How to Beat Crucible Knight: Boss Fight Guide

This is a guide on how to beat Crucible Knight, an optional boss in Elden Ring. Read on to learn more about Crucible Knight's strengths, weaknesses, attack patterns, and lore!

Crucible Knight General Info

Stats and Rewards

Crucible Knight
Weakness	Resistance	Immune
━	Standard Strike Slash Holy Frost Scarlet Rot Sleep Poison Thrust	Bleed Madness
Affected By	Poison, Scarlet Rot, Frost, Sleep
Spirit Ashes Available?	No
Rune Rewards	2100 (NG)
Summonable NPCs	None
Location	・Auriza Hero's Grave, Altus Plateau ・Stormhill Evergaol, Limgrave
Item Drops	・Aspects of the Crucible: Tail

Crucible Knight Location

Where to Find

Map Location
View Full Image
Recommended Level	Lv.30

Crucible Knight is within Stormhill Evergaol, up on the cliffs towering above Gatefront Ruins. We recommend heading there from the Warmaster's Shack site of grace instead the one nearest to it (Gatefront) because the path is safer.

How to Beat Crucible Knight

Tips for Beating Crucible Knight
Let attack combos finish, then counter
Don't stray too far to avoid double tail sweeps
Bait stomps to gain large damage openings

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Ranged Strategy

Crucible Knight Boss Tips
Strike after its attack combos
Watch out for its lunges and dash attacks

Strike After Crucible Knight's Attack Combos

Crucible Knight is unstoppable when it starts its flurry of greatsword, shield, and magic attacks. Take advantage of its recovery animation for each hard-hitting combo and never overcommit to attacking. Always step back and bait out the next attack afterward after performing your counter.

Watch out for Crucible Knight's Lunges and Dash Attacks

Crucible Knight isn't going to just let you maintain the distance. Anticipate his distance-closing attacks, especially when it goes down to 50% HP.

Melee Strategy

Crucible Knight Boss Tips
Parries and Blocks are Essential
Bait Foot Stomps
Stay Just Outside of Its Greatsword Range
Never Heal When Its Idle

Parries and Blocks are Essential

Crucible Knight can be a relentless boss if players just let it swing away. Consider parrying its attacks to turn its aggressive nature to your advantage. Every attack can be blocked as well, providing another layer of protection for shielded players.

Bait Foot Stomps

Foot Stomps can easily lock Crucible Knight in long-winded combos, allowing you to either reposition for counter attacks or chug your flask safely. Stay within melee range to bait this attack.

Stay Just Outside of Its Greatsword Range

Crucible Knight gets even deadlier at 50% HP as it unlocks its spells at this stage of the fight. Try to avoid its devastating Double Charged Tail Sweep by staying just within range of its greatsword since maintaining a large distance between you and Crucible Knight forces it to use the attack more often.

Never Heal When Its Idle

Crucible Knight likes to lunge or close the distance on players whenever its idle for too long. It seems to be especially receptive to whenever a player chugs a flask in front of it. Make sure its performing an long attack combos such as Foot Stomp and Airborne Assault to heal safely.

Crucible Knight Attack Patterns

Greatsword Attacks

Greatsword Attack Variations
Double Overhead Slash: A simple yet effective combo that can throw anyone off. The first slash is a quick overhead slash in either diagonal position, while the follow-up is a vertical slash in the opposite direction with a staggered timing. Melee players can easily parry either strike to interrupt the combo. It's important to note that Crucible Knight can do this combo two-handed, which increases the damage and slightly alters the timings.
Forward Lunge: Crucible Knight performs a quick lunge that covers a large distance in front of it. Anticipate its charge, then dodge as soon as it springs forward. You can also parry this attack with the right timing.
Charging Lateral Slash: A two-hit combo that starts with a charging horizontal slash, followed by any attack in its Crucible Knight's arsenal.
Grinding Uppercut: Crucible Knight grinds its sword on the ground as it charges towards you for a quick uppercut, this can be followed by any of its attacks and can be devastating when it connects. Dodge as soon as Crucible Knight starts lifting its greatsword off the ground.

Shield Bash

Shield Bash Attack Information
Shield Bash: Crucible Knight braces low with its horned shield in front before lunging forward towards its target. The attack launches anyone it hits, opening you to potential follow-up attacks with its greatsword. Fortunately, this attack is heavily telegraphed, making it easy to dodge.

Foot Stomp

Foot Stomp Attack Information
Foot Stomp: Crucible Knight plants its foot on the ground, sending a three-pronged quake in front that covers a considerable distance. They key to evading this move is to dodge or block just before its foot hits the ground. This is usually followed-up by a Double Overhead Slash or Forward Lunge if players are too far from it.

Tail Attacks

Crucible Knight starts using these attacks once it drops to about 50% HP.

Tail Attack Variations
Single Tail Sweep: An incredibly fast tail sweep that can be chained from almost any attack in its arsenal. Check Crucible Knight's body language once it hits 50% HP. There's a good chance it'll perform this move whenever his body twists towards either side after an attack
Charged Double Tail Sweep: This is a devastating variation that can easily one-shot anyone hit by the second sweep. Crucible Knight performs a fast Tail Sweep that covers a larger radius than the single version, followed up by an even larger charged tail sweep that covers an even greater radius. Not much can be done except to block or dodge both strikes when caught within range. You can reduce the odds of Crucible Knight performing this move by staying just within range of its greatsword attacks at all times.

Airborne Assault

Airborne Assault Attack Information
Airborne Assault: Crucible Knight summons its wings and takes flight. It stays in the air for a few seconds before swooping down towards the target with its greatsword. You can easily dodge this attack by moving towards its shield arm as soon as it takes flight, then dodge once it starts swooping towards you.

Elden Ring Related Guides

List of All Bosses

DLC Bosses

Main Bosses

Optional Bosses

Mini-Bosses

Hostile NPCs and Invaders