Elemer of the Briar Was Not Having It

Wow, Tarnished, I just had to share my intense experience finally taking down Elemer of the Briar in Elden Ring! This boss, found in the Shaded Castle, was really giving me a run for my runes. I know a lot of you are probably struggling with him too, especially with his spinning weapon attacks and that terrifying Briar sorcery. After countless tries, I finally got that 'GREAT ENEMY FELLED' message, and let me tell you, it was glorious! For those wondering, you'll encounter Elemer of the Briar as the main boss of the Shaded Castle, located in the Altus Plateau. Getting there is half the battle sometimes, but once you're inside, navigating the poison swamps and enemy patrols eventually leads you to him. He's often referred to as the 'Marais Executioner' so you know you're in for a tough fight. My winning strategy ultimately came down to a few key things. First, Elemer's attacks, particularly his spinning Marais Executioner's Sword moves, have a deceptively long reach. My best advice is to really learn the timing for dodging into his attacks rather than away. This gave me precious few frames to get a hit or two in. I found that staying somewhat close, but always ready to roll, was more effective than trying to keep a long distance, as his projectile attacks can be annoying to deal with. Secondly, I relied heavily on my Spirit Ashes to create a distraction. The Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche were absolute lifesavers here. Having them draw aggro allowed me to get behind Elemer for some critical backstabs or charge up a heavy attack. He’s pretty susceptible to physical damage, especially when he’s focused on your summon. Also, don't underestimate the power of status effects! I found that applying Frostbite or Bleed could really chip away at his health, making the fight much more manageable. His Briar sorcery, especially that homing projectile, can be a real pain. Keep moving and rolling to avoid it. Sometimes, locking off and sprinting can be more effective than trying to dodge perfectly. When he starts charging up for a big attack, that's your cue to get some distance or prepare for a perfect parry if you're confident (I wasn't, personally!). And for the loot? Absolutely worth it! After Elemer of the Briar was felled, I proudly walked away with the Marais Executioner's Sword and the Briar Greatshield. The sword is fascinating, scaling with Strength and Arcane, and has a unique weapon art called 'Eochaid's Dancing Blade' which is just incredibly fun to use. The Briar Greatshield is also a solid piece of equipment, quite heavy but offering good protection, and it looks fantastic too! It's great for those who want to commit to a heavy shield build. Overall, this Elden Ring boss fight was a true test of patience and skill. If you're stuck, keep learning his patterns, leverage your Spirit Ashes, and don't be afraid to experiment with different weapon types or spells. You'll get him, Tarnished! Good luck, and may the grace be with you!