Elden Ring Nightreign: Gladius, Beast of Night Guide
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Build a two-day plan before you enter the boss arena
Gladius, the Beast of Night, is the Nightlord for the standard Tricephalos expedition. The fight is demanding when the team arrives underlevelled or carrying unupgraded starting gear, so give the earlier days a clear purpose. Take nearby camps for levels, work a church into the route for flask uses, and use a tunnel or merchant anvil once you have a weapon worth improving.
Gladius is weak to Holy damage. If a Holy weapon or effect drops, give it to the player who can use it safely rather than treating it as a decorative pickup. Holy damage helps, but it is not a reason to enter the arena without healing, a route back to allies, or a weapon you understand. A reliable upgraded weapon is better than a poorly used colour match.
Before the Night closes, regroup. Agree who will look for revives and who can keep damage on the boss during a recovery. If you found a strong ranged option, it can be useful for helping a downed ally without standing in the middle of the melee.
Stay patient at close range
Watch the chain as Gladius lifts and swings its sword. The blade covers a wide arc, so leave room for a follow-up instead of attacking immediately after the first dodge. At close range, bites, paw slams and a tail sweep punish players who stay beside the body through an entire combo. Let the committed strike finish, take a short opening, and keep enough stamina to move again.
For a melee player, wait until Gladius commits to a lunge or a long movement before closing. For a ranged player, keep a path clear to the group; damage is useful, but a safe revive can save the whole expedition. Save long-cooldown tools for a clear opening or a moment when the team needs space.
Solve the split phase together
Gladius can divide into three hounds. In a full party, drawing them apart can make each attack easier to read; keep track of teammates so you can still respond to a knockdown. Do not drag your hound across another player’s healing or revival attempt.
Watch for a red target marker on a player: all three hounds can converge on that Nightfarer. If marked, prioritise running and dodging through the pursuit while your teammates attack from safer angles. If someone else is marked, avoid crowding their escape path. The target changes, so reassess rather than chasing one hound through the whole phase.
If a teammate is downed, attack the death gauge to revive them before the next knockdown makes the recovery longer. It is usually better to pause a personal damage sequence than to leave the team short-handed. Co-op and revival explains that recovery system in detail.
Defeating Gladius for the first time also awards the Old Pocketwatch needed for Duchess. Treat that as a useful reward, not the only reason to learn the fight: the route, preparation, and group discipline here are skills you will use against every later Nightlord.