Elden Ring Nightreign: How To Defeat Duke's Dear Freja

Duke’s Dear Freja is a two-headed spider boss in Elden Ring Nightreign whose acid, webs, and spiderlings challenge players on every front.

Duke's Dear Freja (Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment) — Duke’s Dear Freja in Elden Ring Nightreign (Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment)

The Duke’s Dear Freja is a gigantic spider boss from Dark Souls 2 that fits neatly into its role as a Night Boss in Elden Ring Nightreign. The two-headed spider lashes out at players with a diverse move set and spawns spiderlings throughout the battle, making for a challenging end to the first or second day.

Overview of Duke’s Dear Freja in Elden Ring Nightreign

The Duke’s Dear Freja is similarly challenging for ranged and melee fighters. The boss performs close-range attacks with its legs and snapping pincers against melee Nightfarers. Its spiderlings and projectile attacks complicate the playstyle of Ironeye and mages who may prefer to stay at range. With its bulk and slow attacks, any team composition is equally suited to defeating Duke’s Dear Freja. However, reaching at least level 6 before the fight will greatly increase your odds of survival.

Weaknesses of Duke’s Dear Freja

Duke’s Dear Freja’s primary weakness is its bulk and slow attacks. Fire, frost, and bleed weapons are also especially effective against it. Target one of the heads on either end of the spider, since each head takes additional damage. With all players attacking simultaneously, the boss staggers quickly. Melee combatants should stay near either head, attacking the weak spot. This keeps them away from the leg slam attacks and provides ample warning to dodge before special attacks.

Tips To Easily Defeat Duke’s Dear Freja

Duke's Dear Freja web spitting — Duke’s Dear Freja web spitting (Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment)

The spiderlings can become a nuisance if not dealt with in time. As a melee fighter, try to group them up while attacking the boss, and eliminate all the spiderlings at once.
Most of the boss attacks are clearly telegraphed, and observing her during the fight will allow you to dodge most of them.
The boss rears its head and unleashes a web-spitting attack. If you are near her head, step to the side. Ranged fighters can sprint away from the web stream’s trajectory or roll through it.
Duke’s Dear Freja lowers its body, tenses its legs, and leaps into the air. She can slam down onto the players to do damage or leap away to create distance.
When the boss rears up, both its heads begin to spit acid in a wide arc. Dodge to the side of the spider’s body, as the attack continues for a few seconds.
When Duke’s Dear Freja pulls its head back and opens its mandibles, it is preparing for a lunging attack. Sprint away from the head to the side of the body, or roll at the last second.