Once you gain access to the Night Aspect expedition in Elden Ring: Nightreign, you are stepping into the final phase of your adventure. This expedition culminates in a formidable showdown against Heolstor the Nightlord, the ultimate boss of the game.
While the expedition may seem like typical content, the battle with Heolstor poses a significant challenge that requires proper preparation, particularly during the initial two days of the encounter.
To assist you in conquering Heolstor, I’ve compiled an in-depth guide detailing strategies for a victorious fight. This guide includes ideal team setups, notable attack patterns from Heolstor, and effective strategies to ensure your success.
Optimal Team Composition
From my experience fighting Heolstor multiple times with different classes and team dynamics, I firmly believe that you can choose any Nightfarers for this confrontation. However, if you prefer a more tactical approach, consider the following characters:
- Wylder: This versatile character excels in mobility with his chainhook ability, allowing quick access to Heolstor. His Flaming Stake Ultimate Art is particularly effective for staggering the boss during tough moments.
- Guardian: Unlike most Nightlords, Heolstor boasts a humanoid form in his initial phase. Guardian is a critical pick due to his ability to absorb damage with his Greatshield and his revival Ultimate Art, ensuring team sustainability.
- Ironeye: As a ranged character, Ironeye fits perfectly in the lineup, offering essential iframe abilities that provide safety while melee fighters engage Heolstor. This allows for safer damage dealing until Heolstor redirects his aggression.
Alternatively, consider bringing Raider for his aggressive offensive capabilities or Revenant if you prefer a supportive role from a distance.
Heolstor’s Weaknesses and Preparation
Heolstor is particularly vulnerable to the Holy affinity, making it essential to equip gear that maximizes your damage against him. Ensure that your loadout is optimized for the climactic third day of this fight.
Recommended Level: To effectively engage Heolstor, aim to be at least level 13 or higher.
If you’ve prepared adequately against enemies like Gladius, you should already possess several Holy-based weapons and Ashes of War that will serve you well in this battle.
For players who prefer Ironeye, obtaining the Erdtree Bow through RNG can be game-changing for this encounter. Additionally, Holy Grease can effectively highlight Heolstor’s weaknesses, enabling you to achieve maximum damage.
Furthermore, stock up on items that enhance your physical damage resistance and Poise, facilitating a smoother battle. In my experience, my partner and I managed to defeat Heolstor on our first attempt due to our prior gear optimization.
Strategies to Defeat Heolstor the Nightlord
Heolstor begins in his initial form, The Shape of Night, which resembles a mummified version of himself. Throughout this phase, expect basic sword attacks without elaborate complications.
For your awareness, here are several notable moves that Heolstor showcases during the encounter, which are critical to monitor:
|
Form |
Moveset |
Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Shape of Night | Sword Swing Combos | A series of predictable sword swings; look out for variations in number and speed. |
| Charging Thrust | Heolstor lunges at you from a distance, which can be anticipated and dodged. | |
| Frenzied State | Heolstor attacks relentlessly after a short shriek. | |
| Heolstor The Nightlord | Thrust and Slam | A powerful AoE attack following a charge with his sword. |
| Arc Slashes | Heolstor emits slashing projectiles before striking with a melee attack. | |
| Ground Sweeps & Slashes | Commonly use slashes followed by ground sweeps; these mimic previous boss mechanics. | |
| Phantasmic Projectiles | A challenging set of slow projectiles appears after Heolstor envelops the area in shadow. | |
| Reality Tear Slam | A signature slam attack following a visual cue, creating explosive damage on impact. | |
| Frenzied State | Much like the initial form, Heolstor unleashes an aggressive series of attacks focused on one target. |
The Shape of Night
The initial battle phase, The Shape of Night, is generally not too challenging. You can quickly close in and overpower him alongside your team. However, be cautious of his notable attacks, as unnecessary healing could prove detrimental.
For ranged characters, the risk of damage is lower unless Heolstor suddenly initiates his thrust attack. It’s wise to conserve resources, aiming to save your healing and FP for the more intense second phase.
Heolstor The Nightlord
Your familiarity with previous Soulsborne titles will shape your experience in this battle; Heolstor can be either a formidable challenge or a straightforward encounter, depending on your preparations. The visual spectacle of the rift tear attack makes it a noteworthy experience.
Heolstor operates similarly to dual-phase bosses like Soul of Cinder, utilizing rapid combo attacks with limited recovery time. Always stay aware, as he can switch targets and surprise with swift movements.
His quick dashes and teleportation can close the distance rapidly, making this fight anything but trivial. Maintain pressure on Heolstor by exploiting his Holy affinity weakness to stun him momentarily during combat.
The second phase considerably ramps up the difficulty, as fiery trails are left behind after his strikes, necessitating careful evasion tactics. Thus, managing your stamina during this phase becomes paramount.
With proper leveling and Holy-imbued weapons, you can navigate this battle adeptly, even opting for a solo attempt to embrace the authentic FromSoftware experience—especially since recent patches have enhanced solo play.
Upon vanquishing Heolstor, you’ll earn the Primordial Nightlord’s Rune and the Night of the Lord Relic, which possesses intriguing effects on weapon switching. Discover the relic’s potential for yourself when you lay your hands on it.
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