A list of bosses we’ve fought so far in the Elden Ring DLC
Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
Imaginative bosses are the highlight of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree, and you’ll find dozens of them scattered throughout the Shadow Realm of the Lands Between. But there are so many invaders, mini-bosses, optional bosses, and story bosses that it can be hard to find the one you’re looking for.
In this Shadow of the Erdtree guide, we’ll show you all the Elden Ring DLC bosses we’ve found so far in the Shadow Realm and tell you how to find them.
GRAVESITE PLAIN BOSSES
Gravesite Plain is the first major area in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. It contains two major bosses, as well as several optional bosses wandering the open world and inside dungeons. Here’s what we’ve found so far.
DIVINE BEAST DANCING LION
The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is the first major boss — or Legend — you’ll fight in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
You can find it at the top of Belurat, the castle on the western side of the Gravesite Plain.
The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is a giant puppet that prances around the battlefield with unpredictable movements, and swaps between different elemental types at will. You’ll get the Remembrance of the Dancing Lion and the Divine Beast Head when you kill it.
For help in defeating this boss, see our guide on how to beat Divine Beast Dancing Lion.
BLACKGAOL KNIGHT
West of the Scorched Ruins in Gravesite Plain, you’ll find a sunken area that leads to a tomb: the Western Nameless Mausoleum. Head down the stairs and you’ll find a fog door. On the other side is the Blackgaol Knight, an optional boss who drops a lot of gear.
Dodge his crossbow bolts and magical sword attacks, then try to stun him with big hits from your own weapons. When you take him down, you’ll get his weapon, Greatsword of Solitude, and his entire armor set.
For help in defeating this boss, see our guide on how to beat Blackgaol Knight.
GHOSTFLAME DRAGON
You’ll find a giant lake east of Belurat and in the northernmost part of Gravesite Plain. If you get too close to the middle, you’ll wake what looks like a big pile of debris: the Ghostflame Dragon.
Once the dragon is up, it’ll start to chase you. Stay on Torrent and swing at its legs until it dies. Just be careful of its ghostly fire. When you kill it, you’ll get a dragon heart and a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
DEMI-HUMAN SWORDMASTER ONZE
Near the lake with the Ghostflame Dragon, you’ll find the entrance to Belurat Gaol, a short dungeon that takes place under Belurat.
Adventure through and you’ll eventually run into Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze, who is waiting past a fog wall. He is rather small, and doesn’t have much health. When you kill him, you’ll get the Demi-Human Swordsman Yosh summon.
LOGUR, THE BEAST CLAW
Logur is potentially the first boss-like character you’ll see in Shadow of the Erdtree.
You can find him in the forest to the east of your first site of grace in the Shadow Realm. Jump on Torrent and ride through the woods until he attacks you.
Logur is very fast and aggressive, and will push you back with his claws. He also has one healing flask. He’ll drop the Beast Claws when you kill him.
FIRE KNIGHT QUEELIGN (INVADER)
Belurat, the big castle on the west side of Gravesite Plain, is where you’ll run into Fire Knight Queelign for the first time. You’ll find them in the circular courtyard of the castle town, on the east side after you find the second site of grace.
They’ll attack you with a long, spear-like sword, and they have access to one healing charge. They’ll give you the Crusade Insignia when you defeat them.
FURNACE GOLEM 1
The Gravesite Plain Furnace Golem is standing in the middle of the main field, north of the Scorched Ruins.
Avoid the flame waves from its stomps while wailing on its feet until it falls over, and you can deal a critical hit to its face. When you kill it, you’ll get the Deflecting Hardtear for your Wondrous Physicks and a Furnace Visage.
ANCIENT DRAGON-MAN (INVADER)
As you progress east along the plateau near Castle Ensis, take the lower path after the site of grace. Keep moving forward and the Ancient Dragon-Man will invade your game. You can dispatch him quickly, but you’ll need to be ready to fight the real version if you keep pushing forward.
You don’t get anything for killing this version of the Ancient Dragon-Man.
ANCIENT DRAGON-MAN
Past the Ancient Dragon-Man Invader, head into the Dragon’s Pit dungeon to the east of Castle Ensis. Make your way through the Dragon’s Pit until you reach the giant chalice and pit. Jump down and head through the fog door.
The Ancient Dragon-Man wields a big sword and has a single healing flask. Once you kill him, you’ll get Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana.
DEATH KNIGHT
In Fog Rift Catacombs — a dungeon west of Castle Ensis — make your way through the smashers to the fog door on the third basement floor. Inside, you’ll face the Death Knight. This enemy wields two lightning axes and lightning javelins. He can also grab you to heal himself, so make sure to dodge his charge attacks.
When you kill him, he’ll drop the Death Knight’s Twin Axes and the Crimson Amber Medallion +3.
FURNACE GOLEM 2
South of the Ellac River Downstream Site of Grace in Gravesite Plain, you’ll find a large wooded area with a river running through it. In the middle of that river you’ll find another Furnace Golem, with unarmored feet.
Kill it to earn a Furnace Visage and the Viridian Hidden Tear for your Physicks.
MOONRITHYLL, CARIAN KNIGHT
As you make your way through Castle Ensis and the outside outposts, you’ll find Moonrithyll guarding the true gate into the fortress.
Moonrithyll acts like a mini-boss or an invader, but is just a humanoid in some armor. They use a big sword — your prize from the fight, the Moonrithyll Knight Sword — and will sling some spells at you on occasion. They have a single healing flask use.
RELLANA, TWIN MOON KNIGHT
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, is the final boss of Castle Ensis and the wall between you and Scadu Atlus. You’ll encounter her in her massive arena, just past the fog door at the top of Castle Ensis.
Rellana has two phases. She’ll start out with two swords and some light magic attacks before evolving to use heavy magic attacks and flame attacks at half health.
When you defeat her, you’ll earn her Remembrance and be able to proceed into Scadu Atlus.
For additional help on this boss, check out our guide on how to beat Rellana, Twin Moon Knight.
CERULEAN COAST BOSSES
The Cerulean Coast is a small but beautiful ocean-side area in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It’s south of the Gravesite Plain starting area and you can find it by going through the Ellac River. You’ll face several bosses here.
GHOSTFLAME DRAGON
Just south of the Cerulean Coast Site of Grace, a Ghostflame Dragon will land to attack you. Swipe at its legs until it falls over and then deal a devastating blow to its head. Unlike other Ghostflame Dragons, this one will have a small skeleton army backing it up.
When you kill the Ghostflame Dragon, you’ll earn a Dragon Heart and a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
PUTRESCENT KNIGHT
The Putrescent Knight is located in the Stone Coffin Fissure dungeon in southern Cerulean Coast. Enter through The Fissure area (after the Great Rune breaks) and continue until you reach the Fissure Depths Site of Grace in order to access the boss.
The Putrescent Knight is a giant skeleton monster riding a horse, and you’ll battle it in a lake of purple goo. When you defeat it, you’ll earn the Remembrance of Putrescence.
For additional help on this boss, check out our guide on how to beat the Putrescent Knight.
SCADU ATLUS BOSSES
Scadu Atlus is the second major location in Shadow of the Erdtree, and it’s where you’ll fight Messmer the Impaler, the boss that appears on the DLC’s box art. Here’s what we’ve found so far.
FURNACE GOLEM 1
The Furnace Golem in Scadu Atlus is just north of the army camp and south of Shadow Keep. It, like the one in Gravesite Plain, has unarmored feet. To kill it, attack the feet until it falls over and then use an execution attack on its face.
When it dies, you’ll get the Crimsonburst Dried Tear for your Crystal Tear Wondrous Physicks and a Furnace Visage.
FIRE KNIGHT QUEELIGN (INVADER)
The second time you’ll run into Fire Knight Queelign as an Invader is in the Church of the Crusade, which is the church on the west side of Scadu Atlus. Walk inside and they’ll show up.
Like the first time, they use flame magic and have one healing flask. Take them out to get the Flame Skewer Ash of War and the Prayer Room Key.
MOORE (INVADER)
Just north of the Church of the Crusade — which is in the western part of Scadu Atlus — you’ll get invaded by Moore. Moore is a small, armored person who attacks with a shield and occasionally throws rot at you.
When you kill them, you’ll get the Verdigris greatshield and armor set.
GHOSTFLAME DRAGON
In the southeast of Scadu Atlus, you’ll find a small army camp with a Ghostflame Dragon inside. When you approach, it’ll already be in combat with a host of Messmer soldiers and Black Knights. Wait for the dragon to kill all the soldiers before you engage, or you’ll make your life much harder.
When you kill the dragon, you’ll get a dragon heart and a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
BLACK KNIGHT EDREDD
In the southeastern-most castle of Scadu Atlus, Fort of Reprimand, you’ll find Black Knight Edredd on the second level, guarding a staircase to the top of the fort.
While he has a name and a boss health bar, he falls over very quickly. Take him down to earn the Aspect of the Crucible: Wings Ash of War.
RALVA THE GREAT RED BEAR
North of the Moorth Ruins Site of Grace in Scadu Atlus, on the eastern plateau, you’ll find a small lake. In this lake, you’ll be attacked by Ralva the Great Red Bear.
Ralva is very aggressive, and will attack quickly. Summon your Spirit Ash to distract the bear and then ride around on Torrent to defeat it. When you kill it, it’ll drop the Pelt of Ralva helmet.
GOLDEN HIPPOPOTAMUS
Inside the Shadow Keep, which is the giant dungeon in north Scadu Atlus, ride up the elevator and rest at the site of grace. When you walk into the next room, you’ll be attacked by the Golden Hippopotamus, a bizarre rhino/wolf/hippo/porcupine monstrosity.
Survive its onslaught and you’ll earn the Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns spell and two Scadutree Fragments.
For help on this boss, see our guide on how to kill the Golden Hippopotamus.
MESSMER THE IMPALER
At the very top of Shadow Keep, you’ll find Messmer’s tower. Inside, you can unlock a new site of grace and open the door to meet the boss who appears on Shadow of the Erdtree box art, Messmer.
After two cool cutscenes and a difficult fight, Messmer will go down and give you his Remembrance and Kindling.
FURNACE GOLEM 2↴
In the Castle Watering Hole area, which you can get to via a hidden sarcophagus in Shadow Keep in Scadu Atlus, a Furnace Golem will rise out of the water as you explore the area. Its’ feet are unarmored, so just carefully beat on its legs to take it down.
When it dies, you’ll get a Furnace Visage and the Oil-Soaked Tear for your Physicks.
FURNACE GOLEM 3
In the Castle Watering Hole area, which is only accessible via a hidden path in east Shadow Keep in Scadu Atlus, you’ll find the remnants of several dead Furnace Golems. Open your crafting menu and craft a Hefty Furnace Pot. Find the dead golem lying against the Ruins of Unte and climb up on the building next to them. Throw the Hefty Furnace Pot into the top of the Furnace Golem to wake it up.
Once you wake up the Furnace Golem, kill it like normal and smash its unarmored feet. When you kill it, you’ll get a Furnace Visage and the Bloodsucking Cracked Tear for your Physicks.
GREATER POTENTATE
Greater Potentate is an NPC villain that will chase you down and respawn multiple times in the Bonny Village area, which is in east Scadu Atlus. You’ll encounter them a few different times as you explore the village and they won’t drop anything when you defeat them.
FURNACE GOLEM 4
East of Bonny Village, in the forest, you’ll find a Furnace Golem with armored feet. To destroy it, craft multiple Hefty Furnace Pots and ride the wind geyser near the boss up to a bluff. From the bluff, throw three Hefty Furnace Pots into its head to kill it.
When it dies, you’ll get the Cerulean-Sapping Cracked Tear for your Physicks and a Furnace Visage.
CURSEBLADE LABIRITH
The Curseblade Labirith is the final boss of Bonny Gaol, a dungeon to the south of Bonny Village in east Scadu Atlus. Progress all the way through the dungeon to reach Curseblade’s fog door. Once you enter, it’ll turn out the lights on you and dash around in the dark.
When you kill Curseblade Labirith, you’ll earn the Curseblade Meera summon.
RAKSHASA
In the Eastern Nameless Mausoleum, which is east of the Recluses’ River Downstream Site of Grace, you’ll find Rakshasa waiting for you behind a fog door. Rakshasa wields a Great Katana, and will use her massive blade to strike you from afar and make you bleed. She is susceptible to being knocked down, however, so large weapons will help you here. She has one healing flask charge.
Once you kill her, she’ll drop Rakshasa’s Great Katana and the entire Rakshasa armor set.
JORI, ELDER INQUISITOR↴
At the end of the Darklight Catacombs dungeon in southeast Scadu Atlus, you’ll face Jori, Elder Inquisitor. Jori is a magic-wielding boss that likes to summon allies to clobber you. The goal here is to chase Jori down as they teleport around the arena and avoid getting hit by its summons. You can also hide behind the tombstones to avoid some of their long range magical attacks.
When you manage to kill Jori, they’ll drop the Barbed Staff-Spear.
ABYSSAL WOODS BOSSES
The Abyssal Woods is a sunken region on the eastern side of the Shadow Realm, and is filled with horrifying bosses and enemies for you to fight.
MADDING HAND
The Madding Hand is a NPC enemy you’ll face just south of the Woodland Trails Site of Grace in the Abyssal Woods. From the site of grace, head deeper into the woods, to your left, and you’ll find the Madding Hand walking toward you.
Kill the Madding Hand and it’ll drop the Madding Hand weapon.
JAGGED PEAK BOSSES
Jagged Peak is a mini-region to the east of Scadu Atlus and Gravesite Plain. It’s a massive mountain filled with dragons and difficult terrain. Here’s what we’ve found so far.
JAGGED PEAK DRAKE
The first Jagged Peak Drake in Jagged Peak is right after you exit Dragon’s Pit dungeon. Head forward into the water. You’ll see a bunch of dragon corpses and a sleeping dragon in the middle of the lake. Attack it to start the fight.
The Jagged Peak Drake uses fire and lightning. Fight it on Torrent and keep attacking the legs. When you kill it, you’ll get a dragon heart and Dragonscale Flesh.