The Champion’s Gravetender and Gravetender Greatwolf is a boss fight in the Ashes of Ariandel DLC of Dark Souls 3. How to defeat the boss? What is he weak to? What strategies can you use to beat it? All will be answered in this ultimate guide to beating Champion’s Gravetender in Dark Souls 3.
The fight starts out with Champion’s Gravetender accompanied by three regular wolves. After the Champion’s health reaches 50%, he will summon the much larger and more aggressive second boss, Gravetender Greatwolf. The fight is hard to manage due to the sheer number of enemies, so it is crucial to rid of the regular wolves, then the Champion, and then focus on the Greatwolf.
Let’s take a detailed look at some of the best combat strategies and tips for defeating Champion’s Gravetender in Dark Souls 3.
Is Champion’s Gravetender Optional?
The Champion’s Gravetender is an optional boss. He is not needed to be killed to progress the Ashes of Ariandel DLC.
Strategies for Defeating Champion’s Gravetender
Here are some strategies for defeating Champion’s Gravetender you can use depending on the build you opted for in Dark Souls 3:
Melee Strategy
Champion’s Gravetender and Gravetender Greatwolf is not a particularly hard boss fight. As you approach the boss area you will be greeted by Champion’s Gravetender and three wolves. Kill the wolves quickly and then concentrate on the Champion.
He isn’t any different than any hostile NPC you have fought to this point, so you shouldn’t have much difficulty with him. He can be guard broken easily and doesn’t parry, so don’t be afraid to spam light attacks (R1) to burn him down.
When he gets lower in health, he will summon the Gravetender Greatwolf. You don’t want to fight both bosses at the same time, so quickly take down the Champion sparing no expense. Managing them together will make your life miserable since the Greatwolf will relentlessly rush you.
Once the Champion is down, the Greatwolf is the only concern. His attacks are easy to read, and most are dodgeable. You should try to bait him into snapping/biting at you so you can strike his head one or two times. The best strategy here is to dodge his first snap, block the next snap with the shield, and then go in for some hits.
When he has a swirling frost halo around him, he is about to perform his series of rush attacks. These attacks should be dodge rolled as blocking them will always deal massive damage to you. Always do two rolls in a row, so be ready for that and be careful not to panic and dodge too early.
At around half-health, he will howl, and his eyes will glow red. This is a great opportunity to get in some easy damage. He will now have a new frost breath attack, which should roll through and hit the boss if you can.
Most of his attacks will stay relatively the same, so the previous strategy still applies here. Even though you roll a tremendous amount in this fight, it’s always important to keep your shield up when you don’t need to regain stamina, as often your roll timing might be slightly off, or he does something unexpected. Accidentally shield blocking can often save your life.
Pyromancy Strategy
Pyromancers will greatly benefit from the boss’s weakness to Fire damage. Use the following items to your advantage during the fight:
- Pyromancy Hand +10
- Chaos Bed Vestiges
- Chaos Battle Axe (when you feel the need to deal melee damage)
- Fire Damaging Boosting Rings
- Dusk Crown Ring
- Fier Keeper Armor Set
When the fight is initiated, back away and start targeting the three wolves with your spells. They will go down quickly as they are extremely weak to fire. Even the explosive radius of the spell will brutally harm them.
The Graventender can roll through your spells but is still an easy target alone. Be careful of his rush poke attacks, and you are good to go. When he brings forth the Greatwolf, keep your attention on the Champion and eliminate him before engaging with the wolf.
The Greatwold is incredibly susceptible to fire damage so CBV will make quick work of him. The only thing that can hinder your casting is his successive frost-hale lunges which should be avoided at all costs otherwise it could spell your doom.
Finding openings to cast when he is using his frost breath attack. This gives ample room to fore two to three spells. His bites are also small windows but be extremely vigilant of his follow-up attacks. Although hard, maintain distance and keep lobbing spells.
What is Champion’s Gravetender Weak To?
Champion’s Gravetender and Gravetender Greatwolf are weak to the following damage types:
- Champion’s Gravetender
- Lightning
- Bleed
- Gravetender Greatwolf
- Strike Damage
- Fire
- Lightning
- Bleed
What is Champion’s Gravetender Resistant / Immune to?
Champion’s Gravetender and Gravetender Greatwolf are resistant and immune to the following damage types:
Resistant to:
- Champion’s Gravetender
- Frostbite
- Poison
- Toxic
- Gravetender Greatwolf
- Frostbite
- Slash Damage
Immune to:
- Champion’s Gravetender
- None
- Gravetender Greatwolf
- None
Can You Parry Champion’s Gravetender?
The Champion’s Gravetender can be parried. His shield blocks can be broken and the boss can be staggered too. Doing so, he can be riposted. He can also be backstabbed as well.
On the other hand, the Gravetender Greatwolf can not be parried. However, he can be poise broken and subsequently riposted.
Can You Cheese Champion’s Gravetender?
These bosses can be cheesed in a variety of ways. Stand right at the edge of the boss fog gate and equip a long-range bow and manually target the Champion from this area.
If you hit the boss, the fight will commence, and the fog gate will take away your visibility of the arena. Do not enter the arena and position yourself out of the soon-to-be fog gate.
Next, you would like to bring in the Pestilent Mist spell or the Storyteller’s Staff for its Poison Mist skill. Fire the misty from the safety of the fog gate and watch as the health of the three wolves trickle down. The Champion can be taken down this way too.
As for the Greatwolf, the previous tactic won’t work on him, so enter the arena. Quickly make your way to the huge ice-covered pillar in the middle of the arena and start running around it. The Greatwolf will try to catch you in a loop.
Take this opportunity to cast the Storyteller’s Staff’s poison spray onto the wolf, and his health will start to wither away. Keep circling the pillar and occasionally watch out for his attacks. Reapply the poison when it wears off and continue this cheese. Although lengthy, the boss will fade away soon.
The Champion’s Gravetender and the Gravetender Greatwolf fight is reminiscent of the fight against Great Grey Wolf Sif but nowhere near that memorable and impactful. This fight is easy as hell if you just control the crowd correctly.