The Blood of Dawnwalker Guide | How to Unlock Ancient Gladius Unique Shortsword

The Gladius in The Blood of Dawnwalker is a Legendary Shortsword hidden inside the Beast of Balaur's cave at Mount Balaur. Defeat the beast at night, then use Coen's vampiric traversal ability to reach the hidden chest.

How to Get the Gladius

• Travel to Mount Balaur

Head to Mount Balaur, located west of Parlita. Arrive at night, as the traversal route to reach the weapon requires Coen's vampiric abilities.

• Start The Beast of Balaur

Follow the path around Mount Balaur to enter the Beast of Balaur's lair. Defeat the Beast of Balaur inside the cave.

Defeating the beast does not automatically give you the Gladius. After the fight, explore the cave to find the hidden chest.

• Use Your Vampiric Traversal Ability

After defeating the beast, look above the arena for the traversal point on the upper wall. Switch to Coen's vampiric form and use Shadowstep, Planeshift, or another suitable vampiric traversal ability to reach the ledge.

Follow the upper passage around the corner to the hidden area.

• Open the Chest

At the end of the passage, you will find a chest. Open it to obtain the Gladius.

The chest may also contain additional loot, and the same area has a Phial of Brencis's Blood, so explore the room before leaving.

Gladius Stats

The Gladius is a Legendary Shortsword focused on critical hits, vampiric survivability, and fighting mortal enemies. Its listed effects include:

• +8% Damage against Mortals
• +15% Maximum Vampiric Health
• +7.5% Weapon Critical Hit Damage
• +5% Weapon Critical Hit Chance

Its exact damage values can vary with item level.

Final Thoughts

The Gladius is easy to miss because defeating the Beast of Balaur does not directly reward the weapon. Remember to stay inside the cave after the fight and climb to the upper ledge at night to reach the hidden chest.

FAQ

Q. Where is the Gladius in The Blood of Dawnwalker?

A. The Gladius is inside a hidden chest in the Beast of Balaur's cave at Mount Balaur.

Q. Do I need to fight the Beast of Balaur?

A. Yes. You need to defeat the beast before accessing the upper section containing the chest.

Q. Can I get the Gladius during the day?

A. No. The upper traversal route requires Coen's vampiric abilities, so you should enter the cave at night.