5 best optional bosses in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree that you should not miss out on

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree features some of the most memorable bosses in the entire FromSoftware "Souls-borne" history. While some of the bosses can be a hit or miss, a majority of them are incredibly well-done, with the right amount of difficulty and spectacle. However, only a handful of the new Remembrance bosses stand out.

Elden Ring features over 100 unique bosses across the base game as well as the DLC. However, among the Remembrance bosses, those that either have a cutscene or are more integrally tied to the lore and are admittedly much more challenging than the overworld bosses, are the true highlight of the game.

Shadow of the Erdtree features a total of 11 new Remembrance bosses. And much like the base game, a vast majority of them are optional. However, there are some bosses that, despite being optional, shouldn't be skipped. Here are five of the best Remembrance bosses in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree that you should not miss out on.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author's opinions.

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From Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame to Bayle the Dread, here are five optional Remembrance bosses in Elden Ring that you shouldn't miss out on

1) Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame

Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame, despite being an optional boss in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, is probably the most important encounter in the entire DLC, perhaps even more so than the final boss itself. After the Frenzied Flame ending of the base game, many players might've wanted to see more of what a world afflicted by Flame of Frenzy would look like.

Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (Image via FromSoftware)

And while Elden Ring's base game rarely touched on the subject of Frenzy Flame, apart from the short ending cutscene, the DLC delivered a lot regarding just that. The area leading up to Midra's Manse, the Abyssal Woodlands, alone makes the encounter with the boss so memorable.

And to top it all off, Midra himself is an incredibly fun boss to fight. While reaching the Abyssal Woods is a bit of a chore, it's totally worth trekking through the land ravaged by the Flame of Frenzy. While Midra isn't particularly challenging, the lore and history surrounding him make him one of the bosses that you definitely don't want to miss out on.

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2) Putrescent Knight

The Putrescent Knight much like Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame, isn't particularly challenging for a Remembrance boss fight. However, the lore surrounding the boss as well as the area that you navigate through to eventually reach it, makes it one of the most memorable boss fights in the entire game. Additionally, its connection to St. Trina adds much to the boss's mystery.

The Putrescent Knight in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (Image via FromSoftware)

Although the Putrescent Knight doesn't have any direct connection to St. Trina or any major lore implications (at least judging from its Remembrance) it still is an incredibly fun fight. The boss's attacks, although erratic, are easily readable, with some very well-telegraphed AOEs (Area Of Effect).

Lastly, the Putrescent Knight is part of Thiollier's questline, something you don't want to skip out on if you're looking to uncover the mystery surrounding St. Trina, and also Miquella the Kind. It's for that reason alone, the Putrescent Knight is one of the optional boss fights in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree that you don't want to skip out on.

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3) Scadutree Avatar

The Shadow Keep, alone houses three major bosses of Elden Ring's DLC, with, Messmer the Impaler being a mandatory story boss. However, the other two bosses, Scadutree Avatar and Commander Gaius are entirely optional. The Scadutree Avatar, in particular, is easily the better of the two, simply due to its lore significance and also the spectacle of its boss fight.

The Scadutree Avatar in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (Image via FromSoftware)

Nested at the base of the Shadow Realm, the Scadutree Avatar is essentially a Shadow Sunflower that became sentient with Miquella's Great Rune. The battle against the Scadutree Avatar is not only a test of your combat skills but also your endurance, as it's the only boss in the game with three phases.

And in each new phase, the boss fully recovers its HP and also gains new attacks. Fortunately, the Scadutree Avatar isn't particularly challenging and can be easily defeated if you figure out its weakness. Additionally, if you want to get Miquella's Great Rune, which is a must against the final boss, then Scadutree Avatar is kind of a mandatory boss fight.

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4) Rellana, Twin Moon Knight

To be fair, Rellana, Twin Moon Knight isn't necessarily an optional boss, since you will have to fight her if you want to make your way to Scadu Altus without having to backtrack all the way from the Cerulean Coast, at least on your first playthrough, that is. However, since the game still gives you the option to skip, I'm counting her as one of the optional bosses.

Rellana, Twin Moon Knight in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (Image via FromSoftware)

Rellana is easily the toughest boss that you will face in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, until you reach Messmer the Impaler (or Commander Gaius) that is. The battle against Rellana feels more like a dance than a clash of swords, one that's going to test your combat efficiency but also your wits.

Despite her small health pool, Rellana puts up quite a challenge, which is further intensified with each of her new phases. While the battle starts with the boss using regular attacks mixed with some Carian Sorcery spells, with the onset of phase two, she starts using both Sorcery and Pyromancy. And while she can be skipped, I highly recommend not doing so.

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4) Bayle the Dread

The quest leading up to Bayle the Dread is nothing short of an epic. You first get to hear about Bayle from a wounded and crippled NPC near the Dragon's Pit dungeon, who laments his fear of the Drake and vows to one day defeat it. On your way to the apex of the Jagged Peak Mountain, you once again meet this NPC, after defeating some lesser Drakes.

Bayle the Dread in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (Image via FromSoftware)

He mentions his name as Igon, an old Drake Hunter, who's been wounded by Bayle the Dread and asks for you to summon him when you confront the Drake. After that invigorating conversation, you continue making your way to the top of the mountain and reach the arena where Bayle resides.

The entire lead-up to Bayle is easily the best part of the boss fight. And once you start battling Bayle, it's clear why there's a whole questline and area dedicated to the boss. Bayle the Dread, is easily the best Dragon boss fight FromSoftware has created since Dark Souls 3's Drakeater Midir. And while it's still an optional battle, you definitely don't want to miss out on Bayle.

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There are even more bosses that you can fight in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree that don't have any association with its main story. Bosses like the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, Metyr, Mother of Fingers, and everyone's favorite boar-rider, Commander Gaius. However, the five bosses mentioned above, are in my opinion, the very best that the DLC has to offer.