V Rising 1.1 boss guide for Nicholaus the Fallen, covering location, key attacks, Normal and Brutal Mode strategy, rewards and progression.
Nicholaus the Fallen is part of the Risen Ancients V Rising 1.1 boss-guide progression. This guide covers where to find the encounter, the attacks that matter, a practical Normal strategy, Brutal Mode considerations and the progression rewards.
Verified 1.1 level: 35
Nicholaus occupies the upper section of the Forgotten Cemetery in central Farbane Woods.
Follow the V Blood tracking trail and climb towards the highest section of the cemetery.
The arena remains covered in shadow, allowing you to fight during daylight without relying entirely on the surrounding trees for protection.
Clear nearby enemies before engaging Nicholaus.
Although ordinary undead are relatively manageable individually, additional enemies can make his summoning attacks significantly more dangerous.
The cemetery is also useful for collecting Bones, Grave Dust and Mourning Lilies, so leave some inventory space for resources.
Preparation checklist
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Green Bolt
Nicholaus fires a single green skull-like projectile towards the player.
Counter: Move sideways rather than retreating directly along its path.
Teleport and Fear
Nicholaus rises into the air and disappears. A marked area appears beneath the player before he reappears.
Players caught inside are affected by Fear and forced to run away.
Counter: Leave the marked area immediately. Save Veil for situations where ordinary movement is insufficient.
Skull Waves
Nicholaus releases three successive waves of skull projectiles in every direction. Their paths weave as they travel.
Counter: Increase your distance to create more space between projectiles. Watch all three waves rather than approaching after the first.
Summon Minions
Nicholaus summons three Armoured Skeletons and one Armoured Skeleton Crossbow.
Counter: Prioritise the ranged skeleton when it restricts your movement, then clear the remaining group with area damage.
Summon Army
Nicholaus summons fourteen ordinary Skeletons.
Counter: Group them together through controlled movement and use an area spell. Avoid allowing them to surround you.
Brutal: Explosive Green Bolt
Green Bolt explodes in an area when it strikes an object or reaches maximum range.
Counter: Move clear of the impact point rather than merely avoiding direct contact.
Keep the summoned undead population manageable rather than trying to kill every skeleton immediately. Nicholaus himself remains the priority, but allowing the arena to fill makes his ranged pressure increasingly difficult to avoid. Weapons and attacks with bonus value against undead are useful for clearing space efficiently.
Explosive projectile mechanic
The documented Brutal change makes Green Bolt explode upon impact or at maximum range. This means avoiding the direct projectile is no longer sufficient if you're standing close to where it detonates.
Maintain greater distance. Additional space gives you more time to identify the projectile's destination and escape the explosion.
Avoid standing beside environmental obstacles. A projectile that strikes nearby terrain can create an explosion even when it misses your character.
Preserve Veil during large summons. The combination of skeletons, teleportation and explosive projectiles can restrict your movement.
Use area damage consistently. Allowing skeletons to accumulate makes every subsequent attack more difficult to avoid.
Don't underestimate the ranged skeleton. Eliminate it when possible so you can concentrate on Nicholaus's projectile patterns.
Defeating Nicholaus unlocks the Paper Press, additional decorative furnishings and a Tier 3 Unholy Spell Point.
Nicholaus's rewards
Unlock | Purpose
Tier 3 Unholy Spell Point | Unlock an Unholy ultimate
Army of the Dead | Summon undead allies
Volatile Arachnid | Unholy ultimate alternative
Paper Press | Produce research materials
Simple Candle Stands | Castle decoration
Frayed Rugs, Banners and Curtains | Castle decoration
Treasury Flooring | Specialist castle flooring
Army of the Dead
Suits players who want to build around summoning undead and overwhelming enemies with allied creatures.
Particularly relevant to our proposed Bloodhold-inspired necromancer playstyle.
Volatile Arachnid
An alternative for players who prefer a more direct offensive ultimate rather than maintaining summoned allies.
The Tier 3 point gives you an ultimate ability, making Nicholaus an important milestone for character progression rather than simply another crafting unlock.
The Paper Press allows you to manufacture research materials instead of relying entirely on loot.
This helps reduce the amount of repeated resource farming required to unlock additional technologies.
After defeating Nicholaus
Return to your castle and construct the Paper Press.
Check its available recipes and material requirements.
Use surplus crafting resources to produce research materials.
Continue unlocking technologies through your research stations.
Prepare upgraded equipment before challenging Quincy.
The precise Paper Press construction and production costs remain marked for final in-game verification. Older sources contain different recipes, so including an unverified quantity would be less useful than leaving that field out for now.
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