Why do I keep dying to early bosses?

Often it is greed, low health or unspent runes. Level vigor and attack less often.

Is it okay to use summons?

Yes. Summon signs and spirit help are built into the game.

Should I skip Godrick?

He is optional in Stormveil Castle, but he gives a Great Rune and 20,000 runes.

What if a boss feels too hard?

Explore elsewhere, level up, find a new weapon, then return.

How to Beat Early Elden Ring Bosses Without Frustration

Early bosses stop many new players. That is normal. The game expects you to lose a few times and learn. These tips work for most fights, and we add facts from the Elden Ring Wiki on two common early bosses.

Key takeaways

Learn one attack at a time, then add the next.
Use summons and spirit help when you need them.
Level up or explore when a fight feels stuck.
Do not carry unspent runes into a hard fight.

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree – Gameplay Reveal · YouTube

General habits that help

Spend runes before the fight, so a loss costs you nothing.
Take a first try just to watch the moves.
Roll toward attacks, not away, when the timing is right.
Heal only when the boss has finished a move.
Attack once or twice, then step back. Greed gets you hit.
Take a break after a few losses.

Use the tools the game gives you

Many bosses have summon signs near the fog gate. Some NPCs also help. Spirit ashes can pull attention away from you. Using them is part of the design. Do not feel bad about it.

These screenshots may contain violence.

Images are provided by Steam and belong to their publishers.

Two bosses compared

	Margit, the Fell Omen	Godrick the Grafted
Where	Stormveil gates, Limgrave	Stormveil Castle (optional)
HP	4,174	6,080
Runes	12,000	20,000
Phase two	At 60 percent HP	At 60 percent HP
Help	Sorcerer Rogier summon	Nepheli Loux summon, if you spoke to her

Against Margit, the wiki says he is vulnerable to blood loss and has a weakness to slash. Against Godrick, watch the arm chop in phase one and stay clear of the axe. His wind attacks often follow you, so dodge after the cyclone. The arena has gravestones that can get in your way.

When to walk away

If you lose many times in a row, leave. Explore Limgrave, find a better weapon, or raise vigor. A stronger character makes the same fight easier. Check our stats guide if you are unsure what to raise.