Miyazaki is known for his love of Berserk, and for referencing it in his games, but this has never been more evident than with this boss. It almost feels like you’re fighting Guts himself, with his black armor, greatsword, and repeating crossbow. In any case, players who found Elden Ring too easy were given a refresher in the opening of Shadow of the Erdtree, with a first minor boss capable of killing them almost instantly thanks to his barrage of gunfire. This is just a taste of what awaits you.
Preparations
- Levels aren’t that important in the DLC, as long as you have around 60 Stamina. It’s more important to collect the Occult Tree Splinters, which will allow you to reach level 4 or even 5 of Shadow Realm Blessings by searching the first area well. This will help you greatly in this fight and the following ones.
- It is not possible to use a spirit summon on this fight, it is one of the rare exceptions. You can try to play cooperatively to compensate.
- This boss’ damage is almost exclusively physical. Talismans and buffs that can reduce this damage will significantly help you survive. Examples include the Draconic Shield Talisman, Boiled Crab, and a Reinforced Opaline in your Vial of Salvation.
Strategy
The Black Jail Knight isn’t a very complex boss, but he has some formidable attack combinations that can take you by surprise. Let’s start with some tips that could change your life:
Watching how the knight holds his weapons is key to combat. This will immediately alert you to what he can do.
- Two-handed crossbow : Repeated shots. You can avoid them by running sideways knowing they are coming. When the boss’s health is low, the shots are flaming.
- Two-handed sword : Heavy attacks like jumping or a big circular strike, and most importantly, a powerful ranged vertical attack.
- Sword held in one hand, with crossbow in the other : Faster series of attacks including a vertical one, and sometimes a jumping attack.
This boss has a major vulnerability, which is shared by all humanoid enemies. It is relatively vulnerable to attacks that will make him flinchwhich will cancel his current action or attack. This means that by taking advantage of an attack opportunity, you can lock him in a vulnerable position for a short while, allowing you to inflict even more damage on him.
The most notable example is when he changes his way to hold your weapons. He is vulnerable for a moment. This is especially true when he grabs his crossbow with both hands. He must perform a reload animation, allowing you to attack it safely before he has a chance to fire. This allows you to get in a few attacks while blocking his fearsome repeater shot. Afterwards, you can encourage him to draw his crossbow by moving away a bit, but staying close enough to sprint and attack when he switches weapons.
This boss has only one healing potion, there is no need to panic when you see him healing himself. With luck, you will be able to interrupt him. In the worst case, the next time he does it, he will perform the empty vial animation, which will allow you to attack him freely.
Awards
The loot is particularly generous, with the excellent Solitude armor set, as well as the Black Jail Greatsword. It is capable of unleashing multiple hits, then a ranged attack similar to the boss’s.
Unfortunately, the Repeating Crossbow is not found here, but it can be found in one of the following areas.
