Summary
An optional boss inElden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC is well worth the trouble it takes to defeat.Elden Ringhas always been known for its optional bosses. They provide interesting challenges when gearing up before a main boss, and tend to grant a lot of XP for what are usually relatively easy fights. That said, not every optional boss is easy. Malenia, generally considered one of thehardest bosses inElden Ring, is technically optional. Other bosses are certainly beatable, but placed in such a way that they greatly outlevel most players who stumble upon them.
Shadow of the Erdtreeis exactly the same, filled with bosses that players don’t have to beat to progress through the DLC. But some of those bosses offer such great rewards that they may as well be mandatory. Don’t worry, they’re not nearly as hard as they look.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review - FromSoft’s Greatest Hits
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is a victory lap for FromSoftware, bringing in elements from past games without losing what made it special.
Don’t Skip Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Furnace Golems
Furnace Golems Offer Crystal Tear Rewards
Players shouldn’t skip the Furnace Golems, giant enemies that look like walking torches, sincethey drop Crystal Tears when defeated. Most Tarnished will first encounter one of these enemies while roaming aroundShadow of the Erdtree’s starting area. Just north of the Gravesite Plain Site of Grace, and south of Three-Path Cross, they’ll spy its flaming form stomping about in the distance. But the moment they get close, the Furnace Golem will wind up a leg and kick a bundle of red-hot rocks directly at them, sending a clear message: stay far away.
It’s evocative of one of the first bosses players encounter inElden Ring’s base game: the Tree Sentinel. This boss roams the fields of Limgrave, just beyond the tutorial area, where its golden armor and massive stature lure the player right in like a moth to a flame. It’s technically possible to beat theTree Sentinelat level one, but most players are simply too inexperienced and too weak when they first encounter it, and are quickly crushed. Losing is the point:the Tree Sentinel exists to teach the player thatElden Ringisn’t linear, and that sometimes, it’s best to turn around and come back later.
What Level You Should Be For Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s difficulty matches that of the base game’s latter sections, requiring a fairly high starting character level.
That first Furnace Golem seems to suggest the same. It’s similar in size and visibility, and its deadly opening salvo comes from a mile away. But where the Tree Sentinel’s rewards (3,200 Runes and its signatureGolden Halberd) are fairly lackluster and specific,the Furnace Golems' Crystal Tear rewards are incredibly worthwhile. For those who need a refresher, Crystal Tears are mixed into one ofElden Ring’s Wondrous Physicksfor a variety of consumable benefits.
Each Crystal Tear has a unique effect, and up to two can be mixed into a flask at once. Experimenting frequently with different combinations can make for a more flexible build that can readily overcome any challenge.The more Crystal Tears the player has at their disposal, the more options they havefor buffing their characters. As a result, it’s worth taking the occasional risk to gain a new one by challenging a Furnace Golem.
How To Beat A Furnace Golem In Elden Ring’s Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC
Furnace Golems Are Surprisingly Easy
And as it turns out,many Furnace Golems, especially the first one players encounter in the DLC, are pretty easy to beat. Like with most giant field bosses, it’s best to take on this fight astride Torrent. Mount up and run between the boss' feet. Stay close, and start swiping at one or the other. Watch out when the boss lifts its leg, as that usually means it’s about to slam it down and spread fire throughout the area. However, this is easy to avoid with Torrent’s double jump.
Eventually, the Furnace Golem will fall to its knees, and then prone, with a thud. At that point,its weak point - one of the stony faces on its head - will be exposed, and the player can simply strike it to deal massive critical damage. Results may vary depending on the weapon equipped, but repeating this process twice should be more than enough to take down the boss.
Since it’s impossible to deal critical damage while riding Torrent,make sure to jump off the horse’s back before striking a Furnace Golem’s weak point.
Now,some Furnace Golems are decidedly more difficult, with armored legsthat make it difficult to stagger them. In this case, players must target their other weak points, like their face plates and upper backs.
Even so, with more Crystal Tears on the line, these are worth the trouble just the same. If Wondrous Physicks are an important part of any player’s strategy, they would do well not to skip the Furnace Golem fights inElden Ring:Shadow of the Erdtree.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
