Elden Ring Broken Gold Mask Invasion Flail Trigger

To trigger the Broken Gold Mask invasion and obtain the Flail in Elden Ring, you must first defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel at the Capital Outskirts, then travel to the Altus Plateau and rest at the Outer Wall Battleground site of grace, where the invasion will occur. This invasion is part of a specific questline tied to the character Goldmask, and it is the only way to obtain the Flail weapon in the game. Below, we break down the exact steps, the questline context, and common issues players encounter.

Background: Who Is Goldmask and Why Does He Invade?

Goldmask is a legendary scholar and a key figure in the game’s lore, associated with the Golden Order fundamentalism. He is encountered in the Altus Plateau, where he sits near the Outer Wall Battleground site of grace, staring at the Erdtree. The invasion is not a hostile attack by Goldmask himself but rather a scripted event where a hostile NPC named “Broken Goldmask” appears. This is part of the game’s questline involving Brother Corhyn and Goldmask, which ultimately leads to the player learning about the flaws in the Golden Order. The invasion is a one-time event that rewards the Flail, a unique weapon with a distinctive moveset and bleed buildup.

Prerequisites: What You Must Do Before the Invasion

Before the invasion can occur, you must meet several conditions. These are not optional, and failing to meet them will prevent the invasion from triggering.

• Defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel: This boss guards the entrance to Leyndell, Royal Capital, and is located in the Capital Outskirts. You must defeat it to proceed into the Altus Plateau.
• Reach the Altus Plateau: After defeating the Draconic Tree Sentinel, you can either enter Leyndell or head to the Altus Plateau. The invasion site is in the plateau, so you must travel there.
• Rest at the Outer Wall Battleground site of grace: This is the exact location where the invasion will trigger. It is located just past the Draconic Tree Sentinel’s arena, on the main road leading to the plateau.
• Do not kill Goldmask early: If you have already encountered Goldmask and killed him, the invasion will not happen. However, this is unlikely, as he is passive and sits near the site of grace.

Step-by-Step: How to Trigger the Invasion

Follow these steps in order to ensure the invasion triggers correctly.

1. Defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel at the Capital Outskirts. This is a mandatory boss fight, and you cannot skip it to reach the Altus Plateau.
2. After the victory, continue forward on the main road. You will pass through a large gate and enter the Altus Plateau region.
3. Follow the road until you see a site of grace called Outer Wall Battleground. It is on the right side of the road, near a broken wall.
4. Approach the site of grace and rest at it. The invasion will trigger immediately after resting, with the message “Invaded by Broken Goldmask” appearing on screen.
5. Defeat the invader. He uses a Flail and has a moveset similar to a standard NPC invader. He is not particularly difficult, but beware of his bleed buildup.
6. After defeating him, you will receive the Flail weapon as a drop. This is the only way to obtain it in the game.

What If the Invasion Doesn’t Trigger? Common Problems

Many players report that the invasion does not trigger even after resting at the site of grace. Here are the most common reasons and solutions:

• You haven’t defeated the Draconic Tree Sentinel: If you used a different route to reach the Altus Plateau (e.g., via the Grand Lift of Dectus), you must still defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel for the invasion to trigger. The invasion is tied to that boss’s defeat.
• You already killed Goldmask: If you attacked Goldmask when you first saw him, he is dead, and the invasion will never trigger. You cannot revive him in a single playthrough.
• You are in a multiplayer session: Invasions do not trigger while you are in co-op or using a Taunter’s Tongue. Make sure you are in single-player mode.
• You have already completed the invasion: If you have already done this on a previous playthrough, it won’t happen again on the same character. The Flail is a one-time reward per playthrough.
• You are at the wrong site of grace: There are two sites of grace in the area: “Outer Wall Battleground” and “Outer Wall Phantom Tree.” Make sure you are at the Battleground one, not the Phantom Tree one.

Is the Flail Worth It? Weapon Stats and Comparison

The Flail is a unique weapon that scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity. It has a base damage of 120 physical and 30 bleed buildup per hit. Its moveset is a series of sweeping attacks that are effective for crowd control, but it has a relatively short range compared to other weapons. It also has a unique heavy attack that spins the flail, which can be useful for catching enemies off guard.

Compared to other early-game weapons, the Flail is a solid choice for a bleed build, but it is outclassed by weapons like the Bloodhound’s Fang or the Uchigatana in terms of raw damage and bleed buildup. However, its unique moveset and the fact that it is the only flail in the game make it a collector’s item. If you are a completionist, it is worth triggering the invasion just to get the weapon.

Alternative Ways to Get the Flail

There is no alternative way to obtain the Flail in Elden Ring. It is exclusively dropped by the Broken Goldmask invader. If you miss the invasion, you cannot get the weapon in that playthrough. However, you can obtain it in New Game+ by repeating the steps. This makes it a missable item, so it’s important to trigger the invasion before progressing too far into the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trigger the invasion after defeating the Fire Giant?

Yes, you can trigger the invasion at any point after defeating the Draconic Tree Sentinel, as long as you haven’t already killed Goldmask. However, if you have already progressed to the Mountaintops of the Giants, you can still travel back to the Altus Plateau and trigger it. The invasion is not locked to a specific game stage, only to the prerequisite of defeating the Draconic Tree Sentinel.

What level should I be for the invasion?

The invasion is not level-scaled, but the Draconic Tree Sentinel is a challenging boss. Most players are around level 60-80 when they reach this area. The invader himself is not particularly strong, so if you can defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel, you should have no trouble with the invader.

Does the Flail have any special effect?

The Flail has a passive bleed buildup of 30, which is decent but not as high as other bleed weapons. It also has a unique heavy attack that can be charged for a spinning strike. There is no special effect beyond that, but it is the only weapon of its type in the game.

What happens if I kill Goldmask before the invasion?

If you kill Goldmask before triggering the invasion, the invasion will not occur, and you will permanently miss the Flail in that playthrough. Goldmask is a passive NPC and will not fight back, so it is unlikely you will kill him by accident, but it is possible if you attack him.

Can I get the Flail in co-op?

No, the invasion will not trigger in co-op. You must be in single-player mode to trigger the invasion. If you are playing with a friend, you will need to have them leave your world before resting at the site of grace.

Is the Broken Goldmask invasion part of a larger questline?

Yes, the invasion is part of the Goldmask questline. After the invasion, you can continue the quest by talking to Brother Corhyn, who will be near Goldmask. The questline eventually leads to a revelation about the Golden Order and rewards you with the Golden Order Principia, a key item for a spell.

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