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Elden Ring: All Major Bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree
From Software is notorious for its oversized bosses and multi-phased boss fights, at least, that's exactly what we saw in the original Elden Ring. Fortunately for us, the new Shadow of the Erdtree has returned with another huge array of mouthwatering 40+ unique bosses waiting to crush you around every corner. Much like the base game, you don't necessarily have to face all of these bosses and their followers to complete the expansion story. Instead, you can get along just fine by defeating only the main bosses in the new DLC.
The only problem is that every boss fight is thrilling and seems like it's part of the original campaign, making it impossible to focus on the 7 main bosses. Therefore, we have put together a list of all major bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree so that our speedrunner friends don't waste their precious time; let's get started:
Table Contents
All Major Bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree
While there are 55 different bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree, only 42 of them can be considered unique ones; the rest are returning foes from the base game. That may sound like a lot of boss fights on paper, and it really is if you decide to go on a rampage mission against all giants. However, if you just want to clear the main story and get going, like us, all you need to do is to face and defeat the 7 main Elden Ring DLC bosses. Here is a list of all main bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree in the correct order, their locations, and some tips on how to defeat them:
1. Divine Beast Dancing Lion
The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is the first main Shadow of the Erdtree boss that you must face to proceed into the Tower of Shadows. Considering how early you can progress into the Belurat Tower Settlement, you will likely face this major boss within the first two hours of gameplay.
Technically, you can skip this boss fight and still find your way into Enir-Ilim, but we don't really recommend that route as it only adds to the dangers. Furthermore, you should definitely go after the Dancing Lion first as he drops the Divine Beast Head that you can exchange for the Watchful Spirit Incantation (read how to get it). You can find the Divine Beast Dancing Lion boss just behind Belutra, at the top of the Small Altar Site of Grace.
2. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight
If you thought defeating the Divine Beast was a tough fight, well, we are only getting started. As a matter of fact, the Divine Beast is sort of like a skill-check boss that shows how well you will do in the rest of the expansion. Up next, we have Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, and the sister of Renala from the base game, you remember her, right?
This boss fight is a beautiful combination of challenging difficulty and some of the best mesmerizing cinematics, probably the best one by FromSoftware. You can find Rellana at the top of Castle Ensis near the Castle-Lord's Chamber Site of Grace. Ow, and if you are looking to cheese around this boss fight, feel free to use the Golden Summon sign just ahead of the arena and save your personal Spirit Ashes for the second phase.
3. Golden Hippopotamus
The Golden Hippopotamus is yet another guardian of the Tower of Shadows. Basically, you must defeat him in the battle arena just behind the Shadow Keep to proceed further into the DLC story. However, you can also skip this fight if you follow the Church District path to enter the Shadow Keep, but then you will only face even more enemies.
The Golden Hippopotamus is probably the worst fight in the entire Elden Ring universe. This fight has little to no movement space and very poor camera angles, and it gets even more terrible during the second phase. You can find this boss arena right after the elevator Site of Grace in the Shadow Keep. As for the boss strategy, we recommend that you stay close to the boss, dodge all attacks, and only retaliate when the boss stops to recharge his moves.
4. Messmer the Impaler
Okay, so you have made your way into the Shadow Keep by defeating the Golden Hippopotamus. Next, you must head to the Specimen Storehouse inside the Keep and defeat the Messmer the Impaler. He is such an important being that he received over 15 seconds in the Shadow of the Erdtree Trailer. Well, his screentime was pretty well-deserved, considering his dramatic entrance and exceptional move sets that will surely test your patience.
During the first phase of the fight, he will use fire-base attacks and move swiftly across the battle arena. So, the best strategy is to keep moving and only attack when he pauses to recharge. As for the Serpent Base Messmer (the second phase), we recommend that you summon any Spirit Ashes to divert the focus of his attacks. In the end, you will receive the Messmer's Kindling, a crucial item for burning the Sealing Tree.
5. Romina, Saint of the Bud
Next up, we have Romina, Saint of the Bud, another major boss in Shadow of the Erdtree, who really deserves a round of applause for her performance. In our opinion, Romina feels like Malenia-lite, considering her Scarlet Rot attacks and how much we struggled against her. However, she still isn't as powerful as Malenia, and she maintains the top spot among the toughest bosses in Elden Ring.
You can find Romina inside the Church of the Bud in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. While you will have a hard time fighting her, she seems to have a hard time dealing with multiple targets. Therefore, we recommend that you stock up on your Preserving Boluses and bring a trusty companion to the battle. In the end, defeating Romina opens up the way to the Sealing Tree, and burning it unlocks the Promised Consort Radahn boss fight.
6. Needle Knight Leda
The Needle Knight Leda is the exact NPC that has been helping you throughout your journey through the Land of Shadows. You will encounter her on multiple occasions, and she even helps you during the Romina boss fight. However, as you approach the Enir-Ilim, she will stop you at the Cleansing Chamber Anteroom Site of Grace and warn you from going any further.
At this point, you must challenge Leda and her followers to face your ultimate enemies, i.e., Radahn and Miquella. This battle takes place in a battle-royal type setting where you must survive multiple mini-boss fights, depending on your allies during the campaign. According to various sources, Leda can summon Redmane Freyja, Hornsent, Dryleaf Dane, and Sir Moore as her allies. Unfortunately, we don't have any special strategies for this fight, so you must stick to the basic dodge and attack maneuvers. In any case, defeating Leda and her allies will open up the way forward to the Shadow of the Erdtree final boss.
7. Promised Consort Radahn
After countless hours of grinding and defeating horrific bosses, you are just one step away from your ultimate goal, i.e., defeating the Promised Consort and Miquella. If you thought General Radahn from the base Elden Ring was frustrating, you probably haven't seen this version in action. This final boss definitely deserves the title of the hardest boss in Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
You can find the Promised Consort Radahn on top of the Enir-Ilim: Outer Wall Site of Grace after burning the Sealing Tree. During the first phase of the battle, you must stay close to the boss and take out your best weapons. Personally, the Watchful Spirit Incantation greatly helped us throughout the fight. However, just when you think the battle is over, Radahn transforms into an Elden Ring version of Isshin the Sword Saint from Sekiro; we can't spoil the fun for you anymore; you are on your own at this point. In the end, defeating the Promised Consort Radahn will drop the Remembrance of a God and a Lord, marking the end of Shadow of the Erdtree.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have just defeated all the main bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree Elden Ring expansion and freed the Shadow Realm from Miquella's curse. Hopefully, this article has greatly helped you understand your objectives in the Land of Shadows. If you have any questions or would like more such content, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
