Elden Ring has a lot to do. There are dozens of bosses and a mountain of items to find, but also much more than that. The game is filled with hidden dungeons, dusty tunnels and more places to explore. With so much to do, there’s been a lot to worry about. And new players will likely take some time to adjust to the world, meaning they’re going to die—a lot. You can help mitigate that by grabbing some more powerful gear, though, and that’s a good thing to do.
As you level up and get stronger in Elden Ring, there are going to be enemies that you have trouble with. And to deal with that, you need better gear. There are many weapons in the game to choose from, what you go with depends on your build.
Commander O’Neil is a boss in Caelid’s Swamp of Aeonia. This item and the boss that holds it are linked to the quest you undertake for Milicent. The weapon itself is pretty interesting. Defeating this optional Great Enemy will grant you the Commander’s Standard. When activated, this weapon art gives you and all your nearby allies a 20% buff to your DPS output, it’s pretty great. Using it in consort with certain heavy hitter weapons is a recipe for success. If you want to get the Commander’s Standard in Elden Ring, here’s what to do.
Using the item gives you D-rank scaling in both Strength and Dexterity, though this can be improved to B-rank Strength with enough improvement. You need a fair bit of Stamina to wield it though, so keep that in mind. The item is described thusly in-game: “A beaten red battle standard is furled around this time-worn halberd. Even after his lord was fled, Commander O’Neil continued to brandish this flag in the devastation of the rot-eaten field of battle, the sole veteran who remembers this battle with pride.”
How to get the Commander’s Standard in Elden Ring
You need to head to the Swamp of Aeonia in Caelid to find this useful tool. The boss will spawn there, and he’s a big boy. There’s actually a warp chest you can use to get right by the spot he spawns in. Going to Dragon Burnt Ruins in Lake Agheel, there’s a trapped chest there that will transport you here when opened. Grab the nearby Site of Grace so you can return to Caelid much easier later. Once you’ve landed in the new rotted region,
The zone you’re after is in the Heart of Aeonia. This zone has a Site of Grace, and is nestled between the Street of Sages Ruins and Gowry’s Shack. If you end up in Gowry’s Shack, head west into the swamp.
This is an optional boss as players are not required to defeat him in order to advance in the story. He has the same absorption for all elements, so any type of elemental damage is good to use against him. Frostbite and Poison can be used against him, though he has high resistance—the same can be said of bleeds. O’Neil is pretty slow, you can outrange some of his attacks. A hit-and-run approach is best here. If you have spells that do elemental damage, be sure and bust them out when you can.
The one attack you should really watch out for is his summoning ritual. If the boss pauses and begins chanting, he can summon multiple specters to his aid, which makes this a much more dangerous fight. You will want zip around on Torrent and clear the other mobs first, that makes this fight a big easier. Spells and ranged attacks help here, a lot.
If you’re playing and enjoying the game, good for you! You might have questions though, so we have some guides to help you out. When making a character, picking the right class is important. Figure out how to level up your character once you’re in the game. From there, you might want to learn how to upgrade gear, or maybe how to find powerful weapons, like the Meteorite Staff. Or perhaps you’re a melee player and want that shiny new Rivers of Blood katana to hack away with? If you’re dealing with a lot of Undead, try grabbing the Golden Epitaph. Another great talisman is the Erdtree’s Favor. Get the Mimic Tear Summon for a powerful ally. The Ronin Armor can be good for hefty builds.
