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Sentient Pest is the third major boss ofElden Ring Nightreign, and it’s no pushover. Evening the playing field, Sentient Pest is actually two bosses, meaning your advantage in numbers is no longer the strength you thought it was. Just like with Gladius, you’ll have to balance your attention between multiple aggressive fronts.
Thankfully,Sentient Pestbecomes an easy fight once you know its weaknesses and how to use its own size and number against it. Collecting all the specific equipment that you can in the nights before, you can use this guide to lead you on the best path toward squashing this bug for good.
Total HP
39,180~
Gnoster, Wisdom of the Night is a poison-based foe whose damage dealt depends on which boss is dealing it.
While there is only one health bar,either the scorpion or the moth can be struckas they share the pool.
Because of dealt Poison damage from the moth, we recommend bringing in someNeutralizing Boluses.
When getting ready for the Sentient Pest, your greatest priority should be tocollect Fire affinity weaponsas it is the pest’s only weakness.
Likewise,abilities and effects that do the followingare incredibly important for this fight:
Some of the best Fire you can use against the Sentient Pest are typicallylingering magma incantations. These can deal tremendous over time damage.
It also helps if you stock up on Fire Grease and Fire Pots during your hunt before entering the arena. They can deal significant clutch damage and give you a great edge.
Recommended Characters
The best characters for Sentient Pest are typically those with great survivability, either through great defenses or high evasion. For that reason,these characters stand out above the rest:
There is an honorable mention for Wylder and his ability to close the gap with the Sentient Pest in this absolutely massive arena. His explosive Ultimate Art also deals tremendous damage when it manages to land with the pest’s strange hitbox.
Raider’s Ultimate Art provides a way toavoid the Scorpions attacksfor needed respite in the air or forblocking the moth’s attackswhen you’re on the ground.
His ability to alsogive the rest of the team increased attackin the near vicinity while his Art is active is absolutely clutch for this fight.
Duchess can easily evade most of the Sentient Pest’s attacks, especially the incredibly deadly charging attack in Stage Two.
While her damage and range can suffer in the fight, she will be able todouble the rest of the party’s damagewith her Skill andeasily save downed teammateswith her quick attacks and special Art.
Finally, Guardian can tank most of the Sentient Pest’s blows. He isexcellent at swallowing up the pest’s attentionwhile other teammates attack.
Though he can suffer from the Magic attacks and low speed,his Ultimate Art can poise-break and stagger the scorpionfor needed respite for other members.
Wind-Up Tells And Attack Description
Suggested Counters
Groundbreak - Forward
Raising up onto his back feet, Gnoster stands up and waddles just a few feet before slamming his body onto the ground. Spikes erupt forward on the ground.
Dash to either of Gnoster’s sidesto avoid his head entirely. Attack.
Groundbreak - Side
Raising the legs on one side of his body, he holds up his feet for almost two full seconds and then slams them onto the ground. The ground erupts into spikes in a wave out to the side.
Eitherdash or dodge under Gnosteronto his other side.Attack.If not possible, dodge into his side just as he makes contact with the ground.
Lunge
With a roar, Gnoster pulls back his head and raises his mandibles as he walks toward his target. He lunges forward with a pincer attack. He can do this up to three times in a row.
Rolldodge forward or to the side.
Roar
Shaking his body, Gnoster raises his head out into the air and lets out a roar that does several rapid waves of damage.
As fast as possible, eithersprint or mash dodge backwardout of his roar’s range.
Dig
The scorpion lowers his head and digs underground. After several seconds, a rumble can be heard as he begins to burrow toward the player that has his aggression. It will track that player and emerge just as it nears.
Begin dashing awayfrom the visible upset in the ground. If it targets you, wait until the mound reaches you and then dash forward or forward diagonal.
Lunging Jump
Gnoster braces himself and then jumps forward toward his target. He can repeat this up to two times and end in a comboed lunge.
If you have distance,sprint away, dodging back only once. When he finally reaches you,dodge forward.
Harden
Gnoster curls and hardens his shell. While in this shell, he is near impenetrable and cannot take damage.
Use the shell of the scorpion as a shield from the moth.After several seconds, when it appears the scorpion is about to return,use your upgrades and buffs.
Moth Only
Star Shower
Glowing blue, the moth lights up the sky box with several starlike lights. After, those stars begin to rain down in a fan pattern that spreads out in a wave.
Sprint forward and doge forwardinto the circle of the stars (typically where the moth resides).
Poison Mist
A bell chimes as sparkling lights are fanned from the moth’s wings. After the lights settle, they turn into mists of poison.
When you hear the chime, look for the lights cloud andsprint awayfrom them to a safer location.
Star Barrage
Light gathers in six points around the moth’s wings. It then unleashes them onto a single target as balls of magic. The balls of magic energy are slightly uneven in their timing.
Sprint to one side and sidestepat the last moment for each wave.
Poisoning Grab
The moth chimes and comes low to the ground. It then flashes purple and lunges forward toward a character. If grabbed, the player is dealt massive damage (normally killed) and infested with a poison that lasts the match.
Sprint away and dodge in any direction before the moth grabs you.
Phase Two
Transition Roar
The moth mounts the scorpion’s head. After, the scorpion lets out a larger area of roar.
As the field begins to turn green and the moth flies to the scorpion,run awayand keep your distance.Make preparations for Phase Two.
Scorpion Attacks
The scorpion can make any attack from its prior list except Harden and Dig.
See above.
Moth Poison
While mounted on the Scorpion, the moth will intermittently spread poison waves, typically in a circle around the scorpion but sometimes ahead.
Listen to the chime andwatch for the mistto see its direction. Either avoid it byrunning away or dodge forwardthrough the ring as the circular mist will slowly roll out and away from the scorpion.
Star Show (Phase Two)
Now, the Moth releases a Star Shower attack faster and whenever the scorpion performs a Forward Lunge.
Run around the scorpionto avoid the forward lunge and then dodge forward as the starlight rains down.
Charging Barrage
A single player is targeted with a red circle. Then, a light forms above the moth’s head before the scorpion begins to charge. It fires three waves of Star Barrages and turns around once it has passed the player. It repeats this three times, switching targets if its first target has died. When it comes to a rest, it unleashes a small and quick wave of Star Rain.
Stand put and side step with each of the barrage waves.Side step twice in quick succession as the scorpion reaches you, about to run you over. Continue until it finishes, and thendodge a final timefor the Star Rain before you attack.
Light From Above
A light begins to shimmer on the ground. It follows the player, showing itself three times before it rains down on the fourth. Once it begins to rain down, it deals tremendous pulsing Magic damage in an area.
Begin walking awayfrom the light, moving it away from any teammates and the boss. When the fourth circle is about to appear,dash away.
The greatest obstacle to defeating the Sentient Pest iskeeping up consistent pressure.Because of the many zoning challenges that the pest makes with its movepool designed to punish aggression,this fight can drag on dangerously long.
Therefore, you have to make the best out of the few openings you have andplay mercilessly.
The best openingsto take advantage of are these moves:
There will also be a moment when the Sentient Pest scorpion half curls up and turns grey. This hardens the shell, andthe scorpion is immune to damage at this time.
While characters like Ironeye and Recluse could potentially reach the moth half, it is simply better towait and regroupat this time.
you may also use the shell of the scorpion to absorb any Magic attacks from the moth. While it won’t protect you from the poison mist, it will prevent Magic beams from coming through.
Otherwise, the Sentient Pest is moving around a lot.It is a highly stamina-intensive fightfor all the chasing you’ll be doing.
It will Phase-Transition at about 50-60 percent.During this time, the entire arena will become cloaked in green growth.
When this happens you shouldback away from the scorpionto avoid its devastating Roar attack.Prepare for Phase Twowith any buffs you have saved.
The most dangerous attack in the Pest’s arsenal is its Charging Barrage in Phase Two.While it only targets one character at this time, it is easy for other teammates to accidentally get hit or, worse yet, get targeted after the first target perishes.
Learning how to dodge and avoid this attack will be your key to surviving the Sentient Pest. For more information on dodging it and other moves,look at the chart above.
Tips For Beating The Sentient Pest: Gnoster
There are three big takeawaysfrom this article that are the keys to your success against Sentient Pest:
If you can accomplish these three things above, you are well on your way to defeating this monstrosity.
We have tried Bleed builds against the Sentient Pest before. While it is effective in reaching Phase two quickly, it falls off due to the pest’s extremely high health pool. Fire damage truly is the best way to go.
Once those three goals are accomplished, the next thing to consider is Poison damage.You will likely get poisonedduring this fight; it is par for the course.
If you do not have Neutralizing Boluses or a way to alleviate that condition (especially if you are grabbed),you’re able to instead choose to dierather than wasting flasks. This should remove the poison.
Do not do this if you have already died once before (and most especially: twice before).
Finally, if teammates end up dying during this fight - and they likely will- you shouldwait to revive them if one of the following is true:
Eventually, with enough aggression and no small amount of literal firepower, you’ll be able to come out on top against this pesky Nightlord. Your reward for doing so will be the equippable relic,Night of the Wise.
