Elden Ring death knight elden ring encounters present some of the most challenging yet rewarding boss fights in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. These formidable opponents, once the personal guards of Godwyn, now guard ancient catacombs while wielding devastating lightning-infused weapons. As we move into 2025, these optional bosses remain popular targets for both veteran Tarnished and newcomers alike.

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Death Knight Locations in the Lands Between

Death Knights can be found in two primary locations within Shadow of the Erdtree:

  1. Fog Rift Catacombs - Located north of Fog Rift Fort in Scadu Altus. After jumping down from the Scadu Altus - West Site of Grace while riding Torrent, head north past the cemetery to find the entrance to these catacombs.

  2. Scorpion River Catacombs - Found at the end of the river flowing near Temple Town Ruins. The entrance is surrounded by scattered tombs at the far end of the river.

Each location houses a variant of the Death Knight wielding different weapons, with slightly different combat patterns and rewards.

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Death Knight Combat Information

These menacing bosses share several characteristics across their variants:

  • High Poise Value: 80 (can be stance-broken with persistent heavy attacks)

  • Parryable: Yes

  • Vulnerable to Backstab: Yes

  • Damage Types: Standard and Lightning

  • Immune to: Hemorrhage and Madness

The Death Knight at Fog Rift Catacombs has approximately 19,258 HP and drops 110,000 Runes along with Death Knight's Twin Axes and Crimson Amber Medallion +3.

Meanwhile, the Scorpion River Catacombs variant boasts a heftier 24,080 HP and rewards 130,000 Runes, Death Knight's Longhaft Axe, and Cerulean Amber Medallion +3 upon defeat.

Effective Strategies Against Death Knights

"These knights don't mess around - they hit like a freight train but move like they're stuck in molasses. Perfect opportunity to punish!" as veteran players often say.

For Melee Builds:

  1. Equipment Recommendations:

  2. Skills: Sacred Blade or Braggart's Roar

  3. Consumables: Lightningproof Dried Liver

  4. Talismans: Boltdrake Talisman (+3 if possible), Dagger Talisman, Roar Medallion

  5. Combat Approach:

  6. Focus on breaking the boss's stance with heavy attacks

  7. Use the arena pillars for protection against lightning projectiles

  8. Watch for the 3-Swing Combo (two quick swings followed by a delayed strike)

  9. Be especially wary of the Lightning Dash Grab - dodge left or right when you see yellow crackling

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  1. Cheese Strategy (for desperate times):

  2. Use Nightrider Glaive infused with Braggart Roar

  3. Equip items that increase charged attack damage

  4. Perform fully charged combos to repeatedly stance break the boss

For Magic and Ranged Users:

Lightning resistance is crucial regardless of your build. The Boltdrake Talisman provides significant protection, while maintaining distance helps avoid the Death Knight's devastating melee attacks.

Lore Behind the Death Knights

The Death Knights hold a fascinating place in Elden Ring's rich lore. According to item descriptions:

"Golden armor of the Death Knights, adorned with an antiquated depiction of the Erdtree. These knights, once Godwyn's personal guard, quested to find their transfigured master's cadaver surrogate—for the coming age of the Duskborn."

Their equipment further reveals:

"The decayed golden wheel that adorns it represents their unbroken loyalty to Godwyn, he who became Prince of Death."

This connection to Godwyn and the Prince of Death adds depth to these formidable foes, making them more than just challenging bosses but important lore pieces in the overall narrative.

PvP Considerations

In the current PvP meta, Death Knight weapons - particularly the Twin Axes - have become increasingly popular due to their lightning damage and unique move set. Many players find these weapons challenging to counter due to their attack patterns.

When facing opponents using Death Knight weapons in PvP, focus on maintaining distance and baiting attacks before countering. The weapons' attack animations have specific timing windows that can be exploited once learned.

Conclusion

The Elden Ring death knight elden ring encounters represent some of the most well-designed optional bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree. Their combination of lore significance, challenging combat patterns, and valuable rewards make them well worth seeking out for any Tarnished looking to test their mettle.

Whether you're facing them for the first time or on NG+7, understanding their patterns and preparing accordingly will help you emerge victorious from these ancient catacombs. Just remember to bring your lightning resistance and patience - you'll need both in equal measure!

Have you defeated both Death Knights? Which variant did you find more challenging? The community continues to discover new strategies against these formidable foes as we delve deeper into Shadow of the Erdtree in 2025.