THE the hardest bosses in Elden Ring will really put your skills – whether with sword, bow or sorcery – to the test.
Defeat him the toughest bosses in Elden Ring is a real challenge, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself facing these bosses again and again. These fights, however, are perfect training for Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree.
Below we have compiled a list of the most difficult Elden Ring bosses – which, while subjective, can give you an idea of the toughest challenge you’ll face in the base game. Be careful though, there is spoilers!
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Who are the hardest bosses in Elden Ring?
A boss’s difficulty is largely subjective: depending on your chosen build, level, or weapons, the difficulty of each encounter can vary wildly from player to player.
That said, some bosses are clearly more difficult than others and, regardless of their build, will give almost any player a hard time.
For those who have achieved it, Malenia, Blade of Miquella seems to be the hardest boss in Elden Ring – partly because every attack she deals heals her and her attacks are relentless – requiring you to learn her patterns to completion and be prepared for a long battle . It’s optional and is hidden in the far reaches of the map once you’ve found the locations of Haligtree’s Secret Medallion and solved the puzzle of Ordina, Liturgical City – so don’t worry, you won’t stumble across it by accident !
Malenia became so infamous that we saw a player capable of helping players take on Malenia solo achieve iconic status in the community. There was also a moment where a patch accidentally made Malenia even more difficult, which was thankfully resolved. Phew.
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Radahn, Starbane is, to quote our own page, “an exceptionally brutal boss, isn’t it” – and takes place at a festival at Redmane Castle. Although you can summon AI partners to help you, Radahn is tough – thanks in part to attacks that can kill you instantly. Although Starscourge Radahn is one of four bosses with a large rune, since you only need two to progress in the story, this one is thankfully optional. However, for those looking to complete the Ranni quest, this is a required encounter.
The one that is not optional is God Skin Duo. This has you facing two difficult enemies at once – with echoes of Dark Souls’ iconic bosses Ornstein and Smough – but with an added trap; they share a single health bar, and either will be resurrected if you don’t finish off the other quickly after they disappear.
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Speaking of multiple enemies, Commander Niall is a boss that comes with two of his own summons, and if they are defeated he will embark on a difficult second phase. He is cited as one of the most demanding bosses in Elden Ring – and unfortunately for completionists, there is a trophy/achievement attached to defeating him, and is required to complete Haligtree’s Secret Medallion.
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This is also worth praising Daisywhich is undoubtedly a huge obstacle early in the game, especially as the “first” boss, and which is apparently designed to teach players how to develop their characters before facing him.
That didn’t stop someone from managing to beat Magrit with…a harp.
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Margit is technically optional – although recommended as Godrick is an easier source when it comes to large runes – but the arguably more difficult “rematch” against Morgott, King Omen is bound to beat the game once you reach the capital.
If you’re battling one of the bosses above, hunting for Gold Seeds, Holy Tears, Crystal Tears, Talismans, and some of our best weapon and armor picks can make the difference.
Need help? Return to our Elden Ring boss list or our Elden Ring walkthrough.
Good luck defeating Elden Ring’s toughest bosses!
