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You just know deep inside you, that Commander Gaius will trample your dignity in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. That’s because he’s a mounted boss— moreover, he chose a wild boar as his mount. Based on experience, any boss with a weird mount is going to give you a biblical beating. Thus, I’ve prepared a guide on how to beat Commander Gaius in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree without taking too much of a beating yourself.
Where to Find Commander Gaius in Elden Ring
Before anything, you will need to find this boss and you want to do it ASAP. Near his location is a bundle of Scadutree Fragments. Besides, it’s an epic jousting boss fight, especially if you mount up with Torrent.
Here’s how to get to Commander Gaius first.
- Defeat Rellana to get access to Scadu Altus.
- In Scadu Altus, go to Moorth Ruins in the east.
- Look for an entrance underground on the eastern edge of Moorth Ruins. This underground passage will lead to Bonny Village below Moorth Ruins.
- From Bonny Village, cross the two rope bridges to the east, follow the road north, and then turn northwest at the fork.
- This should lead you to Shadow Keep, Chruch District. It’s flooded, so be careful not to fall into the water.
- Proceed through the flooded Church District and look for a passageway and elevator that leads to the Storehouse Back Section (Grace) in the main library area of the Shadow Keep.
- Look for ladders, elevators, and cross a dangerous beam platforming section with bat enemies. They will eventually lead you to the Shadow Keep Back Gate (Grace) and into the Commander Gaius boss arena, the Scaduview area.
Your sightseeing won’t last long since Commander Gaius will attack you immediately. From here, it’s time to give tips on survival and how to win.
How to Beat Commander Gaius in Elden Ring
As always, preparation is key to this fight, and going in while you’re not ready will result in frustration. As is the case with all Shadow of the Erdtree boss fights, Commander Gaius is a tough one.
However, he’s more manageable compared to bosses like Romina or Messmer since he will give you plenty of room to heal and attack. Consider these tips and preparation pointers to increase your chances of winning.
- Make sure your Scadutree Blessing is at 10+.
- Max out your weapon or your Spirit Ashes (if you want to use one).
- Equip Stamina recovery boosts.
- Bring a Greatshield if you can carry it. It’s safer to block than to roll.
- This boss can bleed.
- You can ride Torrent (though I don’t recommend it).
It’s not much, but this is what worked for me after 3-4 comfortable attempts without any summon. The boss doesn’t have exploitable weaknesses (that we know of) unlike the Scadutree Avatar who wilts in the presence of fire.
I highly recommend just using a Greatshield and boosting your Endurance to at least 40. Any Greatshield with 100 percent Physical block, 70+ Guard Boost, and high Magic damage block works wonders– much safer than rolling away from Commander Gaius’ attacks. Also, for a more comfortable attempt, try out this gear combination if you’re having trouble:
- Again, any Greatshield with the following stats:
- 100 percent Physical block
- 70+ Guard Boost
- 60+ percent Magic damage block
- Any thrusting weapon with infused Bleed or Rot (Estoc, Cleanrot Sword, Great Epee, Antspur Rapier, etc.).
- The following Talismans:
- Greatshield Talisman
- Spear Talisman
- Two-Headed Turtle Talisman/Green Turtle Talisman
Poke him with your thrusting weapon while you’re blocking. Just be mindful of your Stamina. You will need to also be mindful of attacks that are unblockable, such as the boar slam quake which is an attack from the top.
The fight with Commander Gaius also has two phases and you will reach Phase 2 once you bring his HP down to around 50 percent.
Phase 1 of Commander Gaius Boss Fight
Pretty straightforward slugfest, this one. It also doesn’t matter whether you’re ranged or melee, Commander Gaius will trample you and try to fight in melee range. Just remember the following tips during Phase 1:
- Forget about using Torrent, if you get knocked off, you’re in trouble.
- Block his attacks with the Greatshield while poking with a bleed weapon, otherwise, practice frequent evasions and rolling.
- Don’t block the frontal/aerial boar slam, this roll away from this attack.
If you use the Greatshield method, the first phase will usually be a breeze. Then it’s on to Phase 2.
Phase 2 of Commander Gaius Boss Fight
In Phase 2, Commander Gaius will channel his inner Radahn fanboy and summon Gravity Sorceries. You usually don’t have to worry about them if you have a Greatshield. Most of the tips from Phase 1 will still work, but you need to keep a couple of new attacks in mind.
- You can block the aerial Gravity slam, but make sure your HP isn’t low.
- Run away from the black hole/Gravity Pull as this can ruin your positioning.
- Don’t be in melee range when he’s charging up with purple lightning.
If you’re having a tough time, Black Knife Tiche is apparently an MVP for fights like this since she is immune to status effects. She does have a high FP requirement for summoning, however. You can also opt for the good ol’ Mimic Tear– nothing like helping yourself.
