Elden Ring’s “Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC thrusts players into a haunting new world teeming with formidable foes. This guide will help you navigate this challenging expansion by detailing the major bosses you’ll face and where to find them. Prepare to test your mettle against some of the most daunting enemies in Elden Ring’s universe.
Table Of Contents
The Gravesite Plain
Blackgaol Knight
- Location: Western Nameless Mausoleum
- Strategy: The Blackgaol Knight is a formidable early boss that sets a high bar for difficulty. Focus on learning his attack patterns and utilize parries to create openings. Staying mobile and avoiding his heavy strikes will be crucial to your success.
Divine Beast, the Dancing Lion (Main Boss)
- Location: Grand arena in the southeast
- Strategy: This agile foe requires quick reflexes. Watch for its rhythmic attack patterns and dodge accordingly. Use ranged attacks to whittle down its health while maintaining a safe distance.
The Deeproot Depths
Ghostflame Dragon
- Location: Hidden cave
- Strategy: The Ghostflame Dragon is a spectral entity guarding valuable treasures. Equip fire-resistant gear and focus on its head for critical damage. Stay behind it to avoid its breath attacks and be ready to dodge its tail sweeps.
Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze
- Location: Underground village
- Strategy: Onze tests your melee skills with swift and relentless attacks. Parrying and counter-attacking will be your best strategy. Keep close to him to limit his movement and avoid his powerful lunges.
Death Knight
- Location: Hidden passage
- Strategy: The mounted Death Knight poses a unique challenge. Aim for the horse to destabilize him and then target the knight himself. Utilize magic or ranged attacks to maintain distance and avoid his devastating charges.
The Ashen Capital
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight (Main Boss)
- Location: Atop a towering structure
- Strategy: Rellana is a test of endurance with her dual-wielding weapons. Focus on dodging her attacks and countering when she leaves openings. Use bleed or poison effects to gradually wear her down.
Golden Hippopotamus
- Location: Flooded chamber
- Strategy: This hulking beast requires careful dodging and precise strikes. Attack its legs to topple it over and then deal maximum damage to its head. Keep an eye on the water level as it can hinder your movement.
The Forbidden Lands
Black Knight Edredd
- Location: Guarding a crucial path
- Strategy: Edredd demands mastery of both offense and defense. Parry his attacks to create counter opportunities and maintain a defensive stance to mitigate his powerful blows.
Chief Bloodfiend
- Location: Swamp
- Strategy: This grotesque creature inflicts status effects like poison and bleed. Equip gear to counter these effects and use aggressive tactics to outpace his regeneration abilities.
Dancer of Ranah
- Location: Hidden grove
- Strategy: The Dancer of Ranah’s graceful movements mask deadly attacks. Watch her carefully to predict her next move and strike during her recovery frames. Stay light on your feet to avoid her rapid spins and slashes.
The Haligtree Canopy
Demi-Human Queen Marigga
- Location: Ruler of the canopy
- Strategy: Marigga’s powerful magic and swift attacks will put your skills to the test. Equip magic-resistant armor and use ranged attacks to chip away at her health while dodging her spells.
Putrescent Knight (Main Boss)
- Location: Decaying tree
- Strategy: This knight’s toxic attacks necessitate caution and strategic healing. Keep antidotes handy and focus on quick strikes followed by immediate retreats to avoid lingering poison clouds.
The Crumbling Farum Azula
Ancient Dragon-Man
- Location: Ruined tower
- Strategy: The Ancient Dragon-Man combines dragon breath with devastating melee attacks. Equip lightning-resistant gear and attack his legs to bring him down. Use the environment for cover from his breath attacks.
Jagged Peak Drake (Duo Boss)
- Location: Lofty perch
- Strategy: Two drakes guard this area, demanding precise timing and teamwork. Coordinate your attacks with summons or co-op partners to divide their attention and take them down one by one.
Other Notable Encounters
Ancient Dragon Senessax
- Location: Secret area
- Strategy: This optional boss offers a challenging yet rewarding fight. Focus on its head for critical damage and stay mobile to avoid its powerful breath attacks.
Bayle the Dread (Main Boss)
- Location: Hidden fortress
- Strategy: Bayle’s relentless aggression demands unwavering focus. Use defensive tactics to weather his onslaught and look for openings to counter-attack.
Various Other Bosses
- Overview: The DLC is packed with additional bosses like Rugalea the Great Red Bear, the Death Rite Bird, Messmer the Impaler, Jori, Elder Inquisitor, Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame, and many more. Explore every corner of the world to discover them all!
Conquering the Shadows
Preparation Tips
- Thoroughly explore each area to find hidden paths and valuable items.
- Upgrade your weapons and armor to keep pace with the increasing difficulty.
- Stock up on consumables like healing potions, antidotes, and status effect cures.
Build Recommendations
- Experiment with different builds to find what works best for your playstyle.
- Consider high-resistance builds for areas with specific elemental threats.
- Balance between offense and defense to handle a variety of boss mechanics.
Summoning Allies
- Don’t hesitate to summon allies for help. NPC summons can provide crucial support.
- Co-op with friends or other players to tackle particularly tough bosses.
- Utilize spirits and summons strategically to distract and weaken bosses.
Conclusion
Shadow of the Erdtree offers a gauntlet of challenging bosses, each with unique attacks and weaknesses. Prepare thoroughly, experiment with different builds and strategies, and don’t hesitate to summon allies for help. With perseverance and skill, you can overcome these trials and emerge victorious in this dark new chapter of Elden Ring.
FAQs
What is the most challenging boss in Shadow of the Erdtree?
While subjective, many players find Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, to be the most challenging due to her dual-wielding attacks and endurance.
Can you summon allies for every boss fight?
Yes, you can summon allies for most boss fights, including NPC summons and co-op partners.
What are the best builds for tackling the DLC?
Builds focusing on high resistance, especially against elemental attacks, and a balance of offense and defense are generally effective.
Are there any hidden bosses in the Shadow of the Erdtree?
Yes, there are several hidden bosses like Ancient Dragon Senessax and various others scattered throughout the DLC.
How do I access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC?
Accessing the DLC typically involves completing certain in-game quests or reaching a specific level of progression. Check the in-game prompts for detailed instructions.