Is Banished Knight Oleg Any Good? A Tarnished’s Guide
Yes, Banished Knight Oleg is unequivocally a good summon in Elden Ring, especially in the early to mid-game. He’s a strong, readily available Spirit Ash that provides excellent tanking capabilities and decent damage output, making him a reliable companion for many challenging encounters. Oleg shines as a durable distraction, drawing enemy aggro and allowing you to safely dish out damage. Think of him as your steadfast, greatsword-wielding bodyguard in the Lands Between.
Why Banished Knight Oleg is a Solid Choice
Oleg’s strengths lie in his straightforward effectiveness. Here’s a breakdown of why he’s a valuable asset:
- Early Availability: He’s accessible relatively early in the game, obtainable from the Fringefolk Hero’s Grave near the Stranded Graveyard site of grace. This early access makes him a powerful ally when you need him most.
- Tanking Prowess: Oleg’s heavy armor and high poise allow him to withstand considerable punishment, acting as a damage sponge and diverting enemy attention. This is crucial for creating openings and surviving boss fights.
- Decent Damage Output: Armed with two greatswords, Oleg delivers respectable damage. His aggressive attack patterns can stagger enemies, making them vulnerable to your own assaults.
- FP Cost Efficiency: His 100 FP summon cost is reasonable, making him usable in a wide range of builds and scenarios without excessively draining your resources.
- Straightforward Utility: He requires minimal understanding of complex mechanics. Oleg’s value lies in his ability to reliably perform his primary function: drawing aggro and dealing damage.
However, it’s important to acknowledge his limitations. As you progress through Elden Ring and encounter tougher foes, Oleg’s damage output might start to feel less impressive compared to other, more specialized Spirit Ashes. Despite that, his tanking abilities remain useful throughout a good portion of the game. He is a good early and mid-game summon.
Banished Knight Oleg: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Banished Knight Oleg, covering his strengths, weaknesses, and comparisons to other popular summons:
1. Where do I find Banished Knight Oleg?
Banished Knight Oleg’s Spirit Ashes are located in the Fringefolk Hero’s Grave. This area is accessible using a Stonesword Key at the Stranded Graveyard site of grace (the game’s starting area). Prepare for a challenging dungeon with a difficult boss at the end – the Ulcerated Tree Spirit.
2. Is Oleg better than Banished Knight Engvall?
The choice between Oleg and Engvall is situational. Oleg generally offers higher DPS due to his dual greatswords and aggressive attack patterns. Engvall, with his halberd, might provide slightly better stagger potential and a longer reach, but is generally considered less effective overall.
3. How does Oleg compare to Lhutel the Headless?
Lhutel the Headless is generally considered a superior summon overall, particularly for her enhanced survivability and utility. While Oleg focuses on damage and tanking, Lhutel boasts greater mobility (teleportation), ranged spear attacks, and the ability to inflict Death Blight. Lhutel is a more balanced and versatile option, especially in later stages of the game.
4. Is Oleg a good summon for boss fights?
Yes, Oleg is a solid choice for many boss fights, particularly in the early to mid-game. His tanking abilities can buy you valuable time to heal, cast spells, or unleash your own attacks. However, against bosses that deal exceptionally high damage or inflict status effects, other summons might prove more effective.
5. How should I upgrade Banished Knight Oleg?
Like all Spirit Ashes, Oleg can be upgraded using Grave Glovewort. Upgrading him will increase his health, damage, and overall survivability, making him an even more potent ally.
6. What are Oleg’s weaknesses?
Oleg’s main weaknesses include:
- Vulnerability to Status Effects: Like many melee-focused summons, Oleg can be susceptible to status effects like poison, rot, and bleed.
- Limited Ranged Capabilities: Oleg is primarily a melee fighter, lacking the ability to effectively engage enemies at a distance.
- Damage Fall-off in Late Game: As you progress, Oleg’s damage output may become less impressive compared to other, more specialized summons.
7. Can Oleg stagger enemies?
Yes, Oleg’s aggressive attacks can stagger enemies, especially with his spinning gust attack. This creates openings for you to follow up with your own powerful attacks.
8. How does Oleg compare to the Mimic Tear?
The Mimic Tear is widely regarded as one of the best Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring. It creates a copy of your character, inheriting your weapons, armor, spells, and consumables. This makes it incredibly versatile and powerful. The Mimic Tear is generally superior to Oleg due to its adaptability.
9. Is Oleg good for a mage build?
Yes, Oleg can be a valuable asset for mage builds. His tanking abilities can draw enemy aggro, allowing you to safely cast spells from a distance.
10. Does Oleg use consumables?
No, Oleg does not use consumables. He relies on his greatswords and innate abilities to fight.
11. How does Oleg’s AI compare to other Spirit Ashes?
Oleg’s AI is relatively straightforward. He aggressively charges into combat and focuses on dealing damage. While his AI isn’t as sophisticated as some other summons, his directness can be effective in many situations.
12. Can Oleg be easily defeated?
While Oleg is tanky, he is not invincible. Powerful enemies with high damage output or status effect abilities can overwhelm him. Upgrading him and providing support can significantly improve his survivability.
13. Is Oleg a good summon for PvP?
While Oleg can provide a distraction in PvP, he’s not ideally suited for player-versus-player combat. His predictable attack patterns and vulnerability to status effects make him a less effective choice compared to other summons designed for PvP.
14. What talismans synergize well with Oleg?
Talismans that boost your summon’s attack power or survivability, such as the Ritual Sword Talisman or the Blessed Dew Talisman, can enhance Oleg’s effectiveness. However, since Oleg’s performance will change very little with talismans equipped on the player, it is better to focus on Talismans that are designed around your own Tarnished build.
15. Is Banished Knight Oleg a top-tier summon?
While Oleg is a very effective summon in early and mid-game, he is outclassed by the top-tier summons found later in the game. These summons are the Black Knife Tiche and the Mimic Tear. While these summons are extremely powerful, Banished Knight Oleg’s summon can be obtained very early in the game, making him a must-have for every Tarnished starting in the Lands Between.
Conclusion: Oleg’s Lasting Value
Banished Knight Oleg may not be the ultimate, game-breaking summon, but he’s a reliable and effective ally, especially in the early to mid-game. His tanking prowess, decent damage, and reasonable FP cost make him a valuable addition to any Tarnished’s arsenal. He’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, simplicity and straightforward effectiveness are all you need to conquer the challenges of the Lands Between.
The lessons of strategy and resource management gleaned from using summons like Oleg in games have real-world applications. Consider exploring how games impact learning and education through resources like the Games Learning Society and their website GamesLearningSociety.org, where research explores the intersection of gaming and education.