Elden Ring Nightreign: How to Beat Tricephalos

How to Beat Tricephalos in Elden Ring Nightreign

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-06-03 09:32:00
Gladius, Beast of Night, the first Nightlord encountered in the Tricephalos Expedition, is a formidable three-headed wolf-like creature wielding a massive chained sword. This boss serves as an introduction to the brutal challenges of Elden Ring: Nightreign, demanding precise dodging, strategic positioning, and effective team coordination.This guide covers how to find Gladius, analyze its moveset, exploit its weaknesses, and develop a winning strategy—whether playing solo or in co-op.

Elden Ring Nightreign: How to Beat Tricephalos

How to Reach Gladius in the Tricephalos Expedition

Expedition Overview

  • Begin the Expedition:
    • After completing the tutorial, interact with the Table of Lost Graces in the Roundtable Hold.
    • Select Tricephalos Expedition (available in Solo or Multiplayer).
  • Day 1 – Survival & Preparation:
    • You spawn in Limveld—your goal is to level up, gather weapons, and survive as the Night’s Tide (a deadly fog) closes in.
    • Stay inside the shrinking safe circle to avoid damage.
  • First Nightfall – Mini-Boss Fight:
    • At the end of Day 1, a Night Boss appears inside the circle.
    • Defeat it to end the night and reset the safe zone.
  • Day 2 – Repeat & Advance:
    • Survive another day, facing a second Night Boss at dusk.
    • After defeating it, interact with the central altar to enter the Spirit Shelter (a hub for upgrades and merchants).
  • Final Door – Gladius Boss Fight:
    • Proceed through the door leading to the Nightlord’s arena.
    • Prepare for the battle against Gladius, Beast of Night.

    • Gladius Boss Fight – Moveset & Attack Patterns


    Phase 1 Attacks

    AttackDescriptionCounter Strategy
    BiteCharges at a player and leaps for a triple-head bite.Dodge backward or sideways when it lunges.
    Chained Sword SweepPerforms two wide horizontal slashes with its sword.Time two delayed dodges—don’t roll immediately after the first.
    Purple GrabAll three heads glow purple before a deadly grab attack.Run away or dodge backward when the glow appears.
    Fireball SpitSpits fireballs from each head in quick succession.Strafe sideways or block with a high-fire-resist shield.

    Phase 2 (Below 70% HP)

    Gladius splits into three flaming wolves, each with unique behaviors:

  • Sword Wolf – Retains the chained sword, performing sweeping attacks.
  • Bite Wolf – Aggressively chases and bites.
  • Caster Wolf – Shoots fire projectiles from range.
    • How to Handle the Split Phase:

      • Focus on one wolf at a time (prioritize the Sword Wolf).
      • If a wolf howls and glows, attack it quickly to stagger and weaken it.
      • After 45 seconds, Gladius reforms with new fire-based attacks:

        • Explosive Plunge – Slams the flaming sword, causing an AoE explosion.
        • Wave of Fire – Stabs the ground, then unleashes a wide fire arc.

    Key Tip: Stance damage dealt to the wolves carries over when Gladius reforms!

    Best Strategies to Defeat Gladius

    1. Exploit Its Weakness to Holy Damage

    • Holy weapons (e.g., Sacred Blade, Coded Sword) stagger Gladius faster, leading to critical hits.
    • If no Holy weapons are available, use high-stance-damage weapons (e.g., Greatswords, Hammers).

    2. Dodging & Positioning Tips

    • Never panic roll—Gladius’ attacks are delayed.
    • For Chained Sword Sweep, wait half a second between dodges.
    • Stay mid-range to bait bite attacks, then punish.

    3. Team Composition (Multiplayer Recommended)

    NightfarerRoleWhy?
    WylderMobility & AggroUses Claw Shot to close gaps and distract Gladius.
    IroneyeSupport & StaggerMarks the boss, enabling easy staggers and revives.
    GuardianTank & HealingUltimate revives allies and provides a protective barrier.

    Alternative Picks:

    • Sorcerers for ranged Holy damage.
    • Rogues for quick hit-and-run tactics.

    Rewards for Defeating Gladius

    Upon victory, you receive:

    • Night of the Beast Relic (Grants Stamina recovery on hit + Fire damage on starting weapon).
    • Progression to harder Expeditions.

    Final Tips for Success

    ✅ Use Holy weapons for faster staggers.
    ✅ Split damage during wolf phase to weaken Gladius.
    ✅ Save healing for Phase 2’s explosive attacks.
    ✅ Play defensively—Gladius punishes greed.

    Gladius is a skill-check boss that teaches the importance of patience, positioning, and teamwork in Elden Ring: Nightreign. Master its patterns, exploit Holy damage, and claim your first Nightlord victory!

    Platform(s): PlayStation 4 PS4, PlayStation 5 PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
    Genre(s): Action role-playing, roguelike
    Developer(s): FromSoftware
    Publisher(s): Bandai Namco Entertainment
    Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
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