TL;DR
- Greatblade Phalanx requires 29 Intelligence and excels at stance-breaking enemies
- Locate the spell at Cuckoo’s Evergaol in Liurnia’s southwestern lake region
- Defeat Bols, Carian Knight using spacing and timing strategies
- The spell creates defensive homing blades with superior stance damage
- Ideal for defensive sorcerers seeking area denial and counter-attack options
Greatblade Phalanx represents one of Elden Ring’s most formidable defensive sorceries, offering exceptional area control capabilities for intelligence-focused builds. This powerful spell creates a protective barrier of oversized magical blades that hover above your character, automatically targeting approaching enemies with precision homing attacks.
Defensive sorcery specialists will find Greatblade Phalanx particularly valuable for its unique combination of protective positioning and aggressive counter-measures. Unlike standard Glintblade Phalanx, these enlarged projectiles deliver substantially increased stance damage, making them exceptionally effective against heavily armored opponents and boss encounters where breaking posture creates critical attack opportunities.
Casting Greatblade Phalanx demands 29 Intelligence points, positioning it as an intermediate-level sorcery with significant combat payoff. The summoned blades remain active for an extended duration, providing continuous protection while scanning for hostile targets within their activation range. When enemies venture too close, the blades launch sequentially rather than simultaneously, creating sustained pressure on advancing foes.
The spell’s item description provides valuable lore context:
One of the sorceries of the Carian royal family. Creates a defensive arch of larger magic glintblades overhead, which automatically attack nearby foes. Used by the enchanted troll knights. They were the comrades of the young Rennala, bound by oath.
Strategic deployment involves activating Greatblade Phalanx before engaging enemies, allowing the blades to establish your defensive perimeter. The spell excels in corridor battles and confined spaces where enemy approach routes are predictable. Advanced practitioners combine it with quick-casting spells to create layered defensive systems that punish aggressive enemy behavior.
Greatblade Phalanx is obtained by defeating Bols, Carian Knight at the Cuckoo’s Evergaol in Liurnia of the Lakes. Navigating to this location requires traveling to the southwestern sector of Liurnia’s expansive lake, where you’ll discover a terrestrial pathway leading upward to the evergaol’s entrance. This secluded arena houses one of the region’s more manageable boss encounters, despite the imposing stature of your adversary.
Bols, Carian Knight presents as a formidable opponent visually, though his combat patterns feature predictable tells that skilled players can exploit. The boss utilizes his own Greatblade Phalanx spell when you close distance, creating mirrored combat scenarios that demonstrate the technique’s effectiveness firsthand.
Combat strategy against Bols emphasizes maintaining mid-range positioning to avoid triggering his spell activation while capitalizing on his slow, telegraphed physical attacks. His sweeping blade maneuvers feature extended wind-up animations, providing clear visual cues for well-timed dodges and counter-attacks. Magic users should employ long-range sorceries like Glintstone Pebble to whittle down his health safely, while melee specialists can exploit the recovery frames following his heavy attacks.
Cuckoo’s Evergaol
Common mistakes include aggressive rushing that triggers his defensive spells and underestimating his reach during combo extensions. Successful players methodically break his stance through sustained pressure, creating critical hit opportunities that significantly accelerate the encounter. Upon victory, Greatblade Phalanx automatically integrates into your sorcery repertoire, ready for immediate deployment across The Lands Between.
For players struggling with this encounter, consider reviewing our Class Guide to optimize your character build, or explore our Weapons Unlock strategies for alternative combat approaches. The acquisition typically requires 15-20 minutes including travel time, making it an efficient investment for the spell’s combat utility.
Action Checklist
- Reach Liurnia of the Lakes and navigate to southwestern shoreline
- Locate terrestrial path leading upward to Cuckoo’s Evergaol
- Engage Bols, Carian Knight using mid-range combat tactics
- Dodge his Greatblade Phalanx activation and punish recovery frames
- Collect Greatblade Phalanx sorcery after defeating him
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Elden Ring: Where To Get Greatblade Phalanx Master Elden Ring's Greatblade Phalanx sorcery for defensive combat and stance-breaking tactics
