The Most Frustrating Bosses In Elden Ring

Highlights

Boss design in
Elden Ring
can push players to their limits, with frustrating moves and mechanics that test patience and skill.
From the Putrid Avatar’s scarlet rot attacks to the Valiant Gargoyles overwhelming tactics, every boss requires strategic thinking.
The Godskin Duo tops the list of frustrating bosses, forcing players to battle two formidable enemies sharing a health bar.

As a seasoned Elden Ring adventurer, I must confess that my journey through the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has been both enchanting and infuriating. The Divine Beast Dancing Lion, with its mesmerizing dance moves and unpredictable elemental attacks, has left me drenched in sweat more times than I’d like to admit.

As a gamer diving into the sprawling world of Elden Ring, I can’t deny its brilliance, but let me tell you, the adventure is so vast that it’s only natural to encounter some truly exasperating boss fights. With multiple paths to choose from, it’s inevitable that certain enemies will leave players pulling their hair out in frustration, and trust me, there are a few that make you want to throw your controller across the room!

In FromSoftware games, they are renowned for their fairness, but their boss designs can test a player’s temperance to its limits, leading to feelings of frustration. This feeling of exasperation in Elden Ring often occurs when bosses possess an unfair skillset, impenetrable defenses, or additional support that disrupts the gameplay flow. Overcoming such a frustrating boss in Elden Ring is surpassed only by the satisfaction of beating any boss.

10 Putrid Avatar

A Repeat Boss Made More Pungent

Found in Caelid
Drops a Greenburst Crystal Tear and Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear
Weak against fire, strong against holy and frostbite damage

Among the initial foes players encounter upon entering the intricately crafted realm of Caelid is the malodorous figure known as the Corrupted Spirit. Despite its similarity to the Erdtree Avatars found elsewhere in the game, this Corrupted Spirit possesses distinctive attacks centered around a noxious scarlet rot, which makes it particularly challenging to combat.

During the battle, the Foul Avatar will leap upward before crashing back down, leaving behind a vast puddle of crimson decay. Melee combatants find this maneuver particularly frustrating because they must usually dodge away and endure the rot’s duration until it fades. Beating this boss demands an abundance of patience.

9 Fell Twins

A Gruesome Twosome Of The Highest Order

The Most Frustrating Bosses In Elden Ring

Found just outside Leyndell
Drops Omenkiller Rollo Spirit Ash
Weak against frostbite and scarlet rot damage, strong against holy damage

In their quest to unlock a powerful Great Rune east of Leyndell, the Tarnished character encounters an ominous darkness on their journey. Suddenly, out of the shadows, two massive ogres ambush them simultaneously.

In this boss battle, there’s no way around it – you’ll have to face the Fell Twins head-on. They are not just tough opponents, they’re incredibly frustrating when you’re so near the Divine Tower. The key to defeating them lies in separating them, allowing you to attack one at a time, but that’s easier said than done. These two have dish out more than their fair share of infuriating defeats.

8 Commander Niall

What’s A Commander Without His Lackeys?

Found in Castle Sol
Drops the Veteran’s Prothesis
Resists slashing damage and is weak to nothing

Nestled at the frigid northern edge of the game stands Castle Sol, a fortress where Commander Niall, leading the dwindling remnants of his troops, bravely battles against the relentless snowstorms beyond. While Commander Niall shares similarities with Commander O’Neill found in Caelid, he has an arsenal of cunning strategies that transform their encounters into frustratingly challenging skirmishes for the Tarnished.

In the battle against Commander Niall, you’ll find him accompanied by two robust knight allies. It’s crucial to eliminate them first before engaging with Niall himself. However, beware, as Niall is equipped with a formidable arsenal of powerful moves that can swiftly deplete high-level health bars. In comparison to O’Neill in Caelid, Niall stands as an intimidating boss, capable of dealing one-hit kills to even advanced characters, causing distress among those who face him.

7 Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast

A Hard Shell, A Harder Boss

Found in Mt. Gelmir
Drops Smithing Stones, Somber Smithing Stones, and Fallingstar Beast Jaw on defeat
Is strong against all physical damage, but weak against magic, fire, and holy damage

Among the unusual findings at Mt. Gelmir, it’s not just the hidden snake cult that stands out, but rather an enormous bull-like creature encased in onyx, dwelling high up in a crater presumably caused by an ancient meteor strike. Contrary to expectations of a benevolent celestial visitor, this colossal creature known as the Full-Grown Starfall Behemoth instead brings a potent mix of irritation and fury.

The robust, onyx hide of the Fallingstar Beast significantly reduces any physical attacks’ strength, but that’s not all – it moves swiftly across the arena, seldom giving the Tarnished a chance to catch their breath. To add to the challenge, this beast often employs gravity magic spells, making it equally formidable at a distance and up close. Overcoming this creature demands exceptional skill, which can make the impending battle in Volcano Manor particularly vexing.

6 Runebear

The Most Fearsome Beast In The Lands Between

Found in Earthbore Cave
Drops the Spelldrake Talisman
Strong against magic and bleed damage, but weak against fire and sleep

In the realm of Elden Ring, it appears that there are more ominous beasts and monsters than a common bear. Yet, players well-versed in the game will attest that the most intimidating creatures could very well be the colossal bears found in one of Limgrave’s prime spots.

These bears have massive HP bars and attack with terrifying ferocity. Unless mounted on Torrent, there is no escape from the Runebear’s wrath. Trying to fight it head on is an exercise in misery, so most will simply run away. However, the Earthbore Cave Runebear can’t be escaped, making the fight extremely frustrating and requiring extreme patience to find the best moments to attack.

5 Margit, The Fell Omen

Delay This Test As Long As Possible

Found at the entrance to Stormveil Castle
Drops a Talisman Pouch on defeat
Strong against holy damage, but weak to slashing attacks

Margit, perhaps the most renowned boss in Elden Ring, holds this reputation for valid reasons. He stands guard over the bridge leading to Stormveil Castle, Elden Ring’s initial daunting dungeon, and serves as a deliberate game design challenge for players who may not yet possess sufficient strength.

Players generally dislike Margit due not just to his powerful attacks and robust health, but also because his movements are hard to avoid. Unlike bosses in Dark Souls, Margit represents a change in enemy design as their moves will indicate when they’ll start, but delay execution. This can lead players to roll too early, still getting hit by the attack. Margit’s design is intended to discourage such behavior, but it can be quite annoying to break this habit.

4 Astel, Stars Of Darkness

Eldritch Horror, But Again

Found in Yelough Anix Tunnel
Drops the Meteorite of Astel sorcery on defeat
Strong against all kinds of elemental or magical damage, but weak to physical attacks

For the initial encounter, players usually come across Astel during Ranni’s challenging yet lucrative mission. This battle is quite memorable as Astel contrasts significantly with all enemies previously encountered in the game, proving to be a demanding confrontation.

The issue arises when players encounter the same enemy as before, this time in the Consecrated Snowfields at a later stage. Not only is it a repetitive boss battle, set in an underwhelming dungeon setting, but it’s also tougher than the initial encounter. Initial admiration and reverence towards Astel quickly transform into anger and frustration when players realize they have to repeat the fight.

3 Divine Beast Dancing Lion

A Boss So Furious Even The Camera Can’t Keep Track

Found in Belurat, Tower Settlement
Drops the Remembrance of the Dancing Lion and Divine Beast Head on death
Strong against magic, lightning, and frostbite, but weak against fire, rot, and bleed damage

In the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, one of the early formidable enemies you’ll encounter is the Divine Beast Dancing Lion. This foe doesn’t fall short when it comes to grandeur, but what follows makes it crystal clear why the DLC ramps up its difficulty significantly – it serves as a striking demonstration of this increase in challenge level.

The Divine Beast Dancing Lion isn’t just packed with powerful attacks, but in its second stage, it broadly inflicts elemental damage all over the battlefield, making it tough to land a single strike. To make matters worse, the boss’ size and swiftness often outpace the camera, leading to an intensely challenging gameplay experience.

2 Valiant Gargoyles

Two Behemoths Who Refuse To Play Ball

Found in the Siofra Aqueduct
Drops the Gargoyle’s Greatsword and Gargoyle’s Twinblade
Strong against fire, lightning, holy, and slashing damage, but weak against striking blunt damage

At the summit of the Aqueduct, close to the breathtaking Siofra River region within Elden Ring, you’ll find a formidable relic harkening back to the gargoyles perched atop cathedrals in the original Dark Souls. These adversaries are known as the Valiant Gargoyles and, much like their ancestors, they brandish large weapons and coordinate their attacks to create a challenging onslaught for the player.

Waiting for the right instant to tackle either of these two calls for great patience, as engaging them simultaneously could prove disastrous. However, finding the perfect moment to target one without the other interfering can be challenging and requires a lot of restraint. In situations where opportunities are scarce, feelings of frustration can build up quickly. This situation is akin to encountering an unexpected increase in difficulty, which might seem unfair or unjustified.

1 Godskin Duo

Fighting Two Of The Hardest Enemies At The Same Time

Found in Crumbling Farum Azula
Drops the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [4] on death
Strong against striking, fire, and holy, but crucially weak to sleep damage and effects

As a gamer, let me tell you, there was no debate about which boss took the crown for me. The Godskin Duo, nestled in the challenging Crumbling Farum Azula, is an unavoidable boss encounter near the end of the game world. This fight pits you against two of the toughest opponents the game has to offer simultaneously. To make matters worse, they share a health bar, meaning you can’t finish off one of them for good. It’s a true test of skill and patience!

Battling these two evenly is undeniably one of the most aggravating encounters in the game. Given that, numerous players have turned to a tactic known as “cheesing,” which involves hurling sleep-inducing items at them. This maneuver temporarily incapacitates at least one of the Godskin Duo, making it less challenging. Without this technique, the Godskin Duo are arguably the most frustrating boss to face throughout the entire game.

2024-08-04 10:04