The final day of Elden Ring Nightreign's expedition culminates in an aerial ballet of death as players face off against Maris, Fathom of Night. Unlike the ground-dwelling bosses that dominate the game's landscape, this Nightlord prefers the freedom of the skies, making it a particularly frustrating encounter for those who've invested heavily in melee builds.

"Maris is such a pain in the neck—literally! You'll spend half the fight just looking up," jokes one veteran player who's tackled this airborne menace multiple times since the expansion's release in early 2025.

The Floating Menace: Understanding Maris

Maris presents a unique challenge in the Elden Ring universe as an entirely airborne boss. This aerial advantage creates a significant disadvantage for melee-focused characters who often find themselves in an exhausting game of catch-up. Even when they manage to close the distance, their stamina is typically depleted, leaving little energy for actual attacks.

One player described the experience rather colorfully: "It's like trying to swat a mosquito with a sledgehammer while running a marathon. By the time you get there, you're too pooped to pop it!"

Optimal Party Composition

Given Maris's skyward tendencies, the most effective party composition leans heavily toward ranged attackers:

• Archers: Particularly those specializing in lightning-imbued arrows

• Spellcasters: Especially those with lightning-based spells

• Ironeye builds: A team of three Ironeyes can quickly dismantle this Nightlord

It's strongly recommended that all party members be at least level 12 to ensure a balanced combat experience. The days of under-leveled challenges might appeal to some, but against Maris, it's a recipe for frustration.

Exploiting Elemental Weaknesses

Like all Nightlords in the expansion, Maris has a specific elemental vulnerability—in this case, lightning. Smart adventurers will use the first two days of their Limveld expeditions to gather lightning-based armaments and buffs.

Sources for elemental weapons include:

• Exploration rewards in hidden areas

• Defeating mini-bosses throughout Limveld

• Trading with NPCs in safe zones

• Crafting, for those with the appropriate skills

If luck hasn't been on your side with loot drops, Lightning Grease can serve as an effective alternative to even the odds against this formidable foe.

Battle Phases and Strategies

The encounter with Maris unfolds across three distinct phases, each requiring different tactical approaches.

Phase 1: The Attack Phase

During this initial phase, Maris floats gracefully around the arena while releasing sleep squids—projectiles that pursue players before detonating. These explosions not only inflict immediate damage to both HP and FP but also build up the sleep status effect.

Maris employs three primary attacks during this phase:

1. Sleep Squids: Tracking projectiles that explode upon contact

2. Dive Attack: A sudden plunge toward players

3. Tentacle Whip: A sweeping attack with moderate range

The boss also summons tentacles across the battlefield that attack nearby players. These appendages have relatively low health and can be worth eliminating, as they release blue orbs upon destruction that automatically target Maris for significant damage.

Phase 2: The Dream Phase

Once Maris loses approximately 30% of its health, it retreats to a safe distance and enters a brief hibernation. During this dream phase, it attempts to inflict the sleep status effect on all players. Succumbing to this effect temporarily incapacitates characters and results in substantial damage to both HP and FP reserves.

Phase 3: The Sleep Bomb Phase

At around 50% remaining health, Maris escalates the encounter by deploying a massive sleep bomb—essentially a tactical nuclear option that covers half the arena. Contact with this bomb immediately triggers the sleep status effect and deals tremendous damage.

Fortunately, the bomb descends slowly enough that ranged attackers can destroy it before impact. In subsequent attempts, Maris drops two bombs simultaneously, each targeting half of the arena. Effective communication becomes crucial at this stage to coordinate the destruction of both threats.

The Lightning Advantage

Despite these challenges, a well-coordinated team of Ironeyes equipped with lightning bows can make surprisingly quick work of Maris. The boss's attack patterns, while intimidating, aren't particularly unpredictable, allowing prepared players to anticipate and counter its moves effectively.

There's something oddly poetic about bringing down this skybound terror with bolts of lightning—as if calling down the very fury of the heavens to match Maris's aerial dominance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I solo Maris as a melee character?

Answer: While possible, it's extraordinarily challenging. You'll need exceptional stamina management, lightning buffs, and probably a few throwable weapons. Consider respeccing temporarily or bringing friends.

What's the best time to attack during the fight?

Answer: The moments after Maris performs its dive attack offer the best opening, as the boss briefly pauses before returning to the air. Ranged attackers should maintain constant pressure whenever possible.

How do I avoid the sleep status effect?

Answer: Sleep resistance consumables help tremendously. Also, keep moving to avoid the sleep squids, and prioritize destroying the sleep bombs during the later phases. If you see a teammate succumbing to sleep, a quick strike can wake them before major damage occurs.

Is there a way to force Maris to the ground more often?

Answer: Some players have reported success using items that create high-altitude area-of-effect damage, essentially creating "no-fly zones" that can temporarily limit Maris's movement options. Experiment with different approaches to find what works for your team composition.

In the end, conquering Maris requires patience, preparation, and a willingness to adapt to its unique fighting style. But like all challenges in the Elden Ring universe, victory brings not just rewards, but the satisfaction of overcoming a truly memorable adversary.