Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has been out for over a week, meaning there’s a good chance that many players have already faced the game’s key bosses. For this list, we’ve decided to look at all ten remembrance bosses ranked worst to best. We’ve taken into account several factors in the ranking including design, lore, challenge and overall fun factor. Without further ado, let’s jump into it.
Before we proceed, unfortunately this list will not include Bayle the Dread, a very popular boss fight that many players feel absolutely deserves to be in the top three. We’re inclined to agree because Igon is the MVP. However, the focus of the list will only be on bosses that drop remembrances. Needless to say, major spoiler warning ahead for Shadow of the Erdtree.
All Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Bosses Ranked From Worst to Best
10. Commander Gaius
Ugh. Commander Gaius is simply not a fun boss. The fight can either be excruciatingly frustrating with Torrent as he moves much faster than you’re able to react to his gravity magic attacks, or completely trivialised once you realise that just fighting him on-foot is the better option. His design isn’t all that memorable and once you figure out the flow of the fight, it just ends up being fairly standard. At least you get five Scadutree Fragments as a reward afterwards.
9. Scadutree Avatar
The boss fight equivalent of a RickRoll, the Scadutree Avatar undoubtedly has a cool, unique design that’s miles better than the Erdtree Avatars or Ulcerated Tree Spirits. The charm kind of fades after you’re forced to fight the boss three times, each with a renewed health bar. Sure, it’s more of an endurance test than a straight-forward fight and many players admire the different nature of the challenge, though it doesn’t leave a lasting impression and you’ll just be glad it’s over once you’re done.
8. Putrescent Knight
Everything surrounding the Putrescent Knight fight is fantastic. The lead-up as you dive deeper into the Fissure Depths is awesome and the bombshell revelation of St. Trina afterwards is one of our favourite lore discoveries in the game. The fight itself? It’s okay. Putrescent Knight embodies Elden Ring‘s problematic bosses who have very awkward wind-ups to throw your dodge timing off but design-wise, it’s cool and constantly keeps you on your toes. We just wish St. Trina had a better guardian considering the importance of her character in the lore.
7. Metyr, Mother of Fingers
Metyr, Mother of Fingers is a boss that can go completely unnoticed if you aren’t paying attention to a specific quest line. As a result, there’s a good chance most players haven’t encountered this beautiful monstrosity yet. The lore surrounding Metyr does a lot of the heavy-lifting in this fight with a great cosmic horror aura about the battle. It might rank higher for some players who put the pieces together for its story but as a boss fight, it’s perfectly good for what it represents.
6. Divine Beast Dancing Lion
The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is the first major roadblock for players progressing the story of Shadow of the Erdtree, posing just enough of a threat to spare you a few “You Died” screens. While light on lore (arguably inconsequential, really), the sheer, element-bending spectacle of the fight serves as a great introduction to the rest of the DLC’s bosses to come. When you aren’t running around helplessly screaming, the boss fight turns into an incredible dance of dodges and punishes, backed up by a superb boss design.
5. Romina, Saint of the Bud
The enjoyment of Romina, Saint of the Bud solely relies on how prepared you are for the fight. Romina throws out a lot of Scarlet Rot, sometimes in large AoE attacks that encircle her, making attacking a test of patience. The difficulty, for the most part, is very well-balanced and she boasts arguably one of the best boss designs in the entire game. It’s a pity that her arena is a bit uninspired because the fight could’ve really used a bit more environmental eye-candy.
4. Promised Consort Radahn
We don’t know what we expected for the final boss but it certainly wasn’t Radahn in his Legendary Super Saiyan form. The difficulty of this fight makes Malenia seem like a walk in the park. Erratic, infuriating and epic all at the same time, Promised Consort Radahn is a challenge fit for a god slayer. Phase two introduces Miquella who tag-teams you with Radahn, bringing his own one-shot moves to the battle. Despite the difficulty, the rush of adrenaline you get out of it is unmatched.
3. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight
Quickly becoming a fan-favourite boss in the community, Rellana, Twin Moon Knight is able to back it up with a tough but entertaining fight. Using her proficiency in magic and pairing it with her impeccable swordplay, Rellana can decimate you at close or long range if you aren’t careful. Her Twin Moon attack is also one of the coolest signature moves in the entire game, assuming you can jump it. In short, Rellana’s encounter is From Software firing on all cylinders.
2. Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame
A near-perfect blend of stunning environmental design, challenge, music and lore, Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame is a spectacular boss fight that reminds us of From Software’s history with excellent humanoid bosses like Artorias or Lady Maria. Like Metyr, Midra requires you to go out of your way to find. The fight also begins in a very unique way too – it’s sure to send shivers up your spine. In fact, that’s a perfect way to summarise the battle: spine-chilling but also one of the best fights that Shadow of the Erdtree has to offer.
1. Messmer The Impaler
The poster boy for Shadow of the Erdtree absolutely lives up to all the hype. Messmer The Impaler is one of the best boss fights that From Software has ever crafted. It’s hard, fast-paced, almost scary and will force you to get on its level or die trying. Messmer whips out giant snakes in phase two that really ramps up the intensity of the fight. Paired with the awe-inspiring music and heavy lore dump, there’s a lot to love about the battle, even if it takes you numerous attempts to get good.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Catch up on all of our Shadow of the Erdtree news and guides right here.
