Knight Artorias returns as one of the most dangerous bosses in Elden Ring: Nightreign. Found in The Forsaken Hollows DLC, this fight is fast, aggressive, and punishing—especially in co-op. Artorias keeps his classic moves but adds new Abyss-based attacks that can overwhelm you if you rush in without a plan. This guide breaks down where to find him, how each phase works, and what you should focus on to bring him down safely.
How to Defeat Knight Artorias in Elden Ring: Nightreign – The Forsaken Hollows
Location of Knight Artorias
You meet Knight Artorias at the Dreglord expedition on Night 2. This expedition only occurs after the player has completed The Balancers’ expedition at least once. Although not the last boss of the night, Artorias is nevertheless a very dangerous opponent to face for the players.
It is advisable to fight him when your character’s level is approximately between 10 and 12. Equalized groups are a great advantage here; having at least one durable melee fighter and one ranged damage dealer will definitely make the battle much more secure.
Phase One – Mastering His Moves
In this phase, Artorias uses predominantly physical sword attacks. A long thrust that covers a longer distance than it seems is typically his first attack, and therefore, dodging backwards is a bit of a gamble. Going to the side works out better.
Most of his basic attacks are slow yet powerful. He might combine them so do not be misled into thinking you are safe after one dodge. Look at his body language—if he holds his sword up and pauses for a while, it means that another blow is on its way.
One attack you must respect is his full-circle spin. When he pulls his sword back and tilts his head, move away immediately. This is a good moment for ranged players to attack or for you to heal.
Artorias also uses his triple jump slam, targeting one player. Each jump has a short pause, so roll, reset your position, then roll again. If you are melee-only, don’t chase him during this move—wait for it to end.
Phase Two – Abyss and Aggression
When Artorias’s health drops to about 60-40%, the battle takes a new turn. He momentarily pulls back, and then, as if getting prepared with darkness, unleashes an Abyss exploding-like wave. It is wise to just keep the distance during that power-up.
Soon after, the arena turns black, and the players get surrounded by the homing black projectiles. Running sideways instead of rolling will allow you to escape them as they track the players.
In this stage, Artorias’ speed is greatly enhanced. His movement becomes better, his attacking rate increases, and the floor is left marked by Abyss. Standing on it increases your power but decreases your toughness. That’s a risky situation, and you should only do that if you are strong and sure of yourself.
Moreover, he will have two fierce new attacks as well. One of them is a high jump grab: he goes up very high, stops for a moment, and then comes down hard. If you get caught, you will not only suffer a big blow but also be thrown away. So the trick is to dodge when he lands and not when he’s airborne.
The other one is a five-hit combo in which the hits are not well-timed. He will paint a purple line with his sword for this attack. The first hit to be dodged, then a brief wait, double dodge, another pause, and finally dodge from the last long swording hit. During this attack, be sure not to be around.
Best Tips to Win the Fight
Blocking is often safer than constant rolling, especially in phase one. A shield user can hold Artorias’ attention while others attack from the sides or from range.
Ranged characters like Ironeye-style builds work very well here. Keep medium distance and be ready to reposition quickly in phase two.
Never overcommit after Artorias roars. That roar is usually followed by an attack, not a free opening.
In co-op, let one player draw aggro while others punish from behind or from afar. If Artorias switches targets, focus on surviving instead of dealing damage.
