To start the Brittle King fight, reach the Chapel in Notre-Dame, equip the Fist of Talos Arcana from The Builder, and interact with Excalibur in the stone. The similarly named Fists of Talos weapon does not satisfy the test. Defeating Arthur awards Excalibur and the Stained Glass Shield Arcana.
This is an optional boss encounter. You are taking this detour for its rewards; the weapons suggested below are choices for the battle, not requirements for opening it.
Reach the Chapel in Notre-Dame
The Chapel is on the right side of the Notre-Dame map, close to the East Gallery Mirror of Life. Look for the sword fixed in stone beneath the large stained-glass window.
If you have not reached this part of the cathedral, continue the Notre-Dame route. Its organ progression leads to the later Death encounter, which opens the way onward to the Chapel. You do not need to redo those steps if you are already standing beside the sword.
Look for the Chapel on the right side of Notre-Dame.
Pass the Feat of Strength test
The clue points to the power of a titan. It is an equipment check for the Builder's Arcana, rather than a request to keep raising Rose's level.
- Open your equipment and equip Fist of Talos, the Arcana obtained from defeating The Builder in the Clock Tower.
- Check that you selected the Arcana. Fists of Talos, the fist weapon, is a different item.
- Interact with the sword in the Chapel. With the correct Arcana equipped, Rose draws it and Arthur's introduction leads into the boss fight.
If the sword only shines or moves slightly, check the Arcana selection before leaving to grind or hunt another weapon. If you need the Builder's reward, use the Talos boss guide.
Equip the Fist of Talos Arcana, then interact with the sword in stone.
Work around Arthur's shield
Arthur's shield makes repeated attacks into his front less useful. The arena has Arcane Whip anchors: use them to change sides and create openings at his back. You can also wait for an attack to expose an opening instead of trying to force damage through the shield.
| What Arthur does | How to respond |
|---|---|
| Prepares a sword thrust | Read the wind-up, then avoid it or parry if you are comfortable with the timing. |
| Strikes his shield and releases glass shards | Track the projectiles and move clear before attacking again. |
| Jumps into a wide attack | Keep some distance and jump to avoid the impact. |
| Holds the shield overhead to cast light beams | Stop committing to a combo and watch where the light will cross the arena. Reposition into a gap. |
The shield-light pattern becomes more demanding as his health falls: beams persist for longer, leaving less room between them. Preserve room to move instead of staying beside him through every sequence. The visual cue to prioritize is the raised shield; reacting after a long combo has already started gives you fewer options.
Watch the shield and the direction of the light before choosing an opening.
A Whip is a reasonable option if you prefer to strike from farther away. Another optional approach is the Alucard Sword and Shield, whose attacks move Rose behind the target and help work around Arthur's frontal defense. Neither weapon is needed to trigger the encounter or claim its rewards. If the fight is draining your health too quickly, use the nearby Mirror of Life and return after improving your equipment or health.
Collect Excalibur and Stained Glass Shield
Winning completes The Brittle King Tarot card and gives you two distinct rewards:
- Excalibur: a Legendary greatsword with a charged heavy attack that can send out projectiles.
- Stained Glass Shield: a defensive Arcana that provides protection against incoming damage.
These are the results of beating Arthur. Do not confuse the new shield Arcana with the Fist of Talos Arcana used to start his test. For other weapon pickups, continue with the weapon locations guide.
Sources and scope
The unlock and rewards are covered by TheGamer's Brittle King guide and GameRant's location guide. Combat cues and the optional Alucard equipment approach follow GameSpot's boss guide.
Continue your route
- Notre-Dame paths and secrets for the cathedral route.
- Talos and the Builder's reward for the Arcana behind the sword test.
- All weapon locations to plan your next pickup.