Elden Ring: Complete Boss Guide and Walkthrough
The boss battles in Elden Ring are some of the most memorable and challenging encounters in the game. As in previous Soulsborne titles, bosses define the player's journey, testing both skill and strategy. With Elden Ring, FromSoftware has taken this concept to new heights, presenting players with a wide variety of foes—some mandatory, others optional. While Elden Ring boasts hundreds of monsters and mini-bosses, there are only 12 main bosses that must be defeated to complete the game.
In this article, we will cover the Elden Ring bosses in order, along with their locations, the rewards they drop, and tips for defeating some of the more difficult encounters.
Main Elden Ring Bosses in Order
To complete the main story, players need to defeat only a select number of bosses, known as Shardbearers, and acquire two Great Runes. Below is a list of the mandatory Elden Ring bosses you'll need to defeat to progress through the game, along with key rewards and tips:
1. Margit, the Fell Omen (Limgrave)
Location: Castleward Tunnel, Stormveil Castle
Reward: 12,000 Runes, Talisman Pouch
Tip: Margit introduces players to Elden Ring's challenging boss fights early. His varied attack patterns require careful dodging and stamina management. Using summoned spirits can help distract him while you deal damage.
2. Godrick the Grafted (Stormveil Castle)
Location: Stormveil Castle, Limgrave
Reward: 20,000 Runes, Great Rune of Godrick, Remembrance of the Grafted
Tip: Godrick's devastating second phase transforms him into a dragon hybrid. Summons and ranged attacks are key to overcoming this brutal battle.
3. Red Wolf of Radagon (Academy of Raya Lucaria)
Location: Liurnia of the Lakes
Reward: 14,000 Runes, Memory Stone
Tip: The Red Wolf is fast, so rely on well-timed dodges and magic resistance to outlast its barrage of sorcery.
4. Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon (Academy of Raya Lucaria)
Location: Raya Lucaria Grand Library, Liurnia
Reward: 40,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Full Moon Queen, Great Rune of the Unborn
Tip: Rennala's fight involves breaking the defenses of her magical students. Use the Moon Phase transition wisely to deal heavy damage while avoiding her powerful magic.
5. God-devouring Serpent / Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy (Mt. Gelmir)
Location: Volcano Manor, Mt. Gelmir
Reward: 100,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Blasphemous, Great Rune of Rykard
Tip: This fight requires the Serpent-Hunter spear, which is crucial for dealing damage to the massive serpent. Use it effectively to dispatch Rykard's fiery attacks.
6. Starscourge Radahn (Caelid)
Location: Redmane Castle, Caelid
Reward: 70,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Starscourge, Great Rune of Radahn
Tip: The Radahn Festival is a unique event where you can summon NPCs to aid you. Radahn's gravity-based attacks and meteor-like descent make this one of the most visually impressive and difficult boss fights in the game.
7. Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Leyndell, Royal Capital)
Location: Leyndell, Royal Capital
Reward: 80,000 Runes, Talisman Pouch
Tip: As the first Elden Lord, Godfrey has powerful melee attacks. Use your mobility to dodge and punish his slow, heavy swings.
8. Morgott, the Omen King (Leyndell, Royal Capital)
Location: Elden Throne, Leyndell
Reward: 120,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Omen King, Morgott's Great Rune
Tip: Morgott builds upon Margit's moveset, but with additional devastating holy attacks. Timing and patience are key to defeating him.
9. Fire Giant (Mountaintops of the Giants)
Location: Flame Peak, Mountaintops of the Giants
Reward: 180,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Fire Giant
Tip: The Fire Giant's size makes it hard to avoid its stomps and flame attacks. Focus on attacking his vulnerable ankle to bring him down.
10. Godskin Duo (Crumbling Farum Azula)
Location: Crumbling Farum Azula
Reward: 170,000 Runes, Smithing Stone [8]
Tip: Fighting two bosses at once can be overwhelming. Use summons to distract one while focusing your efforts on the other.
11. Maliketh, the Black Blade (Crumbling Farum Azula)
Location: Crumbling Farum Azula
Reward: 220,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Black Blade
Tip: Maliketh is incredibly fast and aggressive, with a unique damage-over-time ability from his Black Blade. Use the pillars in the arena to block his attacks, and strike during openings.
12. Radagon of the Golden Order / Elden Beast (Leyndell, Ashen Capital)
Location: Ashen Capital
Reward: 500,000 Runes, Elden Remembrance
Tip: Radagon's first phase involves fast-paced melee combat, but the true challenge lies in the second phase against the Elden Beast. Keep your distance, stay mobile, and use ranged attacks when possible.
Optional Bosses and Rewards
While the 12 main bosses are required to complete the game, Elden Ring features a vast number of optional bosses, each offering rewards like Elden Ring Runes, rare weapons, and Elden Ring Items. Here are some notable optional bosses:
Magma Wyrm Makar (Ruins-Strewn Precipice)
Reward: 24,000 Runes, Dragon Heart
Tip: Watch for Makar's lava trails and rely on dodging.
Dragonlord Placidusax (Crumbling Farum Azula)
Reward: 280,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Dragonlord
Tip: Stay behind Placidusax to avoid his aerial attacks.
Mohg, Lord of Blood (Mohgwyn Palace)
Reward: 420,000 Runes, Remembrance of the Blood Lord
Tip: Use purifying items to negate Mohg's deadly blood magic.
Top 5 Hardest Elden Ring Bosses
1. Malenia, Blade of Miquella
Known for her relentless aggression and ability to heal with each hit, Malenia is widely regarded as the toughest boss in Elden Ring. Her second phase, the Scarlet Rot-infused Goddess of Rot, pushes players to their limits.
2. Starscourge Radahn
Radahn's massive size and ability to turn into a meteor make him both intimidating and deadly. Summoning NPC allies during the Radahn Festival is highly recommended.
3. Maliketh, the Black Blade
With his speed and powerful Black Blade, Maliketh is one of the most difficult bosses to anticipate. His damage-over-time effect adds extra pressure to the fight.
4. Godskin Duo
A tag-team battle against two fearsome opponents, the Godskin Duo requires precise tactics and the use of summons to divide and conquer.
5. Radagon / Elden Beast
This final gauntlet tests all the skills players have honed throughout their journey. Defeating Radagon is only the first step, as the Elden Beast's massive health pool and wide-ranging attacks can easily wipe out the unprepared.
Elden Ring's boss battles, whether mandatory or optional, provide an unforgettable experience. Each encounter grants valuable Elden Ring Runes, weapons, and Elden Ring Items, making every victory feel earned. By following this guide and preparing accordingly, you'll be well on your way to conquering all the challenges this game has to offer.