Boss Guide — Every Main Encounter

How to Use This Guide

Each boss entry focuses on: the attack you will die to most often, the window you use to deal damage, and sorcerer-specific notes when relevant. This is not an exhaustive moveset catalog — it's the information that changes outcomes.

Margit, the Fell Omen & Morgott, the Omen King

Margit is the game's first major required boss and teaches Elden Ring's core combat language. Morgott is the upgraded version found in Leyndell — same moveset, significantly more health and an additional phase with more hammer summoning.

The killer attack: Margit summons delayed golden phantom blades that fall after a 2-second pause. New players dodge the visible cane swing and die to the phantom swords they forgot were coming.

Mage strategy: Excellent boss for learning sorcery positioning. His dash attacks are telegraphed with a long windup — dodge into the swing (not away) and immediately cast 2–3 Rock Slings during the recovery. Summon Lone Wolf Ashes or Jellyfish at the fight start. His long idle animations between attacks are free Comet Azur windows if your Spirit Ash has his attention.

Godrick the Grafted

First demigod boss. Two phases: Phase 1 is a giant with a grafted axe; Phase 2 he grafts a dragon's head to his arm and gains fire breath and slam attacks.

The killer attack: Phase 2 opening. The dragon-graft animation is very tempting to attack during — but immediately after completion, Godrick does a ground slam AoE that catches almost everyone in melee range. Step back before Phase 2 starts.

Mage strategy: One of the easier boss fights for sorcerers. His large size makes every spell easy to land. Terra Magica + Comet Azur during any of his long axe-drag attacks or the windup before the jumping slam. Rock Sling for Phase 2 fire breath recovery periods. Recommended level: 30–40.

Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon

Required boss for the main quest and the most thematically important fight for a sorcerer — she is the queen of the Academy that trained your tradition. Two very different phases.

Phase 1: Puzzle phase. Rennala floats in a protective shell maintained by her choir of students. Find the glowing student (one of them sings louder), attack to break their grip, grab Rennala after she falls. Repeat three times. No combat — just find and grab.

Phase 2: Real fight. She summons spectral versions of famous creatures. Very easy for sorcerers — Rennala is fragile, moves slowly, and has long recovery windows. Rock Sling and Comet Azur are highly effective. Her Full Moon projectile is telegraphed with a long charge — dodge immediately when you see her raise her hands.

Reward: Rennala's Remembrance — trade to Enia at Roundtable Hold for the Carian Regal Scepter (best endgame staff) or Rennala's Full Moon sorcery. Take the Scepter first.

Starscourge Radahn

Semi-required boss accessed via Festival of the Fallen in Redmane Castle. Fought on open desert with multiple NPC summons available (use all of them — they are free aggro splitting). Radahn was significantly nerfed in a 2022 patch and is now more manageable than his reputation suggests.

The killer attack: His meteor Phase 2 opener. When he goes off-screen and re-enters as a comet, he will land on your exact position unless you run in a long circle immediately. Most players die to this once before learning to run in a wide arc at Phase 2 start.

Mage strategy: Torrent (your horse) is allowed in this fight — use it to close distance quickly and disengage after Phase 1 arrow salvos. Summon all NPC allies at the start. During Phase 1, wait for Radahn to swing at an ally, then cast Rock Sling × 3 from horseback. For Phase 2, switch to Founding Rain of Stars or Stars of Ruin from max range while NPC allies tank.

Maliketh, the Black Blade

One of the most aggressive bosses in the game — fast, athletic, and punishing. Two phases: first as Beast Clergyman (aggressive melee), then as Maliketh (Death Slicer attacks that reduce your maximum HP with each hit).

The killer attack: Phase 2 Death Slicer. Each hit of his gold-and-black AoE attacks reduces your max HP by 10%. Four hits and you're dead regardless of Vigor. Many players die not from a single lethal hit but from watching their HP cap drain away.

Mage strategy: Keep your Spirit Ash alive as long as possible — Maliketh is one of the few bosses where split aggro is mandatory for sorcerers. His attacks are fast enough that you cannot cast safely without it. Use Carian Slicer (4 FP per hit) during Beast Clergyman phase when he's in your face — its fast animation means you never commit to a long cast and get punished. Switch to Rock Sling for Phase 2 when you need range.

Malenia, Blade of Miquella

The hardest optional boss in Elden Ring. Not required for any ending. She heals on every hit she lands — including hits blocked by shields or Spirit Ashes. She has the most complex moveset in the game. She is also the most rewarding fight to learn.

The killer attack: Waterfowl Dance. A four-part combo executed from neutral at short range. A cascade of slashes — forward slash forward slash, backwards jump, forward rush slash. The tell is her right arm rising before the first slash. Most players die to this move for their first 20+ attempts. The correct dodge is: dodge into and slightly right on the first slash, then dodge forward-left before the second. Practice this exclusively.

Phase 2 — Goddess of Rot: Malenia sprouts scarlet wings and explodes in a Scarlet Aeonia bloom (always happens immediately at Phase 2 start — run away fast). She gains two new attacks: Scarlet Aeonia dive bomb and clone manifestation. Both are slow enough to dodge; the clones are the harder read.

Mage strategy: Stars of Ruin is essential here — the tracking projectiles hit her even through Waterfowl Dance movement. Use Black Knife Tiche as your Spirit Ash (the Mimic Tear dies too fast; Tiche's speed means she survives Phase 2). Keep 20+ meters distance during her movement phases. Do NOT use Comet Azur — she will interrupt the channel with Waterfowl Dance. Sustained rock sling + Stars of Ruin is the patient kill.

Radagon of the Golden Order & Elden Beast

The two-phase final boss. Radagon first (aggressive humanoid melee fighter), then the Elden Beast (enormous creature that floats, retreats, and attacks with holy AoE). You cannot heal between phases.

Radagon: Fast hammer attacks with delayed holy explosions. Most players die to a combo where a slam creates a delayed shockwave — dodge the slam, then immediately dodge again for the shockwave.

Elden Beast: Immune to all holy damage. Uses gold holy energy AoE, the Elden Stars attack (chasing comet), and a large sword sweep. The Elden Stars attack (slow-moving comet followed by many smaller homing projectiles) requires you to keep running in one direction — they cannot turn around once committed.

Mage strategy: Rock Sling with Meteorite Staff for the Elden Beast — it deals physical damage, bypassing the holy immunity. Radagon is weak to magic, so Comet Azur during his long recovery after the opening hammer slam (Terra Magica + Hidden Tear opener). Eternal Darkness absorbed the smaller Elden Stars projectiles — position near the orb when they spawn.

Shadow of the Erdtree — Key DLC Bosses