Commander Niall guards Castle Sol in the Mountaintops of the Giants. He starts the fight by summoning two Banished Knight spirits, then joins in himself with frost and lightning stomps. This guide covers his weaknesses, the route to his arena, the recommended level question and how to handle the three-on-one.
Quick facts
| Location | Castle Sol, Mountaintops of the Giants |
| Nearest Site of Grace | Church of the Eclipse |
| Required? | Optional, but required to reach the Consecrated Snowfield |
| HP (NG) | 15,541 |
| Runes (NG) | 90,000 |
| Drops | Veteran’s Prosthesis |
| Behind the boss | Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left) |
| Weak to | Pierce damage (0% negation) |
| Resists | Slash (35% negation) |
| Immune to | Madness |
| Phase 2 | When both knights die, or at about half HP |
| Parryable | Yes |
| Spirit Ashes / Co-op | Allowed (Spirit Ashes and co-op) |
| Recommended level | No official figure (late-game area) |
| Difficulty | ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱ 7/10 |
Overview
Niall opens the fight by calling two Banished Knights: one with dual greatswords and one with a sword and shield. Both knights can inflict frostbite. While they are alive Niall stays fairly passive. Phase 2 starts as soon as both knights are dead, whatever his health, or when Niall drops to about half health; at that point any surviving knight disappears and Niall fights alone with his prosthetic leg.
His stomps create frost whirlwinds and lightning strikes. He can be parried.
What is Commander Niall weak to?
Niall has no negation at all against Pierce damage, so thrusting weapons such as spears, rapiers and pierce-type arrows deal the most damage. Slash is his best-defended physical type, and all four elements sit at a flat 20%.
| Damage type | Negation |
|---|---|
| Pierce | 0% (weakest) |
| Standard | 10% |
| Strike | 10% |
| Magic | 20% |
| Fire | 20% |
| Lightning | 20% |
| Holy | 20% |
| Slash | 35% (strongest) |
Status effects: Poison, Scarlet Rot, Hemorrhage, Frostbite and Sleep all start at 343 buildup and get harder to proc each time. He is immune to Madness.
Where is Commander Niall? How to reach Castle Sol’s boss
- Reach the Mountaintops of the Giants through the Grand Lift of Rold (see how to get to the Mountaintops of the Giants).
- Head north to Castle Sol and fight up through the castle to the Church of the Eclipse Site of Grace.
- Leave the church by its eastern exit and enter the next building.
- Go through it to the upper level of the eastern section. Niall’s fog gate is there, and a nearby lift works as a shortcut for retries.
Commander Niall recommended level
The game gives no official recommended level for Niall, and guides disagree on a number, so we do not quote one. He sits in a late-game area, so treat him like the other Mountaintops of the Giants bosses: upgrade your weapon to the level you used for the region, bring frost and lightning protection, and use a Spirit Ash or co-op to split the knights.
Preparation
- Focus the dual-greatsword knight first; he is the most aggressive.
- Bewitching Branches can charm the knights so they fight each other.
- A tanky Spirit Ash to hold two knights at once.
- Frost and lightning resistance both help.
Moveset and how to counter it
Keep the knights apart and take them down one at a time.
Storm kick
He stomps with his prosthetic leg to create a frost whirlwind, followed by a lightning strike. Time your dodge for the second hit.
Charged whirlwind dash
A long windup with a growing frost aura. Dodge it and he stays kneeling, giving you a free punish.
Halberd combos
Three-hit combos with slow overhead finishers. Dodge the last hit and punish.
Best builds and tools
- Pierce weapons (0% negation).
- Avoid pure slash damage (35% negation).
- Bewitching Branches and a strong Spirit Ash.
Rewards
- 90,000 Runes
- Veteran’s Prosthesis (Veteran’s Set leg armour piece). After the fight, Finger Reader Enia sells the rest of the Veteran’s Set.
- Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left): take the lift up after the boss to the roof of the tower. It is one of the two halves you need for the route to Miquella’s Haligtree.
Difficulty rating
▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱ 7/10 – Hard mainly because of the three-on-one opening. Once the knights are down, Niall is manageable.
Frequently asked questions
Is Commander Niall optional?
Technically, but he guards the way to the Consecrated Snowfield and the Haligtree.
What does Niall drop?
90,000 runes and the Veteran’s Prosthesis. The Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left) is on the tower roof just past his arena.
What is Niall weak to?
Pierce damage, where he has 0% negation. He resists Slash the most (35%) and is immune to Madness.
When does Niall’s second phase start?
When both Banished Knights are dead, or when Niall falls to about half health. Any knight still alive vanishes at that moment.
What level should I be for Commander Niall?
There is no official recommended level. Come with a weapon upgraded for the Mountaintops of the Giants, frost and lightning resistance and a summon to split the knights.
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Further reading: Commander Niall on the Fextralife Elden Ring wiki.