It’s time to eliminate another formidable enemy.
The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC brings a massive expansion to FromSoftware and Bandai Namco’s 2022 action role-playing game Elden Ring, and there are a myriad of new opponents to face, including powerful bosses. One of the furthest enemies you can challenge is the Putrescent Knight. Although not required, this haunting duel prevents you from obtaining intriguing rewards.
But it won’t be easy. With a list of powerful moves and a trusty steed, the Putrescent Knight is in for one crazy fight. After defeating this enemy, I’ve gathered everything you need to know in one place. Here is my boss guide on how to beat the Putrescent Knight in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Putrescent Knight: General Tips
Before you head into combat, it’s worth doing some basic preparation. The Rotten Knight is a good way to access the DLC, as you must first sail to the Cerulean Coast, then travel to its southernmost point and search the stone coffin fissure before finally making a jump into the abyss below, where this slimy knight and his gunge-riddled horse await.
Below I’ve put together some general preparation information that you should know before heading into combat.
- Make sure you have enough Scadutree tree fragment upgrades and Blessing of the Revered Spirit’s Ashes upgrades: I personally beat the Putrescent Knight with a level 8 Scadutree shard upgrade and a level 5 Revered Spirit Ash upgrade. You have a bit of wiggle room, but I would aim for these levels to make sure you can deal enough damage and not get killed instantly.
- Make sure you have the Mimic Tear or another higher level summon: This should go without saying, but bring either the Mimic Tear or another highly recommended Spirit Ash, like Black Knife Tiche.
- The Rotten Sandpiper is resistant to frostbite: Don’t expect to use Frosbite to deal huge damage. If this is your primary melee strategy, choose another weapon. I personally used the Sword of Night and Flame, but you can also use the Blasphemous Blade or many other weapons.
- Magic users should focus on the flame: It’s quite simple. Since the Putrescent Knight is not resistant to flame damage, any magical abilities that trigger fire are useful here.
- Rotten Knight also treats frostbite buildup: A handful of attacks, including a particularly nasty move, will cause frostbite to build up if they connect, so make sure you have high resistance and neutralizing boluses on hand.
- You can block the knight’s melee moves, but it’s better to dodge: A melee build using a shield can block the Knight’s attacks without worrying about burst damage, but the amount of stamina damage you’ll take (and the quick nature of the Knight’s moves) means it’s probably best to try to dodge, especially during attacks. when the knight and his horse separate.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Putrescent Knight Boss Guide
Now that you’re ready, it’s time to fight this thing. Here are the moves you should pay attention to and how to respond appropriately.
- The Putrescent Knight begins the battle by charging at you from the other side of the arena: This means you have a few critical seconds to summon your Spirit Ashes and use your Mixed Physick (if applicable).
- At medium and close range, the Putrescent Knight will often open up by throwing his bone weapon like a boomerang: This attack deals low to moderate damage and repeats occasionally throughout the fight. It’s easy to roll underneath and avoid this attack, but since it only happens at close range, you only have to reach for a moment when you see the blade thrown in your direction.
- The knight will charge at you on horseback and strike from side to side: These attacks can be blocked or dodged, and if you’re quick, you can land a hit or two immediately after the knight’s strike.
- Occasionally, the Rotten Knight will jump off his horse and hit you with his weapon: This move has a long duration as the knight launches into the air, but you have to throw or block it, as this attack doesn’t do that. massive Shame.
- IMMEDIATELY after the above attack, the knight will charge you on the ground, and his horse will charge you twice: After the jump attack detailed above, resist the urge to launch an attack, as the Rot Knight will charge at you while spinning like Darth Sidious in Revenge of the Sith. This will be combined with the knight’s horse charging you. These attacks can be blocked, but it’s better to dodge.
- Finally, when the combo above ends, start hitting the knight: Once the attack sequence is over, you will have a few moments where the knight will get back on his horse. This is the perfect time to attack without retaliation.
- At around 60% health, the Putrescent Knight unleashes his most dangerous attack: Once you’ve reduced the knight’s health to around 60% (give or take a shard), the knight summons a cliff of slime from beneath his horse, raising his arms and shooting waves of blue fire onto the arena floor . There are three waves of fire, each dealing high damage but, more dangerously, inflicting a large buildup of frostbite. To survive this, you have to throw Before through each wave of fire. If your timing is slightly off, you will be hit and probably staggered.
- After this happens, the Rot Knight uses a new move where he shoots a wave of blue flame forward: Unlike the previous version, this attack only goes in one direction, so you can move away from the flame instead of having to move forward through it.
A poignant fight
I really enjoyed this boss fight. The atmosphere leading up to it and the beautiful art direction of the arena combined with the unique appearance of the Rotten Knight makes this a fight I won’t forget. It’s definitely a challenge, but once you get the hang of the knight’s moves, you’ll have a much easier time getting through it.
In our review of Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, my colleague Brendan Lowry writes that it is a “game-sized masterpiece of an expansion that will keep players captivated for more of 40 hours, with its new map hosting enjoyable character-driven gameplay. narrative, a diverse collection of treasures and countless secrets to discover.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, which means one of best xbox games And best PC games is now even better.