How to Beat Sentient Pest in Elden Ring Nightreign (Boss Guide 2025)

Struggling to beat Gnoster, Wisdom of Night in the Sentient Pest Expedition? This Elden Ring Nightreign guide covers weaknesses, best team comps, fire builds, and battle tactics to win fast.

H1: How to Defeat Gnoster, Wisdom of Night in Elden Ring Nightreign

After defeating the first Nightlord in Elden Ring: Nightreign, players are free to tackle the remaining Expeditions in any order. One of the most difficult encounters is the Sentient Pest Expedition, ending with the boss Gnoster, Wisdom of Night. This magically charged insect boss can devastate unprepared players with dual-phase mechanics, parasite effects, and relentless ranged attacks.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to beat Gnoster, Wisdom of Night with optimal strategies, team composition, gear selection, and a phase-by-phase breakdown of the battle.

Quick Links

• Where to Find Gnoster in Nightreign

• Gnoster Boss Fight Overview

• Best Team Comp to Beat Gnoster

• Gnoster Weaknesses & Fire Strategy

• Top Weapons & Items to Prepare

• Phase Breakdown & Boss Mechanics

• Rewards After Beating Gnoster

• FAQ: Gnoster in Elden Ring Nightreign

#location Where to Find Gnoster in Elden Ring Nightreign

You’ll face Gnoster, Wisdom of Night at the final stage of the Sentient Pest Expedition, which becomes accessible after completing your first major boss in Nightreign. The boss room is located deep within a corrupted forest hive, surrounded by magical mist and rot-filled terrain.

🗺️ Tip: Make sure to clear surrounding enemies before entering the boss room, as reinforcements may spawn during the first phase.

#overview Gnoster Boss Fight Overview: Dual Enemies & Shared Health

The boss fight features two enemies:

• Gnoster (the Moth) – Launches ranged magic projectiles from the air

• Living Shears – Melee brute that charges and slashes rapidly

Both share a single health bar, and though they begin the fight separately, they fuse together in Phase 2. The key challenge lies in managing split aggro and preparing for both melee and magic threats at once.

⚠️ Warning: The “parasite” status effect can only be cleansed with team assistance. Bring a support character!

#teamcomp Best Team Composition to Defeat Gnoster

The best team comp for Gnoster requires ranged damage, one melee tank, and a support unit:

• Recluse (Ranged DPS) – Flame spells and long-range magic

• Ironeye (Bow DPS) – Uses fire-elemental bows like the Harp Bow

• Raider (Tank) – Draws aggro from Living Shears

• Warden or Vesper (Support) – Clears parasite debuffs, heals, and buffs

💡 Co-op Bonus: Assign one player to focus entirely on kiting Gnoster while the others burn down the Shears.

#fire Gnoster Weaknesses: Fire Damage is Key

Gnoster is extremely weak to fire. Exploit this by:

• Equipping weapons with fire enchantments

• Using flame-based sorceries or incantations

• Prioritizing POIs with a 🔥 icon during the first 2 days of the Expedition

🔥 Top Fire Weapons for the Fight:

• Harp Bow – Ranged fire arrows

• Lordsworn’s Fireblade – Quick, flame-infused straight sword

• Flameburst Staff – Boosts fire-based magic

You can also obtain a Fire Relic from defeating Tricephalos in the first Expedition, which grants fire damage to your starting weapon.

#weapons Best Weapons & Items to Prepare

During the early days of the Expedition, seek out these:

• 🔥 Flame Weapons from flame-marked POIs

• 🧱 Smithing Stones to upgrade gear quickly

• 🔄 Parasite Cleanser (Support item to remove the status effect)

• 💎 Runes to level up Vigor and Intelligence for survivability and casting

Always check the Detailed Info view on the map to confirm which items are at each location.

#phases Phase-by-Phase Boss Mechanics: Gnoster Strategy

Phase 1 – Split Enemies

• Gnoster hovers in the air and launches homing projectiles

• Living Shears charges ground players with spinning attacks

• Focus fire on Shears while ranged players damage Gnoster

Phase 2 – Unified Form

• Gnoster fuses with the Shears into a winged, armored insect

• New attacks:

  • Arcane Shred – Melee + magic combo

  • Night Pulse – AoE magic circle

  • Parasite Lash – Inflicts stackable parasite effect

📌 Strategy: Keep moving in wide circles, assign a tank, and use burst damage when the fused boss lands briefly.

#rewards Rewards for Beating Gnoster, Wisdom of Night

Victory over Gnoster rewards players with:

• 🧠 Gnoster’s Mind (Used to craft high-tier magic)

• 🔥 Molten Wings – A curved sword with fire magic scaling

• 💫 Nightlight Talisman – Boosts spell damage at night

• 💎 200,000 Runes

• 📜 Lore entry: “Dreams of the Pest”

#faq FAQ: Gnoster in Elden Ring Nightreign

Q: Is Gnoster optional in Elden Ring Nightreign?
A: No, defeating Gnoster is required to complete the Sentient Pest Expedition.

Q: What’s Gnoster weak to?
A: Fire damage is highly effective. Use flame weapons or magic.

Q: Can the parasite effect be cured solo?
A: No. You’ll need a support ally to cleanse it during co-op runs.

Q: Can Gnoster be staggered?
A: Yes, especially during the second phase. Use heavy weapons or charged spells.

Conclusion: Outplay Gnoster With Smart Preparation

Gnoster, Wisdom of Night may not be the strongest boss in Elden Ring Nightreign, but its combination of ranged magic and parasite mechanics make it one of the trickiest. With the right team composition, fire damage, and early expedition planning, you’ll conquer this moth monster and move one step closer to mastering the DLC.