As you explore The Lands Between in Elden Ring you can't help but notice a pattern. All the bosses you first encountered in Limgrave either become an average hostile NPC later on, or you'll face them as a duo set in a boss fight.
Well, these duo boss fights have gone down as perhaps some of the toughest battles FromSoftware has ever created. From calling powerful Legendary Spirit Ash summons to upgrading your weapon to the max, you're definitely going to need all the help you can get when contending with more than one boss.
Updated on 13 August 2022 by Charlene Maria Teressa: Since its launch back in February 2022, Elden Ring has quickly risen to cult classic status due to its amazing atmospheric settings and the breadth of its lore. Elden Ring's numerous bosses have elevated boss fights to a whole new level when it comes to Soulsborne games, even lumping in two bosses for the Tarnished to fight simultaneously. Although this list is already quite extensive, we feel it would be remiss to not include an extra four duo bosses.
14 Night's Cavalry Duo
A foe that emerges only at night, the Night's Cavalry boss is already terrifying enough to deal with alone. Charging at you atop their massive, dark mounts, armed with either a glaive or a flail, the Tarnished can encounter this enemy in places like Limgrave or Caelid. But as you delve into more difficult areas of the game, you'll eventually encounter two of them at the same time.
You will find these emissaries of darkness escorting a caravan in the snow-laden plains of the Consecrated Snowfield. Unlike other duo bosses in Elden Ring, the lowly Tarnished has the option of fighting them separately. Although the latter seems the best bet, fighting both simultaneously is a surefire way of upping the ante.
13 Erdtree Burial Watchdog Duo
One of the scariest bosses in the game, this eerie feline makes another comeback in the form of a duo boss battle. Found in the Minor Erdtree Catacombs in Caelid, the Erdtree Burial Watchdog duo sees the three-headed gargoyle use a sceptre while the other wields a sword. Seeing both their tails lit aflame is eerie enough, but watching them slowly rise to their feet merely ups the creep factor.
In a challenging battle, both bosses prove aggressive to the extreme. The Tarnished is hemmed in at all sides, at a disadvantage in this small boss arena. Dodging sword slams, blade thrusts, fire breath, and magical projectiles makes this duo battle an undoubtedly tough one.
12 Perfumer Tricia And Misbegotten Warrior
If it were only Perfumer Tricia you'd be facing, then the battle wouldn't be one to worry about. Throw in a violent Misbegotten Warrior into the mix, and you'll be running for dear life. Located in the Unsightly Catacombs in Altus Plateau, the Perfumer Tricia and Misbegotten Warrior duo is one of the hardest duo battles in the game.
Perfumer Tricia proves excellent support for the aggressive and frighteningly quick Misbegotten Warrior, who deals massive damage with his greatsword. Tricia flings a shower of deadly perfume, which detonates if you don't react fast enough. Both bosses have got each other's backs, and the Tarnished is hard-pressed to defeat them without dying a few times.
11 Nox Swordstress And Nox Priest
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Although this boss duo is a tough one, gaining access to their boss arena is a challenge in and of itself. Located in Sellia, Town of Sorcery in Caelid, the entryway is barred with a magical barrier, which the Tarnished must unlock by lighting all three braziers around the city. Once that's done, you'll be faced with the irritating duo: Nox Swordstress and Nox Priest.
The annoying thing about these two bosses is their extendable weapons. The Tarnished must create tons of distance before leaping in and dealing a deathly blow. Thankfully, the Nox Swordstress and Nox Priest aren't that robust and are easy to stagger.
10 Mad Pumpkin Head Duo
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First encountered at the Waypoint Ruins in Limgrave, battling a lone Mad Pumpkin Head did take some getting used to initially. But once you traverse the Caelid region and find yourself in Caelem Ruins, be prepared to face two Mad Pumpkin Heads.
With one armed with a hammer and another a flail, you've got your work cut out for you. But using the Jellyfish or Wolves summons could really help you out in distracting one while offing the other.
9 Crystalian (Spear) & Crystalian (Ringblade)
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Although they might seem beautifully designed, slender, and fragile, the Crystalians are surprisingly hardy. Any sort of attack seems pitiful, dealing hardly any damage.
Armed with a spear and a ringblade respectively, the latter is extremely annoying, with the ability to do both melee and ranged damage. However, using melee weapons that deal significant bleed and physical damage such as Bloodhound's Fang will be able to wear and shatter their armor. After that, it's fair game.
8 Tree Sentinel Duo
Already one of the toughest early-game bosses you encounter in Limgrave, Elden Ring ups the ante by having you face two of them at the Altus Plateau. You'll notice these Tree Sentinels barring your entry to Leyndell, Royal Capital.
Fighting them one by one is definitely an option, luring one away by shooting an arrow or any projectile. But if you're confident enough to face both of them simultaneously, then hats off to you.
7 Crucible Knight & Leonine Misbegotten
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Facing either of these two alone was a rough ride in and of itself, but when facing both of them in Redmane Castle in Caelid shows that your previous fights were just mere tasters for this fight.
The Crucible Knight and Leonine Misbegotten are aggressive and extremely relentless in their attacks. At first, you're just fighting Leonine, but once you get his health down to a certain extent that's when the Crucible Knight pops into the scene to back up his homeboy. FromSoftware is really trying it with this fight.
6 Kindred Of Rot Duo
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If you detest insects then you will definitely detest this fight. Kindred of Rot are basically a messed-up blend of a centipede and a human.
What's even worse, they can eject these sharp, bladed projectiles from their backs and one-shot you if you're not ready. Found in Seethewater Cave in Mount Gelmir, you're definitely going to want to whip out some Spirit Ash summons for this fight.
5 Abductor Virgin Duo
One of the scariest bosses in the game, seeing these two wheel toward you at full speed is not what you want to see at night. You'd have to wonder what their creators were thinking to create death machines like the Abductor Virgins.
One armed with a sickle that it could detach and fling at you, while the other has Ghiza's Wheel. Of course, watch out for when their lower compartment opens and a pair of hands reach out for a grab attack, because that could be a definite death sentence.
4 Fell Twins
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High off of your victory over Morgott, The Omen King, you progress deeper into Leyndell, Royal Capital. However, that feeling of jubilation would end the moment you cross the bridge in the Capital Outskirts, only to find your surroundings darken, and you find yourself face-to-face with the Fell Twins.
Two grotesque, bloated giants armed with an axe and a scimitar respectively, these hard-hitters will give you a run for your money. One spits golden wraiths, but at least the latter stays far away until you deal with its more eager twin. Thank goodness for small mercies, eh?
3 Crucible Knight & Crucible Knight Ordovis
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First introduced as an Evergaol boss, the Crucible Knight was the hardest of them all to battle. But as you further progress into the game, you'll be given the chance to battle two of them. How exciting.
Located in Auriza Hero's Grave near Leyndell, Royal Capital, two Crucible Knights await your arrival. One is the standard Crucible Knight, while the other, Ordovis, wields a spear with multi-layered blades that can churn like a chainsaw. Oh, and let's not get started on their magical second phase.
2 Valiant Gargoyle Duo
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A fight with these two Valiant Gargoyles is the definition of excruciating and infuriating. At first, it was only one Valiant Gargoyle, but FromSoftware never fails to meet our expectations when it comes to unpleasant surprises... and gargoyles.
Found in Nokron, Eternal City at Siofra Aqueduct, the first Valiant Gargoyle has the ability to send a wave of dark magic by performing an overhead slam. Its partner, however, wields a twinblade that it can use in a variety of attacks. From a cyclone of blades to devastating airborne sweeps, it proves a battle worth fighting.
1 Godskin Duo
The Godskin Duo in Crumbling Farum Azula is one of the hardest duo boss fights in the game. Unlike the other duo bosses on this list, the Godskin Apostle and Godskin Noble's life bar are both one and the same. But that doesn't make this fight any easier.
Even if you kill one of them, they will respawn in a few minutes. Your bob and weave game has to be on point when you're dodging a rolling blubber of death and an endless flurry of black flame from a glorified q-tip.