Elden Ring's story has a host of boss fights, both mandatory and optional, that are sure to entertain and frustrate players. Typical of FromSoftware games, Elden Ring boss fights require precise timing to avoid attacks and deal damage. They may also require dying a few times to learn the boss's varied combination of attacks and progression of phases.
Though he's not front and center, like the Red Wolf of Radagon, Mohg, the Lord of Blood, is more important to Elden Ring's lore than players know, despite being locked away on the lowest level of a hidden dungeon. Mohg's fight has two phases, and Mohg himself wields Bloodflame and Blood Loss like a master. Players looking to conquer the boss battle should grab a few items before heading down to ensure they take as little damage from Mohg's power as possible while dealing maximum damage themselves.
Breaking Down the Fight Against Mohg
The fight against Mohg begins when players make their way to the end of the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum, located in Mohgwyn Palace, a hidden area in the Lands Between accessed by a portal. After a bloody cutscene, players will find themselves facing the Lord of Blood, his magic, and his weapon, the Sacred Spear of Mohgwyn. Phase one of the battle sees Mohg using combos that usually begin with a front or backhand Bloodflame Claw attack. Mohg follows up the Bloodflame Claw with long, sweeping strikes with his spear.
Mohg casts some of his more advanced attacks in phase one, like throwing Cursed Blood at the player, but as long as players stay close to him, he will keep his attacks close-range. The Bloodflame can light players on fire, causing continuous damage, and if they aren't careful, they will also gain Blood Loss, losing a massive chunk of their health. Despite these attacks, players should try to save as many flasks as possible until phase two, since that's when Mohg really gets hectic.
The transition between phases one and two is one of the most damaging in Elden Ring. When Mohg reaches 50% health, he will raise his staff and send out sweeping waves of Cursed Blood, each wave causing Blood Loss buildup. No matter where a player runs in the arena, they will take damage and need to chug flasks multiple times to survive.
Mohg will also heal himself during this phase. He's usually able to gain a sizable chunk of health back, since players are usually too busy healing themselves to do much else during this time. Mohg will then sprout wings, his attacks will have a wider reach, and every one of his attacks will cause Blood Loss. Mohg's phase two attacks are much the same as phase one, but with a longer range, more damage, and more Blood Loss buildup, but he also adds aerial attacks to his combinations.
Strategies for Defeating Mohg
Players who want to have every advantage when it comes to fighting Mohg should ensure they've obtained the Purifying Crystal Tear and Mohg's Shackle. The Purifying Crystal Tear is something players can add to their Flask of Wonderous Physik, which will grant them immunity to Mohg's curse for a time. This means Blood Loss and Bloodflame will have no effect. The Purifying Crystal Tear is rewarded to players who see Yura the Bloody Finger Hunter's quest through to the end. Yura's quest is not short, but it is crucial in helping players survive Mohg.
Mohg's Shackle can be found in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds and works similarly to Margit's Shackle. When players use it, Mohg will be crushed to the ground temporarily, allowing players to rush in and attack. If used at the right time, players can take Mohg's health down well below 50% before he begins his transition. Once this happens, players should immediately drink their Flask of Wonderous Physik to gain immunity to his Cursed Blood attack. This way, instead of players frantically drinking healing flasks to survive, they're buffed against the Blood Loss and they're able to attack, lowering the amount of health Mohg can recover.
In phase two, as Mohg sprouts his wings and steps up his combat, players should remain patient and use the entirety of the arena to their advantage. All that Bloodflame Mohg tosses around will stay on the ground for a time, and after a while, a player can find themselves surrounded by fire. Running to a new area of the map and getting breathing room can help reduce damage taken.
By staying close to Mohg to decrease his ranged attacks and being mindful of the Blood Loss buildup meter, players with the right timing will find themselves owners of the Remembrance of the Lord of Blood in no time. If players find themselves continuing to struggle against Mohg, backing off to explore the world and gain a few levels never hurts, and the option to summon a friend with co-op can help immensely.