Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella

Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella
Type	Great Boss
Region	Ainsel River
Runes	12,000
Weak To	Slash
Required	No

Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella is a great boss in Elden Ring.

The Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella is a giant, dragon-like warrior that guards an old throne in the Ainsel River. It sweeps its long arms across a wide area and later calls down ice lightning. The fight comes early in the underground and rewards the Frozen Lightning Spear incantation. Its weakness to slash damage makes fast swords very effective.

Lore

The Dragonkin Soldier has a huge humanoid body with lanky arms and legs and a large gaping hole in its chest. It wears little armor beyond a red and black cape embroidered in gold.

The Dragonkin were born in the Eternal City, where they knew no true sky and no true lightning. Ice lightning became their weapon instead. They never attained the immortality of their skyborn kin and perished as decrepit, pale imitations of the ancient dragons.

Where to find Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella Location?

Ainsel River, beside an ancient throne below Nokstella, Eternal City (Ainsel River Downstream Site of Grace)

Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella map location:

Map credit by Map Genie.

Weaknesses

Weak To	Slash
Resists	Lightning, Frostbite
Immune	Sleep, Madness
Parry	No

Phases

Phase 1: the soldier fights with wide arm sweeps, slams and grabs.
Phase 2: it adds ice lightning, including the Frozen Lightning Spear and a flying sweep that covers much of the arena.

Attacks

Arm sweeps: wide swipes outward from the body. Standing directly underneath the soldier avoids most of them.
Body slams: it throws its weight down on the target. A roll away from the impact avoids it.
Frozen Lightning Spear: a spear of ice lightning stabbed into the ground that bursts forward. Staying under or behind the soldier avoids it, since it only covers the front.
Flying sweep: in phase two it flies across the arena with a huge sweep. Staying under the soldier avoids it.

Tactics

Summon a tanky, aggressive spirit ash such as Banished Knight Engvall, Banished Knight Oleg or Lhutel the Headless.
Stay underneath the soldier, where its sweeping attacks miss.
Turn off lock-on so the camera does not snap around when the boss flies overhead.
Use a fast slashing weapon such as the Uchigatana or the Lordsworn's Straight Sword.
Punish the long recovery after each slam with heavy attacks.

Best Builds

Fast slashing weapon

The soldier takes full damage from slash, so quick swords make the fight short.

Gear	Uchigatana, Lordsworn's Straight Sword

Heavy slashing weapon

A Flamberge makes full use of its long recovery.

Gear	Flamberge

Tanky spirit ash

Aggressive spirits keep the boss busy while the player attacks from below.

Gear	Banished Knight Engvall Ashes, Banished Knight Oleg Ashes, Lhutel the Headless

Samurai Build

Class	Samurai
Focus	Dexterity
Main Stats	Dexterity & Vigor
Other Stats	Endurance & Mind
Requires	15 Dexterity, 11 Strength
Weapon	Uchigatana and Longbow
Armor	Land of Reeds Set
Skills	Ash of War: Unsheathe & Ash of War: Mighty Shot
Flasks	Mostly HP and 1 or 2 FP

Moonveil Shinobi Build

Class	Any
Level	100
Focus	Intelligence
Main Stats	Intelligence & Vigor
Other Stats	Dexterity & Mind
Requires	26 Intelligence, 18 Dexterity, 12 Strength
Weapon	Moonveil, Uchigatana and any Staff
Armor	Any that can still med roll
Talismans	Carian Filigree Crest, Assassin's Cerulean Dagger, Magic Scorpion Charm, & Green Turtle Talisman
Skills	Transient Moonlight & Glinstone Phalanx
Spells	Loretta's Greatbow, Great Glintstone Shard, and Terra Magica
Flasks	Slightly more HP than FP

Summons

Spirit Ashes allowed

Drops

Defeating it grants 12,000 runes.

Name	Image
Frozen Lightning Spear

Notes

The soldier cannot be parried.

All Bosses

The table below lists all Bosses in Elden Ring.