Death Knight
| Death Knight | |
|---|---|
| Type | Dungeon Boss |
| Region | Gravesite Plain, Rauh Base |
| Weak To | Holy |
| Required | No |
Death Knight is a dungeon boss in Elden Ring. It comes from the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
The Death Knights are the golden guards of Godwyn, now protecting the cadaver of the Prince of Death. One waits at the end of the Fog Rift Catacombs with twin axes. Another waits at the end of the Scorpion River Catacombs with a longhaft axe. Both crackle with the lightning of the ancient dragon cult and fall quickly to holy damage.
Lore
The Death Knights wear golden armor adorned with an old image of the Erdtree. Their own death masks serve as the visors of their helms. A decayed golden wheel crowns each helm, and their axes crackle with lightning.
The Death Knights were once the personal guard of Godwyn the Golden. After his fate was transfigured, they searched for their master's cadaver surrogate, for the coming age of the Duskborn. The decayed wheel shows their unbroken loyalty to Godwyn, who became the Prince of Death.
Where to find Death Knight Location?
- Fog Rift Catacombs, in the final room, wielding twin axes (Gravesite Plain)
- Scorpion River Catacombs, in the final room, wielding a longhaft axe (Rauh Base)
Death Knight map location:
Map credit by Map Genie.
Weaknesses
| Weak To | Holy |
|---|---|
| Parry | Yes |
Attacks
- Three-swing combo: two quick swings and a delayed third as he steps forward. Waiting for the third swing before rolling avoids it.
- Lightning spells: powerful bolts of the ancient dragon cult. Lightning protection softens them.
- Delayed heavy strikes: slow but very strong blows. Rolling late avoids them.
- Lightning area attacks: bursts of lightning around him. Backing away avoids them.
Tactics
- Eat a Lightningproof Dried Liver and equip the Boltdrake Talisman.
- Summon Banished Knight Oleg to draw aggression and stagger the knight.
- Attack after each string with heavy attacks, since two heavy hits often break his stance.
- Parry the twin-axe knight, who is open to parries.
- Use holy damage, because the Death Knights take extra damage from it.
Best Builds
Holy weapon
The knights take extra holy damage, and Siluria's Tree or any weapon with Sacred Blade deals it.
| Gear | Siluria's Tree, Ash of War: Sacred Blade |
|---|
Holy incantations
Discus of Light and Black Blade hit the knights' weakness from range.
| Gear | Discus of Light, Black Blade |
|---|
Heavy weapon with roar
Braggart's Roar boosts heavy attacks that break his stance.
| Gear | Braggart's Roar |
|---|
Templar Build
| Class | Confessor |
|---|---|
| Level | 50 |
| Focus | Faith |
| Main Stats | Faith & Endurance |
| Other Stats | Vigor |
| Requires | 27 Faith, 16 Strength |
| Weapon | Noble's Slender Sword |
| Shield | Brass Shield |
| Armor | Mausoleum Knight Armor, Greathelm, Knight Greaves, & Knight Gauntlets |
| Skills | Ash of War: Golden Vow, Ash of War: Sacred Blade, Ash of War: Barricade Shield |
| Spells | Blessing's Boon & Aspects of the Crucible: Tail |
| Flasks | Mostly HP, some FP |
Golden Sword Sage Build
| Class | Any |
|---|---|
| Level | 150-200 |
| Focus | Intelligence, Faith |
| Main Stats | Faith & Intelligence |
| Other Stats | Vigor & Mind |
| Requires | 50 Faith, 31 Intelligence, 12 Strength, 12 Dexterity |
| Weapon | Coded Sword, Sword of Night and Flame, and Golden Order Seal |
| Shield | Blue-Gold Kite Shield |
| Armor | Radiant Gold Mask, and any Armor with high Poise. |
| Talismans | Sacred Scorpion Charm, Ritual Sword Talisman, Ritual Shield Talisman, & Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman |
| Skills | Unblockable Blade & Barricade Shield |
| Spells | Golden Vow, Blessing of the Erdtree, Discus of Light, Triple Rings of Light, Radagon's Rings of Light, Elden Stars & Litany of Proper Death. |
| Flasks | Split between HP and FP |
Black Blade Build
| Class | Any |
|---|---|
| Level | 150-200 |
| Focus | Faith, Strength |
| Main Stats | Strength & Faith |
| Other Stats | Vigor & Endurance |
| Requires | 46 Faith, 4 Strength |
| Weapon | Maliketh's Black Blade & Clawmark Seal |
| Armor | Maliketh's Set or any Armor with high Poise |
| Talismans | Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, Shard of Alexander, Sacred Scorpion Charm & Claw Talisman |
| Skills | Destined Death |
| Spells | Golden Vow, Blessing of the Erdtree & Black Blade |
| Flasks | Mostly HP some FP |
Summons
Spirit Ashes allowed
Drops
| Name | Image |
|---|---|
| Death Knight's Twin Axes | 
|
| Crimson Amber Medallion +3 | 
|
| Death Knight's Longhaft Axe | 
|
| Cerulean Amber Medallion +3 | 
|
Notes
- The Fog Rift Catacombs knight gives 110,000 runes, the Death Knight's Twin Axes and the Crimson Amber Medallion +3.
- The Scorpion River Catacombs knight gives 130,000 runes, the Death Knight's Longhaft Axe and the Cerulean Amber Medallion +3.
All Bosses
The table below lists all Bosses in Elden Ring.