Taming the Swamp: A Tarnished Guide to Defeating Commander O’Neil
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Commander O’Neil, the spear-wielding menace guarding the Swamp of Aeonia in Elden Ring, can be a frustrating obstacle on your journey to becoming Elden Lord. He’s an optional boss, but defeating him is crucial for progressing Millicent’s questline, which is itself important for obtaining Miquella’s Needle, a key item for certain endings. Don’t let his optional status fool you, though; O’Neil can hit hard and inflict Scarlet Rot, making this a challenging fight for unprepared Tarnished. The key to victory lies in understanding his weaknesses, exploiting the environment, and utilizing the right tools at your disposal.
The most straightforward way to deal with Commander O’Neil is to exploit his vulnerability to ranged attacks and magic, especially when mounted on Torrent. Utilizing Spirit Ashes to draw his and his summoned soldiers’ attention is also vital. Luring him into the Scarlet Rot geysers scattered around the arena can deal significant damage over time. And finally, you must acquire the Unalloyed Gold Needle after the battle to progress with Millicent’s quest.
Understanding the Battlefield and the Enemy
Before charging in blindly, take a moment to survey the Swamp of Aeonia. The environment itself can be both a hindrance and a help. The water slows your movement, but the Scarlet Rot geysers are a major advantage if used correctly. O’Neil himself is a relatively straightforward enemy, but his constant attacks with his halberd can quickly whittle down your health. His most dangerous attack is a powerful wind-based AoE that deals massive damage.
Commander O’Neil’s main difficulty stems from two things:
- His Scarlet Rot buildup: One wrong move and you can rapidly build up Scarlet Rot, and the DoT will tear you apart in the swamp.
- He summons spectral soldiers: O’Neil will summon a set of soldiers to protect him, making the fight more difficult to isolate the boss.
Effective Strategies for Victory
Here’s a breakdown of effective strategies for conquering Commander O’Neil:
1. The Torrent Tactic: Hit-and-Run and Rot Avoidance
If you struggle with close-quarters combat, Torrent is your best friend. Use your spectral steed to maintain distance, allowing you to unleash ranged attacks or spells while avoiding O’Neil’s powerful swings. The mount’s speed makes it easier to dodge the Rot Tornado attack.
2. Luring into Scarlet Rot Geysers
While O’Neil is immune to the Scarlet Rot pool, he is vulnerable to the erupting geysers. The trick is to kite him near these geysers and time your movements to ensure he’s standing within the eruption radius when it triggers. This strategy requires patience and precise timing, but the damage inflicted is significant.
3. Spirit Ash Support: Divide and Conquer
Choosing the right Spirit Ashes can drastically change the tide of battle. Summons that can tank damage and draw aggression, such as Lhutel the Headless or Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff, are excellent choices. These summons will keep O’Neil busy while you deal damage from a safe distance. Other summons with ranged attacks can be helpful as well, providing additional damage output. The Mimic Tear is always a solid option, too, as it essentially doubles your damage output.
4. Exploiting Weaknesses: Bleed and Ranged Attacks
O’Neil, as a human enemy, is vulnerable to bleed. Weapons like Bloodhound’s Fang are very effective in this fight. If you’re a magic user, long-ranged spells can easily outrange O’Neil, allowing you to whittle down his health while staying safe.
5. The Rock Sling Spell: An Accessible Option
The Rock Sling spell, easily obtainable in the nearby ruins, is an excellent choice for dealing with O’Neil. Its range and damage make it a reliable option, especially when combined with the Torrent strategy.
6. A Note on Poison and Frostbite
The boss has a very high resistance against Frostbite, Scarlet Rot, and Poison. It is best to avoid them and attack O’Neil with Thrust attacks.
Essential Items and Preparations
Before facing O’Neil, ensure you have the following:
- A reliable weapon: Preferably one that deals bleed damage.
- Potent healing flasks: Scarlet Rot can drain your health quickly.
- Anti-Rot boluses: To cure Scarlet Rot if you get infected.
- A suitable Spirit Ash summon: A tanky summon is highly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What level should I be to fight Commander O’Neil?
The recommended level for Commander O’Neil is at least level 100, with weapons of +20 or higher. However, skilled players can defeat him at lower levels with the right strategy and gear.
2. Is Commander O’Neil weak to magic?
Yes, magic users with long-ranged spells can easily outrange Commander O’Neil, making the fight much easier. Spells like Rock Sling and others with good range and damage output are highly effective.
3. What is the best summon for Commander O’Neil?
Tanky Spirit Ashes that can draw the boss’s attention are the best. Lhutel the Headless, Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff, and the Mimic Tear are all excellent choices.
4. How do I avoid Commander O’Neil’s Scarlet Rot?
The best way is to dodge roll effectively to evade his attacks that inflict the status effect. If you do get infected, use Anti-Rot boluses immediately.
5. What rewards do I get for defeating Commander O’Neil?
Defeating Commander O’Neil grants you 12,000 Runes, the Commander’s Standard (his halberd), and the Unalloyed Gold Needle.
6. What do I do after killing Commander O’Neil?
Return to Gowry’s Shack and talk to Gowry. Then, find Millicent at the Church of the Plague and give her the Unalloyed Gold Needle. This is how you progress Millicent’s questline.
7. Is Commander O’Neil a mandatory boss?
No, Commander O’Neil is an optional boss. However, defeating him is necessary to progress Millicent’s questline.
8. Can I summon help for the Commander O’Neil fight?
Yes, you can summon other players to assist you. You can also summon the NPC Polyanna, Adopted Daughter for this fight if you speak to Sage Gowry first.
9. What are Commander O’Neil’s weaknesses?
Commander O’Neil is weak to bleed, magic, and ranged attacks. Exploiting these weaknesses is key to victory.
10. Is Commander O’Neil weak to Scarlet Rot?
While he is immune to standing in the Scarlet Rot pool, Commander O’Neil is vulnerable to damage from erupting from the Scarlet Rot geysers. You can exploit this to deal significant damage over time.
11. What weapon is good against Commander O’Neil?
As a human enemy, O’Neil is weak to bleed damage. Weapons like Bloodhound’s Fang or any weapon that inflicts bleed build-up can be very useful.
12. How do I get to Commander O’Neil?
Commander O’Neil is located in the Swamp of Aeonia in Caelid. You can reach the swamp by following the main road south from Limgrave.
13. How hard is Commander O’Neil?
Commander O’Neil can be challenging, especially at lower levels. His Scarlet Rot buildup and powerful attacks can quickly overwhelm unprepared players. However, with the right strategy, gear, and preparation, he can be defeated.
14. Can I use Torrent throughout the entire fight?
Yes, using Torrent is a viable strategy for the entire fight. Its mobility allows you to maintain distance, dodge attacks, and unleash ranged attacks or spells.
15. Does Commander O’Neil summon other enemies besides the spectral soldiers?
No, he only summons the initial two spectral banished knights. Once those knights are dead, he will not summon any other enemies. However, he will continuously buff them until they die or he is near half health.
The Path Forward
Defeating Commander O’Neil requires patience, strategy, and the right tools. By understanding his weaknesses, exploiting the environment, and utilizing Spirit Ashes effectively, you can overcome this challenging encounter and continue your journey to become Elden Lord. Successfully claiming the Unalloyed Gold Needle also opens up the next portion of Millicent’s questline, which further enhances the game’s depth and lore.
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