The Ultimate Elden Ring Boss Checklist: All 207+ Encounters (Base Game & Shadow Of The Erdtree)
As of December 2025, the world of Elden Ring, expanded by the colossal Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, presents a challenge of staggering proportions. The Lands Between and the Realm of Shadow now contain a truly massive number of unique boss encounters, pushing the total count past the 200 mark. This comprehensive guide provides the ultimate, up-to-date checklist, separating the mandatory main bosses from the critical optional fights and the newest additions from the DLC, ensuring no Tarnished misses a single Great Rune or a crucial remembrance.
Far beyond the initial 12 Great Rune bosses, the complete list of unique encounters—including those found in Evergaols, Catacombs, and Legacy Dungeons—is a testament to FromSoftware’s scope. Whether you are a completionist aiming for the "All Bosses" achievement or a new player seeking the correct progression path, this checklist is your definitive companion to conquering every foe from Margit, the Fell Omen, to the final, terrifying encounter in the Realm of Shadow.
The Complete Elden Ring Boss Checklist: Base Game Mandatory Encounters
To complete the main story of Elden Ring and unlock the various endings, a specific set of bosses must be defeated. These are the gatekeepers to progression, often guarding the Great Runes or key areas like the Altus Plateau and the Mountaintops of the Giants. This list represents the core journey of the Tarnished.
- Margit, the Fell Omen: Guards the entrance to Stormveil Castle in Limgrave.
- Godrick the Grafted: The first major shardbearer, found at the end of Stormveil Castle.
- Red Wolf of Radagon: Found in the Grand Library of Raya Lucaria.
- Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon: The second major shardbearer, located in the Grand Library of Raya Lucaria, granting a Great Rune.
- Starscourge Radahn: Found in Caelid after initiating the festival, offering the third Great Rune.
- Draconic Tree Sentinel: Guards the path to the Capital Outskirts.
- Morgott, the Omen King: Found in Leyndell, Royal Capital, and is a mandatory fight to progress to the late game.
- Fire Giant: A massive encounter in the Mountaintops of the Giants, essential for accessing Crumbling Farum Azula.
- Godskin Duo: A challenging double boss fight within Crumbling Farum Azula.
- Maliketh, the Black Blade: The main boss of Crumbling Farum Azula, whose defeat triggers a major change in the world.
- Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: A surprise mandatory fight in Leyndell, Ashen Capital.
- Godfrey, First Elden Lord / Hoarah Loux: The penultimate boss of the game.
- Radagon of the Golden Order / Elden Beast: The final, two-phase mandatory boss of the base game, leading to the various endings like the Age of Fracture or the Age of Stars.
The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: New Major Bosses to Conquer
The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion introduced a significant number of new, uniquely challenging bosses, adding over 80 new encounters to the game, with several being mandatory for the DLC’s main storyline. These fights are designed for high-level characters and often require collecting Scadutree Fragments to boost your power in the Realm of Shadow. The main progression path generally involves these critical encounters:
- Divine Beast Dancing Lion: Often the first major roadblock in the Gravesite Plain, a multi-phased beast that tests a player's mastery of Spirit Ashes and positioning.
- Rellana, Twin Moon Knight: A fast-paced, dual-wielding knight fight that serves as a major gatekeeper in the Cerulean Coast region.
- Commander Gaius: A massive mounted encounter that continues the tradition of challenging Commander fights in the Lands Between.
- Putrescent Knight: A brutal, highly aggressive knight boss, often found in the late-game areas of the DLC.
- Messmer The Impaler: One of the most hyped and central figures of the DLC, this shardbearer is a mandatory fight to reach the final area of the expansion.
- Miquella's Final Encounter: The final, highly anticipated boss of the DLC, whose identity and mechanics are deeply tied to the lore of Miquella and Marika.
Defeating these bosses is crucial not only for the main DLC storyline but also for obtaining new powerful weapons, Talismans, and unique Remembrances. The difficulty spike in the Realm of Shadow is significant, requiring players to fully utilize their build and new abilities.
The True Boss Count: Optional, Field, and Dungeon Bosses
The total number of unique boss encounters in Elden Ring, including the DLC, is estimated to be over 207, making it one of the largest boss rosters in gaming history. This massive number is achieved by counting every unique enemy with a dedicated boss health bar. While many of these are optional, they offer valuable rewards, from unique Spirit Ashes to crucial upgrade materials.
Key Optional Bosses (The Completionist's Nightmare)
For players aiming for 100% completion, these optional bosses are non-negotiable. They are often hidden at the end of obscure questlines or in secret, high-level areas like Miquella's Haligtree.
- Malenia, Blade of Miquella: Located in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. Widely considered the most difficult optional boss in the entire game, her defeat is required for the "Malenia, Blade of Miquella" achievement and her powerful Great Rune.
- Lichdragon Fortissax: Found in the Deeproot Depths, tied to Fia's questline.
- Astel, Naturalborn of the Void: Located in the Lake of Rot, a mandatory fight for Ranni's questline (leading to the Age of Stars ending).
- Dragonlord Placidusax: A secret, multi-headed dragon boss found by laying down in Crumbling Farum Azula.
Dungeon and Field Bosses (The Bulk of the Checklist)
The majority of the 200+ bosses are found in the countless minor dungeons across The Lands Between—the Catacombs, Caves, Tunnels, and Evergaols. These fights often reuse enemy models (like the Burial Tree Watchdog, Erdtree Avatars, or Crucible Knights), but each instance is considered a unique boss encounter for a full checklist. They are essential for collecting items like Golden Seeds, Sacred Tears, and various Talismans.
Examples of Dungeon/Field Bosses:
- Tree Sentinel: The first field boss encountered in Limgrave.
- Night's Cavalry: Found only at night, often patrolling major roads.
- Mad Pumpkin Head: A common boss in early-game caves and ruins.
- Ancient Hero of Zamor: Found in the Giant-Conquering Hero's Grave.
- Black Knife Assassin: Often guarding Evergaols or hidden in Catacombs.
- Fallingstar Beast: Found in various Tunnels and on Mount Gelmir.
Tracking all these bosses requires diligent exploration and often a dedicated checklist tool, as the in-game map does not mark defeated enemies. The sheer volume of these encounters is what gives Elden Ring its incredible topical authority and replayability, urging players to delve into every corner of the open world.
Tips for Completing Your Boss Checklist
Conquering the full roster of Elden Ring bosses is a monumental task. To manage the vastness of the game, focus on a strategic approach:
- Follow the Great Runes First: Prioritize the mandatory bosses to complete the main progression and unlock new areas.
- Clear by Region: Systematically clear all Evergaols, Catacombs, and Caves in one region (e.g., Limgrave, then Liurnia of the Lakes) before moving on. This prevents backtracking.
- Utilize Interactive Maps: Use an online interactive map (like Map Genie) to mark off defeated bosses, as the sheer number can be overwhelming.
- Don't Skip the DLC Fragments: In Shadow of the Erdtree, prioritize collecting Scadutree Fragments. The new bosses are balanced around these power-ups, and attempting them without sufficient Fragments will prove nearly impossible.
- Master the Stance Break: For many major bosses, especially the new DLC encounters, mastering the stance break (Poise damage) is critical. Use heavy jump attacks and skills like the Giant Hunt or Lion's Claw to create openings for a critical hit.
The journey to defeat all 207+ bosses is the ultimate test of a Tarnished. Good luck, and may the grace of the Erdtree guide your blade.
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