One of the most challenging lesser Dungeon Bosses that Tarnished will encounter in Elden Ring is the invisible Black Knife Assassin of Sage's Cave in Altus Plateau. The fight will likely begin with the player entering the boss chamber only to freeze in confusion that there's no boss in sight. However, this bewilderment will quickly end when the Black Knife Assassin briefly emerges from the shadows to backstab the Elden Ring player and then vanish back into hiding.
It should be noted that, unlike the "untargetable" spectral enemies of Sellia in Caelid or Kingsrealm Ruins in Liurnia, the Black Knife Assassin of Sage's Cave is invisible but not invulnerable. In other words, Tarnished can still land strikes on this enemy, although they cannot physically see it. Nevertheless, having this knowledge still does not make the fight any easier.
Make the Invisible Black Knife Assassin Visible
The first and most straightforward way to beat the invisible Black Knife Assassin of Elden Ring's Sage's Cave is to equip the Sentry's Torch. According to the in-game description, the torch "allows the bearer to see assassins cloaked in veils."
This means that holding the Sentry's Torch in Elden Ring while facing the boss of Sage's Cave will stop the Black Knife Assassin from becoming invisible. Keep in mind that the torch has several stat requirements like all weapons in Elden Ring, but the unique effect will still occur even if those prerequisites are not met.
How to Beat the Black Knife Assassin While Invisible
Another technique which makes beating the invisible Black Knife Assassin in Elden Ring easier is to utilize Spirit Summons via the Spirit Calling Bell. Although Tarnished cannot see the concealed boss lurking in the dark, their Spirit Ash allies can. Because of this, close-combat Spirit Summons will be able to pinpoint the Assassin's position for the player, letting them know where they should strike.
A third standalone strategy that can be paired with Elden Ring's Spirit Calling Bell is using AoE skills such as Hoarstfrost Stomp against the invisible Black Knife Assassin. As a result, the boss will still receive damage as long as players are facing in the right direction.
Looking to find a way to cheese the invisible Black Knife Assassin in Elden Ring easy? Check out the method YouTuber Denis Varga uses below, which pits one Black Knife Assassin against another!
Tarnished adventurers who still insist on fighting the invisible Black Knife Assassin in Elden Ring without the Sentry's Torch, Summons, or any sort of cheese are recommended to turn off the game's music and watch the water in the boss chamber. By tuning in to the sound and environmental visuals of the Assassin's movements, players will have a good understanding of where they should attack. Once defeated, the Black Knife Assassin will drop the Concealing Veil talisman.
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Elden Ring
- Released:
- 2022-02-25
- Developer:
- FromSoftware
- Genre:
- Action, RPG
- Platform:
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Publisher:
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- ESRB:
- M
- Expansion Packs :
- The Colosseum
- How Long To Beat:
- 56 Hours
