Elden Ring: Commander Gaius Location and Boss Fight Strategy Guide
Commander Gaius is an optional boss located in the hidden Shadow Keep Legacy Dungeon in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. He rides a massive boar into battle, making him a fierce opponent with powerful melee and gravity-based attacks. Defeating him rewards you with the Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider and a hefty sum of 230,000 runes.
How to Reach Commander Gaius
Commander Gaius is located in a secret area of the Shadow Keep, accessible through the Church District. The path to him is long and winding, so be sure to follow the Shadow Keep (Church District) Walkthrough for detailed instructions. You will need to navigate through multiple enemies and traps before reaching the hidden entrance to his arena.
Commander Gaius Boss Fight Strategy
Commander Gaius and his boar mount fight together, with Gaius attacking using his spear and the boar charging and slamming into you. His moves are slow but extremely powerful, making it important to focus on dodging and finding openings to attack. He has two phases, with phase two becoming much more aggressive.
Recommended Level:
Scadutree Blessing 8–10 (as a benchmark for blessings)
Phase One:
During the first phase: Gaius relies on his boar's charge attacks and his own spear stabs. The key to success here is mastering your dodges and positioning.
Boar Charge: Gaius often starts the battle with a long-range boar charge. Dodge diagonally toward the boar at the last moment and counter with a jump attack as Gaius turns around.
Boar Attacks:
Head Slam: The boar rears its head before slamming it down. Wait for the wind-up and dodge as the head descends.
Body Slam: Similar to the head slam, but involves the boar throwing its entire weight. Use the same dodge timing as the head slam.
Kick: This happens if you're behind the boar. Dodge forward to avoid it, then get in a quick hit.
Gaius's Spear Attacks:
Spear Slashes: Gaius swings his spear in wide arcs. Dodge toward him to avoid these and get in a few hits.
Two-Slash Combo: Gaius does a double drive-by slash, turning around for the second hit. Dodge through both slashes and punish afterward.
Seven-Hit Combo: Gaius alternates between spear strikes and boar headbutts. Either dodge through each attack or back away until the combo ends.
Phase Two:
At around 60% health, Gaius powers up with gravity magic, gaining new, devastating attacks.
Flying Slam Attack, Gaius charges his body with gravity energy, then unleashes a massive ground slam. Run far away to avoid this attack, using the time to heal or buff yourself.
Alternatively, if you're confident, you can dodge roll toward Gaius at the last second to avoid the slam and get in some quick hits.
New Attacks:
Flying Dash: Gaius takes you to the air and then dashes at you with incredible speed. Dodge rolled toward him to avoid getting hit.
Earth Spikes: He raises his spear, summoning earth spikes around him. Stay on the move and strafe in circles to avoid being hit.
Gravity Well: Gaius summons a gravity orb that pulls you toward it. Run out of range as soon as you see it appear. Getting caught can lead to a stun-lock death.
General Strategy:
The safest place to attack Gaius is usually from the side, which avoids most of the boar's forward-facing attacks. Be ready to dodge any combo finishers like head slams or spear jabs.
Stay close to him in both phases to make his melee attacks more predictable and easier to dodge.
Use bleed or stagger weapons as they work particularly well against Gaius due to his large health pool.
Rewards for Defeating Commander Gaius
Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider: Allows you to unlock unique skills or trade for powerful items at the Roundtable Hold.
230,000 Runes: A significant boost to your leveling or rune economy.
You also unlock access to the Scadutree Chalice behind Shadow Keep, where you can find five Scadutree Fragments. This will help boost your Scadutree Blessing by 1–2 levels, preparing you for the final boss of the dungeon, Messmer the Impaler.
Make sure to stock up on Elden Ring items and runes before heading into battle. Whether you're seeking the best weapons, or armor, or need a quick infusion of runes to level up, having the right gear can make all the difference in this fight!