In the dark, foreboding world of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree, one formidable foe stands tall: the Putrescent Knight. This decaying warrior, with its potent attacks and formidable defenses, has left many Tarnished in ruin. Yet, with the right strategies and a keen understanding of its weaknesses, you can conquer this gruesome knight and claim victory. Dive into our comprehensive guide to uncover the secrets of defeating the Putrescent Knight and emerge triumphant in this epic battle.
Putrescent Knight is one of the bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. You will face him in the Stone Coffin Fissure dungeon on Cerulean Coast, an optional area in the south of the map – we have described how to reach it on a separate page of the guide. She is one of the main bosses of the expansion, but you don’t have to defeat her to continue the main story. 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 the Putrescent Knight in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC yields several valuable rewards. Upon victory, players receive the Remembrance of Putrescence, which can be exchanged with Finger Reader Enia for either the Putrescence Cleaver or the Vortex of Putrescence. The Putrescence Cleaver is a powerful weapon that deals significant physical damage, while the Vortex of Putrescence is a sorcery that unleashes a ring of ghostflame. Additionally, players earn 220,000 runes, which can be used to level up or acquire new equipment. The Remembrance itself can also be consumed for a substantial amount of runes if preferred.
[yt=YR@9Aksz23hwvM]
For defeating the boss, you will receive 220,000 runes and Remembrance of Putrescence, which you can exchange for:
- Putrescent Cleaver – great axe, deals partial magic damage and causes frostbite,
- Vortex of Putrescence – a spell that shoots many rotting projectiles that leave spiritual flames behind.
Putrescent Knight in a nutshell
The Putrescent Knight is a formidable optional boss in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring, located at the end of the Stone Coffin Fissure. This large, decrepit skeleton wields a cleaver and rides a steed, inflicting Frostbite on players. It is immune to Poison, Hemorrhage, Frostbite, Sleep, and Madness, but vulnerable to Holy damage and Scarlet Rot. The fight involves dodging multi-part charging attacks, axe throws, and sweeping attacks, with a second phase featuring flame attacks that require careful jumping to avoid. Utilizing ranged attacks or Holy-infused weapons like the Sacred Relic Sword can significantly ease the battle. Defeating the Putrescent Knight rewards players with 220,000 runes and the Remembrance of Putrescence.
- The boss’s attacks are predictable, but he is very mobile – it will be difficult for you to find safe opportunities to attack.
- One-handed sickle combinations consist of one to three slashes.
- Two-handed sickle combinations most often consist of two attacks.
- When the boss jumps off the horse, he will charge three times in a row. After the first two charges, watch out for the charging horse – after the third charge, you will have the opportunity to attack.
- If you move away from the boss, he will throw the sickle at you. After throwing it, he will perform one melee attack if you are close – dodge towards him and you will be able to attack.
- In the second phase, the boss gains the ability to spit black goo, which turns into fire when it hits the ground. You can jump over the fire – jump in the direction from which the fire is coming.
- You can avoid the series of fiery waves by jumping once towards the boss, standing still waiting for him to spit towards you, then jumping over two waves one after the other.
How to fight the Putrescence Knight?
To successfully fight the Putrescent Knight in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, it’s crucial to exploit its weaknesses. This boss is particularly vulnerable to Holy damage and Scarlet Rot, making faith-based builds or weapons like the Sacred Relic Sword highly effective. For melee players, staying close to the Knight is advisable, as most of its attacks can be dodged with well-timed rolls. The boss often uses a cleaver for close-range attacks and throws it like a boomerang at a distance, so be prepared to dodge these moves. Additionally, using bleed effects can significantly reduce its health. In phase two, avoid the flames on the ground by jumping over them, and utilize ranged attacks when possible to maximize damage output.
Putrescent Knight rides a horse and wields a huge sickle. The boss’s attacks are very predictable, consisting of sickle slashes and occasional kicks with the horse’s hooves. The problem is the boss’s mobility, because after most combos he moves away from you or is so far away that your weapon can’t reach him. So you have to be patient and look for safe opportunities to attack – the fight may last quite a long time. Ranged attacks will be very useful here – e.g. throwable weapons, ranged ashes of war or various spells.
All of the boss’s melee attacks deal only physical damage, so they can be fully blocked with a shield that has 100% reduction of physical damage. The boss usually attacks by galloping towards you, performing several one-handed swings with his sickle. These combos usually consist of three slashes.
Slightly less often, the boss will grab the sickle in both hands and hit you with it from above. These combos sometimes consist of one hit, but more often of two – dodging the second hit towards the boss will allow you to damage him before he moves away.
Occasionally the boss will jump off his horse – be very careful. The knight will perform several attacks and then move away, sending his horse at you. The boss repeats this combo three times. The third combo does not end with the horse’s attack – right after the knight’s attack, you have a moment to attack the boss.
When the boss moves away from you, he can throw the sickle at you. Right after the throw, he will perform one attack if you are within his range – you can dodge towards the boss, which will give you a moment to attack.
The second phase of the fight begins when the boss drops to half health. The only difference is a few new fire attacks – the knight gains the ability to spit black goo, which turns into fire when it touches the ground. This fire moves towards you, but since it is only on the ground, you can jump over it. Don’t jump while standing still – jump in the direction from which the flames are coming.
The boss has three variations of fire attacks. They are:
- A quick wave of fire towards you – jump over it by jumping towards the boss.
- Circle of fire – the flames circle the boss and get closer to him, so they will hit you in the back. Unlock the camera from the knight to watch for approaching flames, or jump back as soon as the goo hits the ground.
- Pile of goo – the boss floats into the air on a huge pillar of goo and starts spitting in all directions. Don’t move sideways, but move a little away from the enemy – jump over the first wave of fire heading towards you, wait a moment until the boss aims at you again, then jump over the second wave, then jump over the third wave.
What are the best weapons to use against the Putrescent Knight
To effectively combat the Putrescent Knight in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, selecting the right weapons is crucial. Here are the best options to consider:
-
Holy Damage Weapons: The Putrescent Knight is particularly vulnerable to holy damage. Weapons such as the Golden Order Greatsword, Blasphemous Blade, and Black Knife are excellent choices due to their inherent holy attributes.
-
Bleed Damage Weapons: For players focusing on bleed builds, fast-attacking weapons like katanas (e.g., Rivers of Blood) and dual blades can inflict significant damage quickly, which is essential given the knight’s mobility and attack patterns.
-
Heavy Weapons: If you prefer a more tanky approach, consider using heavy weapons like the Treespear or Black Steel Greathammer. These can deal substantial damage while allowing for a defensive playstyle.
-
Ash of War Options: Infusing your weapon with the Sacred Blade Ash of War can enhance its effectiveness by adding holy damage temporarily.
-
Talismans and Buffs: Equip talismans that boost holy damage or resistances, such as the Sacred Scorpion Charm and the Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +2, to increase survivability against the knight’s powerful attacks.
By combining these weapon choices with a strategic approach, players can maximize their chances of defeating the Putrescent Knight and overcoming this challenging encounter.
What are the best talismans to use against the Putrescent Knight
When facing the Putrescent Knight in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree, equipping the right talismans can significantly enhance your chances of success. Here are some of the best talismans to use:
-
Sacred Scorpion Charm: This talisman boosts holy damage, which is crucial since the Putrescent Knight is weak to holy attacks.
-
Shard of Alexander: Ideal for builds that rely heavily on Ash of War abilities, as it increases the damage output of these skills.
-
Spelldrake Talisman +3: Helps mitigate the knight’s magic damage, making it easier to survive the fight.
-
Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +2: Enhances your defensive capabilities by increasing your physical damage negation.
-
Stalwart Horn Charm: Provides additional stamina recovery, which is essential for maintaining a consistent offense and defense.
-
Radagon Icon: Useful for spellcasters as it increases casting speed, allowing for quicker deployment of spells.
These talismans can be combined to create a balanced build that maximizes both offense and defense against the Putrescent Knight.
