Exploring the beautiful open world, discovering its secrets, and finding loot all over the place is a blast – but there would be no point without strong bosses on the way to the Elden Throne. Ranking the hardest bosses is easy (spoiler: it’s Malenia). But have you stopped to ask yourself which boss was the most fun to battle in this game? Let me share some of my candidates with you!
10. Erdtree Burial Watchdog
By the time you clear Elden Ring, Erdtree Burial Watchdogs have been reduced to a common enemy – but at the beginning, they’re the perfect way to warm up and get into the spirit of things. These cat-like statues are found all over the Lands Between protecting catacombs and burial sites. They’re relatively easy to kill if you approach them calmly and learn to time their attacks, but you don’t want to let your guard down around them – especially if they come in pairs.
9. Margit, the Fell Omen
Margit is the boss that reminds players that Elden Ring really is a FromSoftware title. He has remarkable range, high damage potential, and fast attacks, making him one of the most significant challenges of the early game. This boss fight introduces the player to the cycle of death and rebirth at the core of FromSoftware games. You’re forced to push yourself to the limit until you finally beat him and feel like the biggest badass ever.
8. Flying Dragon Agheel
Fighting dragons on horseback is one of Elden Ring’s core gameplay experiences – and it all starts with Agheel. Found at the Dragon-Burnt Ruins, this flying dragon does everything in his power to end you. He breathes fire, divebombs you, and does a sneaky attack where he sweeps at you with his tail and tries to bite you simultaneously. It’s a learning experience where you’ll try many strategies until finally settling on one that works. Alternatively, you can summon Bloody Finger Hunter Yura to help you out, which is fun in its own way.
7. Rennala of the Full Moon
I think the more unique a boss fight, the more fun it is, and Rennala’s boss fight is one of a kind. You’re tasked with identifying the correct crawling scholar to whack so you can damage her shield, all while your foes throw heavy tomes at you. Rennala also uses some of the scholars as living flamethrowers, which is funny in its own right. Once you’re done with that, the real battle starts, replacing the library surrounding you with an endless field of tranquility where Rennala is free to show her full power with OP spells like Comet Azur, Glintstone Stars, and Shattering Crystal. She can even send a magic dragon after you! The contrast between the silly first half and the painfully epic second half adds a lot to the experience.
6. Astel, Naturalborn of the Void
One optional boss nobody should miss is Astel, Naturalborn of the Void – a true Eldritch abomination of the highest caliber hiding deep below the surface of the Lands Between. You’ll find this boss shortly after the Lake of Rot by taking a coffin down from the Grand Cloister. It’s a big change of scenery, from the lake’s decay to the lair’s tranquility. From the first moment, you’re hit with the majesty of Astel, staring at you from the other side of the colossal battlefield as it charges its first attack. Slowly learning his different moves and fighting rhythm is what FromSoftware games are all about.
5. Malenia, Blade of Miquella
If your idea of “fun” is struggling against a seemingly unbeatable enemy so you can bask in your own glory after finally beating them, no boss is more fun than Malenia, Blade of Miquella. Quick and unrelenting, Malenia is a technical fighter whose moves have the measured elegance of ballet but the destructive power of an intercontinental ballistic missile. As if avoiding her absolutely broken Waterfowl Dance wasn’t hard enough, Malenia can passively recover HP, and has an even more powerful second phase after you beat her the first time. Malenia gives players a traumatic experience to bond over – and the epic tale of Let Me Solo Her wouldn’t exist without such a tough battle.
4. Mohg, Lord of Blood
Mohg is absolutely diabolical, and everything from his character design to his moves during battle reflects that. He’ll lunge at you with his black trident and cast blood magic that sets the floor on fire to reduce your mobility. Rather than burn, this “bloodfire” quickly fills your hemorrhage gauge, dealing massive damage relative to your total health. If you somehow overcome that, the guy has a second phase where he grows black wings and becomes even more aggressive. Winning the fight is all about patience and paying attention, slowly learning the rhythm of his attacks until you can easily avoid them.
3. Patches, the Untethered
I’ve been playing FromSoftware titles since Demon’s Souls on the PS3. By now, meeting Patches feels like running into an old friend – a treacherous, cowardly, disgusting old friend. In Elden Ring, this chance meeting takes the form of a boss battle where the bald swindler tries to kill you to loot your corpse. Classic Patches. The funny part about this boss fight is how anticlimactically it ends. Patches begs for forgiveness as soon as he feels seriously threatened, and watching him grovel is always a pleasure. What was really fun for me was ignoring his requests and continuing to beat the lights out of him. Over 10 years of experience have taught me that nothing good comes from associating with Patches.
2. Starscourge Radahn
Anyone who’s ever watched a Shounen anime or any Avengers film knows that assembling the right team of warriors is half the battle. The Radahn Festival in Elden Ring allows players to join forces with warriors of heroic caliber like Iron Fist Alexander, Half-Wolf Blaidd, and even Patches against the crazed demigod of war. Patches does hilariously run away at the earliest opportunity (as expected), but hey, not everybody is cut out for glory. There’s no way to describe the excitement and epic feeling of charging against the fearsome medieval Hulk Radahn with this posse of bad-asses.
1. Godfrey, First Elden Lord / Hoarah Loux
The battle against Godfrey, First Elden Lord, is perfect from every angle. The First Elden Lord faces the underdog who’s fought with tooth and nail to become the next one as the Erdtree burns in the background. It’s the definition of epic. Godfrey’s moves and fighting style are just what fans of the series expect from a boss. You’re learning from your predecessor through battle, and it’s a blast. Things just get better when your foe lets go of his civilized limitations, bathing in the blood of his spirit lion and facing you as the berserk warrior Hoarah Loux. For the most fun, don’t summon anyone for this battle. This one-on-one is the game’s peak, and you owe it to yourself to earn your place as Elden Lord fair and square.
