Black Knife Assassin Elden Ring

As you venture through the lands in Elden Band, you volition come across diverse enemies. From big and towering creatures to small-statured demi-humans, y'all volition never experience a lack of multifariousness.

How to Beat Black Knife Assassin in Elden Ring

Amongst the myriad of bosses and enemies is the Black Knife Assassinator, a quick and agile boss that seems daunting at showtime glance. However, with a proper strategy and prior planning, you can easily make light work of the Black Pocketknife Assassinator.

Black Knife Assassinator Overview

Who are the Blackness Pocketknife Assassins?

The Black Knife Assassins are a group of female assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives, assassinating many marquee figures like Godwyn the Gilt. The Numen Rune besides reveals that "[The Black Knife Assassins] are said to have come up from exterior the Lands Betwixt, and are in fact of the aforementioned stock as Queen Marika herself."

These agile, relentless dark figures can be found in numerous locations, often guarding a sacred place or item. Black Knife Assassin is said to take ties to Ranni, the Nox, the Numen, and even Queen Marika herself.

Certain information about the Blackness Pocketknife Assassins contradicts others, further fuelling the vagueness of the Assassins' origins and history.

Health Bar: It is yet to be disclosed how much HP each Black Knife Assassin has, but a crude estimate would be 2750 HP—not considering that the Deathtouched Catacombs variant starts with three-quarters of her original HP.

Types of Damage: The Black Pocketknife Assassin deals standard, slash, pierce, and holy harm.

Weaknesses: Unfortunately, the Black Knife Assassin is not weak to any damage. Even so, she can be affected by Frost.

Weapons: Blackness Pocketknife Assassin wields a Black Knife in her right paw and volition often opt for red projectiles if you lot create altitude between the pair of you.

Parrying: Most Black Knife Assassinator'southward knife attacks can be parried, albeit to varying degrees of success. The Assassin's lunge attack is the easiest to parry, but otherwise, blocking is the way to go.

Elden Ring Blackness Knife Assassin's Locations: Encounters with the Black Knife Assassin can be used in four locations.

Each variant of the Black Knife Assassin will testify to exist a tad more difficult to beat than the previous. But otherwise, they are relatively identical.

The iv locations of the Black Pocketknife Assassinator are as follows:

Deathtouched Catacombs, Limgrave: Black Knife Assassin can exist found in Deathtouched Catacombs, in the northernmost part of Limgrave.

Black Knife Catacombs, Liurnia of the Lakes: You lot will find the Blackness Pocketknife Catacombs near the northeast corner of the Liurnia of the Lakes. You will need to ride the get-go behemothic blade in the cavern and hop on the platform to your right. As well, beware of the powerful knight guarding the entrance to the catacombs. To annotation, this variant is identical to the Limgrave variant.

Sage'due south Cavern, Altus Plateau: You volition detect the Blackness Knife Assassin towards the end of your dungeon crawl through Sage'southward Cave. The assassin will be concealed using the Concealing Veil, so a Sentry's Torch would come up in handy.

Sainted Hero's Grave, Altus Plateau: Y'all will notice the Black Knife Assassin outside the Sainted Hero's Grave edifice. The assassinator will be guarding the entrance to the building and will prove to be the most challenging variant to defeat.

Moveset:

Mostly speaking, all Black Knife Assassins share the same movement fix, only differing in strength and harm.

Overhead Slam: Black Knife Assassin leaps in the air and slams her dagger on the ground direct in forepart of her. Be on the lookout for this assail and exist fix to dodge gyre as shortly as it starts.

Dashing Stab: Should you stray too far from the Blackness Knife Assassin, she will react by dashing forward with her bract pointed in front of her. Despite the sheer velocity of this attack, it could be a blessing in disguise for you as it leaves the Assassin open to dorsum strikes.

Knife Stab: This is Black Knife Assassin's almost rudimentary attack, where she pulls back and dashes forward with a knife stab. Information technology tin be easily dodged by rolling abroad or to the side.

Spinning Slice: You lot tin can spot this attack when the Assassin places her pocketknife on the ground and performs two spins while dragging the knife beyond the floor earlier flinging the pocketknife toward you lot. Your safest bet would be to dodge abroad, but you could endeavor to block it for a quick counter if you are feeling daring.

Blade of Death: If y'all keep your altitude for a long time, Black Knife Assassinator will react by performing her merely projectile attack, where she shoots out a red blade toward you. This attack can bargain devastating impairment if it lands, so avoid dodging through it.

Frontward Thrust Philharmonic: During this attack, Black Knife Assassinator lunges toward you with a pocketknife thrust from a distance and follows up with numerous wild swings. A successful parry would allow you to perform a critical attack, but it is a rather risky maneuver.

Leaping Blade: If you are on horseback, Black Knife Assassin will try to knock you off by jumping and barging into you lot with her blade.

Critical Hit: Should Black Knife Assassin successfully knock you off your horse, she volition keep by running toward you and stabbing you lot in the tum for a disquisitional hit.

Retreat: This move will be performed several times during the boss fight. Information technology is not an inherently dangerous move, but it can place you in an awkward situation if you mistime a heavy attack. Black Knife Assassin volition dash away after hit one time or twice.

Pre-fight Preparation

Black Knife Assassins — The preparation varies depending on your build and the variant of boss you're facing.

Given that all variants of the Blackness Knife Assassin are relatively similar, you lot will not necessarily need whatever location-specific preparation, barring one or two tips.

You will, however, need to prepare differently, depending on your build. Melee-focused builds will crave unlike pre-fight preparation than their magic and ranged counterparts.

Without further ado, here are some general tips which can be applied to both builds.

Summon spirit ashes (except for the Blackness Knife Catacombs)

Multi-unit spirit ashes volition be of most help to you during this boss fight. They will go along the Black Kinfe Assassin preoccupied with them while you lot mountain your attacks. Because the Assassin tin just target one enemy at a fourth dimension, the multi-unit ashes will overwhelm the boss.

Your choice may vary depending on your build, but any multi-unit spirit ashes will generally do.

For melee-focused builds specifically, we recommend Lone Wolf Ashes, equally they can deal a lot of harm and stagger the Black Pocketknife Assassin while keeping her distracted at all times.

Equip the Spotter's Torch for the Sage'southward Cave variant

This variant of the Assassin will exist wearing a Concealing Veil, making her invisible. A Sentry's Torch will negate the effect of the veil and make the Assassin visible over again.

If you accept not got a Sentry'south Torch, you can nevertheless see the Assassin with the assistance of dust clouds and h2o deformations and your summoned spirit ashes, who volition reveal her location by swarming her.

Lookout man's Torch tin can exist bought from Hermit Merchant in Hermit Merchant's Shack for seven,000 Runes.

Locate the Assassin in Sage's Cave earlier it can locate you

Whether you take brought a Sentry'south Torch into boxing or non, you volition need to locate the Assassin as presently as you enter the cave and go on tracking her. Non doing then will event in a critical attack from the Assassin, which will shave off most of your health bar before the boss fight has even started.

Equip a lantern for the Deathtouched Catacombs variant

A lantern, or any light source, volition aid you against the darkness of the Deathtouched Catacombs.

Melee Builds

Use lightweight weapons (Except for Sage'southward cavern Variant)

Black Knife Assassin's quick and agile movements should be a stiff enough deterrent for you from using heavy-wield weapons. Still, too every bit that, it volition permit yous to evade her attacks and brand quick escapes whenever needed effortlessly.

Equip a heavy weapon for the Sage's Cave variant

Heavy weapons will let you to exploit the Black Knife Assassinator'south poise, or lack thereof, and stagger her consistently.

Equip a decent shield

A decent shield will allow you lot to capitalize on the Blackness Pocketknife Assassinator'due south weak and ineffective dagger. Most of her knife attacks can be deflected with a well-timed block and open the door for a quick counter.

Magic and Ranged Builds

Apply Glintstone Phalanx

Generally, whatever sorcery will exist of great help to you lot during this boss fight. Merely, the Glintstone Phalanx sorcery will permit yous to parry and block much more than consistently at little toll to your stamina.

Glintstone Phalanx tin be purchased from many merchants, namely Sorceress Ellen and Miriel.

Fight Strategy

Black knife assassins in ER — Even if you're rocking a melee build, it'southward a expert thought to create separation and stay patient.

You are now facing the Blackness Knife Assassin, and you need a programme. This dominate fight can be tackled with relative ease, irrespective of your build.

That being said, different builds volition require different strategies, merely and then will different variants. Therefore, we take developed a general strategy, which tin can be applied to all variants, followed by location-specific tips to aid you lot out even farther.

General Strategy

Be aggressive simply not greedy.

Assuming you have got a light weapon, yous can pull off several attacks whenever you lot find an opening rapidly. You should actively seek openings, exercise as much impairment as possible, and retreat and create ample altitude between yous and the Black Knife Assassin.

Await for the Assassinator to settle down.

Following the end of a lengthy attack, the Black Knife Assassinator volition wind down and stand still for a few seconds. That is your marker to starting time attacking.

Perform a backstab later on the Assassin'south overhead slam

The aftermath of the Assassin's overhead slam will get out her vulnerable to a devastating backstab. You should be alert enough to react in fourth dimension. It will shave off a large section of her health bar and greatly shift the tide in your favor.

Let your summoned spirit ashes exercise the heavy lifting

The task of your spirit ashes is to tank damage and keep the Blackness Pocketknife Assassin distracted while you haul projectiles and casts at it. Residual assured that your ashes will take the heat for y'all, so do not swoop headfirst into the Assassin's range merely to find yourself firmly in her grasp.

Keep creating separation

Since the Blackness Knife Assassin will constantly be lunging and dashing toward you lot, you will need to actively respond by rolling away and creating distance at all times.

Stay on your toes

The Black Knife Assassin's greatest force is her speed and agility. It tin catch you off-guard on a whim. Practice not go out your fate to chance, and stay alert to the Assassin's movement.

Deathtouched Catacombs Variant

Brand utilize of your surroundings.

Should you notice yourself in an awkward situation, you can quickly resort to hiding behind one of the many pillars in the room and use it equally a haven for a few seconds. The room itself is likewise strikingly large and spacious, so use that.

Black Knife Catacombs Variant

Melee Players

Focus on backstabs

Backstabs are the near reliable set on you lot can perform in this tightly spaced location. Attempt to wait for the Black Pocketknife Assassin to perform an overhead slam, or even bait her into it, then quickly brand your way around her back for a devastating backstab. Yous could also follow upwards with one or two quick attacks, and then retreat.

Utilise your shield when needed.

Your shield will come in handy more times than you would similar during this boss fight due to the limited infinite in this arena. The Assassin's quick motion volition not aid either, equally information technology will only beal the situation. So, be ready to apply your shield at all times.

Magic and Ranged Players

Be mindful of your surroundings.

Maintaining your distance from the Blackness Knife Assassin will be your greatest challenge during this boss fight, owing to the tightness of the arena and the numerous benches lined up across its flooring. The longer the fight goes on, the less impeding they become due to getting broken, so you will need to be especially alert during the early on stages of the boss fight.

Sage's Cave Variant

Venturing into this boss fight without a Sentinel'due south Torch will prove challenging, albeit manageable.

The melee strategy is fairly straightforward, but the ranged strategy is anything just.

A full general tip for this dominate fight would be to stay on high alert and maintain your composure. Sustaining impairment is all merely guaranteed, so proceed calm, collect yourself, and get once again when that happens.

Melee Players

Try to stagger the Assassin.

Once you lot are certain the Assassin is most you, perform several swings with your heavy weapon until she is staggered. Before getting staggered, the Assassin will take five to ix hits, depending on your weapon. Once she is staggered, you can proceed attacking her until she recovers, at which point, you must retreat and create distance between the pair of yous.

Rinse and repeat this tactic until you defeat the Black Knife Assassin.

Magic and Ranged Players

Refrain from using whatsoever lengthy projectiles or casts

Shooting windows during this boss fight will be actress express. Yous will have footling to no time to strike earlier the Assassin makes a sudden move. Quick casts are ideal for this fight, and so employ them instead of any lengthy casts.

Shoot on sight

As stated previously, your shooting opportunities volition be express for this boss fight, so capitalize on every one of them by spamming your quick casts whenever the Assassinator's in your crosshair.

Stay locked onto the Assassin.

Staying locked onto the Assassin volition brand spotting your shooting windows a lot easier and help you identify any lunges or dashes from the Assassin in a timely fashion.

Sainted Hero's Grave Variant

Despite her larger health bar, this variant of the Black Knife Assassin can be easily defeated using a uncomplicated trick that exploits her movement pattern.

Unfortunately, this trick is only bachelor to melee players, so ranged players will have to play by the rules and follow the general strategy.

Lure the Assassin to the border of the cliff (Cheese)

In one case the boss fight commences, make your way to the cliff border to the right of the large building and expect for the Assassinator to follow suit. You can attack the Assassin as much as you lot desire without any retaliation. Once she is near the cliff's edge, she will terminate attacking and endeavour to walk away from the cliff calmly. And if she manages to leave the cliff's edge, y'all can lure her back.

Rewards

Your rewards will vary depending on the location of your encounter with the Black Pocketknife Assassin.

Here is what to expect after defeating the Black Knife Assassin:

Deathtouched Catacombs: 1,600 Runes and an Assassin's Scarlet Dagger, a talisman that can quickly restore your HP.

Blackness Knife Catacombs: i,600 Runes, an Assassinator's Cerulean Dagger, which is a talisman that can quickly restore your FP, and a Black Knifeprint, which is a key detail that tin exist used to advance Wizard Rogier'southward questline.

Sage's Cave: nine,000 Runes and a Concealing Veil, which tin conceal yous from your enemies.

Sainted Hero's Grave: 11,339 Runes and the Assassin'south very ain Blackness Knife.

Hopefully, this lengthy guide helps you and allows you to gracefully and cleverly beat the Black Knife Assassin. Rest assured that you can cakewalk right past the Black Knife Assassinator with the right strategy, grooming, and mindset. Practiced luck! And Happy Dungeoning!