Summary
- FromSoftware's strength lies at least partially in its iconic boss fights.
- Dragons play a significant role in Elden Ring's lore and gameplay, with unique boss fights and a rich history in the Lands Between.
- The inclusion of a dragon boss in the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC may divide fans, balancing tradition with the desire for new boss types.
Though the studio has no shortage of strengths, perhaps FromSoftware's most renowned staple is its bevy of excellent boss fights. Some of the most iconic moments across FromSoftware's library come from bombastic boss fights like Smough and Ornstein, Slave Knight Gael, Genichiro Ashina, and the Orphan of Kos. It's often been the case that even in FromSoft's less adored games, the boss fights are still a highlight of the experience, with Dark Souls 2's Fume Knight and Sir Alonne being perfect examples. So, naturally, fans were expecting a lot from Elden Ring's bosses.
An open-world game on a scale like nothing FromSoftware had ever done before, Elden Ring has far more bosses than any other FromSoft game. Not all boss fights in Elden Ring are perfect or wholly unique, especially with literal repeat bosses, but the game still features a wealth of stand-out ones. Now, there's one iconic boss type that's bound to appear in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
A Dragon Boss Feels Very Likely for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Elden Ring Loves Its Dragons
While dragons have always played a key role in FromSoftware's biggest franchises, Elden Ring turns things up a notch. There are a total of 12 possible dragon bosses in Elden Ring's base game, the vast majority of which offer some kind of unique boss fight, either through their distinct moveset or through the type of element they're imbued with.
For instance, while the Glintstone Dragon Smarag rains down magic on the player from above, Borealis, the Freezing Fog will attempt to stop the player in their tracks by launching an array of icy projectiles at them.
On top of their prevalence in Elden Ring's gameplay, dragons also play a pretty prominent role in the game's lore, being some of the first inhabitants of the mysterious Lands Between. According to Elden Ring's lore, the Ancient Dragons were the original rulers of the Lands Between, with 
Dragonlord Placidusax being the very first Elden Lord. After a vicious war with Queen Marika and the Empyreans, the Ancient Dragons were pushed almost to extinction, only being saved by a truce brought about by Fortissax and Godwyn.
Shadow of the Erdtree Including a Dragon Boss Could be a Double-Edged Sword
Being such an integral part of Elden Ring's lore, and clearly being a popular boss type to design, it seems likely that dragons will make a reappearance in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, though that could end up being a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, after 12 major dragon boss fights in the base game, some fans might prefer some completely new boss types in the DLC, especially as the number of bosses in the DLC could be quite limited.
On the other hand, dragons are such an iconic part of the Elden Ring experience, and it might feel like a bit of a missed opportunity if there isn't a new one in Shadow of the Erdtree. On top of that, it would also break a fairly lengthy FromSoftware tradition, with dragons being a staple addition to its fantasy-focused DLCs, and often some of the best bosses in the entire package—Darkeater Midir and Black Dragon Kalameet being two great examples.
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. And BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.
George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- How Long To Beat
- 58 Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
