SIR GIDEON OFNIR, THE ALL-KNOWING

Phase Strategy

Gideon is the antithesis of every other fight in the game. He is not a warrior — he is a scholar who stole power from the bosses you killed. The arena is Godfrey's throne room, now ashen and silent. Gideon stands at the far end, staff in hand, and begins casting the moment the fog gate seals.

Critical: Do not let him finish his opening monologue. Sprint directly at him the instant you enter. He takes 3-4 seconds to finish speaking — during which he is vulnerable. Landing two jump attacks during this window removes 20% of his health before the fight even begins.

The core mechanic: Gideon's spell repertoire changes based on which major bosses you have defeated. If you killed Mohg, he casts Bloodboon. If you killed Malenia, he casts Scarlet Aeonia. If you did the minimum required path and skipped optional content, his arsenal is smaller. This is the only boss fight in the game that scales its difficulty based on your completionism.

Single Phase — The Scholar's Last Stand

Gideon has no health threshold transitions. He casts continuously until dead. The strategy is binary:

Option 1 (Recommended): Aggressive Rush

Gideon has no poise. He staggers after 2-3 jump attacks or 4-5 light weapon hits. Once staggered, he cannot cast. Chain your attacks — do not give him space to breathe. Most veteran players kill Gideon in under 60 seconds using this method. He is designed to be bullied.

Option 2: Defensive Spacing

If you are undergeared or unfamiliar with his spell tells, treat this as a spacing fight. Stay at mid-range (10-15 meters). Bait a spell, dodge it, sprint in for 1-2 hits, retreat. This method takes 3-5 minutes but is safer for casters and ranged builds.

The mistake most players make: treating Gideon like Margit or Godrick. They wait for "openings" that never come. Gideon is the opening. He is fragile. He dies if you commit.

Attacks & Counters

Gideon's spell list depends on your game state. Below are the most common spells and their counters:

| Attack | Counter | |--------|---------| | Comet Azur | He channels a beam for 4 seconds. Sprint perpendicular — do not roll. Huge punish window after the beam ends. | | Scarlet Aeonia (if Malenia killed) | He summons the rot flower above his head. Sprint away immediately — the AOE is 10m radius. Do not try to punish. | | Triple Rings of Light | Three golden rings home toward you. Roll through them on the 2nd ring's approach. | | Bloodboon (if Mohg killed) | He raises his staff and summons blood flame geysers. They erupt in a line. Strafe perpendicular to him. | | Law of Regression | He heals for ~25% of his max HP. This cast is slow — if you are close, you can stagger him mid-cast and prevent the heal entirely. | | Explosive Ghostflame | Purple flame erupts around him. Roll backward twice. The second explosion is delayed. | | Black Flame ritual | He summons a ring of black flames that spiral outward. Jump over them or roll through the gaps. |

The most dangerous spell is Scarlet Aeonia — it one-shots most builds below 50 Vigor. If you killed Malenia, Gideon will use this. Watch for the flower animation above his head and sprint the moment you see it.

Recommended Loadout

The "rush" strategy works with almost any build:

• Weapon: Anything with high stance damage. Colossal swords, great hammers, and Cragblade Ash of War trivialize him. Jump attacks deal double stance damage — spam them.
• Talismans:
  • Claw Talisman (increases jump attack damage)
  • Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman (reduces spell damage by 20%)
  • Bull-Goat's Talisman (poise — prevents spell staggers mid-swing)
  • Green Turtle Talisman (stamina regen for sustained aggression)
• Spirit Ash: Mimic Tear +10 or Black Knife Tiche +10. Summons draw his target priority and allow you to attack freely. Gideon has poor target-switching AI — he often locks onto the summon and ignores you entirely.
• Consumables: Ironjar Aromatic makes you immune to staggers for 30 seconds. Pop it at the start and trade hits — you will win.

For spellcasters: Rock Sling staggers him in 2 casts. Night Comet cannot be dodged by his AI. Both spells trivialize the fight.

Lore Pause

Gideon's fight is deliberately anticlimatic. He is not a warrior — he is a man who believed knowledge alone could make him Elden Lord. His epithet, "the All-Knowing," is ironic. He knows he cannot win, yet fights anyway out of obligation to his role. His dying words ("A man cannot kill a god... but you will try") are a warning, not a boast.

The thematic intent is clear: knowledge without strength is futile. Gideon studied every boss you killed, learned their techniques, and still falls in seconds to a Tarnished who simply does not stop moving forward. It is the inverse of Malenia's fight — where patience wins, here aggression is rewarded.

Gideon is not a wall. He is a footnote. The game wants you to feel powerful before Godfrey.

Common Mistakes

1. Letting him monologue: His opening speech is not a grace period. Interrupt it.
2. Giving him space: Distance is his advantage. Stay close and he cannot chain-cast.
3. Overestimating his poise: He has none. Two jump attacks stagger him. Do not hesitate.
4. Fighting him like a Souls boss: He is not Pontiff Sulyvahn. He is a glass cannon with predictable AI. Exploit it.

Post-Fight Note

After Gideon, you fight Godfrey, First Elden Lord in the same room. Do not burn all your flasks on Gideon. If you rush him correctly, you should only need 1-2 healing flasks. Save the rest for Hoarah Loux.

Gideon's armor set (All-Knowing Set) is sold by Enia at the Roundtable Hold after his death. It has exceptional magic defense and looks excellent. His staff, Gideon's Scepter, is mediocre — skip it unless you are a completionist.

Related Bosses

Gideon is the penultimate fight before the endgame gauntlet: Godfrey, First Elden Lord, Radagon of the Golden Order, and Elden Beast. If you struggled with Gideon, consider respeccing for higher Vigor or upgrading your weapon to +24/+9 before continuing.