Elden Ring: Nightreign Dreglord Boss Guide: How to Survive the Rot

So, you finally managed to scrape your way past the Balancers. You probably thought you earned a break, right? Maybe a nice quiet moment at a Site of Grace to count your runes and lower your heart rate? Well, Elden Ring: Nightreign has a funny way of saying “congratulations,” and in The Forsaken Hollows DLC, that reward is a massive, rotting nightmare known as the Dreglord.

If you have stepped into the arena and immediately been flattened by a club the size of a small house, you aren’t alone. The Dreglord, formally known as the Traitorous Straghess, is the gatekeeper of this expansion’s difficulty curve. He is fast, he hits like a freight train, and he loves Scarlet Rot almost as much as he hates you. But don’t worry, folks. We have thrown ourselves at this beast enough times to figure out the patterns so you don’t have to break your controller in frustration. Here is how to take down the Dreglord and claim “The Night of Dregs” for yourself.

Best Loadout and Characters for the Dreglord Fight

Before you even step through the fog gate, you need to understand what you are up against. The Dreglord has two distinct phases and two full health bars, meaning this is an endurance test. He doesn’t have a specific weakness listed in the menu, but we have found that Fire and Holy damage melt his health bar faster than anything else.

If you are running a squad, your team composition matters more here than perhaps anywhere else in Nightreign.

• Guardian: This is your MVP. Seriously, don’t leave home without one. Guardian’s ability to tank hits is crucial, but his Ultimate Art is the real game-changer in Phase 2.
• Scholar: While Scholar can be tricky to play solo, his ability to buff allies and debuff the Dreglord is invaluable. Plus, if you have the Bagcraft Passive, fully upgraded Fire Pots do wonders here.
• Wylder: If you want raw damage, Wylder is your guy. His “cheat death” passive gives you a little wiggle room if you mess up a dodge, and his fire potential aligns perfectly with the boss’s weakness.
• Undertaker: Her Holy damage output is fantastic against the Dreglord, though she is a bit squishy. Bring her if you have a good tank to keep the aggro off her.

Phase 1: Surviving the Traitorous Straghess

The fight starts against the Traitorous Straghess. He is a big guy with a big club, and for the first 40% of his health bar, he is mostly just a physical threat. He will swing that club in wide arcs, so your best bet is to roll into the swings and try to stick to his back or sides.

The real fun begins when he hits about 60% health. This is when the Dreglord starts using Scarlet Rot. He will hurl massive boulders of rot at you or plunge them into the ground for an AOE explosion. If you see him grab a rock, create distance immediately.

The most annoying part of Phase 1 isn’t even the Dreglord himself, but the friends he invites to the party. He will spawn undead mobs that slowly wander around. If you ignore them, they merge into massive, Wormface-like monstrosities that buff the boss. Do yourself a favor and clear these guys out quickly. It keeps the arena clean and stops the Dreglord from getting unnecessary power spikes.

Watch out for the Fissures attack, too. He will smash his club into the ground, creating glowing cracks. These explode twice, so don’t roll back in too early or you will get caught in the aftershock.

Phase 2: How to Beat Pure Impulse Straghess

Once you deplete the first health bar, the screen goes black. Take a breath, maybe sip some water, because Phase 2 is where things get chaotic. The boss transforms into Pure Impulse Straghess.

When the fight resumes, do not rush in. The Dreglord starts this phase by roaring and triggering rot explosions everywhere. Hang back and let him throw his tantrum.

In this phase, the Dreglord is faster and much more agile. He jumps around the arena like a caffeinated dragon, and almost every attack splashes Scarlet Rot. He also gains a terrifying new move where he summons a mound of corpses, climbs it, and then zooms around the pillars to smash you. Just focus on dodging here. You can’t hit him easily, so prioritize survival.

The move that ends most runs is his Rotten Mound AOE. He will roar, summon pillars, jump into the air, and slam down for a screen-wiping explosion. This is where your Guardian saves the day. Group up and have the Guardian pop their Ultimate right as the Dreglord jumps. You will be immune to the damage, and you’ll look cool doing it.

Final Tips for Defeating the Dreglord

If you are still struggling, check your inventory. Since the Dreglord deals mostly Physical damage and Rot, eating Preserving Boluses is mandatory. If you are playing online, try to coordinate your elements. Having a Recluse proc Fire explosions off a Wylder’s attacks can shred the boss’s HP.

This fight is a marathon, not a sprint. The Dreglord punishes greed, so get your one or two hits in and then back off. Keep your cool, watch for the rot, and eventually, the “CALAMITY OVERCOME” text will hit the screen. Good luck, Nightfarers. You are going to need it.