Mastering the Most Brutal Fights in Elden Ring’s Epic DLC
Shadow of the Erdtree is a brutal love letter to Elden Ring fans who crave punishment and glory. With new lands, deeper lore, and terrifying bosses, FromSoftware has once again created a DLC that challenges even seasoned Tarnished.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to defeat the hardest bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree—including detailed strategies, builds, summons, and tips to avoid rage-quitting.
🛡️ 1. Messmer the Impaler
The First Wall You’ll Hit
Why He’s Tough:
Messmer combines fire magic, long reach, and relentless aggression. He punishes greedy healing and staggered rolls.
Key Tips:
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Equip high fire-resistance armour like the Flamedrake Talisman +2.
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Stay close during phase one. His ranged attacks are nastier than his melee.
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Phase Two (Serpent Form): Dodge toward him, not away. Rolling backward guarantees a hit from his sweeping flame strikes.
Best Build:
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Bleed Dex Build (Rivers of Blood or Eleonora’s Poleblade)
Messmer is susceptible to bleed buildup. -
Use Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche to draw aggro and apply constant pressure.
⚔️ 2. Bayle the Dread
A Dragon Fight That Redefines “Epic”
Why He’s Tough:
Bayle is fast, unpredictable, and has massive AoE lightning attacks. Think Placidusax—but meaner.
Key Tips:
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Lightning resistance is a must (use Boltdrake Talisman +2 and Lightningproof Dried Liver).
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Ride Torrent during open-area phases to dodge his aerial strikes.
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Aim for the legs, then go for the head once staggered.
Best Build:
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Strength/Faith Hybrid (Blasphemous Blade or Dragon Slayer’s Greatsword)
Gives you solid damage and lightning resistance with buffs like Flame Grant Me Strength. -
Use Latenna for long-range constant DPS—she won’t move and can stay safe in wide zones.
🕷️ 3. Midra, Lord of Frenzied Rot
A Lore-Heavy Nightmare With Rot and Madness
Why He’s Tough:
He inflicts Scarlet Rot, Madness, and has a mix of chaos magic and insane AoE burst damage. His patterns feel erratic.
Key Tips:
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Use gear to resist Rot (Kindred of Rot’s Exultation, Preserving Boluses).
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Don’t lock-on during teleport spam—free-cam helps with awareness.
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Use jump attacks to break his poise quickly before his insane AoEs begin.
Best Build:
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Arcane build with Serpent Bow + Rot Arrows to fight Rot with Rot.
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Black Flame spells (Destined Death, Scouring Black Flame) are very effective here.
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Summon Cleanrot Knight Finlay—she resists Rot and heals!
👑 4. Promised Consort Radahn
Yes, He’s Back… and Stronger
Why He’s Tough:
This version of Radahn is faster, has new astral attacks, and is extremely aggressive. His fight is a terrifying blend of beauty and brutality.
Key Tips:
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Memorize attack animations. His new star-calling moves have long windups and big AoEs.
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Save Summons for Phase Two—when his astral projections make things chaotic.
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Use pillars in the arena to break line of sight during meteor storms.
Best Build:
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Heavy Strength Build (Greatsword, Giant-Crusher) with Lion’s Claw Ash of War.
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Mimic Tear is ideal if you’re running high defense and poise.
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Use Boluses and Cerulean Hidden Tear flask for burst spell spam if you’re a mage.
🔥 General Tips for All Boss Fights
1. Upgrade Everything
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Don’t enter these fights with a +6 weapon. Aim for +10 Somber or +25 Standard weapons.
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Keep your Spirit Ashes fully leveled.
2. Use the New DLC Talismans
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Rellana’s Crest boosts fire and magic damage.
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Messmer’s Flame Sigil increases fire attack and defense.
3. Take Breaks
Getting stuck? Stop. Reset. Sleep on it. These bosses are designed to test your timing, adaptability, and patience.
4. Respec When Needed
If your build isn’t working, respec using Larval Tears at Rennala. Shadow of the Erdtree encourages experimentation.
🎮 Best Spirit Ashes to Use
| Spirit Ash | Strengths |
|---|---|
| Mimic Tear | Mirrors your build, durable |
| Black Knife Tiche | Aggressive, evasive assassin |
| Latenna | Ranged DPS, stays out of danger |
| Cleanrot Finlay | Healing and tanking support |
⚙️ Optional Bosses Worth Mentioning
These may not be part of the main path, but they’re brutally memorable:
🐺 Lorne the Bloodhowler
Bleed-focused wolfman with lightning-fast dual swords. Stay aggressive.
👹 Thornshade Matriarch
Summons blood minions and stuns frequently. Use fire spells to crowd control.
✍️ Final Thoughts: Embrace the Pain
Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t just harder—it’s smarter. These bosses force you to evolve your playstyle, whether you’re a veteran or returning Tarnished.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Every death is a lesson. Every boss is a dance. And when you finally land that last hit on Radahn or hear Messmer scream his final words—you’ll remember why you came back to the Lands Between.
Good luck out there. And remember…
“A Tarnished may fall, but never breaks.”
Written by Gamink | July 2025
