Key Takeaways
- Select bosses drop substantial amounts of runes in Elden Ring, like Gideon Ofnir and Loretta.
- Boss fights in Elden Ring can pose challenges like crowd control, tricky attacks, and high health pools.
- Optional bosses such as Malenia the Severed and Bayle The Dread offer hefty rewards but present tough fights.
Progression in Elden Ring can be tough. While the start of a player’s journey in the Lands Between will likely see them rolling through the mobs of basic enemies with ease, all that it takes is one tricky boss to start a difficulty spike.
Players will often have to roam around, looking for places to get stronger before they continue to tackle the main path. The open world lends itself to facing enemies in an order controlled by players, so it can be helpful to know which bosses yield the greatest rewards. Here are the bosses that drop the most runes, ranked in order of their rewards.
Updated September 14, 2024 by Connor Hogg: Despite the introduction of the massive Shadow of The Erdtree expansion, the tried and true bosses in FromSoftware’s epic journey across the Lands Between still drop their masses of runes when the player bests them. However, with the new areas and challenges posed by the Land of Shadow, there are plenty of new bosses to challenge for players looking to level up quickly.
18 Rykard, Lord Of Blasphemy
130,000 Runes
- Health: 89,613
- Strong Vs Fire
- Also drops Rykard’s Great Rune, Remembrance of the Blasphemous
The heretical son of Rennala and Radagon, Rykard has become part of an immortal snake and is the Shardbearer residing in Volcano Manor. As players can choose which Shardbearers to defeat while on their journey, some fans may never fight, or even discover the location of Rykard.
This can be a challenging boss fight, but the Serpent Hunter Greatspear that can be found earlier in Volcano Manor will make the battle much easier with its unique effects against this boss.
17 Godskin Duo
170,000 Runes
- Health: 26,350
- Strong Vs Holy & Fire
- Also drops Smithing Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing (4)
A boss that is required to progress through the story, the Godskin Duo is an uneven fight. Located in the Crumbling Farum Azula, a Godskin Apostle, and a Godskin Noble – both fights that players could have encountered earlier in the game – fight together with a shared health bar.
If either of the pair dies in the combat, they can be brought back to life by their partner, which can make this fight quite tricky. If the attacks line up awkwardly, players can have a really hard time, but the runes that this fight rewards make progression from this point inevitable.
16 Great Wyrm Theodorix
180,000 Runes
- Health: 25,649
- Strong Vs Fire & Frostbite
- Also drops 3 x Dragon Heart
Although it can be tempting to avoid the trickier optional bosses, Great Wyrm Theodorix gives a worthy reward for such a challenging boss fight. In the frozen river at the Consecrated Snowfield, the wyrm will pose a threat to any who is near him with his flaming attacks.
A troll soldier who was transformed into his bestial form after he engaged in dragon communion, he attacks the same way as a magma wyrm boss, but with much more health and much more potential damage output. If players find him, he could be an effective early windfall of runes.
15 Fire Giant
180,000 Runes
- Health: 42,363
- Strong Vs Fire & Frostbite
- Also drops Remembrance Of The Fire Giant
In one of the most important parts of Elden Ring‘s story, the Tarnished must acquire the fire, protected by a lone giant, to burn the Erdtree. The defender giant is a mandatory boss to further the story, but the 180 thousand runes that he drops make the fight more than worth it.
To beat this boss, players should remember to use their steed, Torrent, intelligently. Many of the Fire Giants attacks are slow but do massive damage, so low-vitality characters should take extra care.
14 Gideon Ofnir
180,000 Runes
- Health: 6226
- Strong Vs Slash and Immune to Death Blight
- Also drops the All-Knowing Armor Set and Scepter
An ally who turns against the player, Gideon Ofnir is a necessary boss fight, but players have a lot of freedom when they actually choose to combat him.
Gideon is a caster with a bevy of projectile attacks that can quickly shred through player health, so it is important to use the pillars in the boss room as cover and to close any distance so that he can be interrupted when he tries to cast his bigger, more potent spells.
13 Loretta, Knight Of The Haligtree
200,000 Runes
- Health: 13,397
- Strong Vs Magic, Fire, Hemorrhage & Frostbite
- Also drops Loretta’s Mastery and Loretta’s War Sickle
Loretta can be missed entirely unless the Tarnished wants to fully explore the Haligtree and get to Malenia. For any who do challenge Loretta, the warrior will ride into battle atop a fierce steed and will attack using both magical arrows that can track the player and a large sickle that she can also imbue with magic.
The fight can be difficult, but for most players who have gotten to the Haligtree it will not be too much of a challenge; any players who can keep some space between themselves and Loretta will be at an advantage.
12 Maliketh
220,000 Runes
- Health: 10,620
- Strong Vs Holy & Sleep
- Also drops Remembrance of the Black Blade
Queen Marika’s Shadow-bound beast himself, Maliketh the Black Blade reveals himself after players have dealt enough damage to the Beast Clergyman. This is an important boss fight in the story, as Maliketh protects the Rune of Destined Death which players must acquire.
A very tricky fight that can be punishing for any playstyle, fans should remember to use the terrain to their advantage when dodging Maliketh’s slashing projectiles. It may also be useful to use the Blasphemous Claw, a unique item that allows for special parries exclusively in the fight against Maliketh.
11 Death Rite Bird (Snowfield)
220,000 Runes
- Health: 17,625
- Strong Vs Lightning & Pierce and Immune to Hemorrhage, Frostbite & Poison
- Also drops Explosive Ghostflame
Rewarding the same colossal amount of runes as Maliketh, the Death Rite Bird closest to the Apostate Derelict is a winged skeletal creature that can fly overhead, slash at the Tarnished, and spew ghostflame magic that can be hard to avoid.
The huge pay-off can make this a tempting boss to seek out, despite it being entirely optional. To make the fight a little easier, Holy Water pots can be used effectively against the undead enemy. The enemy’s range and large attacks can still pose an issue, so players should think carefully about whether to fight the strongest Death Rite bird or not.
10 Rellana, Twin Moon Knight
240,000 Runes
- Health: 29,723
- Strong Vs Slash and Magic
- Also drops Remembrance of the Twin Moon Knight
One of the bosses from the massive Shadow of The Erdtree expansion, Rellana poses a unique challenge to players in the East Wing of Castle Ensis. While the boss is entirely optional, the huge amount of runes that Rellana drops make this a tempting challenge, if a very difficult one.
The sister of Rennala, she wields Twin Blades that harness the power of Glintstone and Flame to unleash flurries of attacks that can break through most player defenses. While this fight can be a challenge to many fans, using effects like Lightning and Sleep can help even the odds.
9 Dragonlord Placidusax
280,000 Runes
- Health: 26,651
- Also drops Remembrance of the Dragonlord
Hidden in the heart of Crumbling Farum Azula, Dragonlord Placidusax is a brutal boss. His imposing arena means that the Tarnished may struggle to find safety during the battle and the previous Elden Lord will use a variety of techniques to take out the player. Placidusax uses lightning attacks, flame breath, hulking swings, and stomps, and even spits golden flame as he tears around the map.
This is an entirely optional boss fight, which means that for some players this tricky combat will not be worth it; some of the other optional bosses on this list are much simpler to defeat. However, his special remembrance drop, Remembrance of the Dragonlord, can be forged into a powerful weapon that could make this a worthy challenge.
8 Godfrey, First Elden Lord
300,000 Runes
- Health: 21,903
- Strong Vs Holy & Sleep
- Also drops Remembrance of Hoarah Loux
The first husband of Queen Marika, Godfrey is one of the final bosses in the main route of Elden Ring. He defends the Erdtree, blocking the player from making their way inside. The fight against him is split into two phases: one against Godfrey and one against his berserker alter ego, Hoarah Loux.
The 300,000 rune reward can make a huge difference in the following battles, but the fight itself can be a challenge. Players should ensure they try to jump over any of this boss’s slam attacks with areas of effect and learn the patterns in Hoarah Loux’s nasty grabs.
7 Messmer The Impaler
400,000 Runes
- Health: 38,981
- Strong Vs Fire
- Also drops Remembrance of the Impaler and Messmer’s Kindling
A boss that must be defeated to advance the Shadow of the Erdtree‘s story, Messmer the Impaler is a child of Marika who was hidden from the Lands Between, perhaps due to his psychotic and obsessive nature and his violent purging of the beings in the Land of Shadow. Utilizing fire spells and a two-headed snake that will attack alongside him, Messmer awaits the Tarnished in the Shadow Keep and will be difficult to take out for any players trying to burn through foes with Fire damage.
Messmer has frightening reach with his spear and can force players to distances where they may not be able to deal damage to the tall demi-god. Staying close to him will make all the difference, but his swift combos and defensive ability will make him a potent threat no matter how skilled a player is.
6 Midra, Lord Of Frenzied Flame
410,000 Runes
- Health: 47,171
- Strong Vs Fire, Poison & Scarlet Rot
- Also drops Remembrance of the Lord of Frenzied Flame
Another optional DLC boss, Midra was once a great Sage who was corrupted by the Frenzied Flame and who was kept alive and dormant by the Hornsent in the Land of Shadow. Midra continued to live in pain in Midra’s Manse. When the Tarnished arrives, Midra finally becomes the Lord that he wanted to be in a previous age.
His attacks are strange and very powerful; the Tarnished will face off against combo attacks, massive grabs, and swings of a flaming greatsword that has massive sweeping hitboxes. With summons that will crawl toward the player and interrupt attacks, as well as an explosion that can deal huge damage and potentially kill a player in one attack, the Tarnished should time their attacks when Midra finishes a swing and be ready to run as far away as possible when the flames get too hot.
5 Mohg, Lord Of Blood
420,000 Runes
- Health: 18,389
- Strong Vs Fire
- Also drops Mohg’s Great Rune & Remembrance of the Blood Lord
A completely optional boss hidden underground, where players can find Miquella – who will be a central character in the Shadow of The Erdtree DLC – Mohg, Lord of Blood awaits the Tarnished. Mohg is one of the shardbearers needed to finish the story, but he can be quite separate from the rest of the game and some players will not even be aware of the blood sorcerer’s presence under the Lands Between.
Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear can be unlocked after defeating him, but the heap of runes is the bigger reward. His blood loss effect can be devastating but if players can collect Mohg’s shackle, the item can be used to halt him completely for a few moments, giving players a chance to get in a good few hits.
4 Malenia the Severed
480,000 Runes
- Health: 33,251
- Strong Vs Poison, Rot & Holy
- Also drops Malenia’s Great Rune & Remembrance of the Rot Goddess
Malenia has become an infamous boss and is undoubtedly one of the hardest bosses in any of FromSoftware‘s titles. A sorrowful, plague-ridden warrior who strikes with rapid swipes from her saber and transforms in a second phase into a winged goddess who inflicts scarlet rot on many of her attacks.
As Malenia heals from every attack that she lands, the huge rune reward may be insufficient compared to the number of attempts that many fans may take to learn her moves and finally defeat her. Some of her more powerful attacks are best to flee from, and when she enters her second phase she will test even the hardiest of ‘Souls-like’ veterans.
3 Bayle The Dread
490,000 Runes
- Health: 41,612
- Strong Vs Every Element
- Also drops Heart of Bayle
At the Summit of Jagged Peak in the Land of Shadow the ancestor of the drakes dwells with crackling flames and lightning. Dropping one of the largest amounts of runes, although only accessible in the DLC expansion, Bayle is huge but nimble and can pose a real threat to players, especially those without a method for dealing extra damage to dragons.
While any element that the Tarnished uses will have its damage negated against Bayle, players who can outmatch the ancient creature will be rewarded with the second most runes in the entire game and the Heart of Bayle. This item can be traded in at the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion for a hugely powerful incantation that channels the bones of long-dead dragons to inflict flaming lightning damage on foes.
2 Elden Beast
500,000 Runes
- Health: 22,127
- Strong Vs Holy
- Also drops Elden Remembrance
The final boss in Elden Ring‘s epic story, the Elden Beast fight begins as a battle against Radagon of the Golden Order, the consort of Queen Marika, inside the Erdtree. When the player defeats Radagon, though, the real enemy emerges. The Elden Beast is a colossal cosmic horror that oozes across the void-like arena with a flurry of tracking magic bolts, sweeping projectiles, and heavy slam attacks.
Given that he is the final boss, the runes he rewards on defeating him can set the player up happily to continue to explore the Lands Between after the ending cutscene to see anything that they missed. If the Tarnished can stay close and stagger the beast, they can even stop him from ever going into the air where he will deliver some of his most devastating attacks.
1 Promised Consort Radahn
500,000 Runes
- Health: 46,134
- Strong Vs Slash, Strike, Magic, Fire Lightning & Holy
- Also drops Remembrance of a God and a Lord
Before he fell to Scarlet Rot, Radahn had vowed to become Miquella’s consort, which would allow his half-brother to become a god. At the conclusion of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC’s story, Miquella and Radahn are brought together, and Radahn’s soul is renewed to allow the champion and his consort to fight the Tarnished.
This fight can be a real struggle. Radahn uses attacks from Mohg, the Omen who was defiled to allow Radahn’s soul to return as well as using his gravity magic to its fullest potential and using light magic given by his new lord. This two-phase battle is a necessary part of the DLC and has two tricky phases that will force players to play defensively against a slew of mirror images of Radahn that can each attack and pull the player around with their gravity manipulation.
