Is Commander Niall Easy? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring’s Frozen Fortress Nightmare

Commander Niall, residing within the chilling walls of Castle Sol in Elden Ring, is unequivocally not an easy boss. He presents a significant challenge even for seasoned players, demanding a blend of strategic planning, skillful execution, and a good understanding of the game’s mechanics. The difficulty stems not only from Niall himself, but also from the presence of two Spectral Banished Knights he summons at the start of the fight. This trio forces players to manage multiple aggressive opponents in a confined space, making it a truly grueling encounter. His attacks are strong, fast, and often sweeping, making it difficult to create distance and heal. Mastering this fight requires patience, observation, and a willingness to adapt your strategy.

Understanding the Commander Niall Challenge

Commander Niall is designed to test a player’s ability to multitask in combat. The confined arena exacerbates the pressure, limiting movement and making strategic positioning crucial. The Spectral Banished Knights are more than just fodder; they are aggressive, deal substantial damage, and require a significant number of hits to defeat. Furthermore, Niall’s own attacks are relentless, featuring powerful sweeping attacks that cover a wide area and can easily punish careless dodges. Successfully navigating this encounter requires mastering dodging, spacing, and prioritizing targets effectively.

Essential Strategies for Victory

Several key strategies can significantly improve your chances of defeating Commander Niall. These include:

• Target Priority: Focus on eliminating the Spectral Banished Knights first. This reduces the number of active threats and allows you to concentrate on Niall.
• Summons: Employing Spirit Ashes can be incredibly helpful. Summons that can draw aggro and tank damage, such as the Mimic Tear, Lhutel the Headless, or Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff, are particularly effective.
• Bleed Damage: As a human enemy, Niall is susceptible to bleed damage. Weapons like the Bloodhound’s Fang or Rivers of Blood can inflict significant damage and stagger him.
• Strategic Spacing: Utilize the arena’s limited space to your advantage. Create distance when necessary to heal or reposition, but be mindful of Niall’s sweeping attacks.
• Exploiting Weaknesses: Niall is vulnerable to Physical Strike and Thrust attacks, allowing you to use weapons that leverage this.

Mastering the Fight: A Step-by-Step Approach

1. Preparation: Ensure your character is adequately leveled (recommended level 100 or higher) and your weapons are upgraded to at least +20. Equip gear that provides lightning damage negation, such as the Boltdrake Talisman.
2. Summoning: Immediately summon your chosen Spirit Ash upon entering the arena. This will draw aggro from at least one of the knights.
3. Eliminate Knights: Prioritize taking down the Spectral Banished Knights. Use Bleed weapons to inflict maximum damage. Focus on one knight at a time to efficiently eliminate them.
4. Engage Niall: Once the knights are defeated, focus on Commander Niall. Utilize hit-and-run tactics, dodging his attacks and capitalizing on openings. Bleed him and thrust attacks as much as possible.
5. Patience and Observation: Do not become greedy with attacks. Observe Niall’s patterns and telegraphs, learning when to dodge and when to strike.

FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further assist you in your quest to conquer Commander Niall:

How hard is Commander O’Neil compared to Commander Niall?

Commander O’Neil is generally considered easier than Commander Niall. While O’Neil can still pose a challenge, particularly at lower levels, his moveset is more predictable and he doesn’t have the added complexity of summoned allies. The lack of summons and the more open environment of the O’Neil fight make it a less daunting encounter overall.

What level should I be to fight Commander Niall?

The recommended level for tackling Commander Niall is 100 or higher, with weapons upgraded to +20 or more. This provides you with sufficient health, stamina, and damage output to withstand his attacks and efficiently eliminate his summons.

What is Commander Niall weak to?

Commander Niall is primarily weak to Bleed damage and also weak towards any Physical Strikes and Thrust attacks. Weapons that inflict these damage types are highly effective against him. He is resistant to Slash attacks, Frostbite, Scarlet Rot, Poison, and Hemorrhage.

Is Commander Niall weak to Scarlet Rot?

No, Commander Niall has a very high resistance to Scarlet Rot, making it an ineffective strategy against him.

What summon is best for Commander Niall?

The Mimic Tear and summons that can draw aggro are excellent choices for this fight. The Mimic Tear effectively doubles your damage output and can tank a significant amount of damage, while other Spirit Ashes like Lhutel the Headless or Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff can provide consistent distraction and absorb attacks.

What should I use against Commander Niall?

Prioritize weapons that inflict Bleed damage and deal physical Strike and Thrust attacks. Additionally, using buffs like Terra Magica or the Flame, Grant Me Strength incantation can enhance your damage output.

Can you bypass Commander Niall?

Yes, you can bypass Commander Niall by performing a precise double jump at the Castle Soul main gate. You will need to mount up and head all the way North East. until you see the open coffins in the graveyard. from the graveyard, you’re gonna jump off the sledge, pause for a second, then double jump, and you’ll be falling. This will effectively skip the boss fight and allow you to proceed to the Consecrated Snowfield.

Is Commander Niall a mandatory boss?

No, Commander Niall is an optional boss in Elden Ring. You do not need to defeat him to advance the main storyline. However, defeating him is required to access the Consecrated Snowfield.

What is the best talisman against Commander Niall?

The Boltdrake Talisman is a strong choice, as it increases your protection against lightning damage, which Niall utilizes in some of his attacks. Additionally, talismans that boost your physical damage negation or stamina are also beneficial.

What is the best bleed weapon in Elden Ring?

The Rivers of Blood katana is considered one of the best bleed weapons in Elden Ring due to its rapid attack speed and high bleed buildup. The Bloodhound’s Fang is also another great alternative that is easier to obtain earlier in the game.

What is the reward for killing Commander O’Neil?

Defeating Commander O’Neil rewards you with the Commander’s Standard (Halberd) and the Unalloyed Gold Needle, which is a key item for Millicent’s questline.

Is Commander Niall optional?

Yes, Commander Niall is an optional boss. He resides in Castle Sol in Mountaintops of the Giants and defeating him is required before entering Consecrated Snowfield.

What is Commander Niall weak to in Castle Sol?

Commander Niall is weak to Physical Strikes and Thrust attacks. He is resistant to Slash attacks, Frostbite, Scarlet Rot, Poison, and Hemorrhage.

What happens after defeating Commander Niall?

Upon defeating Commander Niall, you will receive the Veteran’s Prosthesis. You can then proceed up the steps beyond the boss arena to find a spirit overlooking the view alongside the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left).

How many arrows does it take to kill Commander O’Neil?

The number of arrows required to defeat Commander O’Neil varies depending on your character’s stats and the arrows used. However, it can take roughly 458 arrows, dealing between 34-36 damage per arrow, to defeat him.

Should I kill Commander O’Neil?

Whether or not you should kill Commander O’Neil depends on your objectives. He is an optional boss whose location is in Swamp of Aeonia inside Caelid. Defeating him rewards you with the Commander’s Standard and the Unalloyed Gold Needle.

Conclusion: A Worthy Challenge

While Commander Niall is undoubtedly a difficult boss, he is also a rewarding one. Overcoming this challenge requires players to master Elden Ring’s combat mechanics, strategize effectively, and adapt to the encounter’s unique demands. By understanding Niall’s weaknesses, utilizing effective summons and weaponry, and practicing strategic spacing and dodging, you can conquer this frozen fortress nightmare and emerge victorious. Remember to check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more insights into game-based learning and the educational aspects of gaming!