Elden Ring: 8 Hardest Bosses for Mages, Ranked

In Elden Ring, combat diversity allows players to tailor their gameplay to suit their preferences, whether it's relying on nimble melee attacks, swinging massive greatswords, or casting devastating spells from a distance. For mages, magic is often a satisfying way to engage with enemies—dealing massive damage from afar while avoiding direct confrontation. However, not all bosses are equally vulnerable to magic.

 

Some bosses challenge mages with relentless aggression, while others boast high magic resistance, making them formidable foes for those who rely solely on sorcery. To conquer these adversaries, players must strategize and make the best use of Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items to strengthen their builds. Here's a ranked list of the hardest bosses for mages in Elden Ring.

 

8. Radagon of the Golden Order

 

Radagon's intense melee-focused attacks and high magic resistance make him a challenging boss for mages. His rapid movement and ability to close the gap between himself and the player mean that mages must stay constantly on the move.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Use Elden Ring Items like the Flask of Wondrous Physick to boost spell damage and survivability.

    Equip a high-poise shield to block his faster attacks and create openings for casting spells.

 

7. Malenia, Blade of Miquella

 

Widely regarded as one of the toughest bosses in the game, Malenia's relentless aggression, healing ability, and flurry of rapid attacks make her a nightmare for mages. She's especially challenging for those who can't rely on powerful melee counters.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Stock up on Elden Ring Runes to increase your intelligence and equip powerful spells like Comet Azur.

    Use Spirit Ashes such as Black Knife Tiche to distract her while you cast spells from a distance.

    Spells that inflict rot or bleed are effective for chipping away her health.

 

6. Dragonlord Placidusax

 

This massive two-headed dragon may seem like an ideal target for ranged attacks, but his high mobility, devastating area-of-effect (AoE) moves, and massive health pool make him difficult for mages to handle.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Focus on staying mobile and use Elden Ring Items like the Cerulean Hidden Tear to maintain FP during the long fight.

    Spells like Loretta's Greatbow can hit his weak points from a distance.

 

5. Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Phase 2)

 

Godfrey's second phase, where he transforms into Hoarah Loux, is particularly difficult for mages. He closes the distance with lightning-fast grapples and devastating ground slams, leaving little time to cast spells.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Equip high-defense armor to survive his AoE slams.

    Use Spirit Ashes to divert his attention and create windows to cast your spells.

    Farm Elden Ring Runes to increase your vigor for added survivability.

 

4. Mohg, Lord of Blood

 

Mohg's bloodflame incantations and health-draining mechanics make him a tough opponent for mages. His ability to heal during the fight prolongs the battle, leaving mages vulnerable to his relentless assaults.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Use Elden Ring Items like Purifying Crystal Tear to mitigate his health-drain attack.

    Spells with high burst damage, such as Comet or Glintstone Pebble, can interrupt his phases.

 

3. Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy

 

While Rykard seems manageable for ranged characters, his enormous health pool and persistent AoE attacks make this a grueling encounter for mages. His second phase introduces even more chaotic elements, such as lava pools and fiery skulls.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Use the Serpent-Hunter weapon for this fight, as it's specifically designed to counter Rykard.

    Utilize Elden Ring Runes to upgrade the weapon and bolster your survivability.

 

2. Starscourge Radahn

 

Radahn is a massive challenge for mages due to his incredible agility, immense size, and ability to deal damage from afar. His infamous meteor attack in phase two makes this fight even more daunting.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Summon allies to distract Radahn while you unleash powerful sorceries like Rock Sling or Comet Azur.

    Use Elden Ring Items like Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear to increase your magic damage.

 

1. Fire Giant

 

The Fire Giant's enormous size, resistance to magic, and devastating AoE attacks make him the hardest boss for mages. His second phase introduces fire-based attacks that are difficult to avoid and deal immense damage.

 

Tips for Mages:

 

    Stay on Torrent to maximize mobility and avoid his massive AoE slams.

    Use Elden Ring Items like Starlight Shards to regenerate FP during the prolonged battle.

    Target his weak spot (the ankle brace) to deal consistent damage.

 

How Elden Ring Runes and Items Help Mages

 

To stand a chance against these formidable foes, mages must make effective use of Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items to optimize their builds:

 

    Elden Ring Runes:

        Use runes to level up intelligence, vigor, and mind. These stats boost spell damage, health, and FP, all of which are essential for mage builds.

 

    Elden Ring Items:

        Equip talismans like Radagon Icon to speed up casting times.

        Use Crystal Tears to enhance your damage output during critical moments.

        Stock up on consumables like Magic Grease to add elemental damage to melee weapons when needed.

 

Conclusion

 

For mages, the journey through the Lands Between is as challenging as it is rewarding. While some bosses are tailored to counter ranged builds, a well-prepared mage can overcome even the toughest foes by strategically using Elden Ring Runes to boost stats and acquiring the right Elden Ring Items to enhance their magic arsenal. With patience, practice, and a dash of creativity, even the most relentless bosses can be brought to their knees.