How to Beat Commander Niall in Castle Sol

Master the Commander Niall boss fight in Elden Ring's Castle Sol. Learn his attack patterns, weaknesses, and strategies to overcome him and his spectral knights.

Alright, so you've made it to Castle Sol and you're ready to take on Commander Niall. This guy's a bit of a roadblock for a lot of players, and honestly, he's pretty intimidating. But don't worry, we'll get through this together. Think of him as a tough exam before the real endgame stuff. Let's break down how to handle him.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Weaknesses: Standard, Slash, Pierce, Strike, Fire, Holy
• Resistances: Lightning, Dark, Frost
• Immunities: Sleep, Madness, Hemorrhage, Scarlet Rot, Death Blight

Phases:

1. Phase 1: Commander Niall fights alongside two spectral knights. One wields a sword and shield, the other uses dual swords. The dual-wielding knight is faster and more aggressive, making him the priority target. The sword-and-shield knight is slower but still dangerous.
2. Phase 2: Once both spectral knights are defeated, Commander Niall becomes more aggressive and uses powerful lightning and frost attacks. He'll leap into the air, stomp the ground, and perform lunging attacks.

Strategy:

• Dealing with the Knights: In Phase 1, your main goal is to survive the onslaught of the two knights. The dual-wielding knight is the biggest threat due to its speed and relentless combos. Try to isolate him if possible, or use the environment to your advantage. The sword-and-shield knight is more predictable, so focus on dodging its attacks and looking for openings. If you have a Spirit Ash that can draw aggro, now's the time to use it.
• Commander Niall's Attacks:
• Halberd Combo: Niall performs a four-hit combo with his halberd, including sweeps and an overhead smash. You can either create distance or dodge each hit individually. The overhead smash is telegraphed, so time your dodge just before impact.
• Lightning Stomp: He'll charge up his prosthesis, leap into the air, and crash down, creating a lightning shockwave. Back away from his initial swings (which can cause frost damage) and dodge just before he lands.
• Ground Stomp: A quicker version of the lightning stomp, where he stomps the ground without the aerial charge. Keep your distance or dodge as he hits the ground.
• Frostwhirl Lunge: After a spin that creates wind (minor frost damage), he lunges and performs an upward strike. Dodge the upward strike, not the initial wind effect.
• Phase 2 Tactics: Once the knights are down, Niall is all yours. He's still dangerous, but without the extra pressure, you can focus on his moves. His lightning stomp and ground stomp are your best opportunities to punish him. When he leaps for the lightning stomp, dodge *just* as he lands. For his lunging attacks, dodge to the side or through him. Be patient; don't get greedy with your attacks. Chip away at his health when you see clear openings.
• Recommended Gear: Consider using weapons with Fire or Holy damage, as he's weak to them. If you have any buffs or incantations that boost your damage or defense, now is a good time to use them.

It might take a few tries, but once you get the hang of his attack patterns and learn when to dodge and when to strike, Commander Niall will fall. Keep at it, Tarnished!