Grafted Scion
| Grafted Scion | |
|---|---|
| Type | Field Boss |
| Region | Limgrave, Liurnia of the Lakes, Mt. Gelmir |
| Runes | 3,200 |
| Weak To | Slash |
| Required | No |
Grafted Scion is a field boss in Elden Ring.
The Grafted Scion is a spider-like mass of grafted limbs that wields two swords and a greatshield. It is the first boss of the game and waits on the cliff outside the Chapel of Anticipation. Losing that first fight is expected and moves the story on to the Stranded Graveyard. More scions guard Fringefolk Hero's Grave, Stormveil Castle, Liurnia of the Lakes and Mt. Gelmir.
Lore
Grafted Scions are grotesque, spider-like creatures with youthful faces and silver hair. Many grafted arms sprout from their bodies under a green cloak. They carry Ornamental Straight Swords and the Golden Beast Crest Shield, arms that mark the golden lineage.
The scions were the dregs of the golden lineage. Godrick's loathsome grafting raised their power by stitching on the limbs of others.
Many Tarnished were sacrificed to build these creatures. A heartbroken maiden told of the vassals who crossed the sea for her, only to have their arms, legs and heads taken and stuck onto the spider.
Where to find Grafted Scion Location?
- Chapel of Anticipation, on the cliff outside the chapel at the start of the game; a return trip uses the waygate at The Four Belfries
- Fringefolk Hero's Grave, two scions drop onto a bridge beside the corpse holding an Erdtree's Favor
- Stormveil Castle, in the hall outside the lift south of the Rampart Tower Site of Grace
- Liurnia of the Lakes, disguised as a patrolling Giant Crayfish between Rose Church and Boilprawn Shack
- Mt. Gelmir, drops down by the ladder northwest of the First Mt. Gelmir Campsite Site of Grace
Grafted Scion map location:
Map credit by Map Genie.
Weaknesses
| Weak To | Slash |
|---|---|
| Immune | Madness |
Attacks
- Slash Combos: it swings one or both swords in long chains; back away and wait for the chain to end.
- Leaping Stab: it jumps high and drives a sword straight down; roll forward a beat after the top of the jump, then hit it during the recovery.
- Shield Slam: it lifts the greatshield overhead and slams it down; roll around it as the body drops.
- Crawling Stabs: it rises up, stabs the ground while walking forward, then slams down all its weapons; circle it and roll forward as it falls.
- Scream: it lowers its head and screams, hurting anything close; roll away, since blocking does little.
- Golden Tempering: it crosses its swords and coats them in holy light; this long buff leaves time for several hits.
- Piercing Stabs: from a raised fencing stance it spreads its swords and stabs forward many times; move behind it as the swords spread.
- Spinning Slash: from the fencing stance it spins with blades out; run away and move in as the spin ends.
Tactics
- Keep distance, because its combos are long and fast at close range.
- Stay near the center of the arena, since the cliff edge kills on a fall.
- Bait the Leaping Stab or Crawling Stabs from range, dodge, then land one or two hits.
- Watch for two clockwise slashes in a row, which always end a combo and leave a safe opening.
- Step away after landing damage, because it often answers with the Scream.
- Use the long Golden Tempering animation to land several hits.
- A shield that blocks all physical damage, such as the Vagabond's, makes the first fight much safer.
Best Builds
Slash weapon with a strong shield
The scion takes extra damage from slashing attacks, and a full physical shield absorbs its sword chains.
Fast sorcery from range
Quick casts such as Glintstone Pebble fit into the short gaps after its leaps and stabs.
| Gear | Glintstone Pebble |
|---|
Stance breaking skills
Starting classes with stance-breaking skills, such as the Vagabond and the Samurai, open it up for critical hits.
Battlemage Build
| Class | Any |
|---|---|
| Level | 100 |
| Focus | Intelligence |
| Main Stats | Intelligence |
| Other Stats | Mind, Vigor & Strength |
| Requires | 27 Intelligence, 20 Strength, 14 Dexterity |
| Weapon | Carian Glintstone Staff |
| Shield | Jellyfish Shield |
| Armor | Any that can med roll |
| Skills | Contagious Fury |
| Spells | Carian Slicer, Carian Greatsword, Carian Piercer, Glintstone Pebble, Loretta's Greatbow |
| Flasks | Mostly FP, some HP |
Crystal Mage Build
| Class | Any |
|---|---|
| Level | 100 |
| Focus | Intelligence |
| Main Stats | Intelligence |
| Other Stats | Vigor & Mind |
| Requires | 52 Intelligence, 20 Strength, 14 Dexterity, 12 Faith |
| Weapon | Crystal Staff, Finger Seal or Clawmark Seal |
| Shield | Jellyfish Shield |
| Armor | Any that still allows |
| Talismans | Magic Scorpion Charm, Ritual Sword Talisman, Dragoncrest Shield Talisman, and Godfrey Icon |
| Skills | Contagious Fury |
| Spells | Crystal Torrent, Shattering Crystal, Glintstone Pebble, Great Glintstone Shard, Comet, Terra Magica & Bestial Vitality |
| Flasks | Mostly FP, some HP |
Darkmoon Spellblade Build
| Class | Any |
|---|---|
| Level | 100 |
| Focus | Intelligence |
| Main Stats | Intelligence & Mind |
| Other Stats | Vigor |
| Requires | 38 Intelligence, 16 Strength, 12 Dexterity |
| Weapon | Dark Moon Greatsword & Carian Glintblade Staff |
| Armor | Any that still allows med rolling |
| Talismans | Godfrey Icon, Radagon Icon, Stargazer Heirloom & Green Turtle Talisman |
| Skills | Moonlight Greatsword |
| Spells | Magic Glintblade, Glintstone Pebble, Greatblade Phalanx, Loretta's Greatbow & Unseen Form |
| Flasks | Mostly FP, some HP |
Enchanted Knight Build
| Class | Astrologer or Prisoner |
|---|---|
| Level | 50 |
| Focus | Intelligence |
| Main Stats | Intelligence & Vigor |
| Other Stats | Mind & Endurance |
| Requires | 27 Intelligence, 12 Strength, 8 Dexterity |
| Weapon | Carian Glintstone Staff |
| Shield | Blue-Gold Kite Shield |
| Armor | Carian Knight Set |
| Skills | Ash of War: Barricade Shield |
| Spells | Carian Slicer, Carian Piercer, Carian Greatsword and Glintstone Pebble |
| Flasks | Most FP, Some HP |
Magus Build
| Class | Prisoner or Astrologer |
|---|---|
| Level | 50 |
| Focus | Intelligence |
| Main Stats | Intelligence & Dexterity |
| Other Stats | Vigor |
| Requires | 24 Intelligence, 12 Dexterity, 7 Strength |
| Weapon | Rapier |
| Armor | Carian Knight Set |
| Skills | Ash of War: Glintblade Phalanx |
| Spells | Scholar's Armament, Glintstone Pebble and Carian Greatsword |
| Flasks | Slightly more FP than HP |
Moonveil Samurai Build
| Class | Prisoner or Samurai |
|---|---|
| Level | 50 |
| Focus | Intelligence |
| Main Stats | Intelligence & Vigor |
| Other Stats | Dexterity |
| Requires | 26 Intelligence, 18 Dexterity, 12 Strength |
| Weapon | Moonveil |
| Armor | Land of Reeds Set |
| Skills | Transient Moonlight |
| Spells | Loretta's Greatbow, Glintstone Pebble and Carian Greatsword |
| Flasks | Slightly more HP than FP |
Summons
- Spirit Ashes disabled
- Chapel of Anticipation: fought solo, co-op disabled
Drops
Defeating it grants 3,200 runes.
| Name | Image |
|---|---|
| Ornamental Straight Sword | 
|
| Golden Beast Crest Shield | 
|
| Larval Tear | 
|
Notes
- The Chapel of Anticipation scion drops the Ornamental Straight Sword and the Golden Beast Crest Shield.
- A return to the Chapel of Anticipation costs an Imbued Sword Key at the waygate in The Four Belfries.
- The Liurnia scion hides as a Giant Crayfish and drops a Larval Tear.
- Only the Chapel of Anticipation scion has a boss health bar.
All Bosses
