Home»Posts
December 5, 2022·6 min·1257 words·Judy Pearl
However, you’d probably be surprised that you only need to encounter a fraction in order to complete Elden Ring.Not that you should stick to the critical path, as many are also key to certain side quests and are subject to Achievements and Trophies, for completionists the list is much longer.And, for the curious, we’ve put together a list of the hardest Elden Ring bosses - which though subjective, can give you an idea of the more difficult challenges you’ll be against.Be warned there are spoilers on this page, so continue at your own risk!On this page:There is a degree of flexibility to this at the start of the game, but once you reach the capital city of Leyndell, from there the mandatory bosses to the end of the game are set.In summary, the main bosses in order are:
- In order to access Leyndell, you need two Great Runes. The easiest two Runes are from defeating Godrick the Grafted (which also requires beating Margit in Castle Stormveil) and Renna, Queen of the Full Moon (which also requires beating Red Wolf of Radagon in Raya Lucaria Academy), though the others from Radahn and Rkyard are there if you prefer.** To get into Leyndell, Draconic Tree Sentinel is the most ‘straightforward’ path - but there are seemingly other ways in, such as by progressing the Fia quest, but these are longer winded routes with their own challenges and set of bosses to overcome.Either way, from Morgott onwards, the bosses you need to defeat in order to get to any Elden Ring ending is fixed.Fun fact: The order of these bosses are so important to the flow of the game that the open world map was designed around them.A good guide to the most significant bosses beyond the critical path, perhaps, is looking at which bosses have a Trophy or Achievement assigned to them, giving us a sense of importance from the developers, and acts almost as a checklist of others worth getting to - even if it takes several playthroughs.The bosses with Achievement or Trophy rewards are:
Ancestor Spirit (Hallowhorn Grounds)Astel, Naturalborn of the Void (Grand Cloister, Lake of Rot)Commander Niall (Castle Sol, Mountaintops of the Giants)Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella (Ainsel River)Dragonlord Placidusax (Crumbling Farum Azula)Elemer of the Briar (The Shaded Castle, Atlus Plateau)Fire Giant (Mountaintops of the Giants)Godfrey the First Lord (Leyndell, Royal Capital)Godskin Duo (Crumbling Farum Azula)Godskin Noble (Volcano Manor)Hoarah Loux the Warrior (Leyndell, Ashen Capital)Leonine Misbegotten (Castle Morne)Lichdragon Fortissax (Deeproot Depths)Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree (Miquella’s Haligtree)Magma Wyrm Makar (Ruin-Strewn Precipice, Liurnia)Maliketh the Black Blade (Crumbling Farum Azula)Margit, the Fell Omen (Castle Stormveil)Mimic Tear (Nokron, Eternal City)Mohg, the Omen (Subterranean Shunning-Grounds)Red Wolf of Radagon (Raya Lucaria Academy)Regal Ancestor Spirit (Nokron, Eternal City)Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon (Raya Lucaria Academy)Royal Knight Loretta (Caria Manor, Liurnia)Shardbearer Godrick (Castle Stormveil)Shardbearer Malenia (Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree)Shardbearer Mohg (Mohgwyn Palace, Siofra River)Shardbearer Morgott (Leyndell, Royal Capital)Shardbearer Radahn (Redmane Castle, Caelid)Shardbearer Rykard (Mt. Gelmir)Valiant Gargoyle (Siofra Aqueduct, Nokron)
If we are counting any enemy with a boss bar - whether through a fog gate or discovered when roaming the world which you can flee - our best estimate is there are 157 boss encounters in Elden Ring. This includes repeats - for example, the Crystalians appear multiple times with different weapons, while a Erdtree Avatar encounter can be located around most Minor Erdtrees.With this in mind, we believe 103 are ‘unique’ bosses - but even then, some of those are variants of another - such as the Tree Sentinel and Draconic Tree Sentinel, or Margit and Morgott - while some bosses can appear in late game areas later as regular enemies.If you want to see a further breakdown of all bosses, then caheiodleojndm on reddit has attempted to place bosses by category, from dragons to shardbearers.Once you have settled on a starting class and starting Keepsake item,you should first work out how to level up, how to respec and use Ashes of War.Need some direction from there? Our Elden Ring walkthrough and Elden Ring boss order can help with where to go next, but we also recommend hunting down Golden Seeds, Sacred Tears, Crystal Tears, Talismans and some of our best weapon and best armor choices.If you are approaching the end game, we can help with the Volcano Manor quest and Rykard, Haligtree Secret Medallion locations, solving the Ordina, Liturgical Town puzzle, the Millicent quest, Commander Niall, Morgott, Godskin Duo, Maliketh and Malenia.That said, there are some bosses which are clearly more difficult than others, and regardless of build, will give just about every player a tough time.For those who have reached her, Malenia, Blade of Miquella appears to be the hardest boss in Elden Ring - in part due to that every attack she deals heals her, and that her attacks are relentless - demanding you learn her patterns down to a tee and are prepared for a long battle. She is optional, and is tucked away at the far reaches of the map once you have found the Haligtree Secret Medallion locations and solved the Ordina, Liturgical Town puzzle - so don’t worry, you won’t stumble into her by accident!Malenia has become so infamous that we’ve seen a player who could help players take on Malenia solo reach iconic status in the community. There was also a point where a patch accidently made Malenia even more difficult, which has thankfully been addressed. Phew.Starscourge Radahn is, to quote our own page, “an exceptionally brutal boss right” - and is situated at a festival in Redmane Castle. Though you’ll be able to summon AI partners to aid you, Radahn is tough - in part thanks to attacks that can kill you instantly. Though Starscourge Radahn is one of four bosses with a Great Rune, since you only need two to progress the story, this is thankfully optional. For those looking to complete the Ranni quest however - it’s a required encounter.One that isn’t optional is Godskin Duo. This has you face two challenging foes at once - with echoes of iconic Dark Souls bosses Ornstein and Smough - but with an additional catch; they share a single health bar, and either will be resurrected if you don’t finish off the other quickly upon their demise.Speaking of multiple foes, Commander Niall is a boss that comes with two of his own summons, and if they are defeated, will see him launch into a challenging second phase. This is cited as one of the most demanding bosses in Elden Ring - and unfortunately for completionists, there’s a Trophy / Achievement attached to his defeat, and is required in order to complete the Haligtree Secret Medallion.It’s also worth a shoutout to Margit, which is undoubtedly a huge obstacle at the start of the game, especially as the ‘first’ boss, and is seemingly designed to teach players to develop their characters before taking him on.That hasn’t stopped someone managing to beat Magrit with… a harp.Margit is technically optional - though recommended as Godrick is an easier source as far as Great Runes go - but the arguably more challenging ‘rematch’ against Morgott, the Omen King is required to beat the game once you reach the Capital.If you’re struggling with any of the above bosses, then hunting down Golden Seeds, Sacred Tears, Crystal Tears, Talismans and some of our best weapon and best armor choices can make a difference.
FAQs
Elden Ring Main Bosses In Order Other Key Bosses And Hardest Bosses Explained? ›
The list is unsurprisingly topped by the infamously difficult Elden Ring boss Malenia, whose encounter was attempted some 329 million times, thus accounting for 5.5% of all in-game boss fights the players initiated to date.
What are the 5 hardest bosses in Elden Ring? ›- 8 Fire Giant.
- 7 Astel, Natural Born Of The Void.
- 6 Dragonlord Placidusax.
- 5 Beast Clergyman/Maliketh, The Black Blade.
- 4 Radagon Of The Golden Order/Elden Beast.
- 3 Godskin Duo.
- 2 Starcourge Radahn.
- 1 Malenia, Blade Of Miquella.
The list is unsurprisingly topped by the infamously difficult Elden Ring boss Malenia, whose encounter was attempted some 329 million times, thus accounting for 5.5% of all in-game boss fights the players initiated to date.
How many main bosses does Elden Ring have? ›All 18 Main Bosses in Elden Ring Listed in Order - Geekflare.
Are Morgott and Margit the same? ›Morgott, The Omen King, also known as Morgott the Grace Given, is a Demigod Boss in Elden Ring. Morgott is the true identity of Margit, the Fell Omen, and the self-proclaimed "Last of All Kings".
Is Malenia the hardest boss? ›It's no surprise that Malenia is the boss with the most attempts on her life. She's largely seen as the toughest boss in Elden Ring and a prestige fight for most Tarnished playthroughs. Second and third place, however, go to Margit and the Limgrave Tree Sentinel, two of the earliest bosses you'll ever face.
Is maliketh or placidusax harder? ›Of the three, they say that Malenia was easily the most difficult, but that Maliketh is their favorite boss fight overall. Placidusax, on the other hand, was "very easy," but took 40 minutes to kill.
What level should I be to fight Radahn? ›When should I fight General Radahn in Elden Ring? Despite being just the fourth main boss in Elden Ring, there is a huge jump in power between Radahn and Godick and Rennala. To avoid running up against a solid brick wall we'd recommend being between level 60-75 and rocking as upgraded a weapon as you can muster.
What is the hardest character to play as in Elden Ring? ›In terms of just the early-game experience, there is no questioning that the Wretch is by far the hardest. It continues the tradition of the 'Deprived' class from Dark Souls: a half-naked warrior with low, balanced stats wielding a club. With a low level, low stats, and poor equipment, the Wretch is a rough experience.
Who is the strongest boss in Elden Ring lore? ›General Radahn: Said to be the mightiest demigod, can control gravity, holds the stars in place and can literally turn himself into a meteor and crash into the Earth.
What boss to fight after Godrick? ›
Margit The Fell Omen then Godrick the Grafted (Stormveil Castle) Red Wolf of Radagon then Renalla, Queen of the Full Moon (Raya Lucaria Academy) Godskin Noble then Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy (Mt Gelmir)
Is Malenia optional? ›Malenia, Blade of Miquella Boss in Elden Ring
This boss is optional. This is a Demi-God type boss. Multiplayer is allowed for this boss. Spirit Ashes can be summoned for this boss.
After Godrick, the next main story boss can be found in Raya Lucaria Academy. This spell-packed location is found in Liurnia, directly north of Stormveil Castle. Head out through the back of Godrick's arena and you'll pass through a throne room before exiting into a new and gorgeous environment.
Are Mohg and Morgott twins? ›Early Life. Morgott was born of the Golden Lineage, the offspring of the first Elden Lord, Godfrey and Queen Marika, and was the twin brother of Mohg.
Is Godrick margits brother? ›Later into Elden Ring, it is revealed that Margit the Fell Omen is the false identity of Margott the Omen King, a sibling of Godrick's and a fellow Shardbearer.
Why is Margit called Fell Omen? ›Margit the Fell Omen is the alter ego of Morgott, the Omen King, who due to his secretive position as the Veiled Monarch of Leyndell, could not publicly reveal himself to be an Omen.
Is Malenia weaker than Radahn? ›At this point, Malenia and Radahn were basically on equal footing in power, but if Radahn got more pieces of the Great Rune, he would certainly have been more powerful than her, and that would have put Miquella's life in danger, which she could not allow.
Is Malenia blind? ›Her body was infected by the scarlet rot which caused cracks to appear on various parts of her body. The rot infested Malenia's eyes, leaving her permanently blind.
Can you beat Malenia at level 1? ›Yet another Elden Ring player has claimed victory against Malenia, this time only being at Level 1 and finishing her off with an Ash of War. An Elden Ring player managed to defeat the infamous Malenia, Blade of Miquella at a mere Level 1 thanks to the Lion's Claw Ash of War attack.
Is Gurranq and Maliketh the same? ›Elden Ring: Gurranq and Maliketh are One and The Same
Here, he'll be introduced as Gurranq, Beast Clergyman, but just like Margit is Morgott, Gurranq is Maliketh in hiding. Gurranq tasks the player to bring him Deathroot, as he has an insatiable hunger for it.
Who was Kratos hardest fight? ›
One of the key rivals Kratos had in the God of War series is Alrik, who is the leader of the Barbarians. Alrik has a bone to pick with Kratos as the Spartan leader supposedly killed his father. Despite dying after battling with Kratos, Alrik escapes the underworld to give Kratos one of the hardest fights in his life.
Why is Malenia hard? ›What makes Malenia so difficult, even for her fellow boss characters, is the fact that she heals with every attack she lands, making her incredibly durable.
Can Malenia get Scarlet Rot? ›Specifically, Malenia is one of two cursed twins born to Marika and Radagon, and has been afflicted with Scarlet Rot since birth.
What happens if you refuse Malenia? ›What happens if you refuse Melina in Elden Ring. Refusing Melina's offer in Elden Ring will block your progression in the game. Accepting her offer is the only way to level up in the game, and she's the one who will give you the key item Spectral Steed Whistle, which you can use to summon Elden Ring's horse Torrent.
What weapon is good against Malenia? ›The best melee strategy for beating Malenia is to use the biggest, baddest Greatsword you can find. Phase One Malenia is easily staggerable, and players will likely be able to get two or three Critical Hits on her with Jumping attacks in the mix.
Why is Radahn horse so small? ›It turns out that Radahn learned Gravity Magic in Elden Ring for the sole purpose of never being separated from his horse, thus alleviating his weight off the shoulders of the horse.
Does Radahn love his horse? ›In canon, Radahn's horse Leonard has actually been with him since childhood. Apparently, Radahn loved his horse so much that he learned gravitational magic in order to continue to ride it.
What is Radahn weak against? ›Radahn is vulnerable to Frostbite and other status conditions, but especially Scarlet Rot. Rot Pots and arrows tinged with Scarlet Rot are good options if you want to take advantage of status effects for this fight. These weaknesses remain even in phase two.
What is the order of the Elden Ring area by level? ›The optimal progression route for Elden Ring areas by level is as follows: Weeping Peninsula, Stormveil, Rya Lucaria, Redmane, Leyndell, Liurnia of the Lakes, Mt. Gelmir, Caelid, and finally Altus Plateau.
What level should you be to beat Elden Ring? ›The original caption for the video claims that the players are roughly Rune Level 150 while fighting this boss, which should be high enough to beat Elden Ring without too much trouble.
What level should I be for Godrick? ›
As tough as he might be, Godrick is still an early-game boss. As we explained in our Margit, the Fell Omen guide your weapon's upgrade level is what ultimately matters here. We recommend starting the fight with a +4/+5 weapon, and around level 29 for your character.
At what level should you fight Radahn? ›You can fight Radahn at any point in the game without even having to deal with a dungeon. He's sent summons across the land, calling for champions to fight him in the hopes of ending his Scarlet Rot-induced madness.
What level should I be for Radahn? ›When should I fight General Radahn in Elden Ring? Despite being just the fourth main boss in Elden Ring, there is a huge jump in power between Radahn and Godick and Rennala. To avoid running up against a solid brick wall we'd recommend being between level 60-75 and rocking as upgraded a weapon as you can muster.
What level should I be to fight Melania? ›The recommended level for Malenia is 120 at least, ideally 125+, with weapons of +23 or more. You can't really be overleveled for this fight.
What level is Haligtree? ›The recommended level for the Haligtree is around 120 to 150. Higher is better, of course, but regardless of the level, players will do well to have 60 Vigor. That's almost mandatory in this area not just for the regular enemies but also for the final boss in the Haligtree.
What bosses give the most runes? ›| Boss | NG Runes |
|---|---|
| Godfrey | 300,000 |
| Mohg, Lord of Blood | 420,000 |
| Malenia the Severed | 480,000 |
| Elden Beast | 500,000 |
After Godrick, the next main story boss can be found in Raya Lucaria Academy. This spell-packed location is found in Liurnia, directly north of Stormveil Castle. Head out through the back of Godrick's arena and you'll pass through a throne room before exiting into a new and gorgeous environment.
What is Godrick weak to? ›Godrick's Weaknesses
He is particularly weak to Bleed damage, which is typically best used on fast weapons to build up the hidden Bleed meter much faster. He is also weak to Poison damage, and can be poisoned for consistent damage in this already-lengthy fight.
- Margit is probably significantly harder than Godrick in terms of mechanics. He has less openings, moves faster, is harder to read and has more difficult to dodge combos. - Godrick is harder than Margit in terms of his health and damage.
Is Godric immune to bleed? ›Margit and Godrick are vulnerable to a couple of status effects, including bleed and poison. Clubs and maces build up the blood loss meter, or you can use the Reduvia Dagger if you've defeated Bloody Finger Nerijus near Murkwater.