I finally managed to beat the Gaping Jaw boss in Elden Ring: Nightreign, and I’m still processing what just happened. It’s one of those fights where the boss looks ridiculous, moves even more ridiculously, but absolutely shreds you if you don’t come prepared. Whether you’re going in solo or running with randoms (bless the ones who actually help), this guide has you covered. I’ve put together everything I learned after too many deaths, some lucky dodges, and a whole lot of poison. So if you’re stuck on this monstrosity, let’s break down exactly how to bring the beast to its knees.
Gaping Jaw Boss Guide
If you thought Elden Ring couldn’t get any more unhinged, wait until you meet Adel, the Baron of Night, better known as the Gaping Jaw. This thing is part wyvern, part dungeon freakshow, and part weather event. He’s one of six optional bosses unlocked after beating Tricephalos during the Gaping Jaw Expedition (Day 3), and he’s a massive roadblock for those collecting Traces of Night to unlock the final expedition.
Visually? It’s like FromSoft went wild with their blender, big teeth, sideways head, twitchy body, and way too much lightning. It doesn’t have fancy arena gimmicks, but make no mistake: this fight is a straight-up brawl.
Alright, let’s break this down and figure out how to bring this beast to its knees.
Preparation Tips for Gaping Jaw Boss Fight
Before you walk into the arena and immediately get grabbed like a snack, take a moment to prepare:
- Poison Is The Key: Adel is especially weak to Poison. Whether you have a poison-imbued weapon or you’re chucking Poison Pots like candy, this status effect slows him down, triggers a vomit animation, and gives you huge DPS windows.
- Warming Stones Save Lives: Great for healing your team without burning flasks. Essential if you’re coordinating with others.
- Improved Dodging > Shields: Unless you’re tanking as a Guardian, shields won’t save you. Invest in dodge-enhancing perks, reaction time is everything here.
- Upgrade Your Weapon: At least +3 or bring an Epic-tier weapon. Going in with a +0 is basically begging to get clapped.
- Be Level 12 or Higher: Technically doable at Level 9, but why would you want that trauma? Aim for Level 12 for smoother sailing.
Weaknesses & Immunities
Weak To:
- Poison – The MVP of this fight
- Frostbite – Great bonus burst when it procs
- Sleep – Situational but useful
Immune To:
- Scarlet Rot – Weird, but it just doesn’t stick
Recommended Classes for Gaping Jaw Boss Fight
I went in with Revenant on my first run, a support class that’s great for reviving teammates from a distance. It worked like a charm back in Expedition 1. But against the Gaping Jaw? Not so much. This thing loves to keep its distance and hits like a runaway freight train. So yeah, lesson learned:
- Duchess / Ironeye are much better here. The boss is slow enough to kite, and ranged damage helps you avoid the mess up close.
- Ironeye: Great for poison + range builds. Can stay safe while applying status nonstop.
- Duchess: Excellent Arcane scaling, ideal for stacking poison and frost quickly.
- Wylder: High mobility, great for maintaining consistent damage and repositioning.
- Executor: High DPS and reliable stagger potential, great for interrupting key moves.
- Guardian: A tank who can actually revive? Yes please. Must-have for groups.
My favorite combo? Duchess, Ironeye, and Guardian. You get poison, burst, DPS, backline & frontline combo, and a panic button if someone eats dirt.
Phase One: Slam, Roar, Repeat
Adel’s opening phase focuses on high-speed lunges, stomps, and one very rude grab attack. Think of him like a Monster Hunter boss, but on energy drinks.
Here’s what to expect:
- Safe Spot: Behind his tail. You can whack away at his heels or do jump attacks with minimal risk.
- Poison Effects: If you successfully poison him, he’ll vomit, don’t stand in front of him, and get in a few free hits while he’s stunned.
- Lunging Slam: Big body fling forward. Roll sideways at the last second.
- Grab Bite: This one’s sneaky. You’ll hear a sound → see a slam → and then he lunges. Treat it like a three-count and dodge on “3”. Instant-kill if caught. Dodge after the third stomp.
Tip: His bite attack has a sound cue, but it gets drowned out by Phase 2 storm FX, so train yourself to read his animation.
Phase Two: Zeus Mode Activated
Once he hits around 50-60% HP, Adel turns into a lightning-spitting, AoE-spamming nightmare.
- Lightning Charge-Up: He powers up with lightning and stomps around. Run away immediately. After he snaps his jaws, there’s an AoE blast and random lightning bolts falling.
- Dive Bomb: He leaps into the air and dive bombs a player. Roll into it at the last second to avoid it completely. Once he lands, there’s a brief delay, free DPS time.
- Slam Quakes + Lightning: His slams now cause both fissures and delayed lightning strikes. Don’t stand on the glowing ground. And yes, you can jump over it.
- Triple Slam Combo: New to Phase 2, this is a three-hit fissure chain. Don’t get greedy, just dodge and reset.
Tip: Use Ultimate skills during his lightning windups or when a teammate gets grabbed, stuns him briefly.
Final Tips for the Gaping Jaw Boss Fight
- Take your time. There’s no rush, Adel’s attacks are scary but well-telegraphed.
- Stick to his back legs or tail to minimize risk.
- Only pop ultimates when:
- Someone is grabbed
- AoE is about to wipe the group
- Adel is stunned for max DPS
- Dodge through attacks, not away from them. You want to avoid being boxed in.
- Jump when needed. Especially in Phase 2, cracked ground means incoming lightning. Learn the rhythm, and jump it.
- Once poisoned or frozen, Adel slows down and opens huge punish windows.
- Don’t panic roll, watch his animations and react accordingly.
- Don’t greed. You think you can sneak in that one last hit? You can’t. Back off and reset.
Wrap-Up
Once you take him down, you’ll earn:
- Trace of Night – needed for final expedition unlocks
- Night of the Baron Boss Relic
- A mix of Murk and randomized Relics
Adel, the Gaping Jaw, is chaos wrapped in lightning and teeth. He’ll test your reaction speed, your prep work, and your patience, but beating him feels like a rite of passage in Nightreign. Poison is your golden ticket, dodging is your lifeline, and friends who don’t AFK are a gift from Limveld.
If you’re struggling, don’t be discouraged. Every wipe teaches you something new. Tweak your build, regroup, and keep at it. Because when that final roar dies out and his massive corpse hits the floor, you’ll know it was worth every flask, stone, and death. And don’t forget, if it’s moving like it’s having a seizure but still missing you, you’re probably doing just fine.
