Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: How to Beat Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers

Step into the Cathedral of Manus Metyr and uncover the secrets of Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers—a mysterious NPC whose questline leads to one of Elden Ring’s most challenging battles. From ringing ancient bells at Finger Ruins to facing the terrifying duo of Swordhand Jolan and Ymir himself, this guide will equip you with the strategies needed to conquer this enigmatic foe and claim his coveted rewards. Are you prepared to unravel the dark lore and emerge victorious in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers is one of the bosses inShadow of the Erdtree. You will face him in the Cathedral of Manus Metyr – he will attack you when you return there after defeating the boss Metyr, Mother of Fingers. Fighting him ends Ymir and Jolan’s quest. The boss is optional – you don’t have to defeat him to continue the DLC. On this page of the guide, we described how to fight the boss and what rewards you will receive for defeating him.

Rewards for defeating

Defeating Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers, rewards players with a variety of valuable items. Upon his defeat, you will receive Ymir’s Bell Bearing, the Maternal Staff, and the complete High Priest Set (including the hat, robe, gloves, and undergarments). Additionally, exploring Yuri’s grave in the Cathedral’s Cemetery unlocks the Cherishing Fingers Sorcery. These rewards make the challenging questline and boss fight well worth the effort for those seeking unique gear and abilities in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

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For defeating the boss, you will receive Ymir’s Bell Bearing (you can use it to buy his assortment in the Roundtable Hold), Maternal Staff and High Priest set .

Ymir in a nutshell

Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers, is an optional boss in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, located in the Cathedral of Manus Metyr in the Scadu Altus region. Known for his eerie finger-creep summons and magical attacks, Ymir is surprisingly one of the easiest bosses in the game. To access his fight, players must complete his questline, which involves solving map puzzles and defeating Metyr, Mother of Fingers. The encounter begins with an invasion by Swordhand of Night Jolan, whose Bleed-inflicting katana poses a greater challenge than Ymir himself. Once Jolan is defeated, Ymir appears on his throne, relying on slow summons and teleportation rather than melee combat. Defeating him rewards players with Ymir’s Bell Bearing, the Maternal Staff, and the High Priest Armor Set3.

1. Before fighting Ymir, you must face Jolan – she wields a katana with both hands or paired with a small buckler. This makes her very vulnerable to aggression, as her attacks are easy to interrupt and she cannot fully block your attacks.
2. Be careful when Jolan points her katana sideways while holding it in one hand – she’s about to make several very quick cuts around herself. Move away from her to avoid the attack.
3. Watch out mainly for air attacks and a quick double slash.
4. Ymir himself is not dangerous – the main threat are the crawling fingers that the boss can summon. Get rid of them first, because they are more dangerous than the boss himself.
5. When fighting the fingers, keep an eye on Ymir – he will shoot homing magic missiles at you, which you must avoid.
6. Once you eliminate the fingers and get close to Ymir, he is almost defenseless – he can only use very weak attacks with his staff or cast a repulsion spell by hitting the ground with the staff.
7. Occasionally, the boss will try to escape by teleporting – chase him and he will die very quickly.

How to defeat Ymir?

To defeat Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers, players must prepare for a challenging battle that combines magic and melee combat. Count Ymir primarily uses glintstone sorcery and summons Fingercreepers to attack, making it crucial to equip items like the Spelldrake Talisman to mitigate magical damage. Melee builds should focus on staying close to Ymir, using sprinting or jumping heavy attacks to counter his teleportation and avoid his explosive AoE attack when he curls in. Magic builds can target both Ymir and the Fingercreepers with area-clearing spells or incantations. Persistence and strategic positioning are key to overcoming this formidable foe.

Compared to Metyr, Ymir shouldn’t cause you almost any problems. Before you face him, you will have to face Jolan. She wields a katana and a buckler – light armament means that it is very easy to stagger her and interrupt her attacks. By playing aggressively, you can eliminate her very quickly. Mainly watch out for her jumping attacks and her quick double slash straight ahead.

Her most dangerous attack is a quick series of slashes around her – move away from Jolan when she raises her katana to the side, holding it with one hand. You don’t have to move too far away to completely avoid the attack, because it has a short range.

After defeating Jolan, Ymir will appear in the arena. This boss is also not very dangerous – the enemies he summons are more dangerous. Ymir keeps his distance from you, occasionally summoning crawling fingers. Get rid of them right away, but keep an eye on Ymir – he will shoot magic projectiles at you, which you must avoid. When brown gas starts coming out of Ymir’s chest, it means that he is about to start summoning enemies.

Once you eliminate the fingers and get close to Ymir, the Count will be almost defenseless. He can only deal very weak attacks with the staff or cast a repellent spell around himself by hitting the ground with the staff. Occasionally, Ymir may try to escape by teleporting away from you – chase him and you will quickly empty his low health bar.

What are the best strategies to defeat Swordhand of Night Jolan

Defeating Swordhand of Night Jolan in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree requires a combination of defensive and aggressive strategies. Here are some tips to help you overcome this challenging fight:

Strategies for Defeating Swordhand of Night Jolan

1. Parrying and Blocking:

   • Jolan’s attacks can be easily parried or blocked with a shield, which doesn’t consume much stamina.

   • Use this to your advantage by timing your blocks or parries well to create openings for counterattacks.

2. Bleed Damage:

   • Jolan can inflict bleed damage with her sword, so be cautious if you absorb her attacks with your shield.

   • Consider using a shield with high stability to minimize the risk of being staggered.

3. Aggressive Playstyle:

   • If you have a strength build, use successive attacks to break her poise and deal significant damage1.

   • This can be particularly effective if you manage to knock her down, allowing for a critical hit.

4. Stay Mobile:

   • Keep moving to avoid her swift sword strikes. Jolan is agile and can quickly close the distance.

   • Use dodges or rolls to evade her attacks and look for opportunities to strike back.

5. Use the Environment:

   • If possible, try to position yourself in a way that limits her mobility or creates obstacles between you and her.

   • This can give you more time to react to her attacks or set up ambushes.

6. Summon Help:

   • If available, consider using Spirit Ashes to distract her or deal additional damage while you focus on defensive maneuvers.

By combining these strategies, you should be able to effectively defeat Swordhand of Night Jolan and progress through her questline.

What are the weaknesses of Swordhand of Night Jolan

Swordhand of Night Jolan has several weaknesses that can be exploited during combat:

1. Low Poise:

   • Jolan has a low poise, making her easy to stagger with successive attacks. This allows you to quickly break her defense and deal significant damage.

2. Aggressive but Predictable Attacks:

   • While Jolan is aggressive and relentless in her pursuit, her attack patterns leave fairly large openings. This predictability allows you to dodge her attacks and counter when she finishes a combo.

3. Vulnerability to Magic:

   • Magic users can exploit Jolan’s vulnerability to powerful sorceries, which can quickly drain her health.

4. Lack of Ranged Capabilities:

   • Jolan primarily uses melee attacks, making her less effective at a distance. Keeping a safe distance can limit her ability to engage effectively.

By focusing on these weaknesses, you can effectively manage the fight against Swordhand of Night Jolan and emerge victorious.