Shadow of the Erdtree isn't just Elden Ring's final chapter—it's a difficulty spike FromSoftware designed to test every skill you've learned since Limgrave. The DLC quickly earned its reputation as the hardest expansion in Soulsborne history, and players everywhere share the same question:
"Which boss is actually the hardest?"
Before facing these brutal encounters, many players prepare by upgrading their builds, optimizing talismans, and gathering powerful Elden Ring items to boost survivability and damage.
Below is the definitive 2025 ranking of the most brutal, skill-checking, controller-breaking bosses in the Shadow Realm—based on community consensus, player data, and thousands of real fight recordings. More importantly, you'll get practical strategies for beating each one without resorting to cheese. Let's dive in.
10. Divine Beast Dancing Lion
A chaotic opener that punches far above its place in the DLC, the Dancing Lion is a storm of twisting movement, unreactable charges, and unpredictable elemental shifts.
Why It's Hard
Erratic movement makes it difficult to stay locked on.
Lightning/ice/fire transitions require fast adaptation.
Punishes greedy melee players hard.
How to Beat It
Stick to diagonal dodges, never backward rolls.
Abuse has a long recovery after slam attacks.
Bring lightning or bleed—both work extremely well.
Don't fight in the center; circle the arena edges to limit its angles.
9. Messmer the Impaler
One of the most visually stunning fights in the DLC—and one of the most aggressive. Messmer mixes serpentine grabs, fiery explosions, and combo chains that punish panic rolls.
Why It's Hard
His grab attack is infamous: long range, deceptive, and often one-shots.
Phase 2 summons swarms that overwhelm players.
Messmer rarely gives you breathing room.
How to Beat It
Roll into his attacks, not away.
Ranged builds: Use vertical spacing when the serpent minions appear.
Melee builds: punish the end of his three-hit thrust combo—the safest window.
Consider fire resistance talismans to reduce burst damage.
8. Putrescent Knight
An optional boss—but absolutely not optional in terms of challenge. This massive knight gallops around the arena like a corrupted warhorse from hell.
Why It's Hard
Constant movement makes him tough for melee builds.
Charge attacks cover a huge distance, limiting punish windows.
His rot clouds turn the arena into a hazard zone.
How to Beat It
Use jump attacks; they land more consistently against his tall frame.
Keep mid-range distance; bait his two signature charges.
Scarlet Rot resistance is crucial—bring Preserving Boluses.
Spirit Ashes with mobility (Black Knife Tiche, Latenna) help keep pressure.
7. Scadutree Avatar
If you thought Erdtree Avatars were easy, think again. The Scadutree version is a different creature entirely—faster, angrier, and equipped with AOE nukes.
Why It's Hard
Massive arena-wide explosions.
Delayed AOE timing is designed to catch panic dodgers.
Surprisingly tanky even with upgraded weapons.
How to Beat It
Fight at mid-range: close enough to react, far enough to dodge shockwaves.
Watch for the delayed burst—roll at the last second, not early.
Holy damage is reduced; choose physical or bleed instead.
Torrent use is allowed—take advantage of mobility when needed.
6. Commander Gaius
Think of the most brutal cavalry fight imaginable. Now double the aggression and add poison fumes. That's Commander Gaius.
Why It's Hard
Non-stop pressure—one of the least "fair" fights in the DLC.
Horse kicks and charge attacks are extremely punishing.
Poison buildup adds a timer to the fight.
How to Beat It
Stay on his left side—avoids the majority of kick animations.
Roll toward his spear thrusts; punishing from behind is safest.
Bring Neutralizing Boluses for poison.
Strength builds: Use stagger weapons like Greatswords or Hammers to interrupt him.
5. Twin Moon Knight Leda
Leda and her allies create one of the most stressful multi-phase boss encounters in Souls history. You're fighting aggressive humanoids who hit like bosses.
Why It's Hard
Multi-enemy chaos.
Each ally has unique movesets that stack pressure.
In the final phase, Leda becomes extremely fast and lethal.
How to Beat It
Focus on one target at a time—do not split damage.
Spirit Ashes shine here; pick a tanky summon to draw attention.
Use quick burst weapons (curved swords, katanas) to eliminate allies fast.
Save your Flask for the Leda solo phase.
4. Bayle the Dread
A towering drake wrapped in lightning, rot, and wide AOE destruction. Bayle's attack coverage rivals ancient dragons from previous Souls titles—but hits even harder.
Why It's Hard
Multiple AOE zones that overlap unpredictably.
Lightning breath sweeps that cover the entire arena.
High damage even with 1800+ HP.
How to Beat It
Stay under the chest or between the front legs—it's a blind spot.
Roll toward lightning sweeps, not sideways.
Fire damage is most reliable; lightning resistance gear helps.
Torrent can be used, but staying on foot provides more stability.
3. Death Knight
Infamous for his brutal combinations, instant-kill grabs, and delayed timing designed to break your muscle memory. This boss is the embodiment of "try again."
Why It's Hard
Unreactable spin-to-grab mechanics.
Spirit summon version already insane; boss version even worse.
The health pool is massive.
How to Beat It
Dodge into the spin chain—your instinct to roll away is wrong.
Aim for jump attacks during his recovery frames.
Equip talismans that boost jump damage or stamina for longer pressure cycles.
Bleed damage destroys him—Rivers of Blood, Nagakiba, or Reduvia excel.
2. Promised Consort Radahn
Elden Ring's most legendary general is reborn in this DLC—faster, stronger, and wrapped in Miquella's influence. This is one of the most emotional and punishing fights in the series.
Why It's Hard
The speed difference from the base game is enormous.
Phase 2 introduces radiant AOE shockwaves and homing light spears.
Very few punish windows unless you master timing.
How to Beat It
Memorize the rhythm: Radahn uses delayed attacks to bait early rolls.
Stay glued to his left side; most swings miss or become punishable.
Save Flask charges for Phase 2—its holy damage is devastating.
High absorption talismans (Pearldrake, Haligdrake) are MVPs.
Summons can help, but the fight is designed around 1v1 mastery.
1. Messmer & Miquella (Final Encounter)
The hardest fight in Shadow of the Erdtree—and arguably the hardest from any FromSoftware title.
Miquella's final battles (including the Messmer-linked phases and the ultimate form) demand absolute perfection in spacing, stamina control, dodge timing, and damage management.
Why It's the Hardest
Multiple phases with entirely different movesets.
Extremely fast, radiant-based attacks with delayed timing.
High chip damage even through block builds.
The final phase mixes holy, light, and multi-hit sequences designed to punish panic rolls.
Long fight → more opportunities for mistakes.
How to Beat It
Equip maximum holy resistance (Haligdrake +2, Pearldrake +2).
Learn the triple-delay timing—Miquella always staggers attack hits.
Dodge into radiant light swings; rolling away gets you tracked.
Stay mid-range; long-range triggers his most dangerous light projectiles.
Bleed builds Excel, but frostbite + physical setups also perform well.
Patience wins: do not overcommit, especially in the final 20% HP.
Honorable Mentions
These bosses didn't crack the top 10 but still deserve respect:
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight
Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame
Romina, Saint of the Bud
Ghostflame Dragon
Great fights—but not as punishing as the top ten.
Final Thoughts
Shadow of the Erdtree raised FromSoftware's difficulty bar higher than ever. Each boss in this list challenges a different part of your skill set—movement, patience, stamina, spacing, or timing. Whether you're tackling them solo or with friends, one thing is certain: Every victory in the DLC feels earned.
If you're preparing for tougher attempts or aiming to push builds further, farming Elden Ring runes remains one of the best ways to improve scaling, upgrade weapons, and boost your strength for the DLC's most demanding encounters.
Related Links:
Elden Ring DLC Bosses Guide – Major Bosses in Order and How to Beat Them
Top 9 Must-Use Elden Ring Builds for 2025: Faith, Strength, Bleed, and More
