Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware, is well known for its challenging bosses and intricate world design. This article ranks some of the most difficult bosses in the game, providing insights into their unique challenges and strategies for overcoming them. Understanding these rankings will help you prepare for the tough encounters ahead as you journey through the Lands Between. Whether you’re experienced or new to the game, this guide will assist you in getting ready for the trials you’ll face.
Elden Ring’s Bosses: Ranked
Here is a table ranking the bosses in Elden Ring with details unique to each boss:
| Rank | Boss Name | Unique Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elden Beast | The final boss, representing the Elden Ring itself, with cosmic and holy attacks. |
| 2 | Malenia, Blade of Miquella | Malenia can heal herself with every hit she lands, even on blocks. She has a second phase with aggressive Scarlet Rot attacks. |
| 3 | Dragonlord Placidusax | Found in Crumbling Farum Azula, he has multiple phases and time-warping abilities. |
| 4 | Commander Niall | Located in Castle Sol, he uses frost and summoning abilities to overwhelm players. |
| 5 | Radagon | The first part of the final boss encounter, Radagon of the Golden Order has holy-based attacks. |
| 6 | Mohg, Lord of Blood | This fight involves blood magic and a ritual that makes him invincible for a short period. |
| 7 | Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Hoarah Loux) | His second phase, Hoarah Loux, is a brutal melee fighter with wrestling moves. |
| 8 | Lichdragon Fortissax | An ancient dragon with death-infused attacks, found in Deeproot Depths. |
| 9 | Godskin Duo | These two bosses, Godskin Apostle and Noble, use black flame and rapid attacks in tandem. |
| 10 | Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree | Uses powerful sorceries and rides a spectral steed. |
| 11 | Beast Clergyman / Maliketh, the Black Blade | Maliketh uses death magic and can nullify healing. |
| 12 | Mohg, the Omen | A variant of Mohg, Lord of Blood, found in Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. |
| 13 | Astel, Naturalborn of the Void | An alien-like creature that uses gravity magic and meteoric attacks. |
| 14 | Commander O’Neil | Located in the Swamp of Aeonia, uses scarlet rot and summons phantom soldiers. |
| 15 | Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing | Uses a variety of spells and knowledge of player abilities. |
| 16 | Ancient Dragon Lansseax | Another ancient dragon, this one uses red lightning attacks. |
| 17 | Valiant Gargoyle & Valiant Gargoyle (Twinblade) | Dual bosses with poison and stone-based attacks. |
| 18 | Morgott, the Omen King | The true form of Margit, he has more advanced attacks and phase changes. |
| 19 | Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader | Leader of the Black Knife Assassins, quick and deadly with her blade. |
| 20 | Elemer of the Briar | Wields a sword with telekinetic powers, found in The Shaded Castle. |
| 21 | Mohg, the Omen | A variant of Mohg, Lord of Blood, found in Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. |
| 22 | Vyke, Knight of the Roundtable | Wields the Frenzied Flame and invades the player. |
| 23 | Crucible Knight & Crucible Knight Ordovis | Powerful knights with formidable shield and sword skills. |
| 24 | Black Blade Kindred | Dual-wielding gargoyle with death-infused attacks, found in various locations. |
| 25 | Tree Sentinel | Mounted knight that guards the entrance to the Lands Between, uses holy attacks. |
| 26 | Fire Giant | Massive boss found in the Mountaintops of the Giants, uses fire and physical attacks. |
| 27 | God-Devouring Serpent/Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy | Rykard’s fight involves a phase with a giant serpent and another with his true form using fire and lava. |
| 28 | Starscourge Radahn | Massive fight on a wide battlefield, can summon meteors and has a gravitational pull attack. |
| 29 | Godrick the Grafted | The first Shardbearer, uses wind-based attacks and grafts a dragon head onto his arm. |
| 30 | Dragonkin Soldier | Found in various underground regions, uses lightning and frost attacks. |
| 31 | Godfrey, First Elden Lord | His first form, uses powerful axe swings and earth-shattering attacks. |
| 32 | Margit, the Fell Omen | An early game boss, uses a combination of melee and magical attacks. |
| 33 | Godefroy The Grafted | Similar to Godrick, found in Golden Lineage Evergaol. |
| 34 | Night’s Cavalry (Duo) | Mounted knights that patrol at night, use large weapons and quick attacks. |
| 35 | Putrid Avatar | Rot-infused version of the Erdtree Avatar, uses scarlet rot attacks. |
| 36 | Death Rite Bird | An undead bird that uses death magic, found in multiple locations. |
| 37 | Runebear | Large bear with high health and powerful physical attacks. |
| 38 | Regal Ancestor Spirit | A spiritual deer that uses life-draining attacks and teleports. |
| 39 | Ancestor Spirit | Similar to Regal Ancestor Spirit but found in Siofra River. |
| 40 | Sanguine Noble | Blood magic user found in Altus Plateau. |
| 41 | Crucible Knight Siluria | A variant of the Crucible Knight with a different moveset and weapon. |
| 42 | Godskin Apostle and Godskin Noble (Spiritcaller Snail) | Bosses summoned by the Spiritcaller Snail in Spiritcaller Cave. |
| 43 | Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast | Uses gravity magic and charges, found in Mt. Gelmir. |
| 44 | Godskin Apostle | Uses black flame attacks and has a stretchy, whip-like weapon. |
| 45 | Godskin Noble | Uses black flame and a large rapier, found in multiple locations. |
| 46 | Tree Sentinel (Duo) | Two mounted knights that guard certain areas together. |
| 47 | Decaying Ekzykes | Dragon that inflicts scarlet rot with its breath attacks. |
| 48 | Borealis the Freezing Fog | Frost dragon found in Mountaintops of the Giants. |
| 49 | Red Wolf of Radagon | Large wolf with magical sword attacks, found in the Academy of Raya Lucaria. |
| 50 | Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon | Uses powerful sorceries and summons, found in the Academy of Raya Lucaria. |
| 51 | Wormface | Tree-like creature with a face that uses death blight attacks. |
| 52 | Black Knife Assassin | Quick and agile enemy with a dagger that inflicts blood loss. |
| 53 | Grave Warden Duelist | Uses large hammers and traps, found in various catacombs. |
| 54 | Draconic Tree Sentinel | Variant of the Tree Sentinel that uses lightning attacks. |
| 55 | Abductor Virgins (Duo) | Pair of mechanical enemies with grab attacks that transport players to Volcano Manor. |
| 56 | Glintstone Dragon Adula | Sorcery-based dragon found in the Three Sisters area. |
| 57 | Crucible Knight & Misbegotten Warrior | Duo boss fight with different fighting styles, found in Redmane Castle. |
| 58 | Fia’s Champions | Group of champions summoned by Fia in Deeproot Depths. |
| 59 | Beastman of Farum Azula (Duo) | Pair of fast and aggressive enemies, found in various locations. |
| 60 | Deathbird | Bird-like creature with death-infused attacks, appears at night. |
| 61 | Ulcerated Tree Spirit | Large, grotesque creature with erratic movements and fire attacks. |
| 62 | Omenkiller | Uses large cleavers and fire attacks, found in multiple locations. |
| 63 | Magma Wyrm | Dragon-like creature that uses magma attacks. |
| 64 | Great Wyrm Theodorix | Large dragon found in the Mountaintops of the Giants. |
| 65 | Royal Revenant | Fast and unpredictable enemy with poison attacks. |
| 66 | Magma Wyrm Makar | Found in Ruin-Strewn Precipice, uses magma-based attacks. |
| 67 | Royal Knight Loretta | Knight that uses sorcery and fights on horseback. |
| 68 | Night’s Cavalry | Patrolling knight that appears only at night, uses large weapons. |
| 69 | Grafted Scion | Spider-like enemy with multiple limbs grafted onto its body. |
| 70 | Omenkiller & Miranda the Blighted Bloom | Duo boss fight with different fighting styles and attacks. |
| 71 | Glintstone Dragon Smarag | Sorcery-based dragon found near Raya Lucaria Academy. |
| 72 | Flying Dragon Agheel | Large dragon that uses fire breath and sweeping attacks. |
| 73 | Flying Dragon Greyll | Dragon with similar attacks to Agheel, found in Caelid. |
| 74 | Putrid Crystalian Trio | Trio of crystalline enemies with different weapon types and rot attacks. |
| 75 | Crystalian Spear & Crystalian Ringblade | Duo of crystalline enemies with unique weapon types. |
| 76 | Ancient Hero of Zamor | Warrior with frost-based attacks, found in various locations. |
| 77 | Demi-Human Queen Gilika | Leader of the demi-humans, found in multiple locations. |
| 78 | Demi-Human Queen Margot | Another leader of the demi-humans, found in Altus Plateau. |
| 79 | Demi-Human Queen Maggie | Similar to other demi-human queens, found in Hermit Village. |
| 80 | Erdtree Burial Watchdog (Duo) | Pair of watchdogs with unique movements and fire attacks. |
| 81 | Cleanrot Knight (Duo) | Pair of knights with rot-infused attacks. |
| 82 | Onyx Lord | Uses gravity-based attacks and found in various locations. |
| 83 | Crucible Knight | Strong defensive enemy with powerful melee attacks and incantations. |
| 84 | Perfumer Tricia & Misbegotten Warrior | Duo fight with a focus on buffs and aggressive melee. |
| 85 | Ulcerated Tree Spirit | Same as previous entry, but found in different locations. |
| 86 | Necromancer Garris | Necromancer that summons skeletons and uses death magic. |
| 87 | Cemetery Shade | Shadowy enemy with fast, teleporting attacks. |
| 88 | Mimic Tear | Copies the player’s current build, found in Nokron, Eternal City. |
| 89 | Fell Twins | Pair of large, aggressive enemies with different weapon types. |
| 90 | Kindred of Rot (Duo) | Pair of enemies with rot-infused attacks, found in various locations. |
| 91 | Esgar, Priest of Blood | Blood magic user with aggressive melee attacks. |
| 92 | Putrid Grave Warden Duelist | Rot-infused variant of the Grave Warden Duelist. |
| 93 | Adan, Thief of Fire | Uses fire-based attacks and a large flail. |
| 94 | Demi-Human Chief | Leader of the demi-humans, found in multiple locations. |
| 95 | Mad Pumpkin Heads | Pair of enemies with large maces and head armor. |
| 96 | Elder Dragon Greyoll | Largest dragon in the game, found in Caelid, uses rot breath. |
| 97 | Battlemage Hugues | Uses both melee and sorcery attacks, found in Sellia Hideaway. |
| 98 | Nox Swordstress & Nox Priest | Duo with sorcery and melee attacks, found in various locations. |
| 99 | Bloodhound Knight | Fast and aggressive enemy with a curved sword. |
| 100 | Cleanrot Knight | Uses rot-infused attacks and strong defensive moves. |
| 101 | Frenzied Duelist | Uses frenzied flame attacks and a large flail. |
| 102 | Spirit-Caller Snail | Summons other enemies to fight for it, found in multiple locations. |
| 103 | Stonedigger Troll | Large troll with high health and strong melee attacks. |
| 104 | Erdtree Burial Watchdog (Impaler’s Catacombs) | Unique watchdog with fire and magic attacks. |
| 105 | Onyx Lord | Same as previous entry, found in different locations. |
| 106 | Crystalian Spear & Crystalian Staff (Duo) | Duo of crystalline enemies with unique weapon types. |
| 107 | Crystalian | Uses strong physical attacks and high defense. |
| 108 | Bols, Carian Knight | Knight with sorcery-based attacks, found in Caria Manor. |
| 109 | Misbegotten Crusader | Aggressive enemy with unique moveset. |
| 110 | Alabaster Lord | Uses gravity-based magic and a curved sword. |
| 111 | Scaly Misbegotten | Large misbegotten with powerful melee attacks. |
| 112 | Erdtree Burial Watchdog | Found in multiple catacombs, uses fire and magic attacks. |
| 113 | Miranda the Blighted Bloom | Plant-like enemy with poison attacks. |
| 114 | Leonine Misbegotten | Aggressive enemy with quick attacks, found in Castle Morne. |
| 115 | Erdtree Avatar | Tree-like creature with high health and strong physical attacks. |
| 116 | Tibia Mariner | Summons skeletal minions and uses death magic. |
| 117 | Mad Pumpkin Head | Large enemy with strong melee attacks and head armor. |
| 118 | Beastman of Farum Azula | Fast and aggressive enemy with curved swords. |
| 119 | Stonedigger Troll | Same as previous entry, found in different locations. |
| 120 | Guardian Golem | Large, slow enemy with powerful melee attacks. |
| 121 | Grave Warden Duelist | Same as previous entry, found in different catacombs. |
| 122 | Patches | Trickster enemy that surrenders mid-fight and can be encountered multiple times. |
The Early Game Hurdles
Elden Ring’s early bosses serve as a trial by fire for new players. Margit, the Fell Omen, tests your timing and pattern recognition with his relentless attacks and unpredictable moves. Godrick the Grafted, a grotesque figure with multiple grafted limbs, presents a multi-phase battle that demands adaptability. These encounters teach you the importance of patience, dodging, and understanding enemy attack patterns.
| Boss | Location | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Margit, the Fell Omen | Stormhill | Medium |
| Godrick the Grafted | Stormveil Castle | Medium-Hard |
Mid-Game Trials and Tribulations
As you venture deeper into the Lands Between, you’ll face tougher challenges. Starscourge Radahn, a colossal demigod who commands gravity magic, offers a thrilling spectacle with his meteor shower attacks and mounted combat. Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, tests your ability to break her magical shield and survive her devastating lunar spells. These mid-game bosses push you to refine your build and strategies.
| Boss | Location | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Starscourge Radahn | Caelid | Hard |
| Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon | Raya Lucaria Academy | Medium |
Late-Game Legends and Nightmares
The late game of Elden Ring is where the true trials lie. Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is considered the game’s hardest boss, a relentless warrior with a deadly Scarlet Rot attack and a flurry of sword strikes that can quickly drain your health. Maliketh, the Black Blade, is a fast and agile foe who punishes mistakes with his powerful attacks. These bosses demand mastery of the game’s mechanics and a well-prepared build.
| Boss | Location | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Malenia, Blade of Miquella | Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree | Very Hard |
| Maliketh, the Black Blade | Crumbling Farum Azula | Hard |
Beyond the Main Path: Optional Encounters
Elden Ring also features a variety of optional bosses that offer unique challenges and rewards. From the towering Crucible Knights to the elusive Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, these encounters test your skills and knowledge of the game’s lore. They provide a chance to experiment with different builds and strategies while earning valuable loot and runes.
| Boss | Location | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Crucible Knight Ordovis | Auriza Hero’s Grave | Hard |
| Astel, Naturalborn of the Void | Lake of Rot | Very Hard |
Key Takeaways
- Elden Ring features a variety of challenging bosses.
- Each boss requires different strategies.
- Understanding rankings aids in preparation.
Ranking the Bosses of Elden Ring
Elden Ring offers a wide range of boss encounters, from the towering Fire Giant to the cunning Margit, the Fell Omen. This section breaks down key criteria for ranking the bosses, spotlights the toughest challengers, and highlights common mechanics.
Criteria for Ranking
Difficulty: The measure of how hard it is to defeat a boss. This includes their attack patterns, health, and damage output. For example, Malenia’s quick attacks and healing ability make her particularly daunting.
Boss Encounters: Some bosses like Godfrey, First Elden Lord, are fought multiple times with varying forms and difficulties. These repeat encounters can affect the overall ranking.
Mechanics: Unique abilities and techniques used by bosses. Radagon of the Golden Order has powerful magic attacks that require precise dodging and positioning.
Top Challenging Bosses
Malenia: Known for her healing ability and waterfowl dance attack. Very high difficulty due to speedy attacks and long-range abilities.
Fire Giant: Massive size with area-of-effect attacks. Requires careful spacing and timing to avoid heavy damage from fire and stomps.
Starscourge Radahn: Uses gravitational attacks and meteors. High health and complex mechanics make him one of the toughest boss fights.
Mohg, Lord of Blood: Uses blood magic, healing himself while draining players’ health. Complex phases make him a major challenge.
Frequent Boss Mechanics
Dodging: Essential to avoid heavy damage. Bosses like the Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast have attacks that require precise movement.
Summons: Often used for aid against tougher foes. For instance, you may need help to deal with Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, during his intense phases.
Magic Attacks: Many bosses use ranged magic attacks. Starscourge Radahn and Radagon of the Golden Order are prime examples of this challenging mechanic.
Poise: Higher poise means a boss can absorb more hits without getting staggered. The Godskin Duo’s fights demand learning their poise levels to maximize damage opportunities.
Exploring the Lands Between and Its Inhabitants
Elden Ring’s vast open-world offers diverse environments and formidable bosses scattered throughout its regions. Understanding this intricate landscape is key to navigating its challenges.
Geography and Environmental Challenges
The Lands Between features a variety of terrains, each presenting unique obstacles. Limgrave, lush and green, is the starting area, guiding players with moderate enemies.
Stormveil Castle, a foreboding fortress, signifies a difficulty spike.
Crumbling Farum Azula, floating ruins in the sky, hosts some of the game’s toughest foes like Maliketh.
Leyndell, the royal capital, combines urban warfare with labyrinthine design.
Varied environments force players to adapt their strategies continually.
Noteworthy Bosses Across Regions
Each region boasts distinct bosses. Limgrave houses introductory bosses like the Grafted Scion and the Ulcerated Tree Spirit.
In Stormveil Castle, Godrick the Grafted tests player’s skills early on.
Leyndell’s formidable foes include Godfrey, First Elden Lord, marking a significant challenge.
Farum Azula’s daunting location, Crumbling Farum Azula, is home to extreme threats like Maliketh.
The variety in bosses ensures no single tactic serves throughout the game.
Special Encounters and Optional Bosses
In addition to mandatory battles, Elden Ring includes numerous optional bosses. The Red Wolf of Radagon and Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree, provide extra challenges.
Field bosses like Borealis and Lichdragon Fortissax surprise players with their sudden appearances.
Unique encounters like the Mimic Tear and Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, offer varied combat experiences.
These additional bosses reward adventurers who explore off the beaten path, enhancing the rich, immersive gameplay within the Lands Between.
