The easiest way to beat Knight Commander Igris in Solo Leveling: Arise is to improve Sung Jinwoo's Ultimate skill via Artifacts and Skill level-ups, then use his Ultimate and other skills after Igris has been inflicted with Break or after you execute a Shadow Step.
Scroll down and read more to see our in-depth guide on how to beat Commander Knight Igris, which includes an overview of his moveset and how to counter them, several helpful tips to increase your chances of clearing the boss fight, and what rewards you get after finishing it!
Table of Contents
- How to Beat Knight Commander Igris
- Tips and Tricks for the Igris Boss Fight
- Reach Level 35 and 50,000 Total Power
- Use the Break Mechanic to Your Advantage
- Use Extreme Evasion & Shadow Step as Often as You Can
- Equip Light Attribute Weapons
- Bring Light-element Hunters
- Wear Ultimate-boosting Artifacts
- Make Sure Your Artifacts & Skills Are Upgraded
- Don't Use Auto-Skill
- Use Your Ultimate Wisely
- Optimize Sung Jinwoo's Stats
- Igris Moveset and Attacks
- Igris Rewards
How to Beat Knight Commander Igris
Commander Knight Igris is the boss that all Solo Leveling: Arise players encounter upon unlocking the Story's Chapter 8 – Protector of the Throne.
He is the first main roadblock that most beginners would struggle to overcome to progress further in the game, given his diverse moveset, high survivability, and the stage's time limit.
Best Strategy Summarized
To beat Knight Commander Igris, you must be able to Break him multiple times with the help of Basic Skills and your Hunters' Support Skills with the “Break” tag. You must also dodge his attacks via Extreme Evasion—followed up with a Shadow Step as often as you can.
Once he's been inflicted with either Break or Shadow Step—both of which reduce his Defense and make him more vulnerable to your attacks— you can then burst him down with everything you have, which can be either your Weapon Skills or your Ultimate Skill, depending on their availability. This is the fastest and most efficient way to beat Knight Commander Igris, as you'll be able to amplify the damage you deal to him with the [Defense Decrease] debuff inflicted by Break and Shadow Step.
Once you memorize Igris's moveset and punish his moves consistently, then the whole battle simply becomes a DPS check where your only worry is the timer.
To go more into detail about this, we've listed below multiple tips and tricks that you must follow if you want to beat Knight Commander Igris and even clear all the Battle Missions featured in his boss fight for additional rewards.
Tips and Tricks for the Igris Boss Fight
Reach Level 35 and 50,000 Total Power
If you want to make the boss fight with Igris go a lot smoother, we highly recommend challenging him with Sung Jinwoo at Level 35 so he'll have a decent amount of stat points to boost his DPS and your team's Total Power at 50,000—at the very least.
Of course, this isn't necessarily a requirement, as you'll be able to clear this boss even while underpowered provided you're skilled enough with your evasions and have enough damage to pass the DPS check before the timer runs out.
Use the Break Mechanic to Your Advantage
Inflicting Break on Igris will not only stun him for a few seconds, but it'll also allow you to deal significantly more damage while he's in this state because of the [Defense Decrease] debuff he'll receive whenever he's broken.
To help you inflict Break on Igris faster, we highly recommend using Death's Dance and Multistrike as Sung Jinwoo's Basic Skills, then upgrading them as high as you can, preferably to at least Level 4.
Additionally, we advise picking the following Hunters as your Support units, as their Support Skills can decrease your enemy's Break gauge:
- Baek Yoonho (SSR)
- Woo Jinchul (SSR)
- Emma Laurent (SSR)
- Kim Chul (SR)
NOTE: All new players can get Woo Jinchul (SSR) for free after 7 days of consecutive logins. If you don't have the best Breakers for Igris's boss fight (Baek Yoonho & Kim Chul) and are struggling to Break Igris consistently, make sure to get him on your team and put him to work!
Use Extreme Evasion & Shadow Step as Often as You Can
Igris's moves deal so much damage that you'll have to be able to execute Extreme Evasion and Shadow Step to dodge and punish most—if not all of his attacks consistently throughout the battle.
- Extreme Evasion slows down time and renders Sung Jinwoo invincible for a few moments. It can be triggered by pressing the “Dodge” button right before an enemy attack hits.
- Shadow Step allows SungJinwoo to teleport behind an enemy, deal damage, and then inflict a [Defense Decrease] debuff. It can be triggered immediately after performing an Extreme Evasion but has a 10-second cooldown.
If you're having trouble using Extreme Evasion and Shadow Step to counter Igris, check out the Igris Moveset & Attacks section further below to figure out the timing of his moves and how to avoid or punish all of his attacks!
NOTE: If you still have [Player] Skill Scrolls to spare after upgrading Sung Jinwoo's Ultimate Skill to Level 4, then feel free to level up Shadow Step as well so you can deal more damage with it!
Equip Light Attribute Weapons
Equipping Sung Jinwoo with Light Attribute Weapons isn't that much of a requirement if you already have top-tier weapons like the Demonic Plum Flower Sword or Thetis' Grimoire, but it'll help you beat Knight Commander Igris more easily.
The Huntsman is the best Weapon you can use against Igris, as it counters his Dark attribute and provides Sung Jinwoo plenty of damage buffs throughout the fight—even at Advancement Level 0.
If you don't have The Huntsman or any other top-tier non-Light Attribute Weapons, however, then the Radiru Family's Longbow is the next best Weapon you can equip Sung Jinwoo with.
TIP: Despite being a Water Attribute Weapon, we highly recommend bringing along Thetis' Grimoire when fighting Igris, as it allows you to neutralize him for up to 4 seconds every cast. That's 4 seconds of him not attacking you and being vulnerable to additional attacks, which technically counts as an extra Break!
Bring Light-element Hunters
Bringing along Hunters with Support Skills that can Break Igris is a must, seeing as you'll need to be able to break him every time his Break gauge recharges to fully optimize your team's DPS.
On that note, Baek Yoonho is the best Hunter you can put on your team if you want to beat Knight Commander Igris, as his Light Attribute allows him to deal extra Break damage onto Igris.
Another Hunter that you might want to consider getting for your team if you want to be able to Break Igris faster is Kim Chul, who's a great substitute if you don't have Baek Yoonho.
He's a Light Tank who's a fantastic breaker as well, and although he won't be as good as Baek Yoonho, he'll get the job done just fine especially if you equip him with decent gear and manage to get him to higher Advancement levels.
TIP: Also consider filling your team with additional Break units such as Emma Laurent and Seo Jiwoo if you have them. The more consistently you can Break Igris, the more damage you'll be able to deal to him, so having extra Break power instead of just pure DPS on your Support team is always a good idea if you want to beat Knight Commander Igris.
Wear Ultimate-boosting Artifacts
As we've mentioned before, the easiest way to beat Knight Commander Igris is to simply spam your Ultimate Skill as often as you can—preferably while he's under the [Decrease Defense] debuff inflicted by Break or Shadow Step.
The following Artifact sets improve Sung Jinwoo's Ultimate Skill, making them the best ones you should consider equipping Sung Jinwoo with if you're going against Igris:
 One-Hit Kill Set | Equip 2 Effects Increases Ultimate Skill damage by 25%. |
| Equip 4 Effects Decreases the Ultimate Skill cooldown by 40%. |
 Destroyer Set | Equip 2 Effects Your Power Gauge Acquisition Rate increases by 20%. |
| Equip 4 Effects When the battle starts, charges Power Gauge by 50% and additionally increases the player and the party's Power Gauge Acquisition Rate by 20%. |
Make Sure Your Artifacts & Skills Are Upgraded
Leveling up your skills allows your team to deal more damage and pass the DPS check against Igris before the timer runs out.
Here are the skills that we recommend you get to at least Level 4 to make Knight Commander Igris' boss fight go a lot easier:
- Ultimate Skill (Darkness: Obliteration)
- Shadow Step
- Death's Dance
- Multistrike
As far as Artifact upgrades go, you'll only want to fully invest in Level 50 or Level 55 Gear pieces. You most likely won't have access to these levels of Artifacts on your first run-in with Igris, so remember to only enhance Level 49 Gear pieces and below to +10 at most to save up on resources in the long run.
This should give you enough bonus stats to beat Knight Commander Igris, especially if the low-level gear you invest in has DPS-boosting substats like Additional Attack, Crit Hit Damage, Crit Hit Rate, Defense Reduction, etc.
Don't Use Auto-Skill
Turning on Auto-Skill will make your Sung Jinwoo execute skills at random, which may interfere with you trying to use Extreme Evations at times, so make sure Manual is enabled instead!
Additionally, you'd want to use your Ultimate and Weapon Skills only whenever Igris has been inflicted by a [Decrease Defense] debuff, which won't be possible if Auto-Skill is enabled.
You may turn on Auto-Support Skill so that you won't have to worry about your Hunters using their Support Skills during combat but do note that using it manually will give you flexibility on the skills' timing. This comes in handy if you're trying to time your breaks and healing perfectly.
Use Your Ultimate Wisely
Again, make sure that you use Sung Jinwoo's Ultimate Skill only when you've either just executed a Shadow Step or inflicted Break onto Igris.
Doing this allows you to deal more damage with your Ultimate Skill, as Break and Shadow Step both inflict [Decrease Defense] onto your enemies. Additionally, you'd be less likely to be countered since Igris won't be moving for a bit after he's been hit with a Shadow Step or broken.
Remember, your Ultimate skill is your trump card, and using it efficiently is the best way to beat Knight Commander Igris, especially as a beginner!
Optimize Sung Jinwoo's Stats
The most optimal stats to focus Sung Jinwoo's AP on would be Strength, Agility, and Perception. After all, what you need the most against Igris is tons of DPS so the timer doesn't run out before you beat him.
Vitality would be worthless, as using Extreme Evasion would eliminate the need for additional survivability anyway. The same goes for Intelligence since you'll have more than enough MP at Level 35 and above to beat Knight Commander Igris within the time limit.
If you don't have at least 80% Precision, consider these stat allocations per level to prepare for Igris:
- Perception +3
- Strength +2
If you have at least 80% Precision, consider these stat allocations per level to prepare for Igris:
- Strength +3
- Agility +2
TIP: Weapons with increased Advancement Levels give Sung Jinwoo lots of bonus Precision, so consider equipping them if you're having trouble getting your Precision stat to 80% and above!
Igris Moveset and Attacks
Listed below are all of Knight Commander Igris' moves and how to either counter or avoid each of them:
| Knight Commander Igris Moveset | Description |
|---|---|
 Jump Slash | Igris jumps high in the air and slashes downward, targeting the player. How to Avoid/Counter: Igris does this move at the start of every battle. Once you memorize the timing, you can easily punish this move by using an Extreme Evasion > Shadow Step combo. |
 Sword Thrust | Igris stands menacingly for a few seconds, then thrusts his sword in one, swift stroke. How to Avoid/Counter: Wait three seconds as soon as Igris's eyes shine red while standing up, then dodge. Do not attack him on the front once you do an Extreme Evasion, as he may do a follow-up attack shortly after executing this move. |
 2-Hit Smash | Igris charges up before slamming his sword down into the ground, then up—knocking enemies hit by the move into the air. How to Avoid/Counter: You can simply move to the side as soon as Igris adapts a low sword stance shown in the image on the left to avoid this move completely. Use Extreme Evasion > Shadow Step right before the attack hits for a more efficient and devastating punish. |
 3-Hit Smash | Igris executes a circular sweep with his sword—once on the ground and multiple times in the air, then slams it down for a devastating blow. How to Avoid/Counter: Use Extreme Evasion as soon as Igris turns his body for a spin, then punish as soon as he completes the 3-hit combo. This move doesn't lock your character, so you'll have multiple chances to evade and get some distance between you and Igris before the final attack hits. |
 Deafening Roar | Igris lets out an enraged roar, pushing his foes back and disrupting their attacks. How to Avoid/Counter: Igris uses this move once upon reaching 50% HP or below. It does little damage so you can just tank it, or wait until the Dodge button lights up completely before clicking it to perform an Extreme Evasion. |
 Ground Slam | Igris thrusts his sword into the ground, summoning several rings of swords that shoot out from below. Igris then summons them back, devastating the nearby area in the process. How to Avoid/Counter: Dodge toward Igris right before a ring of swords hits you, then wait until the last attack of the move to dodge again before punishing. |
 Sword Waves | Igris cuts the air with his sword, sending out deadly crimson waves toward the player. How to Avoid/Counter: Move laterally or use Extreme Evasion to avoid this move. Igris typically teleports away before using Sword Waves, so remember to move to the side and get ready to dodge as soon as he vanishes out of sight. |
 Spinning Slash | Igris gets into a back stance before spinning with his sword and chasing the player around the battlefield. How to Avoid/Counter: Dodge into the path of the Spinning Slash to trigger Extreme Evasion more easily, then put some distance between you and Igris first before you counter in case the move is still ongoing. |
 Line Slash | Igris gets into a low stance before dashing forward in a straight line, slashing enemies that are caught in his path once, then multiple times a split-second after the initial slash. How to Avoid/Counter: You have to dodge the initial slash via Extreme Evasion, as being caught by it will stun-lock Sung Jinwoo until the second barrage of slashes is over. |
 Crimson Vacuum | Igris summons a vacuum that sucks in all nearby targets, then hits them with a vicious downward slash. How to Avoid/Counter: You have to put some distance between you and Igris or get behind him before he uses this attack. Alternatively, you can use Extreme Evasion > Shadow Step during the first split-second of the attack. This will teleport you behind him for an easy punish. |
 Underground Slash | Igris burrows into the ground and then reappears below the player before slashing upward with his sword. How to Avoid/Counter: Dodge two seconds after the boss goes underground, then punish with an Extreme Evasion > Shadow Step combo. |
Igris Rewards
Job Change
While you won't unlock new Jobs immediately after beating Igris at Chapter 8, clearing Chapter 9, which is way easier than the previous chapter, will give your Sung Jinwoo access to two new Jobs:
| Jobs Unlocked After Chapter 8 | Job Change Conditions | Job Change Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Necromancer | – Clear Story Chapter 9 <Resume the Job Change Quest> – Change Jobs 2 Times | – Increases Sung Jinwoo's Total Power – Ultimate Skill (Truth: Mutilate) – Obtain Stat Points x30 – Costume (Sung Jinwoo: Incapable of Evaluation) |
| The Monarch of Shadows | – Clear Story Chapter 9 <Job Perks> – Change Jobs 3 Times | – Increases Sung Jinwoo's Total Power – Blessing Stone: Tenacity – Obtain Stat Points x30 |
TIP: Upon unlocking the Truth: Mutilate Ultimate Skill for Sung Jinwoo, make sure to swap it out immediately and level it up as high as you can. It is way better than Darkness: Obliteration when it comes to pure damage and will help you clear stronger bosses later in the game.
Items
You also get the following items as a reward after you beat Knight Commander Igris' boss fight in Chapter 8:
| Boss Clear Rewards (Knight Commander Igris) | Reward Type |
|---|---|
 x50 Essence Stones | First-clear Reward |
 x1 Rune Stone: The Commander's Touch | First-clear Reward |
 x9,300 Gold | First-clear Reward |
 x15 Rune Fragments | First-clear Reward |
 x45 Essence Stones | Battle Mission Reward (x15 Essence Stones per Battle Missions cleared) |
TIP: We recommend investing some [Player] Skill Scrolls in The Commander's Touch skill once you get it, as it's among Sung Jinwoo's best skills. It's fantastic for dealing AoE damage and is also one of the few Basic Skills for Sung Jinwoo that can inflict [Decrease Defense]—if you attach the Finisher rune to it.
Battle Class Feature
Another fantastic reward you get after beating this boss is the Battle Class feature, which allows you to farm Essence Stones and Gold—two of the most valuable items in the game—based on how high your team's Max Total Power is.
Essence Stones and Gold are very important if you want to get stronger fast in Solo Leveling: Arise, considering how they're a requirement for almost every Power-up method in the game (especially Gold). It wouldn't hurt to unlock this feature as early as you can by beating Igris quickly!
