The Putrescent Knight in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has stirred plenty of curiosity and challenge among players navigating the DLC’s unforgiving landscapes. This towering, decayed foe is infamous for its aggressive dual-phase combat and haunting visual design. But one of the most frequent questions players ask is whether the Putrescent Knight is optional. Do you have to fight it to progress through the DLC, or is it a side boss meant to test your mettle but not your story advancement?
Understanding Optional Bosses in Elden Ring
The Nature of Optional Content
Elden Ring, much like its predecessors in the Soulsborne series, is filled with optional bosses. These fights are not required to complete the main storyline but often offer powerful loot, deep lore, and memorable challenges. FromSoftware’s design philosophy encourages exploration, allowing players to choose their battles. The Putrescent Knight falls squarely into this tradition.
What Makes a Boss Optional?
A boss is considered optional if:
- You are not required to defeat it to unlock key story events or areas.
- It guards high-value loot or side content rather than progression-critical paths.
- You can explore and complete the main arc of the DLC or game without fighting it.
With that in mind, let’s explore where the Putrescent Knight fits into the picture.
Where to Find the Putrescent Knight
Location and Access
The Putrescent Knight is located in the depths of the Abyssal Woods, one of the more hidden and sinister regions in Shadow of the Erdtree. Reaching this area involves significant exploration and bypassing enemies that are not directly part of the central questline. This reinforces the idea that this knight is part of an optional path meant for the bold and curious.
What Lies Beyond the Fight?
After defeating the Putrescent Knight, players gain access to unique rewards and more of the lore tied to the death-centric themes of the DLC. However, defeating this enemy does not unlock major NPC events or open critical progression routes. You can bypass the Abyssal Woods entirely and still finish Shadow of the Erdtree.
Putrescent Knight: Optional, But Worth It
Reasons to Fight the Putrescent Knight
While not required, there are strong reasons players choose to confront this terrifying boss:
- Rewarding Loot: Defeating the Putrescent Knight grants powerful equipment and unique spells that cater to death or rot builds.
- Challenge: It’s one of the most mechanically complex fights in the DLC, testing your patience, reflexes, and knowledge of boss patterns.
- Visuals and Atmosphere: The arena and boss design are striking, offering one of the most immersive moments in Shadow of the Erdtree.
- Lore Expansion: The Putrescent Knight ties into deeper, cryptic elements of the game’s mythology. For lore hunters, the encounter is a goldmine of symbolism.
Drawbacks of the Encounter
There are a few reasons players might choose to skip the fight:
- Difficulty Spike: The Putrescent Knight is significantly harder than many other optional bosses. Its dual-phase design includes heavy AoE rot attacks and relentless pressure.
- Not Essential: Since it’s not required to complete the DLC, casual players may prefer to focus on mandatory bosses and story arcs.
- Resource Drain: Repeated attempts can exhaust limited resources like healing flasks and upgrade materials, especially if you’re not adequately leveled.
How to Know If You Should Fight It
Player Level Recommendations
It is generally recommended to be at least level 150-160 with a +10 weapon before attempting the Putrescent Knight. The fight demands strong stamina management, high damage output, and effective mobility. Builds focused on Scarlet Rot resistance or ranged magic can fare better than pure melee options.
Ideal Builds for the Fight
- Faith Build: Using incantations like Flame, Cleanse Me and rot-resistant buffs gives you an edge.
- Sorcery Build: Distance attacks allow you to bypass some of the melee pressure, though phase two demands precise timing.
- Agility Build: Fast roll builds can avoid most of the Knight’s heavy swings and reach its weak points quickly.
Community Response
Is It Fan Favorite or Frustration Fuel?
Among fans of difficult bosses, the Putrescent Knight has become a badge of honor. Defeating it often leads to social media posts and YouTube uploads due to the intensity of the fight. However, some players criticize it for being too aggressive, especially when combined with narrow arena design and rot status buildup.
Comparisons with Other Optional Bosses
The Putrescent Knight is frequently compared with bosses like Malenia or Darkeater Midir in terms of challenge. All three share:
- High mobility and damage output
- Multiple phases with distinct attack patterns
- A strong narrative or lore component, even if skippable
This comparison only reinforces the idea that the Putrescent Knight, while optional, is one of the true endgame tests for veterans of the franchise.
Skipping the Fight: Does It Matter?
Will You Miss Out on Anything Important?
If you skip the Putrescent Knight, you won’t miss any critical story events or NPC interactions. However, you may lose out on:
- Unique weapons and armor sets tailored for late-game content
- Achievements or trophies related to full boss completion
- Satisfaction from conquering one of the DLC’s toughest foes
In short, completionists and challenge-seekers will want to engage with the fight, while others can progress without feeling penalized.
The Putrescent Knight is indeed an optional boss in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, but that doesn’t mean it’s forgettable. Far from a side-note, this grotesque knight offers a fight full of challenge, lore, and rewards. Whether you choose to confront it depends on your goals as a player are you hunting for every secret, or focused solely on completing the narrative?
If you crave combat that pushes your skills and rewards your persistence, the Putrescent Knight awaits in the dark. But if you’re content to explore the Lands of Shadow without engaging every horror it holds, you’re free to leave the knight untouched and the story will still unfold as intended. The choice, as always in Elden Ring, is yours.