Elden Ring: Blackgaol Knight Boss Guide - Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

The Blackgaol Knight is a tough, humanoid NPC boss encountered early in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Found in the Western Nameless Mausoleum within the Gravesite Plain, the Blackgaol Knight is known for his brutal melee skills, long-range crossbow attacks, and nearly unbreakable poise. Defeating him will reward you with the Greatsword of Solitude and the Solitude Armor Set.

This guide outlines where to find the Blackgaol Knight, Elden Ring runes, and Elden Ring items to prepare, and tactics to defeat this challenging boss.

Location of the Blackgaol Knight

Region: Gravesite Plain, Realm of Shadow

Exact Location: Western Nameless Mausoleum

North of the first Site of Grace you encounter in the Shadow Realm.

West of the Scorched Village.

The mausoleum is surrounded by Gravebird enemies and blueworm creatures (mostly docile).

Preparing for the Blackgaol Knight Fight

This fight is possible to tackle early in the Shadow Realm, but preparation is key due to the Blackgaol Knight's immense damage and poise resistance. Here's what you'll need to increase your chances:

Rune Level Recommendation

Rune Level: 80-100

Vigor: 40+ (The Blackgaol Knight can kill in 1-2 hits, so having high HP helps.)

Endurance: 25+ (You'll need good stamina to dodge his relentless attacks and wear heavier armor.)

Main Weapon Scaling: Invest in Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence depending on your build.

Shadow Realm Blessings

Collect 1-3 Shadow Realm Blessings from Scadurtree Fragments. These blessings boost health, stamina, and resistance inside the Shadow Realm and are essential for surviving the fight.

Recommended Talismans

Erdtree's Favor +2: Boosts HP, stamina, and equip load.

Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: Increases physical defense, helping you withstand his greatsword attacks.

Bull-Goat Talisman: Raises poise, so you can tank a hit and land your own.

Shard of Alexander: Enhances your weapon skills, which will be crucial for dealing bursts of damage during openings.

Recommended Weapons and Shields

Weapons:

Colossal Weapons or Ultra Greatswords: Blackgaol's heavy armor makes weapons with poise-breaking potential the best choice.

Examples: Ruins Greatsword, Colossal Club, Blasphemous Blade (if available).

Bleed Weapons: Bloodhound's Fang or Rivers of Blood can help chip away at his health, though beware of his fast recovery.

Shields:

Use a high-stability shield if you're comfortable blocking.

Example: Fingerprint Stone Shield (to block his melee attacks and crossbow bolts).

Consumables and Buffs

Rune Arc: Activates your Great Rune for more stats.

Boiled Crab: Temporarily increases physical defense.

Golden Vow Incantation: Buff's attack and defense for a sustained fight.

Flame, Grant Me Strength: Useful if you are using physical weapons, providing an extra damage boost.

Preserving Boluses: Keep these handy if he applies bleed with his crossbow bolts (he may switch to bleed bolts mid-fight).

Blackgaol Knight - Boss Fight Strategy

The Blackgaol Knight behaves similarly to a player character, making him unpredictable and dangerous. He uses two primary weapons:

Greatsword - High poise, powerful swings, and two-handed combos.

Repeating Crossbow - Long-range, rapid-fire bolts with alternating normal and explosive rounds.

Phase 1: One-Handed Greatsword and Crossbow Usage

The fight begins with the Knight wielding his greatsword in one hand. He will alternate between melee attacks and firing crossbow salvos.

How to Engage:

Wait until he finishes a single greatsword swing. His recovery after a single attack is long enough for you to get in one or two hits.

If you see him pull out his crossbow, run sideways to dodge the rapid-fire bolts and charge in to attack while he reloads.

Interrupting His Movement:

If you have a weapon with high poise damage (like a greatsword or colossal weapon), use a charged heavy attack while he is in the middle of an animation to interrupt him.

Smaller weapons like daggers or katanas will not interrupt him unless you stagger him with bleed buildup.

Phase 2: Two-Handed Greatsword Attacks

At 50% health, the Blackgaol Knight will switch to wielding his greatsword with both hands, increasing his damage and attack speed. He also gains access to a dangerous weapon skill.

Vacuum Slice (Weapon Skill):

The Blackgaol Knight will send out a shockwave in a straight line.

Counter: Roll sideways when you see him charging the skill. Be prepared for a secondary follow-up swing—the Knight can leap forward and strike immediately after using the shockwave.

Two-Handed Greatsword Combos:

When two-handing his greatsword, the Knight becomes far more aggressive, performing up to 5-7 consecutive swings.

Tip: Don't try to block the entire combo; instead, roll away after 1-2 swings to conserve stamina. If you are caught in the combo, dodge backward until he stops.

Optimal Strategy in Phase 2:

Ranged Builds: This phase is more manageable with spells or bows—kite him around the arena, and attack after dodging his shockwave.

Melee Builds: Play defensively—wait for him to finish his combo, then go in for 1-2 quick hits before disengaging.

Additional Tips for Success

Watch His Stamina: Like a player, the Blackgaol Knight has stamina limitations. If you can force him to whiff attacks, he'll leave himself vulnerable to counterattacks.

Spirit Ashes: Use Mimic Tear or Omenkiller Rollo to distract him during key moments. The Mimic Tear is especially effective, as it can mirror your build.

Don't Get Greedy: This is an endurance fight—the Knight punishes impatience. Stick to the strategy of baiting attacks and countering during openings.

Rewards for Defeating the Blackgaol Knight

Greatsword of Solitude:

A colossal weapon with high poise damage and frostbite buildup. Its weapon skill allows you to generate a wave of frost in a wide arc, dealing AoE damage.

Solitude Armor Set:

A heavy armor set that offers high poise and frost resistance, making it ideal for tank builds.

50,000 Runes:

Use these to level up or buy consumables for future challenges.

Conclusion

The Blackgaol Knight is a challenging fight that requires patience, careful observation, and preparation. With his unbreakable poise, devastating two-handed greatsword attacks, and rapid-fire crossbow bolts, the Knight offers a truly punishing encounter. However, by using high-poise weapons, ranged attacks, and Shadow Realm Blessings, you can overcome this foe and earn powerful rewards that will aid you in future challenges.