The looming threat at the end of the Fissure in the Fog Expedition — Caligo, Miasma of Night — is one of the most punishing encounters in Elden Ring: Nightreign. This massive draconic Nightlord exhales cold death upon any who step into its domain. The boss can easily become a massive challenge for you because of the constant frost buildup from all of its attacks. High frost buildup can lead to Frostbite, one of the worst status effects in Elden Ring. So, good preparation is key to winning this battle.
Preparation: Exploiting Caligo’s Fire Weakness and Mountain Shifting Earth
Caligo is vulnerable to fire. While it may seem obvious at first, unlike most other Nightlords in the game, who are hard to land an elemental attack on, Caligo can be easily hit with fire weapons. If you see fire camps when you first drop into the map, make them a priority. Ranged characters like Recluse and Ironeye can do massive damage in this fight because they do not have to get as close to the Dragon and can avoid all its melee attacks.
Another huge advantage you can gain for this fight is by having the Favor of the Mountaintop. If you are brave enough to take on the Mountaintop Shifting Earth, it rewards you with the buff, which reduces Frostbite buildup and boosts damage against dragon-type enemies. Both of which directly counter Caligo’s frost-heavy attacks and high health pool.
Wylder is also a must pick for the fight because his starting Armament can do fire damage with the right relics. Additionally, his grapple makes it easy for him to close the gap between himself and the dragon when it flies away. Finally, his Ultimate does massive damage, can stagger, and has fire upgrades with relics as well.
Phase One: Grounded Threats and Fog Traps
Phase one begins with Caligo mostly grounded. It uses a mix of claw swipes, tail slams, and breath attacks to keep you at bay. For the first several minutes, its movement is minimal. This is where fire has the most impact.
When you stay in front of Caligo and apply flame damage directly to its head and neck, the boss tends to delay its use of more dangerous ice magic — the frost breath. Staggering it early can prevent the frost buildup from reaching dangerous levels. However, you must also be ready for Caligo’s fog attacks, which can come at any time after its health reaches about seventy percent.
The fog mechanic is what defines Caligo’s identity. When the heavy mist rolls in, you lose sight of the boss entirely.
There are two distinct versions of this attack, and each demands a different survival strategy. If you see a dark wind spiraling across the screen, you must follow its direction immediately — this leads to an ice pillar that offers shelter from a devastating beam attack.
On the other hand, if a sharp, cracking ice sound accompanies the fog, that means a huge ice glyph is forming overhead, and the only hope for survival is to sprint away from the direction of the noise.
These fog attacks are less about reflexes and more about environmental awareness. Caligo also spreads ice spikes throughout the arena that will build up Frost if you walk, roll, or sprint through them.
Phase Two: Aerial Assault and Battlefield Control
Once Caligo enters phase two, the tempo shifts. The dragon takes to the skies, launching ice projectiles from above and executing powerful dive bombs that can one-shot less armored players. The boss becomes difficult to track and even harder to punish consistently.
These projectiles take up the whole screen if you’re caught in the middle of them. The best thing to do during this attack is to sprint sideways and get out of Caligo’s dive range. If you’re caught in the middle of the attack, roll your way to the side to avoid the attack as much as possible.
After two Dives, Caligo will stay on the ground and throw one last round of projectiles. Following these shots, the arena is filled with glowing ice cubes. These explode after about 4 seconds of being deployed and deal massive Frost damage.
The final stretch of the fight becomes more erratic as Caligo mixes its phase one attacks with aerial assaults. Stamina management becomes essential, as Frostbite can reduce your recovery rate and leave you vulnerable during tight situations. This is when many players falter, often trying to chase the boss or revive teammates in risky positions. The key is to let Caligo come to you. Between each dive, each breath, and each pause between vortex summons is a chance to land clean, calculated hits.
Victory
At the end of the day, Caligo is a test of patience more than anything else. The fog may blind you and the frost may slow you, but this battle rewards those who stay sharp and fight smart. Caligo is the embodiment of Nightreign’s demand for adaptability, and beating it proves not just your build’s power, but also your mastery of the environment.
