After you deal enough posture or health damage, Tricephalus will begin a howling phase, signaling a transition. This is the danger zone—run away immediately. Do not use any abilities or try to rush in, as the boss will explode and split into three smaller wolves, one of which still carries the sword. This sword-bearing dog is much more aggressive and hits harder than the others, so keep your distance from it if you’re not at full health.
Each of the three dogs behaves differently. The two without weapons are slower and easier to manage. Assign teammates to kite or distract them while someone focuses on pulling the sword dog away from the group. Use this chance to build up posture damage again—once one dog drops, the rest will follow more easily. Be mindful of your positioning though. If you’re too far from your teammates, and someone gets downed, they might not be reachable in time for a revive.
Stay Alive: Defense Over Offense
During the three-dog phase, playing defensively is more important than doing high DPS. If the sword-wielding dog locks on to you, it's better to run and dodge than to risk trading blows. Look for cover spots or wide open areas where you can safely lead it away from your team. If you're playing solo, keep all three dogs in your view as much as possible. Losing track of one can mean getting ambushed from an off-screen lunge.
Watch for the red circle indicator that appears on your character—it shows when you have aggro. This is your signal to go defensive, bait attacks, and let your teammates take over the offensive pressure. If everyone understands this mechanic, you can naturally rotate roles mid-fight without needing voice communication. A great tactic is to lure one dog away while maintaining just enough distance to stay within healing or revive range of the others.
Use Environment and Items to Your Advantage
Throughout the arena, you’ll find worn gravestones and terrain dips you can use for quick cover or strategic repositioning. These aren't foolproof, but they help break line of sight or interrupt attack chains. Don’t ignore item use—if you have a Spear Calling Bell, it’s a great tool to spend FP instead of arrows, especially if you’re using a ranged build. Summoned spirits can distract one of the dogs and create a crucial opening.
Warming Stones are also incredibly useful here. Place one near a safe zone when your team is grouped up, especially after the phase transition. This allows passive healing while freeing your main healer to focus on support attacks. If you're Iron Eye, remember your revival ability from range is one of your biggest strengths. You don’t have to risk a melee revive—stay safe and contribute with ranged support until the dogs are manageable again.
Managing the Final Phase: Return to Tricephalus
After taking out the three split forms, Tricephalus reforms into its original three-headed body. This is your chance to close out the fight if your team is coordinated. However, the final form is still dangerous, especially because all three heads can now alternate attacks rapidly. The sword head remains the biggest threat, so keep your dodges sharp and don’t linger near its flank. Resume aggro rotation and keep an eye out for big telegraphs.
At this point, it’s a battle of endurance. If your team’s FP or health items are running low, prioritize survival over risky attacks. Let the boss overextend and create its own punish windows. Keep marking the target to help your team land higher burst damage. Healing items and ranged revival support are your lifeline here—especially if one or more players go down during the chaos. Stick together, share aggro, and keep dodging smartly.
General Tips to Keep in Mind
-
Use holy damage for max effectiveness
-
Dodge into arcing sword swings, not away
-
Manage aggro rotation to avoid overwhelming any one player
-
Run during the howl to avoid the explosive transformation
-
Use terrain and Warming Stones for defense and recovery
-
Play defensively during the three-dog phase
-
Use Iron Eye’s ranged revive to keep allies in the fight
-
Save ultimates for crucial moments, especially near the end
Conclusion
Defeating Tricephalus (Gladius) in Elden Ring: Nightreign may feel intimidating at first, but it’s very manageable once you know the patterns and go in prepared. Focus on bringing holy damage, mastering your dodge timing, and staying defensive during the three-dog split phase. Whether you're using Iron Eye or another class, proper aggro rotation and team communication—even if silent—go a long way.
Make use of terrain, healing items, and range-based support skills like Iron Eye’s revival arrows to survive longer and keep your group in the fight. Remember, this battle isn’t just about dealing high damage—survival and positioning are the keys to victory. Follow this guide, and you'll have no trouble clearing one of Nightreign's toughest early bosses.
FAQ – Beating Tricephalus (Gladius) in Elden Ring Nightreign
Q: What is Tricephalus weak to?
A: Holy damage is Tricephalus's main weakness. Use holy weapons, spells, or arrows to deal maximum damage.
Q: What class is best for this fight?
A: Iron Eye is especially useful due to his ranged revival ability and support skills. However, any class can win with the right preparation.
Q: How do I avoid the explosion during phase shift?
A: When the boss starts howling, run away immediately. This triggers a blast and a transformation into three dogs.
Q: Which dog is the most dangerous after the split?
A: The one with the sword. It's more aggressive and does the most damage, so prioritize avoiding or isolating it.
Q: How can I revive teammates without dying?
A: If you're using Iron Eye, use his arrows to revive downed allies from a safe distance.
Q: What items help the most?
A: Warming Stones (for healing) and Spear Calling Bells (for FP-based summons) are both very effective in this battle.
Q: How do I know when I have aggro?
A: Look for the red circle indicator on your character—this means the boss is targeting you.
🎮 Meet Haplo Gaming Chef 🍳
Level 99 Kitchen Warrior here! I'm on a quest to transform your gaming sessions into epic culinary adventures. When I'm not farming rare ingredients in MMOs, I'm crafting real-world recipes inspired by your favorite video games.
Specializing in: • Game-inspired recipe creation • Cooking quest guides • Power-up snacks for gaming sessions • Achievement-worthy meal prep
Join my party as we explore the delicious intersection of pixels and plates. Whether you're a casual foodie or a hardcore gamer, there's always room at my crafting table! #Gaming #GamingGuides #GamingChef #HaploGamingChef For More Visit: https://haplogamingchef.blogspot.com/
Follow Me!
https://bsky.app/profile/haplogamingchef.bsky.social
https://www.threads.com/@haplogamingchef
https://www.twitch.tv/haplogamingchef
https://www.pinterest.com/haplogamingchef
https://www.youtube.com/@HaploGamingChef
https://www.tiktok.com/@haplogamingchef
https://flipboard.com/@HaploGamingChef
https://x.com/HaploGamingChef
https://www.instagram.com/haplogamingchef
https://www.facebook.com/HaploGamingChef
https://www.linkedin.com/in/haplogamingchef
https://haplogamingchef.blogspot.com
https://www.tumblr.com/haplogamingchef
https://medium.com/@haplogamingchef
Google Business Profile: https://g.co/kgs/6nqgw9H
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment