The Sentient Pest — known as Gnoster, Wisdom of Night — is a dual-form Nightlord. It’s a fight defined by unpredictable movement, poison hazards, and layered attack combinations. One half of this boss flies, while the other burrows, and together, they demand complete battlefield awareness.
Understanding Gnoster’s Dual Threat
The Sentient Pest is composed of two linked entities: a venomous moth that hovers above, and a massive, armored scorpion that attacks from the ground. In phase one, these two operate independently but share a single health bar. While the moth shoots magic projectiles and poisons you from a distance, the scorpion closes the distance and applies pressure with heavy melee swings and lashing tail strikes.
If the moth locks a player in place with toxic fog, the scorpion often charges in with a follow-up slam. If the scorpion distracts the party, the moth is free to rain down magic projectiles.
Phase One – Poison from Above, Pressure from Below
The fight opens with the moth hovering and casting magic attacks from range. It occasionally conjures a wide, slow-moving cloud that deals stacking poison buildup to anyone inside. A green shimmer typically telegraphs this before it manifests, so back away and reposition immediately when it appears.
The scorpion focuses on physical damage. Its primary attacks include a sweeping tail whip, a two-part slam combo, and a devastating leg slam that causes spikes to shoot up from the ground. The Scorpion can also burrow into the ground or conjure a hardened shell to avoid damage.
During either of these phases, your whole team should focus on the moth while being ready for the scorpion to show up again. Be careful, however, because the scorpion can emerge from underground and annihilate your entire team when you're not paying attention to your surroundings.
These two threats rarely sync in their openings, meaning that there is always an angle to strike from if you’re paying attention. Position yourself to bait the moth into firing into empty space while simultaneously kiting the scorpion’s slower attacks into dodgeable zones. This is where ranged weapons or spells that cause fire damage can cause serious harm to the boss, especially if the scorpion is momentarily stunned.
Phase Two – Unification and Escalation
At around 50% health, the moth merges with the scorpion, locking onto its back and transforming the fight into a single, cohesive boss encounter. You will see new mechanics like laser beams, large AOE stomp shockwaves, and poison circles that linger for 10 seconds or more.
One of the most dangerous new attacks is the spiral laser. The scorpion darts around the arena while the moth shoots out multiple projectiles from atop the scorpion. During this rush attack, a spiral laser also targets a single player. It has a slow buildup time, but it is precise, so delay your dodge until the last second.
The second half of the fight is where ultimate skills shine. Ironeye’s Single Shot and Wylder’s Onslaught Stake can stagger the Pest mid-laser. Time your ultimates when Gnoster is mid-animation and most vulnerable — usually after a missed slam or failed magic burst.
Ranged characters also excel during this phase of the fight because they can do constant damage to Gnoster from a distance, no longer having to worry about the moth creeping up behind them. Recluse is particularly useful in this fight because of her fire spells that can do large AoE damage to both the scorpion and the moth.
Executor can also excel in this fight because of his passive, which lets him turn any status ailment into an attack buff.
Conclusion
The Sentient Pest is arguably the most annoying boss in Nightreign. It tests your team’s coordination, your build’s adaptability, your understanding of elemental counters, and your status management. Whether solo or in a group, this fight rewards those who can track multiple threats and strike precisely in the chaos.
