What level should I be for the crucible duo?

[lamenting spongebob]

I'm level 77 and getting creamed. I can kill the spear guy and get the sword dude down to half health, but most of my hits come from trading and I just don't have the health to finish him off

Is this fight just BS compared to most or is there an actual trick? I've seen people say to draw them apart but they move so fast that it's damn-near impossible to do that

[76561199392198891]

I usually parry them to death. First, I go for the sword dude and then the spear guy, as the latter has a more difficult 2nd-phase-moveset IMO.

As you have probably observed already, in multi enemy boss fights, the closest enemy will attack you, while the other ones will just watch. You can abuse this behavior to single out your target by running around in a manner that keeps you closer to your target and farther away from the other guys.

Once you get the hang of separating them, you can bait out the parryable attacks and go for the crit.

I highly recommend the misericorde (e.g. lightning) and a shield with golden parry (the extra parry range helps alot against the spear guy).

[lamenting spongebob]

Originally posted by Mika:

I usually parry them to death. First, I go for the sword dude and then the spear guy, as the latter has a more difficult 2nd-phase-moveset IMO.

As you have probably observed already, in multi enemy boss fights, the closest enemy will attack you, while the other ones will just watch. You can abuse this behavior to single out your target by running around in a manner that keeps you closer to your target and farther away from the other guys.

Once you get the hang of separating them, you can bait out the parryable attacks and go for the crit.

I highly recommend the misericorde (e.g. lightning) and a shield with golden parry (the extra parry range helps alot against the spear guy).

Oof I SUCK at parrying, time to git gud I guess lol. I did it for Champion Gundyr, I can do it again

Also the part about, "the closest enemy will attack you, while the other ones will just watch," I tried that but they kept acting weird and standing right next to each other. Sometimes speeding up only to slow down and let the other guy catch up. The arena just feels way to small for how mobile they are

[2001 Space Oddity]

I suck a parrying too, I just kite them around the pillars and focus on spear guy first. Sometimes sword guy *really* wants to fight me so I have to run several laps around the room before spear guy comes at me again. I'm usually higher level than 77 though, more like 90-100.

You should have at least one weapon upgraded to +19 or 20 by this point, for somber weapons you should have +6 at least, but it's not hard to get +10 early. You should also have 40 vigor minimum, 50 would be better.

[lamenting spongebob]

Originally posted by 2001 Space Oddity:

I suck a parrying too, I just kite them around the pillars and focus on spear guy first. Sometimes sword guy *really* wants to fight me so I have to run several laps around the room before spear guy comes at me again. I'm usually higher level than 77 though, more like 90-100.

You should have at least one weapon upgraded to +19 or 20 by this point, for somber weapons you should have +6 at least, but it's not hard to get +10 early. You should also have 40 vigor minimum, 50 would be better.

I have a +18 weapon, dunno what level my vigor is at though, maybe 30?
I started watching a video on where all bosses and minibosses are and I'm clearing out the first couple areas, I'll use those runes to level up vigor and then I'll upgrade my flask (it being only +4 really sucks) and then I'll have at them again I guess
Using the pillars is a great idea, thanks!

[Azor]

Originally posted by Joe Rogan Official™:

Originally posted by 2001 Space Oddity:

I suck a parrying too, I just kite them around the pillars and focus on spear guy first. Sometimes sword guy *really* wants to fight me so I have to run several laps around the room before spear guy comes at me again. I'm usually higher level than 77 though, more like 90-100.

You should have at least one weapon upgraded to +19 or 20 by this point, for somber weapons you should have +6 at least, but it's not hard to get +10 early. You should also have 40 vigor minimum, 50 would be better.

I have a +18 weapon, dunno what level my vigor is at though, maybe 30?
I started watching a video on where all bosses and minibosses are and I'm clearing out the first couple areas, I'll use those runes to level up vigor and then I'll upgrade my flask (it being only +4 really sucks) and then I'll have at them again I guess
Using the pillars is a great idea, thanks!

30 vigor is risky. I found that you don't really need too much investiment into strenght/dex when you have good weapon upgrades + wondrous mix with stat, so you can focus on vigor. As for flask upgrade (Sacred Tear), they are very easy to find. They are all found in a Church, and all Churches look the same in the map. So grab the local map, look for churches on the map, and upgrade that flask.

My gameplan vs duo was almost the same as the other guy. Hit and run/dodge. Don't let them surround you. I did get hit a lot though -- that's where high vigor, armor and flasks come in handy. But no one should feel bad about making mistakes. Even speedrunners spec some points into vigor so they can afford to make a few mistakes.

[Clail]

Greatshield little guys for ashes can keep at least one of them busy for a good while.

Beyond that, trading with crucibles sounds like the worst idea I can think of. Use a shield to block the lighter/faster attacks, roll through the more noticably telegraphed ones, and get a blow or two while they are animation locked.

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

Trick is to two hand big weapon and jump attack and bash them to death.
Any greatsword or great hammer will suffice.

Vigor under 40 is your main problem.

[lamenting spongebob]

Originally posted by Sc0rpiTr0n:

Trick is to two hand big weapon and jump attack and bash them to death.
Any greatsword or great hammer will suffice.

Vigor under 40 is your main problem.

I was two-handing the Duelist Greataxe, worked pretty well but they still kept getting hits on me

[lamenting spongebob]

Originally posted by Clail:

Greatshield little guys for ashes can keep at least one of them busy for a good while.

Beyond that, trading with crucibles sounds like the worst idea I can think of. Use a shield to block the lighter/faster attacks, roll through the more noticably telegraphed ones, and get a blow or two while they are animation locked.

I didn't want to summon because it seemed cheesy and I felt like I could learn them, but after putting another hour and a half into these guys, I'm going to get the shield ash and use it

I put my vigor to 50 and got to +9 crimson flasks and I still was getting thrown around
I even pulled out the buckler and did parrying, I was excited because I was getting so many parries, but it didn't even end up helping since the other guy would start a combo and hit me the moment I was done

I've tried to put my best face forwards with Elden Ring and find an excuse for stuff people dislike about the game but I just cannot find a single good thing to say about this fight. Crucible knights are a cool enemy on their own, the armor is sick, their attacks are sick, but they're just WAY too fast and hard-hitting enemies to have to fight two of them, let alone in an arena as tiny as they are in. They also feel obscenely aggressive

Gonna just take the L and use ashes

[2001 Space Oddity]

There's nothing wrong with using ashes, they're in the game for a reason. If you decide to play the game again with different builds you can always try to solo them again. I didn't do a no-summons run until my 4th build. The duo bosses were rough at first, but now I find them a lot more manageable.

[lamenting spongebob]

Originally posted by 2001 Space Oddity:

There's nothing wrong with using ashes, they're in the game for a reason. If you decide to play the game again with different builds you can always try to solo them again. I didn't do a no-summons run until my 4th build. The duo bosses were rough at first, but now I find them a lot more manageable.

Thanks, that 4th run thing gives me hope lol
I don't think ashes are bad, I've used them a couple times. I just really, REALLY wanted to prove I could beat these guys without them

[Sc0rpiTr0n]

Originally posted by Flammable Radish:

I just really, REALLY wanted to prove I could beat these guys without them

You can. They are not so bad.
Use hit and run tactics, jump attacks and kill spear dude first.

You can soften them up with Poisonous and Chilling Mists Ashes of War.

[Old Captain Yon]

If you don't want to use ashes (which you probably should in duo fights since ER duo fights are not REAL duo fights but just 2 separate enemies put together) you better use some form of lasting damage, poison or rot. While you kite one knight and fight him, the other will be slowly rotting too. If u use Duelist greataxe, Braggart's roar is very powerful on it bc of charged attack bonus on that specific weapon, while also making you more tanki especially with crab, and charged heavies break poise reliably. Stock up on crab, really. It helps.

[Mythily]

For arguably not well designed fights like these, I use spirit ashes as well. It's almost like these few fights are designed to be fought with summons.

[aftermath1467892]

i think level 70 will work. I was probably there when I first beat that boss. it's just about keeping your distance and poking at them one at a time.