Elden Ring Sword of Night Build - Void Knight Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)
Jun. 25, 2024Elden Ring Sword of Night Build – Void Knight Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)
In thisElden Ring Sword of Night Build, I’m going to be showing you myVoid Knight Guide. This is a build that not only uses theArmor of Night, but also incorporates theSword of Nightand theShield of Night. You can find these items in ourShadow of the Erdtree Walkthrough.
In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you my Sword of Night and Shield of Night build. This is a Shadow of the Erdtree build that takes place after level 150. If you’ve been looking for a katana build for Shadow of the Erdtree that quickly slashes through your enemies then you might want to check this build-out.
We have over 120Elden Ring builds. Each one is meticulously crafted to offer unique playstyles, strategies, and experiences, ensuring there’s something for every adventurer in the Lands Between. Whether you seek the raw power of heavy weapons, the finesse of spellcasting, or the versatility of hybrid builds, our collection has you covered. Explore the depths of the game’s mechanics and unleash your full potential with our diverse array of builds.
You can find theSword of Nightby completingCount Ymir‘s quest lineand progressing it to its end or near the end. TheArmor of NightandShield of Nightare located inBonny Gaol, which is accessible early in the game. After passing through theMoorth Ruins, you can find this dungeon by running a bit further to obtain these items quickly.
Let’s start with theSword of Night. ThisKatanafeaturesBloodloss buildupandDex scaling. As a unique Katana, it cannot be infused, but it offers substantialphysical and magic damage, with most of the damage being physical. Its standout feature is the unique weapon skill,Witching Hour Slash.
Witching Hour Slashinvolves holding the Katana to the side and executing a quick three-hit slash that advances the character forward, extending the attack range beyond the Katana itself, similar to theRivers of Blood. You can charge this skill for increased range and damage, which is particularly useful if you can predict an opening, such as when staggering a boss or anticipating an enemy’s approach. A notable advantage is that if you need to release the charge prematurely due to an enemy’s attack, the skill will still execute, allowing some flexibility in timing.
There are some drawbacks to this weapon. First, its reach is quite short compared to other Katanas like theNagakibaorGreat Katana, necessitating closer proximity to enemies. Additionally, theFP costof 21 per use is high for a weapon skill, making FP management crucial, especially since this skill effectively kills regular enemies. Lastly, once the skill is activated, you are locked into the animation, which can be a disadvantage against aggressive bosses and enemies. This necessitates learning enemy attack patterns to use the skill effectively. Blindly using the skill in unfamiliar boss fights can lead to significant damage taken.
Next, let’s take a look at theShield of Night. This is an interesting shield because it weighs almost nothing. It has attack power, physical and magic, but offers terrible defenses except for magic and has a poor guard boost. It scales with dexterity and has a unique skill calledRevenge of the Night. Pressing L2 with this skill shoots out a projectile that deals modest damage at a modest range, costing only 5 FP. While the damage isn’t significant, it provides a ranged option for melee characters, dealing 100% magic damage, which can be easily boosted. The damage of this skill scales with dexterity, so the more dexterity you have, the more magic damage the skill will do.
The primary intention ofRevenge of the Nightis to catch magical or ranged projectiles and then quickly press L2 afterward to fire a powered-up projectile back at the attacker. This is similar to a block counter for regular melee attacks but using L2 instead of R2. This powered-up projectile deals significantly more damage, often four times the normal amount, and can one-shot enemies trying to range you down. While this skill is very situational, it is highly effective in certain boss fights that involve projectiles or when dealing with ranged enemies.
However, the guard boost and physical protection of theShield of Nightare not sufficient for it to function as a traditional block counter shield. Using it to block melee attacks will drain a lot of stamina and result in taking significant damage. Instead, you might consider theMessmer Soldier Shieldif you want a shield that matches the set and allows for regular block counters. This shield offers better protection and functionality for traditional blocking.
In practice, you can swap between two-handing yourSword of Nightand using a shield depending on the situation. During boss fights, you might switch back and forth based on the boss’s attacks. This strategy works best when you are familiar with the boss’s attack patterns, making it more challenging when fighting a boss for the first time.
For armor, I’m using theArmor of NightandHelm of Night, combined with theBlack KnightGreavesandGauntlets. The reason for this mix is the low poise of theArmor of NightSet, which is around 26 or 29 in total. By wearing theBlack Knight GauntletsandBlack Knight Greavesand adding theBull-Goat’s Talisman, I can surpass the crucial 51 poise threshold. This is essential because if you get hit and knocked out of the animation while using thekatana‘s weapon skill, it can be a major setback. Achieving 51 poise helps prevent that.
This setup allows me to maintain the distinctive look of theArmor of Knightwith the recognizable helmet and chest plate, while the differing legs and gloves are less noticeable.
For talismans, here are some options I find effective for this build:
Crusade Insigniais great for exploration and dungeons because it boosts the damage of your attacks, weapon skills, and shield skills (including the projectile). It’s versatile and beneficial when you regularly kill enemies.
Shard of Alexanderenhances the damage of bothWitching Hour SlashandRevenge of the Night, making it a solid choice for this build.
Blessed Blue Dew Talismanis useful for exploration as it slowly regenerates FP over time, allowing you to use your weapon skills more frequently and offsetting the high FP cost ofWitching Hour Slash. However, during boss fights, it doesn’t regenerate FP quickly enough, so you’ll still need to flask.
Godfrey Iconis excellent for increasing the damage of chargedWitching Hour Slash. If you find yourself using the charged version often, this is a must-have.
Millicent’s ProsthesisorRotten Winged Sword Insigniaare also viable options. During boss fights, they are more effective than in exploration since the damage boost is short-lived.
Additionally, I found that theCurved Sword Talismandoes not improve the damage ofRevenge of the Night‘s block counter animation, so it’s not worth using if you’re focusing on maximizing its damage.
When I first built this, I tried to maximizeRevenge of the Night‘s damage, but due to its poor mitigations, it’s best used for catching projectiles and countering them effectively. Regular use of its uncharged version is negligible, so focus on using it for its intended purpose: catching projectiles and returning fire.
For attributes in this build, I have allocated as follows:
PrioritizeDexterityfor damage,Vigorfor survivability, andMindandEndurancefor sustainability.Strengthis just enough to meet the weapon’s requirement, and the other stats can be ignored unless your starting class has unavoidable points in them.
For theFlask of Wondrous Physick, there are a couple of effective setups you can use. TheMagic-Shrouding Cracked Tearis fantastic if you plan to useRevenge of the Nightregularly. It significantly boosts the damage, making it ideal for areas with many ranged enemies or boss fights involving lots of projectiles. TheThorny Cracked Tearis great for increasing damage on repeated attacks, which is beneficial for bothWitching Hour Slashand regular katana attacks. TheOpaline Hardtearprovides increased protection, which is always useful.
ForGreat Runes, you have two solid options.Malenia’s Great Runeis excellent for gaining health back when attacking after taking damage. Given the aggressive playstyle of this build, this can be very beneficial.Radahn’s Great Runeprovides more health, FP, and stamina, addressing the build’s slightly lower FP and stamina.
This wraps up theVoid Knightbuild. TheArmor of Night,Sword of Night, andShield of Nightnot only look cool but are also highly effective when used properly. Enjoy the build and don’t believe the haters—this weapon is really good if you use it correctly. As always, let us know if you have questions or other tips in the comments below. We have a ton more builds coming forElden RingandShadow of the Erdtreeso stay tuned for those. If you need help finding the spells, items, or equipment in this build, and securing some personal objectives, make sure to check theElden Ring Map.
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
