Elden Ring’s open-world element is certainly exciting, but it can be a little overwhelming. After all, you could be strolling along, enjoying a few good fights, using your Jellyfish Mimic to help you out, and dodging like a pro, but all of a sudden you stumble upon someone that brutalizes you in one hit. A little demoralizing, right? Well, we’ve put together a quick guide that should help you know what main bosses you should fight in which order so that you don’t find yourself overwhelmed as you work through the world.

The main bosses

These guys are the bosses you have to fight and are a part of Elden Ring’s main story, so they are your main focus for most of the game. However, being a Souls game, even their plot importance doesn’t mean that you have to do them in order. It’s the Dark Souls way. So, here’s the order we recommend based on who’s easier to fight and what makes the most sense:

  • Margit, the Fell OmenGodrick the GraftedRed Wolf of RadagonRennala, Queen of the Full MoonGodfrey, First Elden LordMorgott, the Omen KingFire GiantMaliketh, the Black BladeGodfrey, First Elden LordHoarah Loux, Warrior Radagon of the Golden OrderElden Beast

Now, while Elden Ring gives you more freedom than any other Souls game, there are some bosses that require objects from other bosses for you to fight them. The important bit is that you need to acquire two Great Runes before you can go to Leyndell and fight Draconic Tree Sentinel. You can get those runes from Godrick, Renalla, or Starscourge Radahn. You’ll also need to best Margit to fight Godrick and Red Wolf to take on Renalla. So, keep things like that in mind as you make your way through the main bosses of Elden Ring.

All the others

While there are a collection of main bosses that you normally have to fight to progress the story, there are, of course, a bunch of others wandering around the game. Over a hundred, actually, so there are a lot of scary, fantastic, Souls-esque monsters for you to find. Below, we’ve broken them out into general level-and-location-based rules to help you figure out which optional bosses you can fight.

Limgrave: Level 1-20

  • Soldier of GodrickTree SentinelAncient Hero of ZamorBeastman of Farum AzulaBlack Knife AssassinBloodhound KnightBurial Tree Watchdog DarriwilCemetery ShadeCrucible KnightDemi-Human ChiefFlying Dragon AgheelGrafted ScionGrave Warden DuelistMad Pumpkin HeadNight’s CavalryPatchesStonedigger TrollLion GuardianDemi-Human QueenBloody Finger NerijusGuardian GolemRecusant HenricusTibia MarinerAnastasia, Tarnished-EaterBell Bearing HunterDeathbirdOld Knight IstvanUlcerated Tree Spirit

Weeping Peninsula: Level 30-40

  • Burial Tree Watchdog + ImpsRunebearNight’s CavalryDeathbirdCemetary ShadeErdtree AvatarScaly MisbegottenMiranda The Blighted BloomAncient Hero of ZamorLeonine Misbegotten

Liurnia of The Lakes: Level 40-50

  • Cleanrot KnightRoyal Knight LorettaBurial Tree WatchdogTibia MarinerNight’s CavalryPerceptor MiriamGodskin NobleDeathbirdAdan, Theif of FireAlabaster LordBloodhound KnightBols, Carian KnightCrystaliansRing Blade CrystalianBell Bearing HunterErdtree AvatarDeathbirdErdtree AvatarGlintsone Dragon SmaragMagma Wyrm MakarOmenkillerRoyal RevenantSpirit-Caller SnailDeath Rite BirdEdgar The RevengerOmenkillerDragonsRed WolfAlecto, Black Knife RingleaderGreat Horned TragothRavenmount AssassinMoongrum, Carian Knight

Ainsel River: Level 50-60

  • Dragonkin Soldier of NokstellaBaleful ShadowDragonkin SoldierPutrid Tree SpiritAstel, Naturnborn of The Void

Caelid Wilds: Level 60-70

  • Starscourge RadhanCleanrot KnightsCommander O’NeilMagma WyrmErdtree AvatarErdtree Burial WatchdogMad Pumpkin HeadKnights of The Great Jar Frenzied DuelistDecaying EkzykesCemetary ShadeNight’s CavalryDeath Rite BirdMillicentNox Swordstress & Nox PriestFallingstar BeastBattlemage HuguesElder Dragon GreyrollCrystaliansGodskin ApostleBell Bearing HunterBeastman of Farum AzulaFlying Dragon GreyllBlack Blade KindredGurranqMisbegotten Warrior & Crucible Knight

Atlus Plateau: Level 60-80

  • Ancient Dragon LansseaxMisbegotten Warrior & Perfumer TriciaGodefroy The GraftedNight’s CavalryDemi-Human Queen GilikaTibia MarinerNecromancer Garris & Black Knife AssassinErdtree Burial Watch Dog Eleonora, Violet Bloody FingerStonedigger TrollMaleigh Marais, Shaded Castle CastellanElemer of The BriarRileigh The IdleSanguine NobleWormfaceGodskin ApostleCrystaliansBlack Knife AssassinOmenkiller & Miranda The Blighted BloomFallingstar Beast Tree Sentinel

Siofra River (50-60) and Mohgwyn Palace (110-140)

  • Mimic TearAncestor SpiritRegal Ancestor SpiritDragonkin SoldierValiant GargoylesNam,less White Mask Mohg, Lord of Blood

Deeproot Depths: Level 80-90

  • Minor ErdtreeCrucible Knight SiluriaFia’s ChampionsLichdragon Fortissax

Mt. Gelmir: Level 80-100

  • Anastasia, Tarnished-EaterGrafted ScionDemi-Human Queen MargotUlcerated tree SpiritKindred of RotRed Wolf of The ChampionFull-Grown Fallingstar BeastWormfaceFire PrelateMagma WyrmDemi-Human Queen MaggieAbducted VirginInquisitor GhizaGodskin NobleRykard, Lord of BlasphemyTanith’s Knight

Leyndell, The Capital: Level 90-110

  • Ulcerated Tree SpiritTwinblade GargoyleMargit, The Fell OmenBell Bearing HunterDeathbirdOnyx LordThe Loathsome Dung EaterDraconic Tree SentinelGrave Warden DuelistCrucible Knight Ordovis & Crucible KnightErdtree AvatarGargoyleVargram & WilhelmBlack Knife AssassinFell TwinsMohg, The Omen

Mountaintops of the The Giants: Level 100-120

  • Night’s CavalryBlack Blade KindredAncient Hero of ZamorUlcerated Tree SpiritErdtree AvatarJuno HoslowDeath Rite BirdTibia MarinerCommander NiallVyke, Knight of The RoundtableChief Guardian Arghanthy Borealis The Freezing FogSpirit-Caller Snail & Godskin ApostleBloody Finger OkinaPutrid Grave Warden DuelistAstel, Stars of DarknessSanguine NobleAnastasia, Tarnished-EaterGreat Wyrm TheodorixMisbegotten CrusaderPutrid AvatarDeath Rite BirdBlack Knife AssassinLoretta, Knight of The HaligtreeMalenia, Blade of Miquella

Crumbling Farm Azula and Leyndell, Ashen Capital: Level 120-150

  • Mad Tongue AlberichEnsha of The Royal RemainsAncient DragonWormfaceGodskin DuoRecusant BernahlDraconic Tree SentinelDragonlord PlacidusaxBeast ClergymenSir Gideon Ofnir