Summary

  • Gamers should beware tough enemies in Elden Ring, not just bosses. Imps, Wormfaces, and Monstrous Dogs are all dangerous in their own right.
  • The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduces even harder challenges with fast, aggressive enemies like Fire Knights and Divine Bird Warriors.
  • Players must always be on guard against dangerous enemies like Beastial Knights, Revenants, and Giant Crayfish in Elden Ring's tough landscapes.

Elden Ring is well known for its tough boss challenges. From General Radahn to Melania, these boss fights have become some of the most renowned in Fromsoftware’s history. And while they certainly deserve notoriety, boss battles are not the only challenge in the game. Throughout the different regions, Elden Ring is filled with tough enemies that can quickly overwhelm players.

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While they may not have the difficulty of a boss fight, some of the common enemy encounters in Elden Ring fill even seasoned players with dread. Though many players will want to take on the challenge these enemies present, often the best course of action is to avoid them completely. These enemies are unique, strange, and always dangerous, and they contribute to Elden Ring being one of the toughest games available today.

Updated on July 21, 2024, by Andy Chapman: Elden Ring’s DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, has introduced a variety of new challenges to the game. Players have been eagerly exploring the Land of Shadow, finding numerous tough boss fights that test players’ skills to new levels. While the bosses represent the highest level of challenge, the game's many non-boss enemies can be equally dangerous. Shadow of the Erdtree has pushed the difficulty of Elden Ring higher, making enemies aggressive, relentless, and very fast. Some DLC enemies are the equal of base game boss fights that pose a real danger to the player. As such, this article has been updated to include even more of Elden Ring's hardest non-boss enemies, with some only being available in the DLC.

14 Imps

Uses Fast Moving, Quick Attacks That Cause Bleeding

Imp in Rlden Ring Crypt throwing knives

These enemies aren’t dangerous because of a large health pool, as killing Imps will only take a few well-timed attacks. The trouble with these enemies are the numbers that they can attack with and the speed they can move. Players will soon find themselves in trouble if surrounded by more than one Imp.

With a tendency for surprise attacks, which also inflict blood loss, players will soon discover their health has quickly disappeared. Dealing with these annoying enemies requires good timing and awareness. A good strategy is to use Crystal Darts, which, after a couple of hits, will make the Imps attack whoever is closest, including other Imps.

13 Lesser Wormface

Causes Rapid Death-Blight Buildup

Wormface sitting in crumbling faram azusa in Elden Ring

These Lovecraftian-looking monstrosities are first found wandering the woods in the Altus Plateau region. They may not be the fastest or most aggressive enemy on this list, but players who are not careful will find they can be deadly if not dealt with properly.

Lesser Wormfaces appear as tall, thin-limbed beings, with large heads featuring many writhing tentacles. Their most dangerous feature is their ability to breathe death blight directly at players in an AOE attack. Like many enemies in Elden Ring, taking on one of these creatures is not much of a problem, but players will soon find their death-blight build-up increasing when attacked by many, which when full means instant death.

12 Monstrous Dogs

Fast And Aggressive Enemies With Access To High Damage Attacks

Monstrous Dog Attacking In Caelid In Elden Ring

First found wandering Caelid, these oversized canines are fast and aggressive and have given many new players quite a scare when first entering the region. While one can be manageable, players will soon find themselves in deep trouble if too many turn hostile at once.

With their huge jaws and sharp teeth, the Monstrous Dogs can deal great amounts of damage, even to higher-level players. While their speed and size make them a danger, they are also easily poise-broken. A few accurate hits to the large head will soon open them up to a critical attack.

11 Fingercreepers

Can Ensnare Players With Magic And Have Access To Fast, Aggressive Attacks

Fingercreeper Waiting to Attack in Caria Manor in Elden Ring
  • Runes: 418 - 1,911
  • Drops: Somber Smithing Stones.
  • Locations: Caria Manor, Leyndell, Royal Capital Sewers, Mt Gelmir, and Mountaintop of the Giants.

Players will first encounter these Fingercreepers roaming the grounds of Caria Manor in the Liurnia of the Lakes region. These large creepy hands pose a real threat with their fast and aggressive attacks. Players will need to have quick reactions to defeat them and be careful not to take on more than one at a time. One should be especially careful of their magic ring attacks, which will ensnare players temporarily, leaving them open to attack.

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They have also been known to bury themselves in the ground, waiting to grab any unsuspecting victims. The origin of the Fingercreepers is unknown, but they come in various sizes, from the easier-to-handle Lesser Fingercreepers to the rare Colossal Fingercreeper. Using fire is recommended on these enemies, as it will temporarily stun them when hit.

10 Abductor Virgins

Tough To Dodge And High Amounts Of Health

Abductor Virgin Ready to attack Tarnished In Raya Lucaria in Elden Ring
  • Runes: 1,312 - 3,181
  • Drops: N/A.
  • Locations: Raya Lucaria Academy, Caria Manor, Caelid, Mt Gelmir, Volcano Manor.

These disturbing enemies resemble saintly women, wrapped in snakes and cradling a baby. They are found patrolling all over the Lands Between and always pose a significant challenge. For lower-level players, the Iron Virgins have a large health pool, with only their special attacks leaving them open to more damage.

These large enemies can be tough to defeat, with ranged and spinning blade attacks that can kill players if timed poorly. Getting in too close will often trigger their grab attack, which pulls players into their bodies, dealing more damage. Some Abductor Virgins will teleport players to a different location with this move as well.

9 Banished Knights

Can Disrupt Player Attacks And Leave Them Vulnerable

Spectral Banished Knight Attacking Tarnished In Castle Sol in Elden Ring

These powerful armored foes can be found quite early in the game in the first Legacy Dungeon, Stormveil Castle. For lower level players, they pose a significant threat, as their attacks can be fast, heavy, and relentless. With their storm abilities, players' own attacks can be disrupted, leaving them vulnerable to a Banished Knight's attack.

The most dangerous of these enemies can be found in Castle Sol, later in the game, in the Mountaintop of the Giants region. Here, players will find spectral versions of the Banished Knights that can teleport, which will break the player’s lock-on. The red-eyed, duel-wielding Banished Knight, also found in Castle Sol, is by far the toughest of these enemies in the game.

8 Curseblades

Agile And Deadly Enemies Waiting To Ambush Players

Elden Ring player fighting with a Curseblade in Moorth Ruins

For many players entering Shadow of the Erdtree, the first enemy they encounter will be a Curseblade. This Curseblade, found in Gravesite Plains, patiently watches the player until they are close. It will then silently leap from its perch and attack. To make matters worse, the Curseblades can be found in every area of the DLC, waiting to ambush unwary players.

Their attacks are fast and agile and can seem relentless. Curseblades use backhand blades, one of the new weapon types in Elden Ring. They can quickly melt a player’s health with a series of spinning slashes and knife throws from range. Curseblades are found scattered throughout the game and always pose a significant threat whenever they appear.

7 Monstrous Crows

Quick And Deals Fast, High Damage Attacks

Blistered Crow In Mohgwyn Palace, Eating Corpses in Elden Ring

Much like the Monstrous Dogs, these large and aggressive creatures are first encountered by players stalking the lands of Caelid. With their huge beaks and long legs, these birds move fast and attack even faster. Their short wings only allow for minimal flight, but players will find even outrunning them can sometimes be a challenge.

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There are two kinds of Crow in Elden Ring, the more common Monstrous Crow and the more dangerous Blistered Crow. This deformed version can be found solely in the Mohgwyn Palace area and is best avoided completely. They hit even harder, with numerous beak attacks, and will chase players down relentlessly.

6 Fire Knights

Have Access To Fast And Relentless Attacks

Elden Ring player fights a fire knight, who attacks with fire

One of the central locations of Elden Ring’s massive DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, is the Shadow Keep. This location is a labyrinthine large-scale legacy dungeon, filled with tough enemies and challenging boss fights. The Fire Knights found in this location are some of the hardest non-boss enemies in all of Elden Ring.

Fire Knights are fast and aggressive. They can overwhelm players with their ranged flame attacks and then quickly move in, inflicting high amounts of damage up close. Their agile movement means they can also avoid many attacks, which are often countered with fire magic. These enemies are found all over the Shadow Keep and are the most dangerous of Messmer’s warriors.

5 Giant Crayfish

Have Access To A Near-Unavoidable Water Attack

Two Giant Crayfish In Lakes Of Liurnia Region in Elden Ring

One of the many enemies found in Elden Ring that is best given a wide birth. The Giant Crayfish are often found hiding in shallow watery areas, ready to emerge and ruin a player’s day. With their heavy claw attacks, aggressive nature, and surprising speed, the Giant Crayfish are incredibly dangerous, especially in numbers.

The most damaging attack these monstrous crustaceans possess is by far the sniper shot. The Crayfish rears up and shoots a jet of water at the player, which may not sound deadly but is one of the toughest attacks to avoid in Elden Ring. This attack does high amounts of damage, has a surprising range, and is incredibly accurate. Running from these enemies can often be the worst decision a player makes.