Even among FromSoftware’s sprawling portfolio, Elden Ring stands unmatched for its bosses, leaving the rest of the competition far behind by combining admirable variety and quantity with exceptional boss fight quality. From the very first trailers, Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and Starscourge Radahn took center stage, quickly becoming iconic and among the most popular and recognizable characters across the studio’s works. Without a doubt, both are standout boss encounters in Elden Ring — memorable, exciting, and extremely challenging — but that doesn’t mean Malenia or Radahn are the best Elden Ring bosses.
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Of course, every Elden Ring fan will have their own preferences when it comes to favorites, be it the spectacular Mohg, Lord of Blood, the climactic final boss, Radagon of the Golden Order, coupled with the game’s main theme, the mysterious and unexpected Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, or the unforgettable reveal of Maliketh, the Black Blade. For me personally, Godfrey, First Elden Lord, or Hoarah Loux, Warrior, represents the pinnacle of Elden Ring boss fights and serves as a highlight of the late-game bosses. Here’s why Godfrey is the best Elden Ring boss.
The Best Type Of Boss In Elden Ring
Mandatory Boss With Two Phases And A Shared HP Bar
Many of Elden Ring’s great optional bosses, including Malenia and Mohg, are so well hidden that they require quite some effort to discover, essentially gating many players from ever facing them unless they deliberately look for a guide. While it can be incredibly satisfying to uncover something hidden, not everyone is ready to go the extra mile. Fortunately, Godfrey is a mandatory late-game boss that players have to face to beat the game and unlock any of the endings.
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In addition, he’s the best type of boss in Elden Ring: one that has two distinct phases, changing from Godfrey, First Elden Lord, to Hoarah Loux, Warrior mid-fight, while sharing a single HP bar. For many fans and me, such fights are the best, commonly feeling the fairest and most dynamic, without relying on cheap tricks like rebirth or forcing the player to fight two different bosses back to back, which quickly makes the warm-up boss phase feel tedious.
Interestingly, in the 1.0 version of the game, Godfrey and Hoarah Loux actually had separate HP bars.
A Fun Fight That Feels Fair
A Legendary Warrior Doesn’t Need To Rely On Overtuned Moves
Not only do Godfrey and Hoarah Loux have a single HP bar with a great second-phase twist, but the entire fight is designed masterfully all around, from the boss’s moveset to the narrative stakes. It’s a boss encounter that can be tackled comfortably by any character build, leaving players plenty of opportunities for both defense and offense, yet still feeling tense and epic at all times.
Mechanically, facing Godfrey is as fun as it gets in Elden Ring, with his mix of stomps, jumps, grabs, axe swings, and large (but slow) AOE attacks. The battle has everything, requiring players to react, maintain flow, and combine evasive moves such as rolls, jumps, and blocks or parries to survive.
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As one of the final bosses in Elden Ring, Godfrey, First Elden Lord, feels like the ultimate test of everything players learned on their journey — without relying on cheap super-attacks, overtuned moves with extreme delays, healing mid-fight, or any other unfair mechanics. Every move reads perfectly, allowing you to adapt in just the first few tries, without dying from some deadly status effect or other unpleasant trick. It’s an enjoyable, tense, and memorable standoff against the mighty warrior that leaves nothing but pure satisfaction after the hard-earned victory.
Earlier, players also get a warm-up fight against Godfrey’s Golden Shade in Leyndell, Royal Capital, foreshadowing their later climactic standoff.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Peak Design That Highlights Hidden Strength
Serosh Holds Hoarah Loux’s Violence Back
Given how exceptional almost every major boss in Elden Ring is, it’s hard to single Godfrey out as the most special, yet the character’s design is absolutely incredible. FromSoftware has honed the art of creating knight and warrior bosses for decades, and they always find a way to exceed their past efforts.
The phantom lion Beast Regent Serosh resting on Godfrey’s shoulders (almost like the Nemean lion) and biting him almost as if serving as a limiter for his true power is one thing, but when the First Elden Lord finally releases Serosh from his duty and fully embraces his violent urges and primordial nature as a warrior, transitioning into a menacing bare-handed wrestler, it’s the very definition of epic.
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Facing Godfrey in Leyndell, Ashen Capital, almost on the same spot where players faced Morgott, the Omen King before, is fitting. Godfrey says his final farewells to his slain son before his corpse slowly dissipates into golden dust, serving as a major wrap-up for Elden Ring’s story arc. There’s just one more step left afterward for players to claim their right as the new Elden Lord. Finally, the music during the boss fight is the cherry on top, perfectly aligning with the boss’ moveset and his mighty stomps, creating a dance-like flow to the battle.
Deep Lore That Reflects Godfrey’s Unmatched Power
Even Godfrey’s Enemies Can’t Help But Respect Him
Lore-wise, Elden Ring is easily one of the best fantasy games ever made, with George R. R. Martin and Hidetaka Miyazaki’s collaboration producing a world and characters as layered and complex as it gets. Numerous characters can literally be studied in hour-long essays, and with all that, Godfrey’s story would rank somewhere near the top. Sharing some parallels and inspirations with Heracles and King Arthur, he is one of the central figures in the history of the Lands Between, the father of Morgott, Mohg, and Godwyn the Golden, and a forerunner of the world that players set foot in.
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Formerly a bloodthirsty warrior known as Hoarah Loux, Godfrey became Queen Marika’s first consort, the first Elden Lord, and eventually became the first Tarnished. In a way, players walk Godfrey’s path, mirroring his deeds and struggles throughout the game, conquering the world and its many dangers, restoring lost balance, and changing themselves in the process. Perhaps that’s why Godfrey treats them with such respect, serving as a testament to the player’s power and their right to sit on the throne.
- Released
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February 25, 2022
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence