This is a guide on how to beat Black Blade Kindred, an optional boss in Elden Ring. Read on to learn more about Black Blade Kindred's drops, weaknesses, and recommended level!

Black Blade Kindred General Info

Stats and Rewards

Black Blade Kindred (Caelid)
Weakness	Resistance	Immune
Strike	Slash Fire Holy Lightning Thrust	Poison Sleep Scarlet Rot Frost Bleed
Affected By	━
Spirit Ashes Available?	Yes
Rune Rewards	88000 (NG)
Summonable NPCs	None
Location	・Bestial Sanctum, Caelid
Item Drops	・Gargoyle's Black Halberd ・Gargoyle's Blackblade

Black Blade Kindred Location

Where to Find Black Blade Kindred

From Limgrave, head straight east into Greyoll's Dragonbarrow, then head north, till you reach the Bestial Sanctum.

Another way to reach this location would be to meet D, Hunter of the Dead and use the waygate he pins on the map for you. This waygate will lead you straight to the Bestial Sanctum.

How to Beat Black Blade Kindred

Tips for Beating Black Blade Kindred
Use Sorceries or Magic-Infused Weapons
Equip Striking or Piercing Weapons
Aim to Stagger Black Blade Kindred with Jump Attacks
Learn Its Moves to Dodge Perfectly
Don't Stick Too Close
Cheese Strat: Fight From Inside Bestial Sanctum

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Ranged Strategy

Black Blade Kindred Boss Tips
Use Fast, Homing Spells or Magic Arrows
Summon a Melee Spirit Ash
Learn to Dodge All Its Moves
Cheese Strat: Fight From Inside Bestial Sanctum

Use Fast, Homing Spells or Magic Arrows

Black Blade Kindred is a slim, fast-moving target so stay on your feet and ready to dodge at any given moment by equipping quick-release spells like Swift Glintstone Shard. For archer builds, use magic-infused arrows like Dwelling Arrows.

Summon a Melee Spirit Ash

Mimic Tear Ashes or Banished Knight Engvall will be excellent tanky melee spirit ashes that will do well to draw Black Blade Kindred's attention while you unleash your slower, more powerful spells.

Learn to Dodge All Its Moves

Backpedaling and dodging backwards are good strategies to keep your distance while you dish out long-range attacks. However, Black Blade Kindred has attacks that home in on your position. The Bulldozing Thrust move especially can't be dodged with a simple back roll, so take some time to learn how to react to its moves.

Cheese Strat: Fight From Inside Bestial Sanctum

You can cheese Black Blade Kindred for an easy kill by using ranged attacks from inside the Bestial Sanctum. The boss won't be able to enter the opening of the building, so keep on sniping it till it dies. Note that you can still be hit by its more long-range attacks, and its Black Blade abilities, so don't stick too close to the doors.

Melee Strategy

Black Blade Kindred Boss Tips
Jump Attacks to Stagger
Attack Only at Combo Ends
Retreat After Attacking
Use Striking or Piercing Attacks
Imbue Your Weapon with Magic

Jump Attacks to Stagger

Black Blade Kindred likes to move around a lot, so stringing hits is not a good idea. Aim to stagger this boss by performing jump attacks. Perform critical attacks on Black Blade Kindred's face when it staggers.

Attack Only at Combo Ends

You will need to learn Black Blade Kindred's combos and how to dodge each one of them. The best time to attack Black Blade Kindred is at the very end of each of its combos.

Retreat After Attacking

Black Blade Kindred does a nasty bunt attack when you're too close, so once you're done landing one or two hits, retreat a few paces back.

Use Striking or Piercing Attacks

These attacks will do slightly more damage than slashing attacks, although slashing weapons will still work fine if you have little other choice.

Imbue Your Weapon with Magic

Black Blade Kindred is immune to all status ailments so imbuing your weapon with additional magic damage with an item like Magic Grease or a spell like Scholar's Armament will do good to increase your damage output

Black Blade Kindred Attack Patterns

Blade Attacks

Blade Attack Variations
3-Hit Combo: Black Blade Kindred performs two slashes and a thrust at the end to create a 3-hit combo. Each slash can be dodged with the right timing. Feel free to punish Black Blade Kindred right after its thrust.
5-Slash Combo: Black Blade Kindred holds its blade to its chest, then goes in to deal a series of 5 slashes that can swiftly kill you. You'll need to dodge backwards to dodge the first two slashes, then dodge backwards again to avoid the next two slashes, then dodge diagonally forward with its final downward slash so you will be positioned to get a few hits in after the deadly combo ends.
Sword Bunt Retaliation: If you are too close to Black Blade Kindred, its will bunt you with its blade and jump backwards with a slash. The bunt comes very quickly and is hard to avoid if you're in the middle of a combo. Try not to mash attack from the front to avoid this move from activating entirely.
Sword Thrust: Black Blade Kindred does a single thrust with its sword. Easily blocked or dodged in any direction.
Uppercut Slash: Black Blade Kindred holds its blade to its chest, then moves in to perform a single powerful upward slash. Dodge this in any direction. To differentiate this move from the 5-slash combo, Black Blade Kindred turns its back toward you for a split second before performing the uppercut slash.

Halberd Attacks

Halberd Attack Variations
Double Halberd Slash: Black Blade Kindred performs two horizontal slashes with its halberd. These slashes are very slow and easy to avoid. Simply dodge roll into the attacks, and punish Black Blade Kindred with a few hits afterwards.
Flying Halberd Smash: Black Blade Kindred flies into the air, readies its halberd, then swoops down on you with a slash. Dodge roll forward directly into the attack, right before the moment of impact to avoid getting hit.
Spinning Double Slash: Black Blade Kindred turns its back to you, readying for an attack, then performs two quick spinning slashes that can't be dodge-rolled consecutively. Once you see this boss turn its back to you, it's best to run away as fast as possible. If it's too late to escape, try blocking to mitigate the damage.
Bulldozing Thrust to Flying Smash: Black Blade Kindred does a series of attacks that can devastate the unprepared: First, it charges at you with a multi-hit thrust, then jumps into the air and does a ground plunge. Once you see Black Blade Kindred perform the indicated pose above, get ready to dodge diagonally forward to avoid its deadly bulldozing thrust. Then, when it's in the air, time your dodge at the right time to avoid damage. Right after the plunge, you can punish this boss with a few hits.

Weapon Change Attacks

Weapon Change Attack Variations
Equip Halberd: Black Blade Kindred sheathes its blade and brings out its halberd, performing a slash to the ground that is easily dodged in any direction. With its halberd out, it will perform halberd attacks until it equips the blade once more.
Equip Blade: Black Blade Kindred sheathes its halberd and brings out its blade, performing a slash with small range, that is easily dodged in any direction. With its blade out, it will continue to perform blade attacks until it changes back to the halberd.

Black Blade Attacks

Black Blade Attack Variations
Black Blade Slash: Black Blade Kindred holds its blade to the sky, charges up, then slashes downward, releasing Black Blade energy in a straight line. This is a tricky move to dodge, as this move anticipates your movement and will land slightly ahead of where you're running/dodging towards. Still, it is possible to avoid it by dodging diagonally forward at the very last second.
Blade Blade Cyclone: Black Blade Kindred begins this move by hopping slightly into the air with its halberd, then unleashes a flurry of three Black Blade slashes. When you see this boss hopping into the air, move back immediately so the first two slashes miss without you having to dodge. The third slash is a downward slash with long reach, so dodge diagonally forward and punish Black Blade Kindred with a few hits.

Elden Ring Related Guides

List of All Bosses

DLC Bosses

Main Bosses

Optional Bosses

Mini-Bosses

Hostile NPCs and Invaders