How to Beat Commander Gaius in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Updated On: June 25, 2024

Do You Want to know How to Beat Commander Gaius in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Commander Gaius can be a tough challenge in Elden Ring, but there are some tricks to make defeating him easier!

This boar-riding warrior is one of the most annoying bosses in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

With relentless melee attacks and a wild moveset that includes devastating area-of-effect and long-range gravity magic, it can feel like you’re up against a whole herd of wild boars instead of just one.

His charge attack seems impossible to dodge, his reach seems endless, and if he knocks you down, it feels like he can end the fight in an instant, ignoring your invincibility frames.

However, there are some cheese strategies that can make this battle much easier, so you don’t have to fight him on his terms (which are heavily stacked against you).

Don’t think Gaius is just a copy of General Radahn from the base game, though. There’s a reason they’re similar.

Both Gaius and Radahn were disciples of the Alabaster Lords, an ancient race of stone-skinned warriors who mastered Gravitational magic.

Gaius studied in the sorcery town of Sellia in Caelid before it was overtaken by the scarlet rot. He was the senior disciple of the Alabaster Lords, riding a wild boar, while Radahn went on to become one of the most powerful warriors in the Lands Between.

Just like Radahn was a notorious challenge in the base game, Gaius is set to be a similar obstacle in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. But if I can beat him, so can you!

In this article, I will show you How to Beat Commander Gaius in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Also Read: How to Defeat Promised Consort Radahn (Final Boss) in Shadow of the Erdtree?

How to Beat Commander Gaius in Shadow of the Erdtree?

The easiest way to beat Gaius is to summon a melee-resistant Spirit Ash, use them to distract him, and then spam long-range magic attacks or use a long-distance Ash of War to whittle down his health without fighting him head-on.

Gaius is tough because his unpredictable, overpowered charge attack can hit you even when you’re down and stunned.

However, with determination and the right strategy, you can beat him without having to master his attack patterns.

Here’s how to pull off this cheese strategy:

Summon a resilient Spirit Ash: Fully upgraded Greatshield Soldiers work great.
Deal long-range damage: Use spells, incantations, or an Ash of War like Thunderbolt.
Keep your horse, Torrent, easily accessible: You’ll need it for mobility.
Equip helpful talismans: Dragoncrest and Spelldrake talismans can help prevent one-shot kills.

The Greatshield Soldier’s Spirit Ash is vital. They summon five skeletons with giant shields named Dale, Harry, Hawk, Andy, and Bobby.

They can soak up a lot of damage. If you don’t have them, you can find them in Nokron, Eternal City, near the Site of Grace.

For long-range attacks, spell-casters are already set, but melee characters, especially Dex builds, should get the Thunderbolt Ash of War from Leyndell.

From the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace, head downstairs and through the door, then over the balcony on your left to find a scarab that drops Thunderbolt. It’s perfect for dealing reliable damage from a distance while Gaius is distracted.

Strategy to Beat Commander Gaius

Entering the Arena: When you enter the boss arena, Gaius will charge at you. Run to the left and hide behind the indentation in the wall to get his boar stuck. This gives you time to summon your Spirit Ash and prepare.
Avoiding the Charge: Get on Torrent and double-jump away from the wall to avoid the charge. It’s tricky, but your Spirit Ash should quickly draw his attention.
Dismount Torrent: Gaius’s frenzied moveset is designed to unsaddle you quickly. Get off Torrent as soon as possible to avoid this.
Start the Cheese Strategy: While Gaius is focused on your Spirit Ash, spam him with ranged attacks. Replenish your FP with flasks and keep an eye on Gaius. If his attention shifts to you, stop attacking, and be ready to dodge or sprint away. Draw him back to your Spirit Ash, then resume your attacks.
At 50% Health: Gaius will use more gravity magic, including a powerful overhead smash that creates a large AoE. Stay far away, and if targeted, sprint or use Torrent to dash away.
Finishing the Fight: If your Spirit Ash gets defeated and you’re left alone, use Torrent’s speed to your advantage. Dash in, hit Gaius from behind, then retreat. Remember to keep Gaius on your right side to maximize your attacks.

Following this strategy, you should be able to take down Gaius with less frustration and without needing to learn all his attack patterns. Good luck!

Commander Gaius Rewards

Beating Gaius feels amazing, doesn’t it? Overcoming his brutal trampling attack is a testament to why we play these games, and it’s a reward in itself.

But there’s more to your victory than just satisfaction. Defeating Gaius gives you some fantastic rewards.

First, after the battle, you can access the Scaduview area from the back of Gaius’s boss arena. At the top of the hill, you’ll find a dormant chalice where you can collect five Scadutree Fragments.

Next, head back to the Finger Maiden in the Roundtable Hold.

You can trade Gaius’s Remembrance for either his main Gravity spell or his unique Sword Lance weapon, which comes with a special Gravity Ash of War called Spinning Gravity Thrust.

While the Sword Lance’s Ash of War was bugged pre-release, it’s worth checking out now.

Don’t forget, you can also buy Gaius’s armor set from the Finger Maiden. While it doesn’t include the greaves (which you get from the wolf-riding Albinauric in Scaduview), the rest of the set is even heavier and more defensive than Radahn’s armor. It’s perfect for strength builds or mixing into other sets.

Here’s the full list of rewards: