How to defeat Divine Beast Dancing Lion in Elden Ring Nightreign

The Divine Beast Dancing Lion stands as one of the most formidable and frenetic Night Bosses in Elden Ring: Nightreign's Forsaken Hollows DLC. This towering, spectral lion costume, animated by a mysterious figure within, unleashes a storm of elemental fury that can overwhelm even seasoned Tarnished. Its defining mechanic—rapid, unpredictable shifts between wind, frost, and lightning phases—creates a battlefield of constant danger. Yet, beneath the chaos lies a readable pattern. This comprehensive SEO-optimized guide will provide the essential strategies, positioning tips, and phase-specific tactics you need to triumph over this dazzling beast.

Locating the Divine Beast Dancing Lion

This boss is exclusive to The Forsaken Hollows DLC content and cannot be encountered without it. It does not require a specific quest to unlock. Instead, the Dancing Lion appears randomly within the pool of possible Night Bosses that can spawn at the conclusion of the second night during Dreglord’s expedition. If you don't encounter it on one attempt, you may need to progress the expedition again to roll it in the Night 2 boss selection.

Mastering the Core Strategy: Position is Everything

The golden rule for this entire encounter is deceptively simple: Avoid the head. The lion's frontal attacks, especially in its frost and wind manifestations, feature massive, lingering hitboxes. Your primary safe zone is directly behind or to the sides of its rear legs.

• Melee Focus: Fight unlocked or use quick camera adjustments to stick to its back and flanks, relentlessly attacking its large rear hitbox.
• Ranged/Agro Duty: If in a group, a dedicated ranged attacker should maintain agro from a medium distance, drawing its head-focused attacks while melee specialists punish from behind.
• Universal Caution: Always be prepared for its sudden backflip. Disengage immediately when it leaps, as the landing deals significant AoE damage behind it.

Decoding and Punishing Key Attacks

1. The Spinning Breath Combo:
A frequent and punishable sequence. The lion will often precede the spin with three ground explosions (except in Wind Phase). Strategy: Safely outspace the initial explosions. As it begins to spin whilebreathing elemental death, strafe backwards. The final rotation is yourwindow. Time a jump to avoid the breath arc or roll through it and movein for heavy attacks on its side or back.

2. The Double Lunge (A Major Threat):
This quick, consecutive lunge is a common cause of death. Rolling backwards will often get you caught by both hits. Correct Strategy: Dodge forward and through the first lunge, passing by its head. This maneuver typically causesthe second lunge to overshoot you completely, leaving the lion exposedfor several seconds.

Navigating the Elemental Phase Shifts

The Dancing Lion's true challenge comes from its rotating elemental affinities. Adapt your approach for each:

• Wind Phase: Exceptionally aggressive. The "run away" strategy often fails here, asits second lunge has immense reach. Focus on precise, well-timed dodges into its attacks rather than away. The spinning breath in this phase lacksground explosions, so look for the jump-and-punish opportunity.
• Lightning Phase: The arena will light up with glowing strike markers. This is a survival period, not a damage phase. Continuously sprint or dodge to avoid the marked areas. The lion mayalso fire a lightning beam; dodge perpendicular to the beam or directlytoward the lion as it fires.
• Frost Phase: Creates lingering ice patches and mist. Prioritize positioning to avoid being cornered on frozen ground. Frontal breath attacks leave large ice fields—use this time to reposition to its rear.

Optimizing Team Play & Aggro Control

For co-op groups, coordination trivializes much of the fight's randomness.

• Designate a Tank/Distraction: One player, using a shield, high poise, or ranged spells, should holdthe lion's attention from the front, careful to avoid its deadliestbites and breaths.
• Flank with Melee Damage: All other melee players should relentlessly assault its rear, only breaking off for the obvious backflip and spin attacks.
• Manage Stamina: Avoid greed. Save stamina for evading its sudden phase-change attacksor arena-wide sweeps. Consistent, safe damage wins this long battle.

By internalizing these patterns—respecting its elemental shifts, mastering the dodge-forward tactic against lunges, and maintaining disciplinedpositioning—you will transform this chaotic spectacle into a calculatedvictory. Claim your spoils and bragging rights after toppling one of Nightreign's most spectacular beasts.

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