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Commander Gaius is optional, and you can leave the fight and return after collecting more Scadutree Fragments. If you stay, the simplest answer to his notorious opening charge is to block with a shield that has 100% physical damage negation; a precisely timed forward roll is another option. Then focus on short openings, not long attack strings.
Where to find Commander Gaius—and whether to come back later
Gaius waits outside the Church District of Shadow Keep. The encounter is optional, so there is no need to force it if his attacks are ending your attempts quickly. Explore the Realm of Shadow for Scadutree Fragments, then use them at a Site of Grace to strengthen your Shadow Realm Blessing.
Bandai Namco explains that the blessing increases your attack power and damage negation in the expansion. Revered Spirit Ash improves the performance of summoned spirits and Torrent. The publisher describes the blessing’s scaling this way: “The increase is applied as a percentage on top of your base values, so regardless of your equipment, you’ll always get a big bump in survivability.” Bandai Namco’s guide to strengthening your character also explains the upgrade system.
How do you avoid Commander Gaius’s charge attack?
Gaius can charge across the arena on his boar, making it difficult to recover if the hit catches you. EIP Gaming’s guide identifies three ways to deal with the attack; choose based on your equipment and timing comfort.
| Response | What it asks of you | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Block with a 100% physical-defense shield | Equip a suitable shield and keep enough stamina to absorb the hit. | The guide presents this as the straightforward option. Blocking is not invulnerability: close-range attacks can go over a shield, especially while you are attacking. |
| Roll forward just before impact | Learn the timing and roll toward Gaius as the charge is about to connect. | Does not require a shield, but mistiming the roll can leave you in the charge’s path. |
| Use Ash of War: Raptor of the Mists | Have the Ash of War equipped and enough FP to use it. | An alternative for builds that can accommodate the skill; it is not a universal requirement. |
These are tactics reported by EIP Gaming, not guarantees for every build or patch. Its guide, published October 31, 2024, does not identify a game patch version. Read the charge as a specific threat rather than assuming one response will work against all of Gaius’s attacks. EIP Gaming’s Commander Gaius guide covers the charge and the other moves.
How to handle Gaius’s other attacks
When you are close, try to stay behind the boar. EIP Gaming says this positioning can draw attacks it considers easier to dodge and reduce how often Gaius charges. It is a positioning tactic, not a safe zone: keep watching for the boar’s attacks and reposition as needed.
- Tracking attacks: Roll toward Gaius when the move tracks you, rather than reflexively rolling away.
- Lance attacks: For some lance swings and stabs, the guide advises rolling to the right, away from the lance. Use the attack’s direction as your cue; this is not the right response to every move.
- Boar slams and close-range pressure: Avoid committing to an attack while the boar is still in a sequence. Wait for the move to finish, then take a brief opening.
- Later attacks: Watch for a leaping charge and a gravity well as the fight progresses. Leave room to react instead of spending every opening on extra hits.
Gaius can be staggered but cannot be parried, according to EIP Gaming. Short, deliberate punish windows help limit the chance of being caught by a follow-up.
What is Commander Gaius weak to?
EIP Gaming reports that Gaius is weak to Holy damage and resistant to Magic, Hemorrhage, and Frostbite. Treat that as the guide’s matchup advice, not a promise that changing damage type will guarantee a particular result. If your build can readily apply Holy damage, it is a reasonable option; otherwise, you can use your existing weapon and focus on learning his openings.
The guide discusses Holy grease or a Holy weapon skill, shield-and-thrusting-weapon play, ranged spells, and summons. A shield can make the charge easier to manage, but it does not remove the need to watch stamina or avoid attacks that get over the guard. EIP Gaming also describes Gaius as susceptible to staggering, so melee players can look for safe opportunities to pressure him without extending an attack string.
Should you fight on foot, use Torrent, or summon?
The encounter allows both summons and Torrent, so these are optional ways to shape the fight rather than required equipment.
- Melee: Stay near the boar’s rear when possible, wait for a combo to end, and use a few attacks before resetting your position.
- Ranged: A summon can help draw Gaius’s attention. EIP Gaming specifically suggests Greatshield Soldier Ashes; Torrent can help you create distance when you need room to cast.
- Summon-assisted play: Summoned spirits benefit from Revered Spirit Ash upgrades. Keep an eye on Gaius’s target and use the distraction for a measured attack or spell, rather than assuming the summon will hold his attention indefinitely.
For the expansion’s access requirements, Bandai Namco’s guide to entering the Realm of Shadow explains how to reach the area. Shadow of the Erdtree is additional content and requires Elden Ring.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do you get for defeating Commander Gaius?
EIP Gaming lists the Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider and a reward of 230,000 runes. The rune figure is the amount reported by that guide, not a guarantee across all play conditions.
After the fight, check north of the arena near the Scadutree Chalice: Windows Central reports that five Scadutree Fragments are on the ground there. Windows Central’s guide to beating Commander Gaius gives the post-fight fragment location.
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