Elden Ring is a difficult game that builds on the legacy that developer FromSoftware has established for itself. Its games aren't impossible to beat, but the learning curve is steep. The beginning of Elden Ring can feel incredibly punishing.
Confidence can play a key role in anyone's success, so knowing which bosses in the early game are a bit on the easier side can go a long way in boosting your mood before you go off to explore the more dangerous parts of the Lands Between.
Updated March 22, 2023: We've taken another look at this article, as more gamers are trying Elden Ring for the first time and many will want some pointers as to where to go. We've added more details about these easy bosses, including what you can get for beating them.
10 Demi-Human Chiefs
Rewards |
Tailoring Tools, Sewing Needle |
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Located at the end of the Coastal Cave just west of the Church of Ella, the Demi-Human Cheifs bar your way from the Church of Dragon Communion. Dealing with multiple attackers may seem overwhelming at first, but the Chiefs' strikes are relatively forgiving and are a great way of learning crowd control without being entirely overwhelmed.
If you're really concerned with the fight, there's also a summon sign preceding the arena that lets you summon Old Knight Istvan. This is a good option if you're a magic user since it gives you someone to absorb damage and take aggro while you get off your spells.
With the rewards you get from this fight, you'll be able to tailor your armor and progress Boc's questline.
9 Cemetary Shade
Rewards |
Lhutel the Headless |
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Almost every catacomb you'll go through in Elden Ring is an exercise in frustration, but the Tombsward Catacombs serve as a relatively simple introduction. Its boss, the Cemetery Shade, while still a challenge, also won't give you too much trouble. Beating it will get you Lhutel the Headless' ashes, and Lhutel is a very powerful early-game spirit.
As you might expect of a thin creature made entirely of shadow, the Shade doesn't have a ton of health. It can deal a lot of damage, but if you use a summon to distract it, you should be able to dish out more than it can take before it even has the chance to hit you.
8 Scaly Misbegotten
Rewards |
Rusted Anchor |
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Located at the end of the Morne Tunnel, a small mine-style dungeon in the middle of the Weeping Peninsula, the Scaly Misbegotten shouldn't give you too much of a problem, seeing as it's just a slightly harder version of an enemy you'll face in the elsewhere. It attacks with broad, sweeping axe swipes that are easy to avoid and give you plenty of time to punish him afterward.
The creature's scales do give it slight resistance to slashing attacks, but almost any other damage type will take him down with ease. If you're a magic user, almost any spell type will inflict massive damage.
Beating the Scaly Misbegotten nets you the Rusted Anchor, a heavy but very powerful weapon for Strength builds.
7 Bloody Finger Nerijus
Rewards |
Reduvia |
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Now, Bloody Finger Nerijus isn't technically a boss, but this invader NPC will be your first introduction to these types of enemies. They serve as spontaneous pseudo-bosses that add a lot to the lore and narrative of Elden Ring. This enemy will appear when you are traversing the river in Limgrave that leads to both Murkwater Cave and the Murkwater Catacombs.
If you manage to stave off attacks from this Bloody Finger, a friendly NPC named Yura will spawn and help you in your fight. Invading NPC enemies can easily parry your attacks, heal themselves, and also switch weapons and stances, so getting comfortable with fighting and hopefully defeating one is crucial. Beating him, however, nets you his neat dagger.
6 Stonedigger Troll
Rewards |
Roar Medallion |
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The first troll most players come across is likely the one that hops down from a bridge after they sit at the Site of Grace near the Gatefront Ruins. If you want to fight the boss version of this enemy type, you'll have to head to the Limgrave Tunnels located at the northernmost point of the lake residing at the center of Limgrave.
It's a rather close-quarters boss arena that focuses on showing you that the best way to beat a troll is to stick close to it and swing at its ankles. Do this enough times, and its poise will be broken as it falls to the floor, opening it up for even more damage and punishment.
5 Runebear
Rewards |
Spelldrake Talisman |
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The Weeping Peninsula is an area located in the southeastern part of Limgrave and is immediately accessible to you, provided you can cross the Bridge of Sacrifice alive. This area offers plenty of challenges and discoveries, with one, in particular, featuring a boss battle with a slumbering bear.
Once you've made your way through Earthbore Cave, located between Forest Lookout Tower and the Demi-Human Forest Ruins at the northeastern part of the peninsula, you'll come across the Runebear. This giant beast can be quite difficult, and the lack of fighting space and its sheer size will likely cause problems for you. Make sure you bring an extra pair of pants to change into and consider using fire for huge damage.
Beating this boss gets you the Spelldrake Talisman, which protects you against sorceries. This can be crucial for fights against magical enemies, such as Rennala.
4 Patches
Rewards if you spare him |
Grovel for Mercy emote, Golden Rune |
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Rewards if you kill him |
Golden Rune, Spear +7, Leather Armor, Leather Gloves, Leather Boots, Patches' Bell Bearing |
Patches is a recurring character in FromSoftware titles who relishes in trolling you in the games. In Elden Ring, he appears in Murkwater Cave as you attempt to open a chest in an empty room. He accuses you of stealing and hops down from his perch to challenge you to a duel.
If you get him to half of his health bar, he'll plead for forgiveness and ask that you show him pity. Agreeing to this will turn him into a merchant who you can buy and sell items from, as well as let you progress his own personal questline. Just be careful, as Patches is the type of person that can only be trusted for so long.
3 Mad Pumpkin Head
Rewards |
Runes |
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Pumpkin Head is a classic example of a FromSoftware enemy who starts as a boss, but as you progress through the game, they simply morph into normal enemies. You can fight the boss version of this enemy at the Waypoint Ruins. Upon defeat, he'll grant you access to a rather interesting NPC that's critical for those looking to use magic.
Pumpkin Head can drop its neat-looking helmet if you're lucky, but it's this helmet that prevents you from doing any real damage to it from the front. You'll have to maneuver and position yourself behind it after its flurry of attacks to dish out some real damage and hopefully drop it before it goes berserk once more.
2 Beastman Of Farum Azula
Rewards |
Flamedrake Talisman |
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The Beastman of Farum Azula can be found in a boss arena that's oddly similar to the one you fight Patches in. Groveside Cave's entrance can be found to the left side of the small forest separating the Church of Elleh and Gatefront Ruins near the opening area of Elden Ring.
Dealing with aggressive bosses that use combo attacks is something that new players need to familiarize themselves with. That's why this fight with Beastman of Farum Azula is critical to your skill growth as it's an entry-level introduction to this type of enemy.
1 Erdtree Burial Watchdog
Rewards |
Noble Sorcerer Ashes |
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Depending on the direction you traverse once you step into the open world of Elden Ring, the Erdtree Burial Watchdog will likely be the first boss you encounter. This thing may be called the Watchdog, but it's clearly a gargoyle cat. Its movements are rather stiff, and its attacks are telegraphed very well.
It resides at the bottom of Stormfoot Catacombs, and with the use of some Spirit Ashes and Strike-based weapons like the Club or Flail, you'll likely make quick work of it. Just be prepared for additional versions of this thing later in the game that possess certain elemental properties.