Summary
FromSoftware is well known for its boss fights. Titles such asDark SoulsandBloodborne, and more recently,Armored Core, live and breathe the challenge of battle. With 238 bosses scattered throughoutElden Ring, the game is an impressive gauntlet of encounters for players to test their skills.
While many of the boss fights inElden Ringare extremely challenging, a few should have been a tougher challenge when considering the lore and setting of the fights. The line between a boss being too hard or too easy is a thin one and getting it right is a challenge for any developer. Many of these bosses, while fun to take on, should have been a bigger hurdle to jump for players.
Updated June 25, 2025 by Andy Chapman: With the release of Elden Ring’s massive new DLC,Shadow of the Erdtree, fans of the game have been eagerly taking on the expansion’s many new challenges. For many, a perfect boss battle rarely exists. Finding the correct balance between difficulty, lore, and character is a tricky thing to get right.
While some of the game’s bosses are the toughest in FromSoftware’s long history, others are more easily overcome. While these boss battles are fun encounters, they could have been much more. This article has been updated to include Shadow of the Erdtree’s bosses to show a wider spectrum of Elden Ring’s many challenges.
1Erdtree Avatar
Avatars Of The Erdtree Should Put Up A Better Fight
These bosses are a common encounter throughout the game and guard the various Minor Erdtrees found in The Lands Between. These fights can vary in difficulty as players progress, with the Putrid Avatar variety being a tougher version found later in the game.
They may be minor boss encounters, but as guardians of Erdtrees, facing off against these enemies should be tougher. Erdtrees are themost sacred living things in the Lore, with the main Erdtree being the central idol over everything in the game. As avatars that represent the Erdtree, fighting them should be no small task. Once players have defeated one, the rest will cause little to no challenge.
2Jagged Peak Drake
Familiar Attacks Make For An Easy Win
Jagged Peak is one of the most dramatic areas inElden Ring, with one of the best boss battles in the game found at the end. En route to this fight, players will encounter two Jagged Peak Drakes. One is found asleep soon after entering the area, while the other is further along, battling with another Dragon. While the region is one of the most memorable in the DLC, the Jagged Peak Drakes are not.
Except for a charge attack and a lightning AOE, these bosses use many of the same moves found on Dragons in the base game. This makes these encounters very easy to win. Most players can skip the first Drake encounter and ride on past. However, the second Drake should be taken on. Upon defeating the Dragon, players are treated to the NPC Igon, praising their prowess. This continues the character’s story, unlocking his summons for Bayle the Dread.
3Fallingstar Beast (Hinterlands)
A Repeated Boss From The Base Game
The Fallingstar Beasts are mysterious creatures that appear in certain locations aroundElden Ring. With their deep connection to gravity magic and tough rock-like bodies, these encounters are challenging and grueling battles. However, the Fallingstar Beast, featured in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, fails to instill much fear.
By this point in the game, players will have fought several of these bosses in the base game, including the formidable Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast. The Hinterland’s version uses the same attacks as the others and feels slightly out of place. This encounter should have been a lot harder, with the Fallingstar Beast revealing different moves or an additional phase to surprise players.
4Chief Bloodfiend
Simple And Telegraphed Attacks Offer Little Challenge
Bloodfiends are enemies found throughout the Land of Shadow. They’re some of the earliest enemies players will encounter in the DLC and rarely pose a threat. The Bloodfiends are worshipers of the Formless Mother, one of the Outer Gods of the setting. Because of this, they often use Bloodflame Magic.
The Chief Bloodfiend is a large enemy found at the end of Rivermouth Cave. Many players may miss this location, as its entrance is not obvious. The battle, however, is one of the most simple in the DLC. The boss has a basic moveset, with a few bloodflame incantations. Its slam attacks are well-telegraphed and can be easily dodged. While the fight is simple, the arena is suitably dank and fought in a large pool of blood, making the encounter all the more memorable.
5Ancient Dragon-Man
Too Much Man, Not Enough Dragon
The Ancient Dragon-Man guards the way to Jagged Peak. He is found in a hidden section of Dragon’s Pit cave, where players must jump down a hole to reach the boss room. The fight with the Ancient Dragon-Man is fun and challenging, with victory rewarding players with the Dragon Hunter’s Great Katana.
However, it is no harder than any other NPC boss fight. While this is an enjoyable battle, it could have been so much more. The Dragon-Man uses several Dragon Communion incantations, which deal heavy damage, in addition to the Great Katana’s powerful weapon skill. This fight should have been a lot tougher though, with a second phase added to unleash the character’s dragon side.
6Dragonkin Soldier Of Nokstella
A Cool-Looking Boss With Predictable Attacks And Not Enough Health
Dragonkin can be found in various locations throughout the game, but out of all these minor boss encounters, TheDragonkin Soldier of Nokstellais the most notable. Players will encounter this boss deep underground at theend of the Ainsel River, below Nokstella. The boss arena is one of the most memorable in the game and one of the most mysterious as well.
With strange statues littering the area and a giant throne bearing a mysterious skeleton as the centerpiece, the arena has all the hallmarks of a major encounter. While Dragonkin Soldier Of Nokstella is an impressive spectacle fight, the boss can be beaten easily with its small health pool and easily avoided attacks.
7The Red Wolf Of Radagon
Its Attacks Are Too Easy To Dodge
TheRed Wolf of Radagonis a boss that can be found partway through a legacy dungeon, in a lecture hall in Raya Lucaria. The fight is almost unexpected when exploring the academy and is over all too quickly. The Red Wolf has a small health pool and fires various spells at the player that are easily dodged.
This fight is notable as it is very reminiscent of other boss fights inFromSoftware history, most notably Sif in the firstDark Soulsgame. As a boss battle in a main legacy dungeon, this had the potential to be a major fight, much like Margit in Stormveil Castle. Unfortunately, The Red Wolf is easily beaten, making the encounter a quick side note in the game.
8Leonine Misbegotten
The Location Is Epic, The Boss Is Mundane
Leonine Misbegottenis the final boss in the Weeping Peninsula area of the game. After traversing the region, players will come to Castle Morne. Although this location isn’t a full legacy dungeon, the castle is large and will take time to fully explore. At the end of the castle, players will encounter Leonine Misbegotten on a lonely beach waiting for the player.
The boss is a fast attacking threat but has a small health pool in comparison to many bosses. Considering the stunning location of the fight, and as the final boss of the area, the encounter should have been tougher and would have been more suited as a difficult minor dungeon boss fight.
9Ancestor Spirit
For Such An Iconic Boss, The Attacks Shouldn’t Be So Predictable
One of the eeriest and most atmospheric boss fights inElden Ring, players will meet theAncestor Spiritafter venturing underneath the main map and finding the Siofra River area.After lighting several fires, players can transport themselves to the underground grotto of the boss.
Ancestor Spirit is one of the easiest main fights in the game and most players will have little problem with the encounter. The boss has several attacks that are well-telegraphed and can be easily avoided. For a boss fight that oozes this much character, defeating the Ancestor Spirit should have been a bigger prospect.
10Royal Knight Loretta
A Forgettable Boss Fight In An Otherwise Dangerous Castle
This spectral rider is the final boss encounter of Caria Manor, a large castle in the Liurnia Of The Lakes region. After players have fully explored, taking on various enemies and looting every corner, they will come to a large open arena where they will face the boss.
Caria Manor is a challenge and has many dangerous enemies players will need to fight through first. It has significance in the lore and is needed to progress through several storylines. The final boss of the castle,Royal Knight Loretta, is a little disappointing. With such an evocative arena and challenging castle beforehand, the battle should have been harder. Unfortunately, the boss is an easier version of a late-game battle and is somewhat forgettable.
