Master Elden Ring’s toughest DLC bosses with strategic summons and proven battle tactics
The Unprecedented Challenge of Shadow of the Erdtree
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion introduces a significant difficulty escalation that has tested even veteran players’ limits. The DLC’s boss encounters represent a substantial increase in complexity and aggression compared to the base game.
From the relentless Putrescent Knight to the strategically complex Messmer the Impaler, Shadow of the Erdtree presents adversaries with enhanced move sets and punishing attack patterns. Prominent streamers including Asmongold have documented extensive struggles against these formidable opponents, with some battles requiring dozens of attempts to master.
The dramatic difficulty increase prompted significant community backlash, manifesting in Steam review bombing that reduced the expansion’s rating to “Mixed.” The situation grew sufficiently concerning that publisher Bandai Namco issued official guidance for players struggling with the DLC’s challenges.
This challenging environment has fundamentally altered player approaches to game mechanics, particularly regarding the longstanding controversy surrounding summon usage in Souls-like games.
The Great Summon Debate: From Purist to Pragmatist
The Souls community’s philosophical stance on summons has undergone a dramatic transformation in response to Shadow of the Erdtree’s punishing difficulty curve.
One veteran player encapsulated this shift: “As a longtime Souls enthusiast who previously avoided summons for ‘ethical’ purity reasons, I must declare they’ve become essential. After 64 unsuccessful attempts against the dragon dancer boss, deploying the Mimic Tear reduced the encounter from overwhelming to manageable almost immediately.”
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Summon mechanics have historically divided the community, with purists arguing they diminish challenge and trivialize encounters. The original Elden Ring’s Mimic Tear summon proved particularly contentious, creating a duplicate character that could utilize equipped gear and talismans.
However, the DLC’s brutal boss design has prompted widespread reassessment. Another player explained their adapted approach: “I attempt each boss 10-15 times solo to honor the challenge, but beyond that threshold, I deploy summons without hesitation. As an adult gamer with limited time, this balanced approach preserves both enjoyment and progress.”
The current discourse highlights summons as a double-edged mechanic. One community member noted: “The binary choice between trivializing encounters with summons or enduring extreme difficulty without them fails to deliver the satisfying middle ground previous Souls titles achieved.”
Strategic Summon Implementation Guide
Effective summon usage requires strategic planning rather than simple deployment. Understanding optimal timing and selection dramatically enhances their combat effectiveness.
Initiate boss encounters without summons to learn attack patterns and mechanics during initial attempts. This knowledge acquisition phase typically requires 5-10 attempts depending on boss complexity. Once you understand the fundamental mechanics, assess whether summon assistance would enhance rather than replace your engagement with the encounter.
Different summons serve distinct tactical purposes. The Mimic Tear excels at drawing aggression while dealing significant damage, particularly when equipped with your most powerful gear. Alternatively, ranged summons like the Ancestral Follower provide distraction while you exploit openings from a distance. Tank-oriented summons such as the Greatshield Soldiers can absorb punishment during lengthy boss phases.
Advanced summon tactics include delayed deployment until critical phases. Rather than summoning immediately, wait until the boss reaches 50-60% health when they typically introduce new mechanics. This preserves the initial learning experience while providing assistance during the most challenging segments. Additionally, coordinate your attacks with your summon’s aggression patterns to maximize damage windows.
Common summon usage mistakes include deploying them too early, preventing proper mechanics learning, and failing to adapt your playstyle to complement their strengths. Successful implementation requires viewing summons as tactical partners rather than crutches.
Advanced Combat Techniques Beyond Summons
While summons provide significant assistance, mastering fundamental combat techniques remains essential for Shadow of the Erdtree success.
Positioning mastery represents the most critical skill for DLC boss encounters. Most bosses feature deadly area-of-effect attacks and combo chains that punish poor positioning. Maintain mid-range distance whenever possible, as this provides reaction time for both melee and magical attacks while allowing space for healing.
Resource management becomes increasingly important during extended encounters. Conservative flask usage during early phases prevents shortages during critical moments. Time your healing for after attack sequences rather than during openings that could be used for damage dealing.
Adaptation strategies include adjusting your equipment load for optimal dodging. Heavy armor provides protection but reduces mobility, while light armor enables better evasion at the cost of survivability. Experiment with different weight ratios to find your optimal balance for each encounter.
Summons continue generating significant discussion within the Souls community, but when facing overwhelming challenges, strategically deploying your Mimic Tear or other spirit ashes can transform impossible encounters into manageable battles.
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