Elden Ring: Complete Boss Strategy Guide for Every Major Encounter

Elden Ring's bosses are some of the most challenging yet rewarding encounters in FromSoftware's catalog. This guide breaks down strategies for every major boss, from early-game gatekeepers to the final confrontations. Whether you're struggling with Margit or preparing for the Elden Beast, we've got you covered.

Understanding Elden Ring's Combat Fundamentals

Before diving into specific bosses, master these core principles that apply to every encounter:

Positioning Over Aggression

Unlike faster action games, Elden Ring rewards patient positioning. Most boss attacks have specific blind spots — typically at a 45-degree angle behind the boss's weapon hand. Rolling through attacks to reach these positions is more important than maximizing damage uptime.

Stamina Management

Never fully deplete your stamina bar. You need reserves for emergency rolls. As a rule, stop attacking when you have roughly 25% stamina remaining and let it recover while repositioning.

Punish Windows

Each boss has specific attack strings that end with significant recovery frames. Learning which attacks to punish versus which to simply survive is the core skill gap between struggling and succeeding.

Early Game Boss Strategies

Margit, the Fell Omen

Margit is deliberately overtuned for the area you find him in. He teaches players that Elden Ring expects you to explore, level up, and return to challenges.

• Recommended Level: 25-30 with a +3 weapon
• Key Pattern: His delayed hammer swing has a massive punish window. Wait for the weapon to glow gold, then count to two before rolling.
• Position: Stay at medium range to bait his leaping attacks, which have the longest recovery.
• Spirit Ashes: The Lone Wolf Ashes split his aggro effectively, creating windows for your damage.

Godrick the Grafted

Godrick's wild attack patterns actually make him easier once you understand the rhythm. His swings have consistent timing despite looking chaotic.

• Phase 1: Circle to his non-axe side. His multi-hit combo always ends with a slam that's punishable.
• Phase 2: When he grafts the dragon head, his fire attacks have massive telegraphs. Sprint sideways instead of rolling — you'll travel farther and recover stamina.
• Cheese Strategy: The NPC summon Nepheli Loux trivializes this fight by constantly staggering him.

Mid-Game Boss Strategies

Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon

Rennala is a puzzle boss more than a combat challenge. Understanding the mechanics makes this fight straightforward.

• Phase 1: Look for the glowing student crawling on the floor. Attack them to drop Rennala's barrier. Repeat three times.
• Phase 2: Her magic has long cast times. Sprint toward her during spells to interrupt with melee. Magic builds should use Rock Sling for reliable poise damage.
• Summons: Her spirit summons despawn quickly. Don't waste time fighting them — focus Rennala down.

Starscourge Radahn

Post-nerf Radahn is more approachable but still demands respect. This is a festival fight — embrace the chaos.

• Opening: Summon every NPC immediately. Sprint sideways to avoid his initial arrow barrage.
• Melee Strategy: Stay behind his horse. His gravity slams have backward blind spots.
• Ranged Strategy: Maintain maximum distance and let NPCs tank. Re-summon them constantly — the gold signs respawn during the fight.
• Phase 2 Meteor: When he disappears, watch the sky. Sprint perpendicular to his trajectory when the meteor appears.

Late Game Boss Strategies

Morgott, the Omen King

Morgott is Margit evolved. If you mastered the earlier fight, apply those lessons with heightened awareness.

• Key Difference: His holy weapon attacks have faster startups than Margit's. React to the glow, not the wind-up.
• Punish Windows: His dagger throw combo ends with a guaranteed safe window. His hammer overhead is similarly punishable.
• Rain Attack: Sprint in one direction. Don't panic roll — the swords track less accurately against linear movement.

Maliketh, the Black Blade

Maliketh is arguably the hardest required boss due to his aggression and damage output. Survival is the priority.

• Beast Clergyman Phase: Bait his leaping attack and punish the landing. His ground pound has a delayed second hit — don't roll early.
• Maliketh Phase: His combos have distinct audio cues. Listen for the blade screech to time your dodges.
• Blasphemous Claw: This item parries his destined death attacks, creating massive damage windows. It's found in the Crumbling Farum Azula before reaching him.

Radagon of the Golden Order

Radagon punishes panic. His holy attacks have tight dodge windows but consistent timing.

• Hammer Combos: Always assume a third hit is coming. His two-hit patterns often extend into three.
• Teleport Grab: When he glows and raises his arm, roll toward him at medium distance. Rolling backward gets you caught.
• Lightning Spears: The ground strikes track your position. Keep moving until they land.

Elden Beast

The final boss is a marathon, not a sprint. Stamina conservation is everything.

• Chasing the Beast: Don't sprint constantly. Walk toward it, sprinting only during safe windows. You'll need stamina for its attacks.
• Elden Stars: The tracking orbs are unavoidable — just minimize damage by sprinting away while healing through the chip damage.
• Ring Attack: The golden rings close inward. Jump at the last moment for i-frames.
• Best Damage Window: After its sword combo, it pauses to float. Sprint in for heavy attacks.

General Boss Fight Optimization

Build Considerations

Vigor is the most important stat through 40. Every boss becomes easier when you can survive more hits. Prioritize survival stats before damage stats in Elden Ring.

Consumable Usage

Elden Ring showers you with consumables. Use them. Exalted Flesh, Boiled Crab, and elemental resistance items can turn impossible fights into manageable ones.

When to Summon

Spirit Ashes are a game mechanic, not a crutch. Use the Mimic Tear for maximum effectiveness, or use weaker summons if you want challenge with aggro splitting.

Need More Help?

Stuck on a specific boss? Ask Nova for quick tips, or browse our other strategy guides for more in-depth help.