Black Blade Kindred

Key takeaways

These are the practical points to know before entering the fight.

• The boss is optional You can enter Bestial Sanctum without defeating Black Blade Kindred, so there is no need to spend consumables or runes on an underprepared attempt.
• Fight in the open area The approach outside Bestial Sanctum gives you room to reposition. Avoid getting trapped against the entrance or nearby terrain, where the boss’s long swings become harder to evade.
• Watch the weapon The greatsword and greataxe movesets have different rhythms. Wait for the end of a committed swing instead of attacking during the boss’s recovery-free transitions.
• Mid-range is dangerous Black-flame attacks make backing away a poor universal answer. Close distance when appropriate, roll through threatening attacks, and use the recovery after the attack to retaliate.
• The rewards are weapons The encounter’s notable rewards are Gargoyle's Blackblade and Gargoyle's Black Axe, making the fight most worthwhile for players interested in those weapon types.

Black Blade Kindred overview

Black Blade Kindred is an optional field boss found directly outside Bestial Sanctum in Dragonbarrow, the northern part of Caelid. The fight is fought in the open ground before the sanctum entrance rather than inside a sealed legacy-dungeon arena.

Black Blade Kindred is a large gargoyle-like warrior that alternates between a heavy greatsword and a greataxe. Its size gives its ordinary swings broad reach, while its weapon changes alter the timing and shape of its close-range attacks. The encounter is therefore less about trading hits and more about recognizing which weapon set is active before committing to an attack.

The boss is first encountered while approaching Bestial Sanctum from the Dragonbarrow side. It does not need to be defeated to enter the sanctum or to progress through Elden Ring, so players can leave the area, return later, or use the surrounding terrain and open space to reset the engagement. Its optional status makes preparation more valuable than forcing an early attempt.

Black Blade Kindred is distinctive because it supplements gargoyle weapon attacks with black-flame techniques. These attacks can cover space in front of the boss or punish a player who remains at mid-range, making distance less safe than it may appear. The safest approach is to stay close enough to read the wind-up, roll through the attack rather than away from it, and punish only after the animation has clearly ended.

The encounter matters mainly for its unique weapon rewards and as a demanding test of timing before the player enters Bestial Sanctum. Defeating Black Blade Kindred awards equipment associated with the gargoyle’s weapon styles, while skipping it preserves access to the area and does not block the main storyline. Players deciding whether to fight should treat the reward as the main incentive, not a required progression key.

Requirements

No quest, key item, or story prerequisite is required to challenge Black Blade Kindred. The practical requirement is simply reaching the entrance to Bestial Sanctum and having a build capable of surviving heavy field-boss attacks.

• RequiredReach Bestial SanctumTravel to the open approach outside Bestial Sanctum in Dragonbarrow. The boss is encountered on the route to the entrance rather than after entering the building.
• RecommendedA reliable survival planBring enough healing and defensive preparation to withstand mistakes. The boss has wide melee coverage and ranged black-flame options, so a plan based only on retreating is unreliable.
• RecommendedA weapon you can use consistentlyThe fight rewards controlled punish windows more than a particular named weapon. Choose an attack pattern that lets you recover quickly after a roll or short opening.
• OptionalA way to manage runesBecause the fight is optional, spend or secure valuable runes before attempting it if a failed recovery run would be costly.

Encounter phasesSpoilers

1. 1

   Opening and greatsword pattern

   Starts: The encounter begins when the player approaches Black Blade Kindred outside Bestial Sanctum.

   Not stated in the supplied source material

   The boss uses large, deliberate weapon swings and can punish a player who attacks before the recovery window. Its body and weapon occupy enough space that rolling backward may still leave the player inside the follow-up arc.

   • Greatsword sweepTell The boss commits its upper body and draws the sword through a broad horizontal path.Answer Roll through the sweep toward the boss when the blade reaches you, then take a short attack during recovery rather than starting a long combo.
   • Heavy overhead strikeTell The weapon is raised above the boss before descending into the ground.Answer Move laterally or roll toward the boss at impact; the recovery after the downward blow is a clearer opening than the wind-up.
   • Black-flame projectileTell The boss pauses and presents a ranged black-flame attack instead of immediately continuing its melee chain.Answer Do not remain at the edge of the arena waiting for it to finish. Close distance while avoiding the line of fire, or use the available space to place the attack behind you before re-engaging.
   • Stay near the boss’s flank rather than directly in front of the weapon tip.
   • Use one or two attacks after a confirmed recovery, then return to a defensive position.
2. 2

   Greataxe pattern

   Starts: The boss changes to its greataxe moveset during the same encounter.

   Not stated in the supplied source material

   The greataxe attacks are slower but cover substantial space and can catch a player who assumes that a slow animation is automatically safe to punish. Keep watching the weapon rather than relying on the boss’s general body movement.

   • Greataxe sweepTell The axe is drawn into a wide lateral swing with a long reach around the boss.Answer Roll through the active swing and punish from the side only after the axe has passed; attacking from directly in front risks the next hitbox.
   • Axe slamTell The boss lifts the greataxe and drives it down with a heavy impact.Answer Evade at the moment of impact and use the recovery to land a short punish. Avoid standing in front of the weapon while it is being raised.
   • Black-flame area attackTell The boss creates a threatening black-flame effect while the player is trying to maintain distance.Answer Move out of the affected space without sprinting blindly into a second attack, then re-enter once the effect has ended.
   • The axe’s slower rhythm can tempt an extra attack; stop after the first safe punish unless the boss is visibly committed to recovery.
   • If the entrance is behind you, reposition toward open ground before the boss begins another chain.

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