Elden Ring: 14 Lesser-Known Bosses That Drop Key Items
Elden Ring is packed with memorable bosses, but while many players focus on the big-name challenges, there are numerous lesser-known bosses scattered throughout the Lands Between that drop crucial items for your journey. These bosses might not grab the spotlight as much as the major story bosses, but defeating them can reward you with powerful weapons, talismans, or crafting materials that significantly enhance your build or progression.
Here’s a rundown of 14 such hidden or less celebrated bosses that drop key items worth hunting down. Along the way, I’ll touch on how managing cheap Elden Ring runes and checking out Elden Ring items for sale can complement your adventure when farming or gearing up for these fights.
1. Beastman of Farum Azula
This boss drops unique crafting materials and the Beastman of Farum Azula’s Greatsword, which scales well with strength and has a powerful skill. If you’re looking to diversify your arsenal, this weapon is a must-have.
2. Royal Revenant
A formidable foe lurking in a hidden cave, the Royal Revenant drops the Royal Greatsword, an excellent heavy weapon with high strength scaling and a satisfying moveset.
3. Cleanrot Knights
These bosses drop items essential for upgrading certain special weapons and talismans. Their challenging fight is worth it for the key materials you get afterward.
4. Dragonkin Soldier
Defeating this boss awards Dragon Hearts, which are used to upgrade dragon-related incantations, essential for players focused on dragon-themed builds.
5. Ruin Sentinels (lesser variant)
Not to be confused with the main Ruin Sentinels, these versions drop valuable Smithing Stones that are often scarce early in the game.
6. Decaying Ekzykes
Found in a secret area, this boss drops the Ekzykes Greatsword, a weapon with unique frost damage properties that can turn the tide in both PvE and PvP encounters.
7. Bell Bearing Hunter
An elusive enemy that drops Bell Bearings, unlocking additional items for purchase from vendors. This is a great way to expand your inventory without farming endlessly for cheap Elden Ring runes.
8. Baleful Shadow
Defeating this spectral enemy grants rare crafting materials and the Baleful Shadow’s Ashes of War, perfect for players who want to customize weapon skills.
9. Mad Pumpkin Head
A quirky but deadly boss that drops the Mad Pumpkin Head Greatsword, a weapon known for its unique design and skillset, making it a fun alternative to mainstream weapons.
10. Raptor of the Deep
This swift boss provides the Raptor’s Black Feathers, an essential upgrade component for certain ranged weapons.
11. Frost Giant Spirit
Although a spirit boss, it drops important talismans that boost frost resistance and enhance ice-based spells—ideal for hybrid builds.
12. Ancient Hero of Zamor
A powerful undead warrior whose defeat yields the Ancient Zamor Greatsword and unique armor, adding both offensive and defensive options for your build.
13. Frenzied Duelist
Known for dropping a rare Ash of War that significantly improves weapon stagger and damage, making it valuable for aggressive combat styles.
14. Corrupted Tree Sentinel
A tougher variant of the standard Tree Sentinel, this boss drops rare upgrade materials and armor pieces favored by tanky builds.
How to Prepare and Progress Efficiently
Hunting down these lesser-known bosses can sometimes be tough without proper resources. For those moments when you need a boost, consider ways to acquire cheap Elden Ring runes to quickly level up and enhance your equipment. Additionally, keep an eye on Elden Ring items for sale, as vendors occasionally offer rare items that can help you prepare for or complement the gear dropped by these bosses.
While the big bosses get most of the attention, these 14 lesser-known Elden Ring bosses provide key items that can shape your character’s build or make progression smoother. Exploring these hidden corners and taking on these challenges adds depth to the game and rewards patience and skill with valuable loot. Make sure you’re well-prepared, and don’t hesitate to explore every nook of the Lands Between—there’s always something rewarding just waiting to be discovered.