Yo, fellow Tarnished! Let's dive deep into the insane world of Elden Ring's boss battles. As we roll into 2026, the legacy of Elden Ring is still going strong, especially with the new Shadow of the Erdtree DLC content fresh in our minds. The Lands Between is absolutely packed with challenges, and a huge part of that is the staggering number of bosses waiting to hand you your own butt on a silver platter. Seriously, the scale is bonkers. We're talking about a world so rich with lore that every major fight feels like a chapter in a dark, epic history book. Whether it's a demigod or a random crystal dude in a cave, each boss adds a piece to the puzzle, making the world feel alive and terrifyingly real. And let's be real, the fandom has memed even the most 'forgettable' bosses into legend at this point.

Just How Many Bosses Are We Talking About? 🤔

Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. If we define a boss as an enemy that gets that big, fancy health bar slapped across the bottom of your screen, then Elden Ring has a whopping 165 separate boss fights. That's not a typo! One hundred and sixty-five! But wait, there's more. This number sometimes counts paired bosses (like the dynamic duo, Crystalian Spear & Crystalian Staff) as a single encounter. Now, if we include all those tough-as-nails mini-bosses that don't get the special health bar treatment—you know, the guys who still make you sweat—the total number skyrockets to a mind-blowing 238 bosses.

Just one of the many, many roadblocks you'll face.

But here's the kicker: you don't have to fight anywhere near that many to see the credits roll. The game is surprisingly flexible.

The "Speedrun" Route: Minimum Bosses for Victory 🏃‍♂️💨

Depending on how you play, only a small handful of bosses are actually required to complete the game. For the ultimate minimalist run:

1. Grab two Great Runes to get into Leyndell. You can snag these from big shots like Starscourge Radahn or Mohg, Lord of Blood without fighting any bosses before them.

2. Head straight to the capital and power through the gauntlet there.

Doing this, you'll only need to defeat about 11 bosses total (counting the final duo, Radagon and the Elden Beast, as one fight). That's it! It's a testament to the game's open-world design—you can choose your own pain.

Enter: The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC (2026 Update) 🌳👻

Of course, the base game numbers are just the beginning. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, which has been the talk of the community in 2026, dumped a whole new bucket of challenges into the mix. While the exact count of new bosses is part of the discovery, we know it added a significant number. The prominence of Messmer the Impaler in all the trailers hinted he'd be a major roadblock (and boy, was he!). But true to FromSoftware form, Messmer might not even be the DLC's toughest boss. The DLC area, comparable in size to Limgrave, offered the perfect playground for many new, terrifying encounters to discover.

The Erdtree watches over all your failures and successes.

Why You Should Fight ALL The Optional Bosses (No, Seriously) 💎

Alright, so you can skip most bosses. But why on earth would you want to? There are significant rewards for seeking out as many bosses as possible, and it's not just about bragging rights.

• Loot, Glorious Loot! Defeating bosses nets you massive amounts of Runes and unique equipment. Those Remembrances from the Shardbearers? They trade for some of the most powerful weapons and spells in the game.

• Skill Check & Power Leveling: Facing optional bosses provides a much smoother difficulty curve. Trying to run straight to Leyndell under-leveled is a recipe for a bad time. Taking on side bosses is the perfect way to "git gud" and power up naturally.

• Lore, Lore, and More Lore: Each boss drops items with descriptions that peel back the layers of the game's incredible story. You want to understand the tragedy of the Lands Between? You gotta beat the bosses who helped create it.

Optional, but oh-so-satisfying to take down.

Some bosses are straight-up trolls by the developers. Some are clearly intended to be faced long after it is possible to discover them. The prime example? The Tree Sentinel right at the start in Limgrave. That guy exists purely to teach new players the meaning of humility (and that running away is a valid strategy).

The Legacy of Endless Challenge 🏆

With well over a hundred potential boss fights in the complete Elden Ring experience (base game + DLC), the game's lifespan is virtually endless. It's not just about the main quest; it's about the personal journey of conquering every challenge the world throws at you.

Boss Type	Approx. Count	Key Examples	Why Fight Them?
Main Story Bosses	~11	Margit, Godrick, Radagon	To progress the narrative and become Elden Lord.
Great Enemy / Mini-Bosses	~73 (part of 238)	Tree Sentinel, Night's Cavalry	For key items, weapons, and essential upgrade materials.
Optional Major Bosses	Dozens	Malenia, Rykard, Dragonlord Placidusax	For ultimate challenges, top-tier loot, and legendary Remembrances.
Shadow of the Erdtree Bosses	A substantial new batch	Messmer the Impaler, New Demigods	To explore the DLC's story and face 2026's toughest new challenges.

The optional boss that broke a million controllers. You know you love her.

Each victory is a story to tell. Whether it's finally beating that boss that had you stuck for days or discovering a hidden foe in a remote corner, these encounters are the heart of the Elden Ring experience. You can tailor your journey to be a swift conquest or a grueling, completionist marathon. The choice is yours, Tarnished.

So, as of 2026, the message is clear: The Lands Between is bigger, badder, and full of more bosses than ever. The 165+ figure was just the opening act. Are you ready to see your "YOU DIED" counter climb into the stratosphere? The bosses are waiting. Don't you dare go hollow! 👊