Elden Ring: An Average Player’s Favourite Bosses.

Elden Ring has been around a while now. This extraordinary action RPG dropped on February 25, 2022, and is a collaboration between Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind Dark Souls, and George R. R. Martin, who wrote Game of Thrones.

The game throws you into this massive open world called the Lands Between. You play as the Tarnished and are trying to become an Elden Lord. A Pretty standard Fromsoftwear formula. The combat is tough as nails, as expected; the world is vast, and the story is deep if you take the time to search for all the lore. People love it for the challenging gameplay, intricate level design, and the epic combo of Miyazaki’s game skills and Martin’s storytelling genius. It’s like a dream come true for gamers such as myself, but there is one reason we all play Fromsoftware titles. The Bosses. In no particular order, let’s look at some of my personal favourites.

Loretta, The Knight of the Haligtree

Loretta, known as the Knight of the Haligtree, is a Greater Foe Boss within Elden Ring. Once a loyal servant of the Carian royal family, this proud Knight now guards a crucial path. It’s worth noting that confronting Loretta is optional, as players aren’t required to defeat her to progress in Elden Ring. However, overcoming her is necessary to access Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, and ultimately confront Malenia, Blade of Miquella (more on her later).

Radagon Of The Golden Order

Radagon, a towering god with a fractured form, wields the hammer responsible for shattering the Elden Ring and resides in the Elden Throne. Previously wed to Rennala, he later became the consort of Queen Marika after Godfrey’s exile from the Lands Between. Progressing through Brother Corhyn & Goldmask’s quest reveals that Radagon is the “other half” of Queen Marika. Interestingly, despite sharing a body, the two entities exhibit distinct wills, illustrated by Radagon’s attempt to repair the Elden Ring following Marika’s destructive act.

Unlike some optional encounters in Elden Ring, defeating Radagon is mandatory for players to reach the game’s conclusion. As with many bosses in the endgame, it is highly advisable to equip weapons, incinerations, and spirit ashes capable of inflicting Black Flame, given their effectiveness in dealing damage over time based on the boss’ maximum HP.

Starscourge Radahn

Starscourge Radahn is a Legendary Boss renowned as one of the most powerful living demigods. His notable battle against Malenia the Severed during the war of the Shattering resulted in him contracting the Scarlet Rot, plunging him into madness and transforming him into a feral and enraged state. Found in Caelid, accessing Radahn involves activating the Radahn Festival through progress in Ranni’s questline or activating any site of grace in the Altus Plateau.

While Radahn is an optional boss, and defeating him is not required to progress in Elden Ring, it becomes essential to face him if players aim to confront two of the four available shardbearers before entering Leyndell, Royal Capital. Moreover, defeating Radahn is a prerequisite for accessing Nokron, Eternal City, and attaining a specific ending in the game. You will need your horse for this one!

Fire Giant

The Fire Giant is the sole survivor of the war against the giants. This colossal humanoid, distinguished by a face on its chest, awaits challengers in the Mountaintops of the Giants. Unlike optional encounters, facing the Fire Giant is non-negotiable for players seeking progression in Elden Ring – defeating this colossal adversary becomes a mandatory milestone in the game. I have a love-hate relationship with this fellow; sometimes, I can take him down in minutes, and other times, it can take me an age.

Hoarah Loux

This is Godfrey in his first form. In his earlier incarnation as Hoarah Loux, he was a bloodthirsty warrior and chieftain of the badlands. Embracing his role as a Lord, Godfrey shouldered the Beast Regent Serosh to suppress his violent tendencies. However, after participating in numerous wars, Marika deprived him and his warriors of their grace, designating them as the inaugural Tarnished.

This guy’s stomp attack and ability to close the distance frustrate the hell out of me. He is hands down one of the best challenges in the Lands Between.

Dragonlord Placidusax

Dragonlord Placidusax is a massive two-headed dragon situated in Crumbling Farum Azula. Once the reigning Elden Lord predated Marika and the Golden Order, he presumably ruled alongside his god, who eventually departed. Notably, the Old Lord’s Talisman hints at Placidusax having additional heads, though by the time the Tarnished encounters him, at least two have been removed.
It’s important to note that Dragonlord Placidusax is an optional boss in Elden Ring. Players are not required to defeat this colossal creature to progress. Shamefully, I have never soloed this boss and always needed a friend to help me. It’s those pesky lightning attacks.

Malenia, Blade of Miquella

Malenia, known as the Blade of Miquella and the Goddess of Rot, constitutes a two-phase Demigod Boss in Elden Ring. As the twin of Miquella, the most potent among the Empyreans, Malenia earned fame for her epic clash with Starscourge Radahn during the Shattering. In this monumental battle, she harnessed the formidable power of the Scarlet Rot, leading to the catastrophic ruin of Caelid.

This, for me, is the game’s most demanding boss. She regains health when she damages you and can close the distance faster than Max Holloway. She is my personal favourite boss in the game, and again, I have only managed to defeat her with my friends. Her Waterfell Dance attack (referred to as the spaghetti attack by my two pals) is bonkers. She is one of the most challenging bosses I’ve ever faced in a Soulslike, second only to Sword Saint Ishin from Sekiro (who I have soloed with a bit of cheese).

So that completes my list of my favourite bosses from Elden Ring. Now, I’m just sitting here eagerly awaiting the DLC. I may have another adventure in The Lands Between before it arrives.