I've been grinding through The Forsaken Hollows DLC for Elden Ring: Nightreign since it dropped last week, and holy moly, what a ride it's been! There's something about the expansion that takes me back to those classic Dark Souls days, especially when I encountered a familiar foe that nearly made me throw my controller across the room – the Demon Prince.

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The Setup: Preparing for Battle

So there I was, frantically leveling my character to 14 before the Day 2 ring closure. Trust me on this one – you do NOT want to face this beast underprepared. I learned this the hard way when I first attempted it as a Level 11 Recluse. The Prince turned me into charcoal faster than I could say 'praise the sun.'

The way this boss makes its entrance is pure FromSoftware drama – no simple spawn in the center, but a majestic and terrifying flight into the northern citadel arena. When I first saw those wings against the sky, I felt that familiar knot in my stomach. You know the one... that mix of 'this is gonna be epic' and 'I'm totally screwed.'

Know Your Enemy: Two Faces of Death

Here's the kicker that took me several wipes to figure out – there are actually two versions of the Demon Prince, and which one you get depends on who you kill last during the Night 1 boss fight:

  • Demon from Below variant: Lighter orange, super aggressive, loves aerial attacks

  • Demon in Pain variant: Jet black with neon orange bursts, slower but hits like a freight train

I've faced both versions now, and between us? The Demon in Pain is the one you want. Sure, it hits harder, but those slow attacks give you beautiful windows of opportunity. It's like the difference between fighting someone who throws a hundred quick jabs versus someone who telegraphs their haymakers.

My Battle Strategy

After getting absolutely wrecked about six times (who's counting?), I finally developed a strategy that worked. For melee players like myself, positioning is EVERYTHING with this boss. Get behind that fiery butt whenever possible! The Prince rarely punishes rear attacks aside from the occasional claw swipe or taking flight.

The Demon in Pain's "Raining Fire" move became my best friend. There's something almost comical about watching this terrifying creature just sit there, spitting fire into the air like some demonic fountain, completely oblivious to me wailing on him from behind. I even managed to stun him out of it once with my Ultimate Art – that moment was chef's kiss.

For the Demon from Below variant, I learned to love the Beam Attack. I know it looks scary as hell, but trust me, run at him from either side and you'll dodge it easy peasy. Then you've got this massive window where he's just standing there like a dummy, perfect for unleashing whatever damage you've got.

Close Calls and Epic Moments

During my most successful run, there was this moment when the Prince went for his Flying Slam – the move I've come to dread more than tax season. I saw those arms raise above his head (the telltale sign), and I rolled just in the nick of time. The ground shook, my heart stopped, but I survived with a sliver of health. My palms were so sweaty I almost dropped my controller!

"Not today, you flaming jerk!" I shouted at my screen, probably concerning my neighbors.

I've found that patience is key with this boss. You can't get greedy with your attacks, no matter how tempting it is to squeeze in that one extra hit. The Prince punishes greed harder than any boss I've faced in the DLC so far.

Reflections on the Challenge

After finally taking down the Demon Prince and watching those sweet, sweet Runes flow into my inventory, I couldn't help but wonder – what is it about these punishing FromSoftware encounters that keeps us coming back for more? Is it the rush of finally overcoming something that seemed impossible? The dance of learning patterns and finding those perfect moments to strike?

Maybe it's something deeper – perhaps these digital demons serve as metaphors for our real-life challenges. Or maybe I'm overthinking things after staying up until 4 AM to beat a boss that kept killing me in increasingly creative ways.

What do you think drives us to face these digital nightmares again and again? Is it the challenge, the reward, or something more primal about conquering our fears? Whatever it is, I know I'll be right back in there tomorrow, hunting the next boss with that same mix of dread and excitement.

And if you're about to face the Demon Prince yourself... well, may the flames guide thee, fellow Tarnished. You're gonna need it.