Key takeaways
These are the decisions that matter most before entering the arena.
- Expect sustained melee pressure Rellana’s paired light greatswords let her flow from one slash into another, so a single successful dodge is not always the end of the sequence. Wait for the full combination to finish before committing to a long attack.
- Prepare for two damage identities Her swords combine magic and fire damage, especially after the phase transition. Pure physical defence is therefore less dependable than a build that can avoid the attacks cleanly or use a mixture of physical and elemental protection.
- Save resources for phase two The second phase adds larger magical threats and makes existing sword patterns more punishing. Do not spend every healing charge or your strongest temporary buff before the transition unless the opening phase is already under control.
- The reward is a Remembrance Defeating Rellana awards Remembrance of the Twin Moon Knight. Keep it if you want to exchange it for one of her unique armaments or sorceries rather than consuming it immediately for runes.
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight overview
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight is the final encounter of Castle Ensis, the first major legacy dungeon many players reach in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Rellana waits in the Ensis Moongazing Grounds at the end of Castle Ensis. The arena is reached by progressing through the castle rather than by finding a side cave or field encounter, so reaching her marks the completion of the dungeon’s main route. Her position makes the fight an important early test of the expansion’s faster, more aggressive boss design.
The boss uses two light greatswords at once, with one blade associated with magic and the other with fire. Rellana’s attacks are built around close-range pressure: she can chain sweeping slashes, thrusts, delayed swings, and jumping attacks without giving the player the long recovery windows common to ordinary enemies. Staying directly in front of her for too long allows these sequences to overlap.
Rellana’s second phase begins after her health is reduced to roughly half. At that point the elemental power of both swords intensifies, her attacks cover more space, and she gains the Twin Moon sorcery attack. The transition is not a separate enemy or a new arena, so players should preserve healing, summons, and consumables for the more demanding portion of the same fight.
The safest general plan is to learn the timing of her sword strings, punish only after a confirmed recovery, and create distance when she begins a clearly signalled magical attack. A shield can help against individual blows but is less reliable as a complete answer because her combinations, elemental damage, and delayed timings can drain stamina or catch a player who remains stationary. Her Remembrance makes the encounter worthwhile for players who want her distinctive paired-sword or sorcery options, but the fight is not required for every route through the expansion.
Route to the encounter
- 1Castle EnsislocationProgress through the legacy dungeon toward its final exterior approach.
- 2Ensis Moongazing GroundslocationEnter the arena at the end of the castle route.
- ●Rellana, Twin Moon KnightbossThe boss encounter begins at the arena fog gate.
Rellana is the concluding boss of Castle Ensis.
Requirements and preparation
There is no known fixed character-level requirement to enter the arena. Preparation should focus on survivability, reliable damage, and a plan for the phase transition.
- RequiredReach Castle EnsisThe encounter is accessed by following the main route through Castle Ensis to Ensis Moongazing Grounds.
- RecommendedA way to survive elemental pressureRellana’s attacks include both magic and fire components. Choose armour, talismans, buffs, or consumables that improve your tolerance for those damage types without making your build unable to roll or attack effectively.
- RecommendedA disciplined punish optionUse a weapon art, charged attack, jump attack, spell, or incantation that can be completed during a short opening. Long animations are risky while Rellana is still within sword range.
- RecommendedA phase-two resource planKeep enough healing and major buffs for the point at which Rellana reaches approximately half health. The latter half of the fight adds the Twin Moon attack and more powerful elemental pressure.
- OptionalSummoning supportSpirit Ashes or cooperative assistance can divide Rellana’s attention and create safer attack windows, although they do not remove the need to recognise her area attacks.
Encounter phasesSpoilers
- 1Above approximately half health
Phase one: paired-blade pressure
Starts: The fight begins when Rellana is engaged in Ensis Moongazing Grounds.
Rellana relies on rapid paired-sword combinations, short advances, thrusts, sweeping attacks, and occasional magical sword techniques. Her best openings usually come after a completed string rather than after the first swing.
- Paired sword comboTell Rellana closes distance and alternates the two blades through a sequence of slashes.Answer Dodge through the sequence instead of retreating in a straight line, then punish only when both blades have finished and she begins recovering.
- Advancing slashTell She steps or glides toward the player before cutting across the arena.Answer Roll toward her attack line or to her flank; a late backward roll can leave the player inside the follow-up range.
- Sword thrustTell Rellana briefly aligns her body and extends one blade in a direct attack.Answer Roll sideways as the thrust arrives and use the recovery to land one controlled hit.
- Magical sword techniqueTell A blade glows and the attack has a longer visual reach than the physical sword itself.Answer Treat the glow as a range warning and roll through the projectile or extended arc rather than assuming the blade is safe at distance.
- Stay close enough to read her body and maintain pressure, but do not attack after every blocked or dodged hit.
- Light attacks and quick weapon skills are safer than long casts during her neutral movement.
- If using a shield, watch stamina carefully; blocking one strike may still leave insufficient stamina for the next hit.
- 2Approximately half health or below
Phase two: Twin Moon Knight empowered
Starts: Rellana reaches approximately half health.
Rellana empowers both swords and gains the Twin Moon sorcery attack. Existing combinations become more dangerous because the blades carry stronger elemental effects, while the new area attack punishes players who remain beneath or near the boss without recognising its timing.
- Twin MoonTell Rellana rises and summons two large moons above the arena before the attack descends in sequence.Answer Jump over the shockwaves when the timing is learned, or create enough distance to avoid the affected area. Do not roll early and assume the first wave is the only impact.
- Empowered sword comboTell Both blades visibly burn with their elemental effects before or during a close-range sequence.Answer Prioritise survival over trading damage. Dodge the full string, then use the brief recovery rather than attempting to interrupt the combination with a slow attack.
- Wide magical sweepTell A glowing blade produces a broad arc with more reach than a normal sword swing.Answer Roll through the arc at the last moment or move outside its line before the swing is released; standing just beyond normal melee range may still be unsafe.
- Leaping attackTell Rellana jumps toward the player and descends with both weapons.Answer Roll as she begins the descent, then punish the landing only if no follow-up blast or sword sweep is queued.
- Keep the camera and Rellana in view during Twin Moon so the second impact is not mistaken for recovery.
- A summoned ally can create openings, but area attacks still threaten multiple targets and can destroy a distracted summon quickly.
- If the phase transition occurs while you are attacking, disengage immediately and reset your position rather than trying to finish a greedy combo.
Boss encounter strategySpoilers
- LocationEnsis Moongazing Grounds at the end of Castle Ensis
- HealthNot stated in the supplied material; the second phase begins at approximately half health.
Begin by observing the length of Rellana’s first few sword strings instead of trying to establish maximum damage immediately. Circle or dodge through the attacks, remain near her flank when possible, and answer a completed sequence with one or two quick attacks. When the swords become empowered, reduce the number of attacks you attempt between openings. During Twin Moon, prioritise the landing sequence and return to melee only after the area effect has ended. The fight is won more consistently by avoiding trades than by holding position and blocking every strike.
Weaknesses
- Rellana can be pressured by builds that apply status effects or deliver strong burst during her recovery windows.
- Her fast movement makes slow attacks unreliable unless she has just completed a long animation or is focused on another target.
Rewards
- Remembrance of the Twin Moon Knight
StrategySpoilers
- 01
Reach the boss arena.
Reach the end of Castle EnsisFollow Castle Ensis to its final exterior route and continue toward Ensis Moongazing Grounds. The fog gate at the arena marks the encounter; there is no separate quest item required to begin the fight.
Location: Castle Ensis
TipActivate the available Site of Grace and spend unused runes before entering, because the walk back to the arena is safer when the approach is familiar.
- 02
Start the encounter without wasting resources.
Choose your opening positionEnter with your preferred summon or cooperative ally ready and move far enough into the arena to keep Rellana visible. Avoid immediately committing to a long cast or weapon skill, because she can close the opening distance before the animation finishes.
Location: Ensis Moongazing Grounds
TipA ranged build should still begin from a position with a clear escape route rather than standing against the arena boundary.
Watch outIf an ally is being summoned, confirm that the summon has completed before drawing Rellana into an attack string; an interrupted summon can leave you fighting alone without the intended support.
- 03
Reduce Rellana’s health while avoiding trades.
Learn the first sword sequenceDuring the opening phase, watch the paired light greatswords and identify whether Rellana is continuing the current chain or entering recovery. Dodge through or around the attacks, then use a short punish after the final swing instead of attacking between every blade movement.
Location: Ensis Moongazing Grounds
TipStaying near her side is generally safer than repeatedly rolling backward, because retreating can keep you within the reach of the next advancing slash.
Watch outDo not treat a blocked first hit as the end of the sequence; the follow-up blade can still consume stamina or stagger a player who attacks too soon.
- 04
Build damage without being caught by the next chain.
Punish confirmed recoveriesUse quick attacks, jump attacks, or brief weapon skills after Rellana completes a longer combination, misses a committed thrust, or lands from a jump. Take only the amount of damage your animation can safely deliver before returning to defence.
Location: Ensis Moongazing Grounds
TipIf your main attack takes long enough to be interrupted by a normal sword swing, reserve it for a summon-created opening or a visibly extended recovery.
Watch outGreedy charged attacks and long spell casts can turn a successful dodge into a hit received, especially when Rellana changes direction during recovery.
- 05
Enter phase two with resources and space.
Prepare for the phase transitionAs Rellana approaches approximately half health, stop spending the last of your healing and temporary buffs on a risky burst. Reposition toward open ground so the upcoming empowered attacks can be read without the camera being trapped against a wall.
Location: Ensis Moongazing Grounds
TipIf a summon is alive, allow it to draw attention while you move to a clear angle; the transition is easier to manage when you can see Rellana’s full body.
Watch outThe phase change increases danger immediately. Continuing an attack after the visual transition can leave you underneath an empowered combo.
- 06
Avoid the phase-two area attack.
Survive Twin MoonWhen Rellana rises and creates the Twin Moon attack, watch for the descending impacts and avoid assuming that the first shockwave is the entire move. Jumping or using well-timed evasive movement can avoid the sequence, but the correct timing must account for the repeated impacts.
Location: Ensis Moongazing Grounds
TipKeep the camera centred on Rellana while she is airborne so the second moon does not arrive outside your view.
Watch outRolling too early can cause the first impact to be avoided while the next one catches the recovery animation.
- 07
Defeat Rellana, Twin Moon Knight.
Finish the empowered phase patientlyAfter Twin Moon ends, return to the same punish pattern but allow fewer attacks per opening. The magic and fire effects on the paired swords make trading damage especially costly, so disengage after a small confirmed hit and repeat the cycle until Rellana falls.
Location: Ensis Moongazing Grounds
TipWhen uncertain whether an animation is finished, wait for the weapon to return to a neutral position; the lost opportunity is smaller than the damage from guessing incorrectly.
Watch outDo not chase Rellana into the arena edge after she retreats. The limited camera angle makes her next advancing attack harder to read.
- 08
Claim the boss reward and continue through the expansion.
Collect the victory rewardAfter the defeat, collect the Remembrance of the Twin Moon Knight from the boss reward sequence. Keep the Remembrance if you want to exchange it for Rellana-themed equipment or sorcery instead of consuming it immediately.
Location: Ensis Moongazing Grounds
TipRecord or visit the appropriate Remembrance exchange location before deciding whether the rune value is more useful than the unique reward options.
Pre-fight checklist
- Spend or secure any runes you do not want to risk.The approach to the arena is easier to repeat once your currency is no longer a concern.
- Choose protection or buffs that account for magic and fire damage.Rellana’s two blades do not represent a purely physical threat.
- Equip a quick punish attack.Short weapon skills, light attacks, or brief casts are easier to fit into her recoveries than slow attacks.
- Decide whether to use a Spirit Ash or cooperative ally.Support can divide her attention but does not make Twin Moon safe to ignore.
- Keep healing and major temporary buffs for phase two.The fight becomes more dangerous after approximately half health.
- Ensure the camera has open space around the arena.Avoid beginning the fight or phase transition with your back against the boundary.
- Do not consume the Remembrance immediately after victory unless you are certain you do not want its unique exchange rewards.Optional
Weaknesses and damageSpoilers
Strengths
- Rellana has rapid follow-up attacks and can punish a player who assumes the first swing of a combo is the only threat.
- Her paired weapons cover both close melee space and broader magical angles, making simple backward movement unreliable.
- Phase two adds stronger elemental pressure and the Twin Moon area attack, reducing the safety of stationary blocking and close-range trades.
Weaknesses
- Her attack strings create meaningful punish windows after the full sequence ends, particularly after committed thrusts, jumps, and larger magical attacks.
- Fast weapons and short weapon skills fit the available openings better than attacks that lock the player in place.
- A build that can apply status effects or exploit burst windows can shorten the number of phase-two patterns that must be survived.
Best uses
- Use a shield for selected physical hits when stamina allows, but combine blocking with movement rather than attempting to absorb every paired-blade sequence.
- Use ranged attacks from an angle with a clear escape route; Rellana’s ability to close distance means distance alone is not a defence.
- Use summons or cooperative play when learning the encounter, then treat the distraction as an opportunity for controlled attacks rather than an invitation to unload every long animation.
Failure conditionsSpoilers
- The player is killed by a sword combinationThe usual cause is attacking after the first blade or rolling backward into the follow-up. Wait until the complete sequence has ended before punishing.
- The player is caught by Twin MoonThe attack has repeated impacts. Evading the first wave is not enough; remain focused on Rellana until the entire landing sequence is finished.
- The player runs out of stamina while blockingPaired attacks can consume the stamina reserved for the next dodge. Lower the shield between attacks and use movement to avoid the sequence when possible.
- The phase transition happens during a long animationRellana becomes more dangerous immediately after reaching approximately half health. Stop committing to extended attacks as the threshold approaches.
- A summon dies earlyA Spirit Ash or cooperative ally can lose health quickly to area attacks and empowered sword strings. Use the distraction for efficient, limited punishments rather than relying on permanent aggro control.
On failure
The encounter can be retried from the approach to the arena after death; no known quest branch or NPC outcome is required to claim the boss reward.
Rewards and dropsSpoilers
- Remembrance of the Twin Moon KnightThe boss Remembrance is awarded after Rellana is defeated. It can be retained for an exchange connected to Rellana’s unique weapons or sorcery, or consumed for its rune value; consuming it prevents that exchange on the same Remembrance.
LoreSpoilers
Rellana is presented as a Carian princess who abandoned her former life and became known as the Twin Moon Knight. Her identity links the encounter to the Carian tradition of moon sorcery and royal knights, while her paired swords express two different elements rather than a single school of combat.
The title also reflects the structure of the fight. Rellana begins as a relentless dual-blade knight and later invokes twin moons, turning the arena into a test of timing as much as weapon damage. Her lore and mechanics therefore reinforce the same image: a royal warrior whose swordsmanship and sorcery are inseparable.
Rellana’s placement in Castle Ensis gives the dungeon a narrative function beyond simple traversal. Defeating her removes the principal martial guardian of the castle and opens the player’s progress toward the southern portion of the Realm of Shadow, while the Remembrance preserves the encounter’s connection to her distinctive combat style.
Trivia
- Rellana’s paired swords are designed to communicate two elemental identities at once: the fight begins as dual-wielded knight combat and develops into a more overt magic-and-fire spectacle.
- The Twin Moon attack is a mechanical reference to the boss’s title rather than merely a visual effect; it is introduced with the phase-two escalation.
- Rellana’s encounter is placed at the end of Castle Ensis, making the castle’s progression function as a gradual introduction to the close-range pressure used in the boss battle.
Relationships
Locations
- Castle EnsisLocated inRellana is fought at the end of Castle Ensis.
- Ensis Moongazing GroundsEncounter locationThe arena where Rellana, Twin Moon Knight appears.
Rewards
- Remembrance of the Twin Moon KnightDropsDefeating Rellana awards this Remembrance.