Blackgaol Knight is a Showcase for Shadow of the Erdtrees New Build Meta

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As a seasoned Elden Ring adventurer with countless hours spent traversing the Lands Between and its expansions, I must say that Blackgaol Knight is a formidable addition to the DLC roster in Shadow of the Erdtree. Having faced many a boss, both in the base game and the DLC, I can confidently assert that this spirit-clad knight sets the bar high for newcomers and veterans alike.

As a gamer, stepping into the expansive world of Shadow of the Erdtree, I soon discovered that certain areas are prime spots for my first brush with a boss battle as I delve deeper into this fascinating realm. Among these early challenges, one particularly notable foe is Blackgaol Knight, an NPC-type adversary who swiftly establishes the toughness of the new location’s combat encounters.

Concealed within an unnamed tomb, the Blackgaol Knight manifests as a spectral figure donning armor from Solitude and wielding the Greatsword of Solitude. Interestingly, the Solitude gear now plays a more prominent role in defining this boss’ persona, as a recent Elden Ring update has rechristened the character as the Prisoner of the Lonesome Fortress.

The Blackgaol Knight Wears Shadow of the Erdtree’s Meta on its Sleeve

Armor of Solitude Bolsters the Blackgaol Knight

In Shadow of the Erdtree, Blackgaol Knight – one of the initial hidden bosses – offers players a gentle introduction to the DLC’s challenge level by presenting a standard NPC-style battle using exclusive equipment from the new content. Although the fundamental moveset might seem familiar, the Greatsword of Solitude introduces unexpected twists to the typical pattern. This is largely due to the Ash of War associated with the Greatsword of Solitude, which can unleash a powerful vacuum cut at a distance and then follow up with a high-leaping attack that nearly spans the entire arena.

Beyond the extended maneuvers provided by the Greatsword of Solitude’s Ash of War, Blackgaol Knight additionally acquires a modest level of resilience when wielding the weapon with both hands. This enables the boss to withstand damage from multiple attacks and retaliate against overzealous players, even in encounters with colossal weapons. This distinctive feature highlights one of the more potent builds in Elden Ring, which receives a significant enhancement due to the addition of a new mechanic in Shadow of the Erdtree.

The Blackgaol Knight Rewards by Bolstering the Player

Armor is a tricky subject in FromSoftware titles, Elden Ring included, as stats like poise have been reworked from game to game ever since Dark Souls. However, while the exact benefits of poise have been difficult to quantify for most builds, the raw defense offered by heavier suits of armor can be the difference between surviving a boss’ endless combo or being instantly sent back to the nearest site of grace. In the case of the new DLC armor, the boon from the Scadutree Blessings found in Shadow of the Erdtree helps to not only improve a player’s damage, but also increase the effectiveness of each piece of equipment’s damage reduction.

Beginning your DLC adventure by entering Blackgoal Knight’s Unnamed Tomb can significantly advantage newcomers to Shadow of the Erdtree. Although Blackgoal Knight is undeniably harder to defeat than some NPCs in the main storyline of Elden Ring, he still exhibits many characteristics typical of his type. His AI can often be controlled for a relatively straightforward win. This early encounter grants players a potent weapon with ranged capabilities, along with an armor set that complements tracking Scadutree fragments, helping to bridge the difficulty gap between Shadow of the Erdtree and the base game.

In the expansive game Shadow of the Erdtree, filled with a multitude of maps and fresh equipment, players might feel overwhelmed when deciding on a strategy for the DLC. Yet, it’s advantageous that FromSoftware provides an impressive initial collection of gear, easily accessible not far from the beginning of Shadow of the Erdtree. Additionally, players are instantly introduced to a distinctive boss character, disrupting typical NPC norms and offering an engaging start to the new content.

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2024-11-05 02:35