Bayle is rough for me

[Fried Noodles]

I've never enjoyed any of the dragon fights in Elden Ring, and Bayle's not much different.

I've done everything I can think of in the DLC so far (at least what I can reach!) with the exception of Messmer (whom I've not even bothered challenging) and Bayle.
Unless there's some catacombs or something that I've missed, I don't have anything else.

All of it, I did solo.

Against most of the bosses I got to the point where I was like "Okay, I can beat this boss like this with no problem..." But then I'd just let myself get killed so I can practice and try to defeat the boss more cleanly.
With style or whatever.

I had a dozen or so goes at Bayle and I'm not at that first stage yet.

The entire encounter still feels like a great estus-chugging cluster. My camera is constantly whipping around because I'm locked on like a dummy.

I tried a few different weapons, including the machine gun crossbow.
I thought I was onto something there, but the rapid fire weapon art is way too slow.
Bayle can close the distance to quickly!

[Hikaru]

Bayle is a perfect fight. If you lose it is a skill and experience issue. This is one of the best examples of "difficult but fair" bosses from software has made in the dlc and probably ever because most of their bosses are not really that difficult. He deserves his name of bayle the dread, but he is absolutely fair. Stick with it.

[Izuzul]

I just used the Dragon Hunter's Great Katana, The Weapon Skill takes chunks off any dragon.

[Sono]

He can be difficult to read but ive found you its better to stay near his head versus his feet, you tend to get stuck on his legs really easily, and then die from lightning zaps. his fire can be rolled through but from what i gather the timing is you need to be a little late (late to when you think itll connect). Bayle is def a fight i advise dash attacks on, and maybe stamina recovery speed because its a dodge heavy fight.

Sadly the auto crossbow blows and needs a big buff for both pve and pvp, dont use it. Instead, use the spread crossbow, it builds status very easily, so bleed or rot bolts are your friends with that.

If you want to really make the fight funny summon igon and then summon Ogha or Latenna on the other side of the arena, and ping pong aggro

[Faust Wither]

Originally posted by Reconciler:

I just used the Dragon Hunter's Great Katana, The Weapon Skill takes chunks off any dragon.

this, its really good, aim the ash of war to the head, also bayle dealing fire, lighting and physical damage, make sure use talisman that reduce those.

[Fried Noodles]

Originally posted by Reconciler:

I just used the Dragon Hunter's Great Katana, The Weapon Skill takes chunks off any dragon.

That'd have to be a maybe for me! I don't think I have enough Dexterity to wield that thing.
I might do if I use the +5 DEX talisman, but I probably lack the proper damage scaling!

[SPACE NUGGETS]

Favorite boss fight in DLC so far

[bigbiggaboo]

The dragon fights look cool but suck. I didn't have much issue with Bale but he was so annoying repositioning every five seconds and then spamming that move where he zooms back and forth to the opposite end of the arena. It's not quite as bad as elden beast but still bad.

[duck_dodgers]

Stay locked on his head, stay in front of him, do not go for body shots against him, just dodge and counter attack his head. As someone else mentioned, the dragon hunter great katana is very helpful.

Also, while I sympathise with your desire to go solo, but, you can also try summoning the NPC for this fight, he takes the fight to an entirely new level and is probably the best hype man I have ever seen. I saw the videos of this and immediately regretted not summoning him. I'll do an NG+ run later just so that I can experience his magnificence first hand.

[Lukas]

I can solo him for you if you don't want to fight him

[Akemua]

Just believe in the hype and transcend mortality.


BAAAAAAYYYYYYLLLLLLEEEE.

[Mander]

Stick to its left leg, while targeting its head.
Spam pest thread.
Fight is over.

Also, mandatory:

CUUURSE YOU BAAAYLE! I HEREBY VOW YOU WILL RUE THIS DAY!
BEHOLD, A TRUE DRAKE WARRIOR and I, IGON! YOUR FEARS MADE FLESH.
SOLID OF SCALE YOU MIGHT BE, FOUL DRAGON
BUT I WILL RIDDLE WITH HOLES YOUR ROTTEN HIDE...
WITH A HAIL OF HARPOONS! WITH EVERY LAST DROP OF MY BEING!
WAAAAAAAAH!

[Izuzul]

The Voice Acting by the guy who played Igon is worth the price of the DLC.

[speds👃]

Originally posted by Hikaru:

Bayle is a perfect fight. If you lose it is a skill and experience issue. This is one of the best examples of "difficult but fair" bosses from software has made in the dlc and probably ever because most of their bosses are not really that difficult. He deserves his name of bayle the dread, but he is absolutely fair. Stick with it.

if you lose it's a camera issue. Bayle is like dollar store Midir...

[Zogtar]

Originally posted by Spenaire♿:

Originally posted by Hikaru:

Bayle is a perfect fight. If you lose it is a skill and experience issue. This is one of the best examples of "difficult but fair" bosses from software has made in the dlc and probably ever because most of their bosses are not really that difficult. He deserves his name of bayle the dread, but he is absolutely fair. Stick with it.

if you lose it's a camera issue. Bayle is like dollar store Midir...

Midir is WAAAAAY more predictable. He just takes forever.

[Rust Vendor]

the dragon hunters katana is literally in the leadup to Bayle, can't help but think there's a reason