Some story games remain stuck in our heads forever for many different reasons. Some remain in our memories because of their stories, while others are remembered for their exceptional visual appeal. Most of the time, it’s because their bosses were unbeatable or because certain missions were too difficult to complete. I’m sure everybody has played that infamous helicopter mission from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The reason we still have that particular mission etched into our brains is because it was one of the hardest missions ever created in any mainstream game, and nonetheless, it did its job by keeping us hooked until we finished it.
In this blog, we will discuss something similar as we delve into one of the most challenging games of recent years, Elden Ring, and its 15 hardest boss fights. Now, this list is not fully objective and not fully subjective either. In Elden Ring, the skill gap between players is massive, and every player has a different build and level of skill. This means that, for some people, Frey could be harder to kill than Ordovis, and vice versa. So this list is based on my opinion as well as the community’s general consensus.
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15. Margit, the Fell Omen
Margit is extremely tough for some players, especially those who are playing a Souls-like game for the first time. He’s the first major wall for new players, and when you cross paths with him, your weapons and flask count are very limited. This means he has more options to punish you than other bosses.
His attack patterns are unpredictable—delayed swings, chained combos, and dagger throws—all hard to read for first-timers. But if you fight him after grinding a bit elsewhere, he becomes much easier. He doesn’t have large health, insane damage, or any overwhelming mechanics, which makes him manageable if you’re even slightly experienced.
Elden Ring’s 15 Hardest Bosses (Strengths, Weaknesses, Difficulty Summary)
| Boss Name | Difficulty Reason | Weaknesses | Notable Mechanics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malenia, Blade of Miquella | Fast, heals on hit, two phases | None significant | Scarlet Rot, Waterfowl Dance |
| Consort Radahn | No weaknesses, unpredictable | None | Two phases, extreme power |
| Messmer the Impaler | Hyper-aggressive | Varies | Fire magic, aerial combos |
| Godfrey / Hoarah Loux | High damage, relentless | None | Shockwaves, grapples |
| Mohg, Lord of Blood | Massive bleed damage | Mohg’s Shackle (item) | Unavoidable health drain |
| Radagon + Elden Beast | Endless AoE, huge arena | Fire, Strike | Morphing phases |
| Rellana, Twin Moon Knight | Fast combos, two elements | Lightning, Frostbite | Fire + Glintstone blades |
| Ordovis Duo | 2v1 pressure | Fire, Lightning | Mirrored combos |
| Morgott, the Omen King | Aggressive, blood AoE | Bleed, Frostbite, Poison | Illusion trick attacks |
| Astel, Stars of Darkness | Meteorites, teleportation | Rot, Poison, Bleed | Gravity magic |
| Romina, Saint of the Bud | Scarlet Rot, aggression | Bleed, Frostbite, Holy | Small arena pressure |
| Placidusax | Teleport spam | Piercing, stance | Huge AoE attacks |
| Tree Sentinels Duo | 2 bosses + mobility | None major | Long-range pressure |
| Radahn (Base Game) | Battlefield chaos | None | Horseback combat |
| Margit, the Fell Omen | Hard for beginners | None major | Delayed combos |
14. Starscourge Radahn
There are two Radahn boss fights in Elden Ring, and we’re discussing the first one. The buildup to the fight is masterful. When you reach Redmane Castle or find it through Ranni’s questline, Jerren hypes up the battle, and NPC dialogue reinforces the tension. You enter the arena, and as soon as you do, Radahn starts shooting arrows at you.
This is not a normal boss fight—it’s a war. You fight in a massive open battlefield where you’re getting shot by arrows while also dealing with an army of summons.
But you do have advantages. You can summon NPC allies, you can fight on horseback, and Radahn’s attacks are predictable. So while he is hard, he’s not impossible to beat.
13. Tree Sentinels (Duo)
The 13th boss is a duo, and the reason is simple: one Tree Sentinel is already dangerous—an armored knight on horseback with high mobility and strong attacks. Now imagine fighting two of them at once.
It’s exhausting. You’re under constant pressure, they have wide-reaching attacks, and they can easily corner you. The best strategy is to separate them and focus on one at a time. After a few attempts, the fight becomes much more manageable.
12. Dragonlord Placidusax
Next is the improved version from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. While already a powerful boss in the base game, the improved version is even more challenging and fun to fight.
This is a secret boss in a hidden area. Placidusax’s ability to teleport and move rapidly across the entire arena makes the fight unpredictable. His sweeping melee attacks and AoE abilities give you very little breathing room.
However, like all bosses, he has weaknesses—particularly piercing attacks and stance breaks.
11. Romina, Saint of the Bud
Romina, Saint of the Bud, is partially a giant and is hidden deep within the Rauh Ruins. So far, she is the most aggressive boss on this list. She constantly inflicts Scarlet Rot, which is one of the nastiest status effects in the game. Managing your health while curing rot is a huge challenge.
The small arena makes everything worse, leaving you almost no room to escape her aggression. Thankfully, she is weak to Bleed, Frostbite, and Holy damage.
10. Astel, Stars of Darkness
There are two Astel fights: the Naturalborn of the Void and this one. The Stars of Darkness appears later in the game, has more health, and has more attacks.
He can launch meteorites, use gravity magic, teleport, and unleash deadly shockwaves if you get too close. Keeping mid-range distance is key. His weaknesses are Scarlet Rot, Poison, and Bleed.
9. Morgott, the Omen King
The game reuses bosses often, but Morgott is the one exception worth fighting again. There are three encounters with him, and this is the final one.
His first phase resembles Margit but is more aggressive and now equipped with new moves. When you get him to half health, he pretends to fall—luring players into surprise attacks.
The second phase introduces blood attacks and AoE mechanics. He is vulnerable to Bleed, Frostbite, and Poison.
8. Crucible Knight Ordovis (and Partner)
Another duo fight—and duo fights are notoriously difficult. These two move quickly, anticipate your openings, and punish every mistake. Landing clean hits is extremely hard.
Their weaknesses are Lightning and Fire damage, so use plenty of both.
7. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight (DLC)
Rellana appears after the first mandatory DLC boss, and she is a former princess of the Carian royal family. She fights with two swords—one glintstone, one fire—and her moveset resembles Malenia’s agility and combos.
She is hard, but not nearly as punishing as Malenia. Her weaknesses include Lightning and Frostbite.
6. Radagon of the Golden Order (and Elden Beast)
Radagon tests every player’s skill regardless of their level or build. He hits extremely hard, has frustrating AoE attacks, and gives you little room to breathe. After defeating him, he morphs into the Elden Beast—a massive creature with endless AoE attacks.
He is vulnerable to Fire and Strike damage.
5. Mohg, Lord of Blood
Many players underestimate Mohg. He deals massive blood damage in many forms, and without a bleed-resistant build, you’re at a disadvantage. He has an almost unavoidable ability that strips most of your health instantly.
You can use items in the arena to make him easier, but even then, the fight is brutal.
4. Godfrey / Hoarah Loux
Godfrey is the first Elden Lord and one of the toughest bosses in the final chapters. The first phase is slower but deceptively difficult, with shockwaves and delayed attacks.
The second phase—Hoarah Loux—turns him into a blood-soaked warrior fighting with bare hands. He is relentless. He has no specific weaknesses, so the key is dodging, aggressive counterattacks, and consistency.
3. Messmer the Impaler (DLC)
Entering the top three is Messmer. He is hyper-aggressive—so fast that even quick players can’t reliably dodge all his moves.
His combos include aerial attacks, spear thrusts, and long-range fire magic. Getting close and staying close is often the safest option.
2. Consort Radahn (Shadow of the Erdtree)
This spot could go to either Malenia or Consort Radahn. For narrative reasons, Malenia stays at #1, but Consort Radahn is arguably just as hard—or harder.
He has two phases and no weaknesses. His attack patterns are unpredictable, and his raw power is overwhelming. He is one of the toughest FromSoftware bosses ever created.
1. Malenia, Blade of Miquella
Malenia is widely considered the hardest boss in the base game—and one of the hardest in FromSoftware’s entire history. In phase one, she is incredibly fast and precise.
In phase two, she becomes the Goddess of Rot—gaining lightning-fast combos, AoE attacks, phantom clones, and devastating Scarlet Rot. She also heals from every hit she lands, making the fight brutally unforgiving.
Conclusion
Souls games are extremely difficult, especially for newcomers, because nothing in these games is forgiving. The list above is a mix of objective design elements and subjective player experiences. You may disagree with some rankings, and that’s completely valid.
FAQs:
1. What is the hardest boss in Elden Ring?
Malenia is widely considered the hardest due to her healing mechanics, speed, and deadly combos.
2. Who is the toughest boss in the DLC?
Consort Radahn is often considered the toughest DLC boss, followed closely by Messmer.
3. Are duo bosses harder in Elden Ring?
Yes. Duo bosses like Ordovis or Tree Sentinels create unpredictable pressure and are harder to control.