This is a guide for Commander Gaius in Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree. Learn about Commander Gaius' location and weakness, how to get to Commander Gaius, the best build against Commander Gaius, and Commander Gaius cheese methods.

Commander Gaius Location

Found Guarding the Field Behind the Shadow Keep

World View	Map Location

Commander Gaius is located in the large field behind the Shadow Keep. Players will only be able to reach this area if they have access to the back side of the Shadow Keep's Specimen Storehouse section.

Shadow Keep Legacy Dungeon Walkthrough

How to Get to Commander Gaius

1	You can reach the east entrance of Shadow Keep by going west from the Church District Highroad until you reach the Church District Entrance. The Church District Highroad site of grace might be already active if you've been following Ymir's questline.
2	From the Church District Entrance, jump down the roof below you then go to the other side. You'll need to jump again to the next rooftop, but you'll have to be careful as you might fall into the water at the center. Now, go up the broken wall to your right to reach the ledge above.
3	Run towards the edge of this ledge to easily reach the next rooftop, then run to the left until you see another roof.
4	Jump down the roof below, onto the buttress on your left, and up to the next roof to find a large hole.
5	Drop down onto the beams below and down again on the floor below with the chandeliers.
6	Follow the hallway to the west until you see a doorway with a bridge on your left. Go to the end of this bridge to find a lift that will take you several floors above.
7	Turn left, run past the site of grace, and climb the first ladder that you will see.
8	Turn right and go up the stairs to the upper floor. A large hole can be found on the northeast wall of this room that will take you outside the keep. Follow the path south to re-enter the keep and find a site of grace.
9	Take the small lift up and look to the west where you will spot a ladder. Head for this ladder and climb up.
10	Walk west again and drop down the cog so you can safely land on the small room below.
11	Go back outside and take the small lift down to another wooden path. You will find a slightly larger lift on other end of this path which will take you to a site of grace.
12	Past the site of grace is the Shadow Keep's back gate that will lead you to Commander Gaius' boss arena.

Commander Gaius Weakness

Weak to Fire, Lightning, and Holy

Commander Gaius is weak to attacks that deal Fire, Lightning, or Holy damage. These affinities dealt the most damage per hit when we tested each affinity using the same weapon against Commander Gaius.

Weapons that innately deal fire damage like Eleonora's Poleblade (the blood loss buildup is a bonus) are good choices, or if you're using incantations, you can try memorizing lightning Dragon Incantations or holy ones like Black Blade.

Best Build Against Commander Gaius

Flame, Holy, and Lightning Weapons are Recommended

Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear

Bolt of Gransax

Barbed Staff-Spear

Weapons that deal Commander Gaius' weakness are highly recommended such as Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear for fire damage, Bolt of Gransax for lightning, and Barbed Staff-Spear for holy is highly recommended.

Infusing Weapons And Changing Affinity is Also Recommended

If you're using weapons that can be infused with Ashes of War, you can also opt to change the weapon's affinity to either Holy, Lightning, or Fire damage.

Take note as these elements will scale with Faith so if you have a low Faith stat, consider respeccing or investing a few more stats in Faith to make these weapons deal higher damage.

Scarlet Rot, Poison, and Blood Loss Weapons Are Great Options

Commander Gaius is not weak to Status Buildup but he is also not immune to it. Weapons that can inflict Scarlet Rot, Poison, and Blood Loss are strong weapons to consider such as the Antspur Rapier, Eleonora's Poleblade, and the Serpentbone Blade.

Status Ailment Boosting Talismans

Lord of Blood's Exultation

Kindred of Rot's Exultation

If you went for weapons that can deal status ailments, consider equipping the Lord of Blood's Exultation if your weapon deals blood loss or the Kindred of Rot's Exultation if you deal poison or scarlet rot. Additionally, you can even equip both Talismans by using both bleed and poison or scarlet rot to gain both of their benefits!

Use Flame and Lightning Spells to Deal Damage

Honed Bolt	Catch Flame
Black Flame	Black Flame Ritual

We use spells that can inflict Commander Gaius' weaknesses while also being a fast spell such as the Honed Bolt, Black Flame, and Catch Flame.

We also recommend spells that are able to hit multiple times such as the Black Flame Ritual as Commander Gaius' combos are extremely long so casting these then focusing on evasion whill maximize their effectiveness.

Avoid Using Holy Spells

Despite Commander Gaius' weakness to Holy damage, we recommend focusing on using flame and lightning spells as the damage of holy incantations are much lower than flame and lightning spells.

Use Talismans That Reduce Physical and Magical Damage

Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman

Spelldrake Talisman +3

Commander Gaius deals primarily physical and magical damage so equipping the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman and the Spelldrake Talisman can reduce Commander Gaius' damage output.

Specific Recommended Build: Shield Poke Build

Main Hand Weapon					Off-Hand Weapon
Messmer's Soldier's Spear Skill: Cragblade Sacred					Fingerprint Stone Shield Skill: None
Character Stat Distribution
VIG		60			MND		9
END		50			STR		20
DEX		20			INT		7
FAI		50			ARC		11

This specific shield poke build uses a Sacred-infused Messmer Soldier's Spear to both exploit the Holy weakness of Commander Gaius and dish out reliable stance breaks for easy critical strikes. Its high Faith stat ensures that the damage split favors Holy over Physical.

To add a Guard Counter option to this build (for punishing Gaius' aggression), we recommend mixing the Deflecting Hardtear and the Greenburst Crystal Tear in your Physick Flask.

Buff the Spear Using Cragblade for Easy Staggers

Cragblade is a strong buff to add to Messmer Soldier's Spear as it further strengthens the stagger damage the spear can do. With constant poking, you'll be able to stagger Commander Gaius around once every 20 seconds during the fight.

Avoid Commander Gaius' Gravity Attacks

Due to our build's playstyle, we'll be spending 80% of our time guarding Commander Gaius' onslaught. During Phase 2, make sure to focus on avoiding his gravity attacks since these deal chip damage that can add up if the fight takes too long.

Do Not Guard Against Commander Gaius' Boar Charge

Commander Gaius' charge attack deals a huge amount of stamina damage so if you get hit by this move and it manages to break your block, you'll still take damage after your guard gets broken.

Commander Gaius General Tips

Tips for Beating Commander Gaius
Gather Levels and Scadutree Fragments Only Attack When There Are Openings Be Careful About Healing
Available Summons	・Spirit Ashes

Gather Levels and Scadutree Fragments

Recommended Levels for Commander Gaius
Rune Level	Level 160 or Higher
Scadutree Blessing	Level 8 or Higher

Commander Gaius is a boss deep within Shadow Keep, one of the main sections of the DLC. As such, he is more powerful than the early bosses you have encountered, encouraging you to stock up on more levels and Scadutree Fragments.

All Scadutree Fragment Locations

Only Attack When There Are Openings

Commander Gaius is a mounted opponent, and is thus incredibly erratic in his movement. Before attacking, make sure that Commander Gaius has finished his combo, or you will eat heavy damage in the process.

There are plenty of attack strings that end with clear openings against the boar rider, so make sure to keep an eye out for some of them.

Boar Charge

Commander Gaius will always start the fight with this move. Dodge into him to evade this, as dodging sideways or backwards will end up with you getting damaged.

The dodge window for this attack is strict, so do not be discouraged if you get hit, as he will only perform this attack on occasion.

5-Hit Dual Combo

This is his deadliest normal combo, capable of ending your run if you get caught in the middle of it.

In order to come out unscathed, dodge left to avoid the stab and boar swipe, dodge right to avoid both of their attacks, dodge left to avoid the boar slam, dodge backwards to evade the boar's double swipe, then dodge anywhere to evade the stab.

Side Swipes Into Thrust

Another move to look out for is his side swipe coming from his right hand side (Your left if you are facing him), as he will swipe twice with a delay.

Half of the time, he may opt to end the combo with a delayed thrust, damaging anyone who was baited into attacking him after the two swipes. Be patient and wait out the animations before deciding to strike.

Meteor Lance

There are two variations of this, but we are paying attention to the variant where he shoots meteor energy at you from his Lance. Dodge sideways and wait.

This move serves as a bait for players, and half of the time, he will transition from shooting the Lance to doing a Boar Charge, so wait until you can confirm that he is not baiting you.

Circle Around Into Body Slam

This is another move that may fake the player out, as Commander Gaius will circle around the player before the boar body slams into them. To avoid this, wait for the boar's head to twitch, then dodge in any direction.

Meteor Crash

At around the Half HP mark, Commander Gaius will back off and rise into the air, charging up a spin before shortly crashing into you. Dodge early into him so that you are not hit by the aftershock damage.

Meteor Charge

During the second phase of the fight, Gaius mixes it up by alternating between his Boar Charge and Meteor Charge. When Commander Gaius lifts up into the air, prepare to dodge into him.

Be Careful About Healing

Commander Gaius will automatically react to healing by initiating a Boar Charge, almost always catching the player in the middle of the healing animation.

If you need to get your HP back up, wait for Commander Gaius to finish an attack string, and use that time to heal instead of attacking.

Commander Gaius Cheese Strategy

Bleed Gaius With Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear Behind Cover

This cheese strategy relies on manipulating Commander Gaius' opening charge attack to get him stuck on a pillar in the right wall of the arena. This will allow you to safely hit him and proc Bleeds from behind cover using the Bloodboon Ritual of Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear.

Cheese Strategy Walkthrough

Commander Gaius Cheese Walkthrough
1	Board Torrent and stay still near the arena entrance. Wait for Gaius to enter the arena.
2	As soon as Gaius starts his first charge attack, ride towards the first pillar along the right wall. Once you reach it, make a sharp left turn.
3	Ride straight, then turn right after the last pillar (the only pillar with a ledge). Hop into the corner and stay there to make Commander Gaius get stuck after his charge.
4	Spam Bloodboon Ritual with Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear to continously hit and bleed Gaius from behind cover.
5	When Commander Gaius reaches 50% HP and starts doing gravitational attacks that can hit past the wall, hug the wall and retreat from the corner to wait out these attacks. Then, go back to the corner and repeat Step 4.

Commander Gaius Rewards

Commander Gaius Rewards
Runes	230000 Runes
Drops	・Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider

Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider Rewards

Sword Lance

Blades of Stone

The Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider can be turned in to Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold.

Doing so lets the player choose either the Sword Lance, or the Blades of Stone.

Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider Effects

Elden Ring Related Guides

List of All Bosses

DLC Bosses

DLC Boss Lists
All DLC Bosses Order and Locations	All DLC Remembrance Bosses
Bosses Difficulty Tier List	-
Main Bosses
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight	Golden Hippopotamus
Messmer the Impaler	Romina, Saint of the Bud
Promised Consort Radahn
Optional Bosses
Divine Beast Dancing Lion	Commander Gaius
Demi-Human Queen Marigga	Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze
Blackgaol Knight	Chief Bloodfiend
Black Knight Edredd	Ancient Dragon-Man
Furnace Golem	Lamenter
Putrescent Knight	Jori, Elder Inquisitor
Death Knight	Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame
Bayle the Dread	Scadutree Avatar
Metyr, Mother of Fingers	Red Bear
Rakshasa	Jagged Peak Drake
Rugalea the Great Red Bear	Ralva the Great Red Bear
Ancient Dragon Senessax	Curseblade Labirith
Black Knight Garrew	Fallingstar Beast
Death Rite Bird	Tibia Mariner
Ghostflame Dragon	Tree Sentinel
Magma Wyrm	Crucible Knight Devonia
Hostile NPCs
Logur the Beast Claw	-

Main Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Margit the Fell Omen	Godrick the Grafted
Red Wolf of Radagon	Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
Royal Knight Loretta	Starscourge Radahn
Godfrey, First Elden Lord	Morgott, the Omen King
Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy	Fire Giant
Malenia, Blade of Miquella	Mohg Lord of Blood
Regal Ancestor Spirit	Astel, Naturalborn of the Void
Lichdragon Fortissax	Godskin Duo
Dragonlord Placidusax	Maliketh, the Black Blade
Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing	Hoarah Loux, Warrior
Radagon of the Golden Order	Elden Beast

Optional Bosses

Limgrave Optional Bosses
Beastman of Farum Azula	Bloodhound Knight Darriwil
Demi-Human Chiefs	Flying Dragon Agheel
Guardian Golem	Leonine Misbegotten
Mad Pumpkin Head	Miranda the Blighted Bloom
Patches	Runebear
Scaly Misbegotten	Soldier of Godrick
Stonedigger Troll	Tree Sentinel
Liurnia of the Lakes Optional Bosses
Adan, Thief of Fire	Alabaster Lord
Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader	Bols, Carian Knight
Bloodhound Knight	Glintstone Dragon Smarag
Glintstone Dragon Adula	Magma Wyrm Makar
Royal Revenant	Spirit-Caller Snail
Caelid Optional Bosses
Battlemage Hugues	Black Blade Kindred (Caelid)
Commander O'Neil	Decaying Ekzykes
Fallingstar Beast	Flying Dragon Greyll
Frenzied Duelist	Magma Wyrm
Nox Swordstress & Nox Priest	Putrid Tree Spirit
Altus Plateau Optional Bosses
Ancient Dragon Lansseax	Crucible Knight Ordovis
Demi-Human Queen Gilika	Demi-Human Queen Maggie
Demi-Human Queen Margot	Draconic Tree Sentinel
Elemer of the Briar	Esgar, Priest of Blood
Fell Twins	Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast
Godefroy the Grafted	Kindred of Rot
Mohg, The Omen	Necromancer Garris
Onyx Lord	Perfumer Tricia
Red Wolf of the Champion	Sanguine Noble
Virgin Abductors	Wormface
Mountaintops of the Giants Optional Bosses
Astel, Stars of Darkness	Black Blade Kindred (Mountaintops of the Giants)
Borealis the Freezing Fog	Commander Niall
Misbegotten Crusader	Putrid Grave Warden Duelist
Great Wyrm Theodorix	Vyke, Knight of the Roundtable
Siofra River Optional Bosses
Ancestor Spirit	Valiant Gargoyles
Mimic Tear
Ainsel River Optional Bosses
Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella	-
Deeproot Depths Optional Bosses
Crucible Knight Siluria	-
Multiple Location Optional Bosses
Ancient Hero of Zamor	Black Knife Assassin
Bell Bearing Hunter	Cemetery Shade
Cleanrot Knights	Crucible Knight
Crystalian	Death Rite Bird
Deathbird	Erdtree Avatar
Erdtree Burial Watchdog	Godskin Apostle
Godskin Noble	Grafted Scion
Grave Warden Duelist	Mad Pumpkin Head
Misbegotten Warrior	Night's Cavalry
Omenkiller	Tibia Mariner
Dragonkin Soldier	-

Mini-Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Elder Dragon Greyoll	Lion Guardian
Valiant Gargoyle (Leyndell)	-

Hostile NPCs and Invaders

Limgrave Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Bloody Finger Nerijus	Old Knight Istvan
Recusant Henricus	-
Liurnia of the Lakes Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Great Horned Tragoth	Festering Fingerprint Vyke
Altus Plateau Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger	Inquisitor Ghiza
Maleigh Marais, Shaded Castle Castellan	Rileigh the Idle
Vargram the Raging Wolf & Errant Sorcerer Wilhelm	Magnus the Beast Claw
Mountaintops of the Giants Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood	-
The Roundtable Hold Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Mad Tongue Alberich	-
Multiple Location Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater	-