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Elden Ring’s first expansion does not waste any time handing your ass to you on a plate. The Blackgaol Knight is found early on in the Land of Shadows, and if you’re prepared for what is likely to be one of the toughest bosses in the early bits of the expansion, head on over to the Western Gravesite Mausoleum to have a chance at scoring the Greatsword of Solitude, alongside the knight’s armour set too.
Mind you, this is an entirely optional boss. If you’re happy not picking up the Blackgaol Knight’s armour and sword, then you’ll save yourself the stress and pain of repeatedly being two tapped by this boss. You started the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC with only 50 Vigor? Good luck.
So far, the reactions from the Elden Ring community have been filled with fury, desperation, and admiration. That is usually the case with FromSoftware games; Elden Ring, like Dark Souls, is for masochists. You don’t need me to tell you this, but it’s tough. When it’s done, it’s rewarding, but until then, it keeps getting tougher. It seems that’s the case with Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, an expansion that makes a tough base-game seem like a walk in the park. Tested veterans of the game are finding it difficult to beat the Blackgaol Knight, and I can assure you that you will too.
The Blackgaol Knight also has a different proposition than most other bosses in Elden Ring. Rather than being some kind of scarlet-rot-ridden-grafted-homonculus-scion-beast thing, it’s just a stacked out NPC in a nearly invincible set of armour. It sort of reminds of how the Black Knight made me feel in the early days of Dark Souls – completely insignificant.
The Blackgaol Knight is a poise-boy with a surprising amount of dexterity and even more strength. Add on the fact that he’s also got his own flasks, and you’ve got yourself a rude little adversary to face.
If you do manage to take on the Blackgaol Knight, you will be rewarded with the Solitude Armor, a quintessential set for anyone who loves to fat-roll around in the best armour.
