So, you've journeyed back into the Lands Between with the latest expansion for Elden Ring: Nightreign, and you're eager to meet the new characters like the Scholar and the Undertaker. But where are they? The gateway to all this new content, from expeditions to characters, is locked behind a single, formidable challenge: the Tricephalos expedition and its guardian, the Gladius Beast of Night. Think of this three-headed wolf as the keymaster to Nightreign's expanded world. While it's considered one of the easier Nightlords to face, don't let that fool you into complacency. Many a Tarnished will still fall to its chained blade and fiery breath before claiming victory. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to conquer this beast and unlock the treasures that await.

When the mist fades and the battle begins, you'll be face-to-face with the Gladius Beast in its true, terrifying form. Your initial strategy should focus on this unified entity. The beast is surprisingly agile for its size, capable of a short, lunging jump where it attacks with all three maws. The safest dodge here is a well-timed roll backward. This creates an opening for your allies, or for you if you're solo, to maneuver to its flanks or, more importantly, its back. Attacking the rear is highly effective, as it often avoids the direct line of its bite attacks.

However, staying behind the beast isn't a safe haven. The Gladius can pivot with alarming speed to snap at pesky attackers on its back. You'll get a brief warning—watch for one of its heads glancing sharply to the left or right just before the whole body whips around. This is your cue to disengage or prepare to dodge.

Its most iconic weapon is the massive sword chained to its back. The Gladius employs this blade for devastating long-range strikes. One tell-tale move sees one head gripping the chains, followed by a powerful linear thrust. This is relatively straightforward to avoid—a simple roll to the side will do. But beware the more deceptive variation: the beast will rear up on its hind legs, grasp the sword, and unleash a sweeping 360-degree attack. The key to surviving this spin is patience. Wait for the slight pause as it reaches the peak of its wind-up, then roll inward just as the blade is about to connect.

The combat becomes trickier when the Gladius starts mixing its moves. It can seamlessly combo its biting attacks with follow-up sword swipes. How can a player anticipate this? The answer lies in the chains. Your eyes should rarely leave them. The movement of the chains is the ultimate telegraph for when the sword is coming into play. Furthermore, the beast isn't limited to melee. Each of its three heads can spew long-range fire. This isn't a paltry flame you can outspace; it has incredible reach! The safest method is to watch for the fiery build-up in its mouths and dodge laterally the moment the fire is expelled.

For groups, a solid basic strategy involves designating a tank to hold the beast's attention from the front, while other players focus on damaging its rear and calling out its turn-around animations. Having at least one player with reliable long-range attacks is ideal, as they can safely contribute damage while staying mobile enough to evade both sudden turns and chain attacks.

Just when you think you have the rhythm down, the fight undergoes a dramatic shift. As you deal damage, the Gladius Beast of Night will periodically split into three separate, individual wolves. Is this a major power-up for the boss? Thankfully, no—the split forms don't gain new abilities. However, this phase introduces two significant challenges: it can overwhelm players who have been playing at a safe distance and are less familiar with dodging its close-range patterns, and worse, two or even all three of the split beasts can decide to gang up on a single player.

Managing this chaotic phase is crucial. There are a couple of effective approaches:

• The Divide and Conquer Method: Ideally, each party member takes aggro on one of the split beasts. This keeps the threats separated, makes their movements predictable, and prevents the entire pack from focusing one person down.

• The Buddy System: If one player is less experienced, they should stick close to a more seasoned ally. Both can focus on defeating one wolf at a time, with the veteran player ready to provide support or draw aggro if their partner gets into trouble.

Remember, this split phase is temporary. Once you deal enough damage to the individual forms, they will recombine into the original three-headed Gladius Beast. The fight will continue to cycle between these unified and split states until you finally land the killing blow.

And what a rewarding blow it is! Defeating the Gladius Beast of Night isn't just about overcoming a boss; it's about unlocking the vast majority of Elden Ring: Nightreign's new content. Your victory grants you access to:

• Six new expeditions from the base Nightreign content.

• The Balancers, one of the two major DLC expedition lines introduced with The Forsaken Hollows.

• The powerful Night of the Beast relic.

• An Old Pocketwatch, a key item used to unlock additional playable characters.

• The ability to find and recruit the two new playable characters from The Forsaken Hollows—the Scholar and the Undertaker—within the game's hub area.

• A assortment of other random relics to bolster your arsenal.

So, is the Gladius Beast of Night a difficult fight? It can be, especially during the frantic split phase. But is it a necessary one? Absolutely. By mastering its tells—the chain movements, the head turns, the fiery breath charge—you not only earn a hard-fought victory but also unlock the full potential of your 2025 Elden Ring: Nightreign experience. Now, go forth, Tarnished. The beast awaits, and a whole new chapter lies beyond its defeat.