Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion added a lot of new content to the base game, including a host of new deadly bosses to challenge players' skills and tenacity.
One of these new enemies is the Blackgaol Knight, a nameless foe who will humble greedy players who bite off more than they can chew. A lot of players have struggled against this particular boss and he serves as a reminder of how deadly DLC bosses can be.
Fortunately, this guide will help players understand how to fight the Blackgaol Knight and avoid getting ahead of themselves in order to beat him.
Preparing for the Fight
The first thing you need to do if you want to win against the Blackgaol Knight boss is to prepare beforehand.
The location of this enemy is on the western side of the Gravesite Plain and players can view it clearly from the Sites of Grace in the central area around the Scorched Ruins, according to TheGamer.
It is recommended to do some stuff before heading towards the boss' area, such as finding a Scardurtree Fragment or two to increase your stats.
You can also prepare a percentage-based damage mechanic, such as Bleed or Black Flame, through your weapon, spells, or others.
You should also see if you can upgrade your weapon anymore so that you can deal as much damage to the Blackgaol Knight as you can.
It can be beneficial to bring a Wondrous Physick that has a damage-negation buff, like the Opaline Bubbletear, and also bring Boiled Prawn.
Fighting the Blackgaol Knight Boss
After you have prepared everything you think you would need, you can head towards the boss and fight him. One difference this foe has over others in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is that it does not have two phases, said OneEsports.
This means that you can focus entirely on the boss' mechanics and not worry about anything changing or the Blackgaol Knight changing attack patterns. He only uses two weapons during the entire fight, a Crossbow and a Giant Greatsword.
You should also take care of the boss' regular bolts and his occasional flame bolts that he can shoot from afar. When the Blackgaol Knight starts attacking you using his crossbow, you should move horizontally while also closing the distance between you and him.
This is so that you can take advantage of a small window after he finishes firing where you can damage him using your weapon. If you're feeling brave, you can also close the distance before he fires his crossbow.
When you're up close, the Blackgaol Knight boss can use his Giant Greatsword to swing at you, which has the same four-hit animation that is given to all Greatswords. If you are able to perform a Jumping heavy attack, you can cancel the boss' attack combo.
If you can't then you should just dodge backward and wait for the Blackgaol Knight to finish his combo before moving in to deal some damage.
One thing that you should also keep a lookout for is the boss' Dash Slash where he holds his strike for a moment before dashing and slashing you, according to GameRant.
Other Tips
You should be aware of the boss' Blasphemous Blade-like weapon skill that will launch a wave of physical damage when the Blackgaol Knight brings its Giant Greatsword down. This will always be followed by a charge slash that you should avoid.
If you have a high Guard Boost shield and a lot of Stamina, you can actually block the majority of the Blackgaol Knight's attacks. However, this would leave you with not much Stamina left to counterattack, so be wary.
