Elden Ring is filled with towering bosses that gate progress or define key moments in the main story. But tucked away in forgotten corners of the Lands Between are dozens of optional encounters, many of which offer deeper lore, unique rewards, and some of the most inventive combat in the game. These are the bosses players often miss, either because they’re hidden behind obscure paths or simply not tied to any major quest. Here are the best of them.
1. Dragonlord Placidusax
Location: Crumbling Farum Azula
Reward: Remembrance of the Dragonlord
Placidusax is one of the most visually stunning and mechanically unique bosses in the game. Set in a storm-wracked arena suspended above time, this two-headed dragon can be reached only by lying down in a secret location before the Godskin Duo. The fight includes teleporting attacks, lightning storms, and a rare glimpse at Elden Ring’s ancient past. Many players finish the game without ever realising this boss exists.
2. Lichdragon Fortissax
Location: Deeproot Depths
Reward: Remembrance of the Lichdragon
Only accessible through Fia’s questline, Fortissax is both a narrative and mechanical reward. The fight is brutal, combining delayed lightning strikes, rot breath, and powerful area attacks. Its relevance to the Age of Duskborn ending makes it one of the more meaningful hidden encounters in the game.
3. Regal Ancestor Spirit
Location: Nokron, Eternal City
Reward: Remembrance of the Regal Ancestor
While the standard Ancestor Spirit is memorable, the Regal variant found in Nokron is even more atmospheric. The fight feels like a spiritual ceremony rather than a typical boss battle, and it beautifully showcases the game’s capacity for quiet, melancholic moments. To unlock it, players must light several hidden fires across the Siofra River area.
4. Astel, Stars of Darkness
Location: Yelough Anix Tunnel
Reward: 120,000 Runes
Separate from the more widely known Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, this version is tucked away in the Consecrated Snowfield. Astel, Stars of Darkness is not essential to any ending and is easy to miss. The fight is similar in form but even more aggressive, with sweeping cosmic attacks and increased teleportation. Reaching it involves completing the secret Haligtree medallion and scouring the western edge of the Snowfield.
5. Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella
Location: Ainsel River
Reward: Frozen Lightning Spear
This towering creature guards a dead-end deep within Ainsel River. While not as mechanically complex as some other bosses, the setting, reward, and sheer scale of the Dragonkin Soldier make it a worthy encounter. Its frozen lightning attacks stand out, and the reward offers an unusual but powerful Faith-based incantation.
6. Cleanrot Knight (Stillwater Cave)
Location: Liurnia of the Lakes
Reward: Cleanrot Knight’s Sword, Golden Scarab (from later version)
A seemingly minor side cave hides one of the game’s tightest, most aggressive duels. The Cleanrot Knight inside Stillwater Cave is fast, relentless, and often underestimated. The status effects in the cave itself can be just as dangerous, adding to the tension of the encounter. Later versions of this enemy appear in more visible locations, but the early one is a true test of patience and poise.
7. Misbegotten Warrior & Crucible Knight Duo
Location: Redmane Castle (after Festival)
Reward: Crucible Knight’s Armour
After the Radahn Festival ends, a new boss duo appears at Redmane Castle. This pairing pits players against the quick and erratic Misbegotten Warrior alongside the heavily armoured Crucible Knight. Their synergy makes this one of the game’s more difficult duo fights, and it often goes unnoticed since the area previously served as a gathering ground for the Radahn battle.
8. Black Knife Assassin (Sainted Hero’s Grave)
Location: Altus Plateau
Reward: Black Knife
Unlike the earlier, more predictable versions of this enemy, the assassin lurking in Sainted Hero’s Grave uses a version of Destined Death. Their attacks can reduce maximum HP temporarily, raising the stakes significantly. The weapon dropped here is tied to the game’s deeper lore involving the Night of the Black Knives.
9. Bell Bearing Hunter (Various Locations)
Location: Warmaster’s Shack, Church of Vows, etc.
Reward: Bell Bearings
These shadowy assassins only appear at night when the relevant merchant is gone. They are highly aggressive, striking with massive greatswords and hunting players with uncanny precision. Beating them unlocks Bell Bearings that can be handed to the Twin Maiden Husks, granting access to useful items. Players who only explore during the day often miss these fights entirely.
10. Death Rite Bird (Caelid)
Location: Southern Caelid
Reward: Death Ritual Spear
These skeletal, night-only bosses are some of the game’s most unnerving enemies. The one in Caelid is particularly aggressive, wielding explosive magic and sweeping physical attacks. The ritualistic, almost folkloric tone of these encounters sets them apart. They are rarely telegraphed and easy to miss unless players happen to pass by at night.
Why These Bosses are important
Optional bosses in Elden Ring are not just filler content. They enrich the world, reward exploration, and deepen both the lore and the combat variety. Whether it’s the spectacle of a cosmic dragon, the sudden terror of a night-born assassin, or the haunting majesty of an ancestor spirit, these encounters offer something the main quest does not. They are moments built for those who stray from the path.
Seven Swords Takeaway
While the main bosses drive the narrative forward, it’s often the hidden fights that linger in memory. Players who take the time to uncover these secrets are rewarded not just with powerful gear or runes, but with some of the most distinct moments FromSoftware has ever designed.
Keep your lantern lit, check behind every illusory wall, and don’t always follow the map. The best of Elden Ring often lies just out of sight.
