How to defeat Demon Prince in Elden Ring Nightreign

By Daniel Hidalgo | 2025-12-08 20:06:57
Confronting the Demon Prince is one of the most formidable challenges awaiting players in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. This devastating Nightreign boss is not only a test of skill but also a complex encounter governed by specific conditions and mechanics. Our comprehensive strategy guide will walk you through the summoning prerequisites, attack patterns, and optimal tactics to vanquish this fiery terror.

Prerequisites and Boss Location

The Demon Prince does not appear arbitrarily. To trigger this epic confrontation, you must first defeat two sub-bosses, the Demon in Pain and the Demon from Below, during the game’s first night cycle. Once Night 2 commences and the ring begins to close, the Demon Prince will manifest in a massive northern citadel. Your victory over the earlier demons determines the very form and abilities of the Prince you will face.

Understanding the Demon Prince’s Two Forms

A crucial strategic element is the boss's form, dictated by which sub-boss you slew last.
  • If you killed the Demon from Below last, the Prince will adopt its form.
  • If you killed the Demon in Pain last, you will battle that version instead.
This choice is paramount, as each form possesses a unique arsenal of deadly attacks on top of a shared moveset.

Shared Moveset: Core Attacks to Master

Regardless of its form, the Demon Prince utilizes a terrifying suite of basic abilities. Recognizing these is key to survival.
  • Claw Strikes: Swift horizontal swipes that punish players who linger directly in front or at the sides. Constant, cautious movement is essential.
  • Flying Slam: A leaping aerial assault where the boss crashes down, creating a damaging area-of-effect explosion. Evacuate the impact zone immediately.
  • Overhead Slam: A powerful, focused ground pound executed with both arms. This move creates a significant opening for counterattacks from a safe flank.
  • Flaming Arm Attacks: The Prince will ignite a single arm, signaling one of two attacks:
    • Right Arm (Lava Line): Summons a persistent line of lava on the ground.
    • Left Arm (Buried Fireballs): Launches projectiles that embed in the earth and detonate after a delay.

Form-Specific Abilities & Strategy

Your prior decision now defines the battle's difficulty. Here’s what to expect from each variant.

The Demon from Below (Harder Version)

This form is widely considered more challenging due to its overwhelming area denial and relentless aerial pressure.

  • Hellfire Beam: The Prince charges and unleashes a zigzagging beam of fire that sweepsthe arena multiple times before culminating in a concentrated frontalblast. This attack demands perfect spatial awareness and timing toevade.
  • Flying Claw Rake: While airborne, it strikes the ground to summon multiple searing lava pools.
  • Aerial Firebomb: Launches a massive fireball at the floor, causing a large explosion.
  • The Demon in Pain (Recommended Form)

    For a more manageable fight, aim to face this version. Its mechanics, while dangerous, are less oppressive.

  • Dual Fire Orbs: The boss summons two large flaming spheres that hover and barrage the area with tracking fireballs.
  • Fire Rain: It projects a stream of flames into the air that shower down over a wide area. Crucially, the boss is vulnerable and stationary during this attack, offering a prime damage window.
  • Winning Strategies and Pro Tips

    Phase 1: Preparation

    • Choose Your Foe: Strategically kill the Demon in Pain last to face its (generally easier) version as the Prince.
    • Gear for Fire: Maximize your Fire Negation through talismans, armor, and consumables like the Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear.
    • Embrace Range: Having a reliable ranged option—whether spells, incantations, orbows—is a tremendous asset for capitalizing on aerial vulnerabilities.

    Phase 2: The Battle

    • Positioning is Everything: For the shared physical attacks, stay behind or to the side of theboss. The area directly behind it is often safe during combo finishers.
    • Punish Openings: Aggressively attack during the recovery animations of the Overhead Slam and, in the Demon in Pain form, the Fire Rain attack.
    • Manage the Arena: Always be mindful of lingering lava and buried fireballs. Never retreat blindly.
    • Team Tactics (For Co-op): If with allies, designate a "bait" player to draw aggro and claw attacks, allowing others to safely assault the Prince’s rear.

    By mastering these mechanics and preparing accordingly, you can turn thisdaunting nightmarish encounter into a victorious triumph. Tarnished,heed this guide, and may you claim the legacy of the Nightreign.

    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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