Gladius, Beast of the Night, also known as Tricephalos, is the first Nightlord that you face in Elden Ring Nightreign. The boss isn’t too hard, but the fact that you spend time learning the game before facing the boss means the fight feels more difficult than it should be.
Additionally, you don’t unlock the other bosses of the game before defeating the first Nightlord. Here’s a detailed guide that will cover everything necessary for you to easily clear Gladius, Beast of the Night.
Gladius, Beast Of The Night Boss Move List In Elden Ring Nightreign

Here are the key moves that you should keep in mind when facing Gladius Beast of the Night.
Move List | Description | How To Counter |
---|---|---|
Sword Swipe | Gladius will swing its massive sword in a circle twice, with the radius of the second one being larger than the first. Deals massive damage if hit. Sometimes, there is a third swing as well, so be careful until all the swings are complete. | The easiest way to counter it is either moving back and staying out of the radius or dodging right when it’s about to hit you. |
Bite | Gladius will jump on the player and bite them. It can bite either once or three times. | Just dodge sideways or backwards, and you will be safe from the bite |
Split | Gladius splits into three individual units and targets the players. Can use bite in this state. | Just disengage in this state as it’s way too risky to fight due to getting ganked. |
Fire Blast | Gladius breathes fire towards the player. | Dodge sideways or simply walk away from range. |
Fire Slash | Gladius drags its sword to release a fiery slash over a wide area. | While the fire has a wide area, it comes out in the form of a cone with areas between the slashes where you are safe. Simply stand on those areas and you will be fine. |
Gladius, Beast Of the Night Boss Guide In Elden Ring Nightreign

Gladius is a very aggressive boss, and it will take effort from all three players to defeat it. The first and most important part about fighting Gladius is picking up the correct counter element.
The boss is weak to Holy damage, so you should scour all the Holy camps in the preparation phases and pick up any Talisman or items that boost your Holy output. Additionally, it’s recommended you stay around level 10 or above before fighting the boss.
When you start fighting the boss, keep a lookout for the various moves listed in the previous section. The moves are telegraphed and easy to recognize. So you should be able to dodge them pretty easily.
Fight the boss only when it’s in the three-headed form, as one of the players can keep the boss’s attention, while the other two deal damage. When the Tricephalos splits, it’s time to disengage and run. Do not try to fight as if you get jumped on by all three of them, it’s difficult to come out alive.
It’s important you don’t die too much, as Gladius is very aggressive, so reviving players from their downed state is complicated.
Recommended Characters For Gladius, Beast Of The Night

Gladius is an aggressive boss, so characters who are evasive will work the best, especially those who have fast attack animations. The best characters to pick for this fight are:
- Ironeye
- Revenant
- Wylder
- Recluse
- Duchess
Ironeye can easily dodge Gladius with its Skill ability and also mark the boss for high damage. Revenant can use its summons to distract the boss, thereby opening opportunities for the player.
Wylder is simple to play and can tank hits while also dealing damage with sufficient speed. A very balanced character and best for players who are new to Elden Ring and Souls games in general.
Recluse is also very good at providing support from a distance, while Duchess, being evasive, can dodge through Gladius’s attacks and easily launch powerful counterattacks.
The problem is that Recluse is very hard to play and not recommended for new players. You’ll have to learn various combos and know what to use and how to use them to make an impact in the boss fights. Recluse is also very squishy and can die very easily.
Recommended Build For Gladius, Beast Of The Night
Since drops are random, it’s difficult to recommend anything particular. However, this is how your character should look like towards the end of Day 2 to make your runs easier:
Character Level | 10 or above (Ideally 12) |
Weapon | Anything that can deal Holy damage |
Talisman | HP boost, Stamina Recovery, Fire Damage negation, Holy Damage Boost, Weapon damage boost. |
Gladius, Beast Of The Night Drops In Elden Ring Nightreign

These are the various drops you receive upon defeating Gladius, Beast of the Night, in Elden Ring Nightreign:
- Relics
- Trace of Night
- Old Pocketwatch (used to unlock Duchess)
- Night of the Beast Relic
With the first Night lord defeated, check our guides on how best to prepare for fights against the Gaping Jaw, Augur, Equilibrius, and the Darkdrift Knight.