Elden Ring Boss Order: Every Main Boss in Order

The main boss order in Elden Ring runs Margit, Godrick, the Red Wolf of Radagon, Rennala, Godfrey's golden shade, Morgott, the Fire Giant, the Godskin Duo, Maliketh, Sir Gideon Ofnir, Godfrey and Hoarah Loux, and finally Radagon and the Elden Beast. That is about a dozen required fights out of the game's much longer boss list, and some of them can be swapped or skipped depending on your route.

This guide lists the critical path in order, explains which bosses you can swap out, and suggests optional areas to clear along the way so you aren't underleveled.

Elden Ring main boss order

GamesRadar counts at least 12 mandatory fights on this path, and PowerPyx describes the same required route: Limgrave, Stormveil, Liurnia, the Royal Capital, the Mountaintops and Crumbling Farum Azula. Everything else is optional.

The Great Rune rule

To enter Leyndell, Royal Capital, you need two Great Runes. They come from the Shardbearers, and from the start of the game you can choose any two of these:

• Godrick the Grafted (Stormveil Castle, Limgrave)
• Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon (Academy of Raya Lucaria, Liurnia)
• Starscourge Radahn (Redmane Castle, Caelid)
• Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy (Volcano Manor, Mt. Gelmir)
• Mohg, Lord of Blood (Mohgwyn Palace)

Godrick and Rennala are the usual picks because they sit early on the map and are the easiest of the five. Picking them means Margit and the Red Wolf become required too, since they guard the way to each. If you chose Radahn and Rykard instead, you could skip Margit and the Red Wolf, but both of those Shardbearers are tougher fights meant for later.

Step-by-step route

1. Limgrave and Stormveil Castle

Explore Limgrave first. Get Torrent from Melina, pick up the Spirit Calling Bell from Renna, and clear a few caves and catacombs for runes and upgrades. Then beat Margit at the castle gate and work through Stormveil to Godrick. If you are struggling, our early weapons guide and rune farming guide cover the quickest ways to power up in this area.

2. Liurnia and the Academy of Raya Lucaria

North of Stormveil lies Liurnia of the Lakes. The academy needs the Academy Glintstone Key, which PowerPyx places behind the Glintstone Dragon Smarag. Inside, the Red Wolf of Radagon guards the path, and Rennala is the academy's final boss. Beating her also unlocks Rebirth, which lets you reassign stats with Larval Tears.

3. Getting to the Altus Plateau

There are two ways up:

• Grand Lift of Dectus. Collect both halves of the Dectus Medallion (one is in Fort Haight) and ride the lift up. No boss fight is required.
• Ruin-Strewn Precipice. Go through the tunnels from Ravine-Veiled Village in northern Liurnia and fight Magma Wyrm Makar at the end.

4. Leyndell, Royal Capital

Cross the Altus Plateau to the capital. The Draconic Tree Sentinel blocks the main entrance, though GamesRadar notes there is a way around it. Inside, you face the golden shade of Godfrey and then Morgott, the Omen King. This is a good point to take stock: Mt. Gelmir, Volcano Manor and Caelid are all open and full of upgrades.

5. Mountaintops of the Giants and Farum Azula

From Leyndell, head east through the Forbidden Lands to the Grand Lift of Rold, which takes you up to the Mountaintops of the Giants. Beat the Fire Giant, then rest at the Forge of the Giants. After you speak to Melina there, you are taken to Crumbling Farum Azula, where the Godskin Duo and Maliketh wait.

Be warned that the Fire Giant marks a turning point. GamesRadar notes that events after this fight lock you out of parts of some questlines, such as Goldmask's, unless you have progressed them far enough. If you want a specific ending, check the Elden Ring endings guide before you go.

6. Leyndell, Ashen Capital

After Maliketh, you return to a ruined capital. Sir Gideon Ofnir, Godfrey and Hoarah Loux, then Radagon and the Elden Beast are fought in sequence in this final stretch. Radagon leads straight into the Elden Beast with no chance to refill your flasks, so stock up before you start.

Optional areas worth clearing first

Sticking only to the critical path usually leaves you underleveled. These optional areas sit naturally along the route:

• Caelid and Redmane Castle after Stormveil, for Radahn and the Nokron area he unlocks.
• Siofra River, the underground region below Limgrave, which PowerPyx's walkthrough visits before Caelid.
• Mt. Gelmir and Volcano Manor after reaching the Altus Plateau, home to Rykard.
• Consecrated Snowfield, Mohgwyn Palace and the Haligtree late in the game, for Mohg and Malenia, two of the hardest bosses.

If you plan to play Shadow of the Erdtree, Radahn and Mohg are not optional for you: both must be beaten to enter the expansion. Our guide to starting the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC covers that route.

Shadow of the Erdtree main boss order

The expansion has its own critical path. Based on RPG Site's recommended order, the main fights are:

1. Divine Beast Dancing Lion (Belurat, Tower Settlement)
2. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight (Castle Ensis), which RPG Site notes can technically be bypassed
3. Messmer the Impaler (Shadow Keep)
4. Romina, Saint of the Bud (Ancient Ruins of Rauh)
5. The final fights in Enir-Ilim, ending with Promised Consort Radahn

Collect Scadutree Fragments between each one. Our Scadutree Fragments guide lists blessing levels RPG Site suggests for each boss.

How much should you level between bosses?

There is no official level for each area, and builds vary a lot. A practical rule is to explore each region until the enemies there stop being a threat before taking on its main boss. If you are planning a target level, the rune level calculator shows how many runes it will cost.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct boss order in Elden Ring?

The usual order is Margit, Godrick, Red Wolf of Radagon, Rennala, Godfrey's golden shade, Morgott, Fire Giant, Godskin Duo, Maliketh, Sir Gideon Ofnir, Godfrey and Hoarah Loux, then Radagon and the Elden Beast. Optional bosses can be fought in between whenever you like.

How many bosses do you need to beat to finish Elden Ring?

About 12 main fights are required on the standard route. The exact number depends on which two Great Runes you choose and whether you take the boss-free Grand Lift of Dectus to the Altus Plateau.

Do you have to beat Godrick in Elden Ring?

No. You need any two Great Runes to enter Leyndell, and Godrick is only one option. Rennala, Radahn, Rykard or Mohg can be used instead, though Godrick is the easiest early choice.

Is Malenia required to beat Elden Ring?

No. Malenia is an optional boss in Miquella's Haligtree. She is also needed to make Miquella's Needle for some ending routes, but not for the standard ending.

Is Radahn a required boss?

Not for the base game ending. Starscourge Radahn is optional, but you must beat him, along with Mohg, to enter Shadow of the Erdtree.

What is the point of no return in Elden Ring?

Beating the Fire Giant and moving on to Crumbling Farum Azula changes Leyndell into the Ashen Capital and affects several questlines. Finish quests you care about first, or check which ones are still possible before that fight.