Elden Ring’s Hardest Bosses, Ranked From Brutal to Impossible

FromSoftware’s open-world action-RPG Elden Ring might be full of beauty and mystery, but that’s just a distraction from the sheer amount of pain waiting around every corner. If you think you’ve got what it takes to handle its most grueling battles, think again. These bosses don’t just hit hard—they make sure you remember them. Shadow of the Erdtree didn’t make anything easier either. In fact, it brought some of the hardest fights the game has ever seen.

As ScreenRant recently highlighted, the mix of the base game’s infamous bosses and the DLC’s new nightmares creates a list that would make even veteran Souls players sweat. From fire-wielding knights and twin warriors to blood-soaked beasts and world-ending demigods, this is the definitive ranking of the 10 hardest bosses in Elden Ring.

Rellana

Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, is the first real spike in difficulty in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. You meet her at the end of Castle Ensis, after dealing with the surprisingly fierce Divine Beast Dancing Lion. Rellana doesn’t waste time. She fights with dual blades—one magic, one fire—and her combos can be a nightmare to read. The arena fills with arcane AoEs, and she leaps around the place like she’s trying to put you on a highlight reel.

Fire resistance gear can help, but she’ll still punish mistakes with long, sweeping attacks. She’s not optional either, making her a painful roadblock on the way to the Shadow Keep.

Radagon

Radagon of the Golden Order is the first half of Elden Ring’s final boss fight. He’s all about raw strength and tight melee combat. His hammer strikes deal major damage, his combos are punishing, and his beam projectiles will ruin your rhythm. What makes Radagon harder than the Elden Beast (who comes right after) is how little room he leaves for error.

Miss a dodge or swing at the wrong time, and you’re punished hard. He might look like just another divine dude with a hammer, but Radagon will quickly teach you that the final stretch of Elden Ring is not for the faint of heart.

Mohg

Mohg, Lord of Blood, isn’t just hard to find—he’s even harder to beat. Tucked away in Mohgwyn Palace, Mohg’s fight starts off manageable with dodgable spells and blood-based attacks. But once he hits 50% health, the gloves come off. He casts an unblockable blood curse across the arena, and from that point forward, everything he does just hurts more.

Things get faster, more explosive, and more chaotic. He even grows wings. This guy’s a must-kill if you want to start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, and he’s going to make sure you earn it.

Godskin Duo

The Godskin Duo—Apostle and Noble—are widely hated, and for good reason. Fighting one of them is annoying. Fighting both at the same time is hell. You take one down, and the other revives them. And you do that again. And again. And again.

They hit from range and up close, their second phases are even faster, and they barely give you a breather. It’s a boss fight that feels more like a stress test, especially for builds that aren’t optimized for crowd control. By the end, you’re not even sure who you’re hitting anymore—you just want it to stop.

Godfrey

Godfrey, First Elden Lord, is what happens when Elden Ring decides to throw all its weight at you in the final chapters. He’s slow at first, but each stomp and axe swing hits like a truck. Then he shifts into Hoarah Loux—shirtless, bloodthirsty, and ready to suplex you into the dirt.

His second phase ditches the weapon and goes full barbarian. He grabs, slams, and punches with the kind of ferocity that makes most other bosses look like they’re play-acting. If Radagon tests your timing, Hoarah Loux tests your sanity.

Dragonlord Placidusax

Dragonlord Placidusax is Elden Ring’s ultimate dragon fight. Hidden deep in Crumbling Farum Azula, this ancient two-headed beast hits hard and fast. AoEs, teleportation, and sky-high divebombs make this encounter a nightmare for players not fully prepared.

It’s technically optional, but if you want to say you’ve conquered Elden Ring, this is one of the badges of honor. And no, tanking through it isn’t really an option unless your build is fully cracked.

Maliketh

Maliketh, the Black Blade, is a two-part boss fight that ends Crumbling Farum Azula with a bang. First you deal with Gurranq, a massive Beast Clergyman who throws out wild AoE projectiles and swipes like he’s playing whack-a-mole.

Then, at 50% health, he transforms into Maliketh. This is when the real fight begins. He’s fast, erratic, and his curved blade swings are punishing—even when dodged well, they can drain your stamina. His ranged attacks are just as dangerous, and you barely get time to breathe.

Malenia

Malenia, Blade of Miquella, has become infamous—and it’s well deserved. Tucked deep in the Haligtree, she’s entirely optional but absolutely relentless. Her first phase is already difficult, with fast swordplay and health-draining hits. But her second phase, where she becomes the Goddess of Rot, takes it up a notch.

She spams Scarlet Rot, floods the arena with AoEs, and creates phantom clones. If you think your summon is helping, think again—every time she lands a hit, she heals. If you’re not perfect, she’s not dying. Period.

Messmer

Messmer the Impaler brings a whole new level of brutality in Shadow of the Erdtree. You’ll find him at Shadow Keep, and from the start, it’s clear he means business. Fire-imbued attacks, close-range spear strikes, fireball magic, and aerial smashes all combine into one deadly package.

He’s fast. Real fast. You barely have time to get a hit in before he’s slashing again. He’s the key to unlocking the DLC’s final section, and you’ll need to beat him in a straight-up slugfest. No gimmicks. No cheese.

Promised Consort Radahn

Promised Consort Radahn is FromSoft at its peak. The final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t just a rematch—it’s an entirely new fight. Gone are the wide open fields. Now it’s a close-quarters war against a demigod that holds nothing back.

Radahn has two phases: Promised Consort Radahn and Radahn, Consort of Miquella. There are no weaknesses. He’s aggressive, tanky, and his attack patterns are hard to read. When the second phase kicks in, things go nuclear.

He’s huge, his strikes are devastating, and the rhythm of the fight constantly shifts. No tricks. No shortcuts. This is just a brutal, raw duel—the kind you either survive or don’t. Radahn is the king of Elden Ring bosses for a reason.

Elden Ring has no shortage of tough bosses, but when you stack the worst of them side by side, it’s clear that the real nightmares come later in the game—and even more so in the DLC. From Malenia’s relentless grace to Radahn’s sheer force, these fights define what it means to conquer the Lands Between. Shadow of the Erdtree might be the final chapter, but it’s also the hardest one yet. If you’ve beaten these 15, congratulations. You’ve seen Elden Ring at its absolute worst—and that’s saying something.