Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – I got absolutely wrecked by Margit the Fell Omen about 47 times before I figured out what the heck I was doing! According to HowLongToBeat, most players spend over 100 hours in the Lands Between, and trust me, a good chunk of that is boss attempts. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably rage-quit at least once (no judgment here), and you’re looking for some actual help with Elden Ring’s toughest encounters.

Here’s the thing about FromSoftware games – they don’t hold your hand. At all. And Elden Ring takes that philosophy and cranks it up to eleven with an open world that lets you wander straight into fights you’ve got no business being in.

Why Most Players Struggle With Elden Ring Bosses

The biggest mistake I made early on was thinking I could brute-force my way through every boss fight. Spoiler alert: you can’t. Each boss in Elden Ring has specific patterns, weaknesses, and strategies that make them way easier once you know what you’re doing.

I remember fighting Godrick the Grafted for the first time and getting demolished by his dragon arm phase. Completely blindsided me! That’s when I realized that preparation matters just as much as skill in this game.

Essential Prep Work Before Any Major Boss Fight

Before you even think about entering that fog wall, let’s talk basics. Level your character appropriately – don’t be that person who tries to fight Radahn at level 30 (guilty as charged on my first playthrough). Most early game bosses are manageable around level 40-50, but check out the Fextralife recommended levels if you’re unsure.

Your flask situation matters too. Seriously, go find those Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears scattered around the map because having +3 flasks versus +0 flasks is literally the difference between victory and another trip back to that Site of Grace.

And here’s something that took me way too long to figure out – Spirit Ashes are not cheating! The game literally gives you Torrent and summons because it expects you to use them. My Mimic Tear carried me through some absolutely brutal late-game encounters, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Early Game Boss Strategies That Actually Work

Let’s start with Margit since he’s the gatekeeper that stops most new players cold. The key? Be patient. I know it’s tempting to get greedy with your attacks, but Margit punishes that hard with his delayed combo attacks.

Use Margit’s Shackle if you can find it – this item trivializes phase one by letting you chain him to the ground twice. It’s hidden in the Murkwater Catacombs, and honestly, it’s worth the detour.

For Godrick, stay aggressive in phase one but respect that dragon arm in phase two. When he does the fire breath attack, that’s your window to heal or deal massive damage. Circle around behind him whenever possible because most of his attacks have limited tracking.

Mid-Game Nightmares and How I Survived Them

Radahn was my personal nightmare for about three days straight. Here’s what finally clicked – use the summon signs scattered around the arena! They respawn, so you can keep bringing back your NPC allies throughout the fight, and they do decent damage while keeping aggro off you.

Stay on Torrent for mobility and only dismount for quick hit-and-run attacks when Radahn is focused on someone else. His meteor attack looks terrifying (and it is), but you can actually outrun it if you start galloping away the moment he launches into the sky.

Fire Giant gave me grief too until I learned that you should target his ankles in phase one, then switch to his arms/chest in phase two. Sounds simple, but that positioning makes all the difference between a five-minute fight and a fifteen-minute slog.

Late Game: When Things Get Really Spicy

Malenia, Blade of Miquella – yeah, she’s everything the internet says and worse. I won’t lie, this fight tested my patience like nothing else in gaming. The Waterfowl Dance move is the run-ender, and you need a strategy for it before attempting this fight seriously.

Either use Bloodhound’s Step to dodge through it, or learn the unlock-and-sprint method detailed in this Polygon guide. I personally went with a shield build eventually because I just couldn’t nail the dodge timing consistently.

The final boss (no spoilers) requires everything you’ve learned throughout the game. Status effects work well here, and having a upgraded Spirit Ash makes the fight significantly more manageable since it’s a long encounter with multiple phases.

Your Journey Through The Lands Between Continues

Every Tarnished walks their own path through Elden Ring, and what worked for me might not work perfectly for you – and that’s totally fine! The important thing is understanding boss patterns, preparing properly, and not being afraid to level up or come back later if something feels impossible.

Remember, FromSoftware designed this game to be beaten by regular players like us, not just speedrunners and pros. Sometimes you just need the right approach or that one extra upgrade to push you over the finish line. Take breaks when you’re frustrated (seriously, this helps so much), and don’t compare your progress to others.

Want more gaming tips, guides, and honest takes on the latest releases? Head over to Glitch Lane where we break down the toughest challenges in gaming without the elitist attitude. We’re all just trying to git gud together, right?