Can You Skip Crucible Knight in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, you absolutely can skip Crucible Knights in Elden Ring. While these imposing, heavily-armored adversaries are a frequent sight throughout the Lands Between, encountering and defeating them is almost always optional. They are not mandatory roadblocks that impede your progress in the main story or affect any ending in the game. This means that if you’re finding a particular Crucible Knight too difficult, you have the option to simply avoid them and move on with your adventure.
Understanding the Crucible Knight Encounters
Crucible Knights are Field Bosses, formidable foes that often guard valuable items or patrol specific areas. Unlike story-critical bosses, they’re essentially mini-bosses placed around the world to challenge players and offer unique rewards. They are known for their aggressive fighting style, diverse moveset, and resilience, making them a test of skill and patience.
The most common encounter where skipping becomes a relevant question is the Crucible Knight and Misbegotten Warrior duo in Redmane Castle. This encounter is entirely optional. Defeating them grants you access to the Ruins Greatsword, a Legendary Armament, but it’s not required for advancing the main narrative.
While skipping a single Crucible Knight might seem simple, the game features many of them, varying in location and challenge. They often patrol open world areas or are found within minor dungeons, again usually guarding treasures. Their optional nature gives players more freedom to decide when and if they wish to engage with these challenging encounters.
Why Would You Skip Crucible Knight?
There are several reasons why a player might choose to skip a Crucible Knight encounter:
- Difficulty: Crucible Knights are notoriously difficult, especially for lower-level players. Their relentless attacks, ability to parry, and lack of obvious weaknesses make them daunting to face.
- Time Investment: Battles with Crucible Knights can be lengthy, requiring focus and careful execution. For those who prioritize exploration or reaching a specific location, the time it takes to learn their patterns and defeat them might not be optimal.
- Resource Management: Defeating a Crucible Knight can consume valuable resources like healing flasks and consumables. If these resources are scarce, skipping the fight can be a wise choice.
- Alternative Paths: In some situations, there might be alternative routes or areas that can be explored without needing to confront the Crucible Knight guarding the path.
- Simply Not Interested: Some players might prioritize other content, such as exploring the world, completing side quests, or crafting, and may choose to skip optional combat encounters.
Benefits of Fighting Crucible Knight
Even though you can skip them, engaging with Crucible Knights can be beneficial:
- Runes: Defeating a Crucible Knight awards you a decent amount of Runes, which can be used to level up your character and purchase items.
- Unique Rewards: Crucible Knights often drop valuable items, including weapons, armor, and spells. One significant reward is Aspects of the Crucible: Tail, an incantation allowing you to replicate their tail swipe attack.
- Skill Improvement: Fighting a Crucible Knight is a valuable learning experience, forcing you to improve your combat skills, understand enemy patterns, and develop effective strategies.
- Completion: Some players might prefer to complete as much content as possible, including defeating every optional boss, to fully experience the game.
- Sense of Accomplishment: Conquering a tough boss, even an optional one, can be incredibly rewarding, providing a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Strategies if You Choose to Fight
If you decide to fight a Crucible Knight, remember:
- Patience is key: They are a patience-oriented boss. Don’t be greedy with your attacks; wait for openings.
- Learn parry timings: Their attacks are telegraphed, allowing you to parry them for critical hits.
- Maintain distance: Create distance when you need to heal or to reposition.
- Use your surroundings: Some arenas have obstacles that you can use to your advantage.
- Elemental Damage: They are slightly more vulnerable to lightning and fire damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Crucible Knights
1. Are all Crucible Knight encounters optional?
Yes, all Crucible Knight encounters are optional in Elden Ring. You never have to defeat one to progress the main storyline or get any specific ending.
2. Where are the Crucible Knights located?
Crucible Knights are found in various locations throughout the Lands Between, including open-world areas, minor dungeons, and inside castles. Some notable locations include Redmane Castle, Stormveil Castle, and several Evergaols.
3. Can I summon help for the Crucible Knight battles?
No, you cannot summon other players for Crucible Knight fights. Additionally, Spirit Summons are often unavailable, making it a true one-on-one battle.
4. Are Crucible Knights weak to any particular type of damage?
Crucible Knights are resistant to most damage types but have a slight vulnerability to lightning and fire damage. They are not especially weak to any status effects.
5. Can I backstab Crucible Knights?
No, you cannot backstab Crucible Knights. They are designed to be fought head-on.
6. What are the rewards for defeating a Crucible Knight?
The rewards vary, but you can typically receive Runes and a specific reward, such as the Aspects of the Crucible: Tail incantation. Defeating the Crucible Knight and Misbegotten Warrior in Redmane Castle grants the Ruins Greatsword.
7. Is it wise to fight Crucible Knights early in the game?
It’s generally not recommended to face Crucible Knights too early. Their aggressive attacks and high damage output can be overwhelming. It’s better to level up your character and equipment before engaging them.
8. How can I “cheese” a Crucible Knight?
While not always practical, you can use some specific locations to exploit them with poison or rot attacks, usually from a high vantage point outside the actual arena. One such area involves poisoning him from above the arena where he waits.
9. Can Crucible Knights be staggered easily?
No, Crucible Knights are very difficult to stagger. They possess a high degree of poise, making it hard to interrupt their attacks with standard attacks.
10. Are there different types of Crucible Knights?
Yes, there are variations in Crucible Knight encounters. Some are encountered individually, while others, like the duo at Redmane Castle, fight in pairs. Additionally, some may have different weapon and attack styles.
11. How can I effectively parry a Crucible Knight?
The key to parrying Crucible Knight attacks is to study their telegraphs and time your parry with their swings. Practice is essential, and it’s one of the most effective ways to manage them.
12. What is the ‘angelic slash’ move a Crucible Knight performs?
The angelic slash is a move the Crucible Knight uses, marking the transition to their second phase, and adding a new dynamic to their attack pattern. Learning to recognize the setup for this is critical to surviving.
13. Is the Crucible Hornshield any good?
The Crucible Hornshield is a solid greatshield that you can get from some Crucible Knights. It has a special bash attack that can skewer enemies.
14. Is Crucible Knight harder than the Ulcerated Tree Spirit?
In general, both are tough fights early in the game. However, many players consider the Crucible Knight to be more challenging due to its more aggressive fighting style, higher resistances, and less predictable patterns compared to the Tree Spirit.
15. How much runes does the Crucible Knight give?
Defeating a Crucible Knight usually grants you 2,100 Runes.
In conclusion, while Crucible Knights are formidable adversaries, they are entirely skippable in Elden Ring. Your decision to engage or avoid them should be based on your current skill level, resources, and desired gameplay experience. Choose wisely, Tarnished.