Scattered among the map of The Lands Between, are portals to other areas limited to a circular circumference, surrounded with white fog where you fight a special enemy.
These are called Evergaols. There are 10 in total, each with its own respective adversary. Typically, these battles can offer some insight into the lore of the area and perhaps the guilds or cults they belong to. In this case, the Royal Carian family possessed a fearsome troll who was loyal to his lords and ladies until the very end.
In this guide, you’ll learn where to find and how to defeat Bols, Carian Knight.
Bols, Carian Knight Overview
This enemy looks like one of the huge, standard trolls that roam the land, but has one trick up his sleeve. Bols uses one lone spell alongside some of the normal attacks trolls will perform. He uses Phalanx to create an arc of magical glintblade swords over his head, which will eventually be sent your way if you are in close enough proximity.
He uses 3 other physical attacks: Sword Smash, Stomp, and Stab. You’ll recognize these moves soon after seeing them, as the other trolls you come across use these, too. Overall, Bols’ fight pattern is relatively predictable as long as you’re paying attention. But if you’re underprepared, his attacks can catch you off guard and deplete your HP quickly, leaving you frustrated from the constant death after death.
Is Bols, Carian Knight an easy or difficult foe?
The answer to this question depends on your build and play style. The range is definitely on your side for this fight, so mages, Incantation users, and those who prefer Bow/Arrows will have the upper hand. It’ll be easier for them to dodge his attacks and sustain during the fight. For melee players, it will be a little more difficult. Bols’ stomps are much stronger than a normal troll, and his Stab move can kill you instantly if you’re not well-equipped. His Phalanx attack poses a threat to every player since it covers the distance and deals a decent amount of damage.
Elden Ring Bols, Carian Knight Location
Bols is located in the Cuckoo’s Evergaol located in the western portion of Liurnia of the Lakes. The closest Site of Grace is either Revenger’s Shack or Foot of the Four Belfries, depending on which one you have on your map.
Due to the cliffs that line the lake, it can be a little difficult to reach. The easiest way to get to Cuckoo’s Evergaol is to go into the lake and travel around the western side of Raya Lucaria Academy. Turn west onto the bank with Testu’s Rise at the east, and continue south on top of the cliffs until you reach your destination.
Pre-Fight Strategy
Now that you know more about Bols’ attacks and the proper equipment to help you defeat him, consider these recommended game plans to place in your newfound arsenal.
Prey on his weaknesses
Bols is a humanoid enemy, so the Bleed effect works wonders on him. Consider using a weapon with this ability, or gear that causes a buildup in your enemies. Other inflictions to think about are Scarlet Rot and Poison. Possible weapons to choose from would be:
- Winged Scythe: Located in the Tombsward Ruins in the Weeping Peninsula, in a chest.
- Rotten Crystal Staff: Dropped by the Crystalian Mage next to the Elphael Inner Wall Site of Grace).
- Serpent Bow: Found in a pool of rot in Abandonded Cave in midland Caelid.
Other items to contemplate are:
- Lord of Blood’s Exultation Talisman: Obtained by defeating Esgar, Priest of Blood in Leyndell Catacombs located in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds within Leyndell Castle grounds; raises attack power by 20% for 20 seconds when Blood Loss is detected in the vicinity.
- Kindred of Rot’s Exultation Talisman: Dropped by the Kindred of Rot in Seethewater Cave in Altus Plateau; raises attack power by 20% for 20 seconds when Poisoning or Rot occurs within the area.
- White Mask: Dropped by an invader NPC in the lake of blood northwest of the Palace Approach Ledge Road in the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum area; increases attack power by 10% for 20 seconds after inflicting Bleed on an enemy.
- Mushroom Crown: Found on a corpse in the southeastern corner of the Lake of Rot. Use the fallen pillar south of the ruin to reach the helm; raises attack power by 10% whenever Poison or Rot is in the area.
Boost your stats
A good choice is to spend some runes on your Vigor and Endurance to give you more HP to sustain during the fight, and more stamina to dodge attacks. If you use magic, raising your Mind stats so you can have more FP to spend is just as beneficial. The higher level also gives you the ability to use different spells that may work better for your play style.
Use the right weapons
Shields aren’t very effective at protecting you from his attacks and you can’t parry against him, so consider ditching it if you use one. Instead, try using a two-handed weapon or dual-wielding. Ranged attacks like bows and arrows or magic are a great option for this battle. The space between you and Bols allows you to roll out of his attacks and give you more control of the fight.
Level up your equipment
Summons and multiplayer aren’t available for this fight, so you’re on your own. The best way to pick up the slack is to ensure your armaments and gear are at a good level. If you use a normal weapon, a +5 or higher is helpful; for special weapons, a +3 or higher will work.
Consider using talismans that negate physical and/or magical damage as well. Some good choices are Dragoncrest Shield Talisman for physical damage mitigation or Spelldrake Talisman to reduce magical blows. It’s even better if it’s a +1 or +2.
Dragoncrest Shield Talisman can be found just north of the Bestial Sanctum on Altus Plateau. It will be in a chest on the lowest level of the cliffs. Spelldrake Talisman obtained by defeating the Rune Bear in Earthbore Cave in the northern portion of the Weeping Peninsula, to the west of Lookout Tower.
Fight Strategy
You have the tools and a plan of action. All that’s left is to include how you’ll execute your methods. Not all of these suggestions are for everyone, so do what is best for your play style.
Take your time
Upon entering the Evergaol, the fight isn’t immediately triggered until you walk up to the glowing blue area on the ground where he spawns. Take that moment to use any buffs you may have (spells, incantations, Wondrous Physick, etc.), then trigger the fight. You can choose what goes into your Wondrous Physick at a Site of Grace before entering the Evergaol.
Create distance
It takes a second for Bols to fully spawn in and start attacking. Use that time to put space between the two of you, and charge up an attack to chunk his health from the start. Alternatively, you can stand nearby to use Ashes of War such as Lion’s Claw or Bloody Slash.
Interrupt his moveset
If Bols gets too close to the fog wall or runs into it, he will stop his current action and stumble for a moment. This will allow you to get some physical hits in, or to use a spell that requires more time to charge. His Sword Smash attack requires the most room to execute, so use that to your advantage.
If you’re going with a mage build, using the Rock Sling spell two to three times in succession will also stun him for a brief amount of time. This spell can be obtained in a chest underground in a cellar just north of the Street of Sages Ruins.
Don’t overthink it
This adversary may seem overwhelming and extremely difficult but he’s still a troll at the base of it all. If you have a dedicated way to defeating them, go for it. Just don’t get too ahead of yourself. His stomps are still faster and deal more damage than your typical troll, so be careful if you’re attacking his legs and stay sharp.
Rewards
Although this battle can prove troublesome for all players, the payoff for defeating Bols is only really great for spellcasters, rather than something for everyone like most loot.
You get:
- 4,600 Runes
- Greatblade Phalanx Spell: Summons 3 greatblades that hover around the user and are cast when an enemy gets too close.
Of course, an extra 4,600 runes never hurt anyone. If you’re interested in learning more about the Carian family that Bols was faithful to and their different sorceries you should travel north of Cuckoo’s Evergaol, past The Four Belfries to Caria Manor. There you’ll learn about the masters of the estate as well as find new quests to journey on to.
We hope that this guide to defeat Bols, Carian Knight has been helpful to you. If you’ve got any thoughts or suggestions of your own, please don’t hesitate to fire them off in the comments section.
