Gladius: Defeating Elden Ring Nightreign's First Nightlord

Elden Ring Nightreign throws players into a brutal dance with the Nightlords from the very beginning, and Gladius – the three-headed Beast of Night – stands as the inaugural gatekeeper. This fiery monstrosity isn't just a reskinned boss; it's a calculated escalation of FromSoftware's signature cruelty. The journey through the Tricephalos expedition feels like walking on hot coals, with checkpoints scarcer than mercy in these shadow-drenched lands. When you finally face Gladius, that first roar isn't just sound design – it's the game whispering, "Buckle up, buttercup." And oh boy, does this beast deliver on that promise, packing punches that make later Nightlords seem almost polite by comparison.

🔥 Where Gladius Hurts & Where It Burns

Gladius plays dirty with two main damage dealers: Fire and Slash. That sword isn't just for show – it carves through health bars like a hot knife through butter, while fire breath turns the arena into a barbecue pit. But here's the kicker: packing holy damage turns the tables. Scour those map markers with the Holy symbol; skipping them's like bringing a spoon to a swordfight. Resistance-wise, this fiery nightmare laughs off fire attacks but stays vulnerable to:

• Holy damage (its Achilles' heel)

• Physical strikes (especially thrust/crush)

Armor choices matter big time here. Stacking fire resistance? Non-negotiable. Slap on that Flame Drake Talisman and pray – because when Gladius goes pyromaniac, you’ll feel the heat in your soul.

⚔️ Characters: Who Survives & Who Gets Roasted

Picking the wrong crew against Gladius is like inviting lambs to a dragon’s dinner party. Revenant and Recluse? Forget about ’em – they’ll fold faster than a cheap tent. Ironeye tries hard but crumples after two hits, bless their heart. Your MVPs come down to three bruisers:

1. Wylder – That health pool laughs at flame swipes

2. Guardian – Only one who can reliably block without shattering

3. Raider – Stagger city with heavy weapons

Executor dances on a knife’s edge – perfect deflections feel glorious, but one mistimed dodge and poof – you’re extra crispy. As one salty Tarnished put it: "Bring tanks or bring tissues for your tears."

🗡️ Moveset Breakdown: Phase Shifts & Pain Patterns

Gladius fights in two distinct phases, but phase two cranks the crazy to eleven. Phase one’s all about learning its rhythm:

Attack	What It Does	How to Counter
Chomp	Triple-bite charge (close/mid-range)	Block or sidestep – it’s predictable
Blade Swing	Arena-clearing sword spin	Dodge INTO it; blocking risks guard break
Blade Slam	Overhead vertical smash	Hug its ribs – the hitbox misses up close
Grab	Lunging head-chomp	Roll sideways (getting caught = instant regret)

Phase two? That’s when the real party starts. Gladius splits into three separate beasts 🔥, each with new tricks:

• Fire Breath: Dragon-style flame trails – sprint perpendicular!

• Flaming Blade: Sword attacks now ignite + new ground-stab move

• Separation Burst: Explosive split attack – roll backward ASAP

Staying at mid-close range avoids its worst reach attacks, but when it triples? Pure chaos. That sword swings become a blender of pain – one head might chase you while another torches your buddy. Absolute bedlam.

🧠 Top Tactics: Surviving the Triple Threat

Beating Gladius boils down to controlled aggression and team coordination. Range builds get demolished – this ain’t the fight for snipers. Go heavy with stagger weapons to interrupt its combos. When separation happens:

• FOCUS ONE HEAD – They share health; damaging all three is pointless theater

• Assign tanks to distract while DPS hammers the marked target

• Never chase heads switching aggro – that’s a one-way trip to respawn

Guardian users should become human shields – their blocking capability is clutch against fiery combos. For others? Dodging > blocking. And remember: after the victory, Traces of Night unlock the next six Nightlords... but does mastering Gladius truly prepare us for what lurks deeper in the night? Or are we just learning the first steps of a longer, darker dance? 🌑