A quick-thinking Elden Ring player avoided a head-on fight with a Black Knife Assassin in the most straightforward way possible. The Black Knife Assassins are one of the most iconic figures in Elden Ring. They were the group who assassinated Godwyn the Golden, becoming the first to slay a demigod and shatter the Elden Ring. This plants the Black Knife Assassins directly at the forefront of the game's most defining piece of history and lore.
The Black Knife Assassins are a specialized type of enemy in Elden Ring. What makes them so special is their ability to turn completely invisible while in battle with the player. This makes it rather difficult to locate and attack the enemy, and leaves the player open to being grabbed from behind. There are certain strategies, however, that players can use to ensure this is a more even and fair fight. The most simple strategy is to try and spot the footsteps of the enemy, which will hint to the player where the Black Knife Assassin is located. This option works best in snowy biomes in Elden Ring. The other strategy is to obtain the Sentry Torch, an item that allows the player to see invisible Black Knife Assassins while it is equipped.
In a video posted to Reddit, an Elden Ring player who goes by falconrider111 employed a brand-new tactic when facing the Black Knife Assassins that allowed them to escape the battle without the use of any specific items. The player is seen in the video attempting to complete the puzzle located in Ordina Liturgical Town. In order to complete the puzzle the player must locate and activate a series of candles. During the puzzle, the player is chased down by the invisible Black Knife Assassin. In an effort to avoid a fight with the intimidating enemy, the player opted for just a simple climb up a nearby ladder. This is when falconrider111 made the astonishing discovery that Black Knife Assassins cannot climb ladders.
This is an extremely meaningful discovery. In Elden Ring Black Knife Assassins can be a pain to encounter, especially if players are attempting to solve a puzzle at the same time. Finding something like this can make playing through specific parts of the game's exploration much less stressful.
A vital part of Elden Ring is the Ordina, Liturgical Town. Solving the puzzle gives players access to one of the most legendary areas in the Lands Between, Miquella's Haligtree. This endgame location is where one of the most difficult bosses in Elden Ring, Malenia, can be found.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.