An Elden Ring player was successfully seduced by the devil that is greed when fighting Commander Niall, meeting their end merely a single hit away from victory. The boss that awaits players at the end of Castle Sol is one of the first experiences of Elden Ring's endgame difficulty spike, with many whom would rather turn to exploits than deal with his lightning infused foot.
Greed is something FromSoftware veterans are far too familiar with, the allure of a nearly depleted enemy health bar often proving to be more tempting than the guarantee of safety. It is a story that has been told countless times already, from Dark Souls to Sekiro, but Elden Ring players are just as susceptible. Given the immense damage that endgame bosses in the Lands Between can inflict, even a position of comfort can inevitably result in a crushing defeat.
In a video uploaded to Reddit by u/DumbBoyDiego, their confrontation against Commander Niall has seemingly favored them thus far, with the boss at death's door and plenty of remaining Flasks to replenish health with. As the fight continues, both combatants receive hits, but the player remains in a dominant position, managing to heal away the damage inflicted by Niall's delayed attacks. Successfully dodging a kick and the subsequent swing, the player's confidence takes hold, rushing in for a jumping attack which deals admirable damage but causes them to get caught by the continuation of Niall's combo.
However, death is kept at bay and the player gains enough distance to recover. But now the greed begins to seep in, with Niall so close to defeat a single strong attack would be sufficient. Charging into the fray, the player's jump is thwarted by a frost-infused blast that encircles Niall, which is immediately followed up by an airborne strike. The player dodges and has time to instantly follow up with the Bloodhound's Fang, but the boss still stands, a health bar so drained that what remains is imperceptible without intense study. Niall has the upper hand, and executes the player with extreme prejudice.
Comments were brimming with commiseration, many offering suggestions specific to Niall, including that they should dodge into the storm rather than away. Although some claimed to have been screaming for them to heal, others pointed out that their +3 Flask of Crimson Tears is a severe handicap, especially given how far through the game Castle Sol is. If the player's healing potential had been higher, they may have been able to survive even the greed.
Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.