Unmasking the Night’s Cavalry: Exploiting Their Weaknesses in Elden Ring

The Night’s Cavalry, those imposing, cloaked figures patrolling the Lands Between in Elden Ring, can be a daunting challenge for even seasoned Tarnished. Knowing their vulnerabilities is key to surviving these encounters and claiming their valuable rewards. Let’s break down exactly what makes these spectral riders susceptible to defeat. The Night’s Cavalry has three main weaknesses: Holy damage, Lightning damage, and Thrusting physical damage. While resistant to many other forms of attack, exploiting these weaknesses will drastically improve your chances of victory.

Understanding the Night’s Cavalry’s Vulnerabilities

The Night’s Cavalry present a unique challenge due to their damage resistances and mobility. They are highly resistant to most forms of elemental damage, including fire, magic, frost, and status effects like poison and bleed. Attempting to rely on these damage types will prove largely ineffective, prolonging the fight and increasing the risk of defeat.

However, their weaknesses provide ample opportunity to turn the tide. Here’s a closer look:

• Holy Damage: Weapons and spells infused with Holy damage are extremely effective against the Night’s Cavalry. This is perhaps their most significant elemental weakness. Incantations like “Sacred Blade” or weapons naturally imbued with Holy damage will deal significantly higher damage compared to other elemental types.

• Lightning Damage: Similar to Holy, Lightning damage is another key elemental weakness. Applying Lightning Grease to your weapon or using Ashes of War that grant a Lightning infusion can substantially increase your damage output. Spells like “Lightning Spear” are also a viable option for ranged combat.

• Thrusting Physical Damage: While elemental damage is effective, don’t underestimate the power of thrusting physical attacks. Weapons like spears, halberds, and even certain katanas (with appropriate weapon arts) can inflict considerable damage. The extended reach of these weapons allows you to effectively target the rider while maintaining a safe distance.

Tactical Approaches to Night’s Cavalry Encounters

Knowing the weaknesses is only half the battle; you also need a strategic approach to engage the Night’s Cavalry effectively.

• Utilize Long-Range Attacks: Taking advantage of their aggression to get to you can be a good approach. Lightning Spear or similar ranged options allow you to chip away at their health from a distance. This is particularly useful if you’re struggling with their melee attacks.

• Combine Thrusting Attacks with Evasion: Employ weapons with long reach that deal Pierce Damage, such as a Spear or Halberd. Time your attacks carefully, striking after they complete their charge or combo, and then quickly retreat to avoid their counterattacks.

• Consider Spirit Ashes: Spirit Ashes can serve as excellent distractions, drawing the Night’s Cavalry’s attention and allowing you to safely cast spells or land attacks. Spirit Ashes that can inflict stagger, such as the Lhutel the Headless, are very effective.

• Environment Awareness: Take advantage of the environment. Some Night’s Cavalry patrols near cliffs. With careful maneuvering, you can bait them into falling off, instantly ending the fight. Knights met at Dragonbarrow and Forbidden Lands can be – with precise maneuvering – tricked into falling from the cliff.

• Utilize Mount Combat (if comfortable): If you’re skilled at mounted combat, use Torrent to your advantage. This allows you to quickly close the distance for attacks and then disengage to avoid damage.

Why These Weaknesses?

The specific vulnerabilities of the Night’s Cavalry are likely tied to their lore and nature within the game. Given their shadowy appearance and association with the night, it’s plausible that Holy damage, often associated with purity and light, directly opposes their existence. Lightning damage, which can disrupt and weaken spectral entities, also aligns with their vulnerabilities. The piercing weakness is likely more related to gameplay balance as a means to allow players with different playstyles to beat the cavalry.

Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does the Night’s Cavalry drop?

The loot varies depending on the location of the Night’s Cavalry. Typically, they drop a useful Ash of War and a significant number of Runes. For instance, the Night’s Calvary in Limgrave will drop a useful Ash of War, Repeating Thrust, and 2,400 Runes. The Consecrated Snowfield Night’s Cavalry duo drops the Night’s Cavalry armor set.

2. Can you poison or inflict bleed on the Night’s Cavalry?

No, Night’s Cavalry is immune to poison and bleed, as well as most elemental damage types.

3. Where can I find the Night’s Cavalry armor set?

The Night’s Cavalry Set is a complete set of Attire that’s dropped by a Night’s Cavalry guarding a carriage in the Consecrated Snowfield at night. This set includes the Night’s Cavalry Helm, Night’s Cavalry Armor, Night’s Cavalry Gauntlets, and Night’s Cavalry Greaves.

4. Is the Night’s Cavalry set good?

The Night’s Cavalry Set is one of the best-looking medium armor sets in Elden Ring, perfect for roleplaying a Dark Knight. It offers decent protection and can be customized at a Site of Grace, but it doesn’t have any unique passive bonuses.

5. Do the Night’s Cavalry respawn?

Yes, in earlier versions of the game the Night’s Cavalry will respawn.

6. Is the Night’s Cavalry harder than the Tree Sentinel?

Generally, Night’s Cavalry is faster than the Tree Sentinel, making it harder to get hits in. It requires patience, distance management, and strategic jousting.

7. Can the Night’s Cavalry fall off cliffs?

Yes, Night’s Cavalry can be tricked into falling off cliffs in certain locations like Dragonbarrow and Forbidden Lands. This requires precise maneuvering.

8. What is the best weapon against the Night’s Cavalry?

There isn’t one single “best” weapon, but weapons that deal Holy or Lightning damage or those with thrusting attacks (spears, halberds) are highly effective.

9. What kind of damage is the Night’s Cavalry resistant to?

Night’s Cavalry bosses are immune to most elemental damage, as well as poison and bleed attacks.

10. What are some effective spells against the Night’s Cavalry?

Lightning Spear, Glintstone Arc (to hit both the horse and rider), and any incantation dealing Holy damage are effective against the Night’s Cavalry.

11. Do I have to fight the Night’s Cavalry at night?

Yes, the Night’s Cavalry only appears at night. Rest at a Site of Grace until nightfall to encounter them.

12. Does the Night’s Cavalry have any unique attacks?

The Night’s Cavalry is the same fight just on a different area of the map. The Night’s Cavalry rely on heavy melee attacks with their flail, and also can do a stomp attack if you’re too close.

13. Can I summon help to fight the Night’s Cavalry?

Yes, you can summon Spirit Ashes and online players to assist you in the fight.

14. Are there multiple Night’s Cavalry encounters throughout the game?

Yes, there are multiple Night’s Cavalry encounters in different regions of the Lands Between.

15. Does my level affect the difficulty of the Night’s Cavalry fight?

Yes, your level, weapon upgrades, and stats will all affect the difficulty. A higher level and better gear will make the fight significantly easier.

Mastering these strategies and understanding the Night’s Cavalry’s weaknesses will empower you to conquer these formidable foes and claim your rightful rewards in Elden Ring. This shows the value of games in learning and applying problem-solving skills in these simulations. Want to learn more about how the Games Learning Society promotes engaging and educational experiences through gaming? Visit GamesLearningSociety.org today.