Face the crimson terror of Elden Ring’s Mohg, Lord of Blood-the demigod whose mastery of bloodflame magic and relentless assault will test every ounce of your skill and strategy. Nestled deep within Mohgwyn Palace, this optional yet formidable boss fight demands precision, timing, and the right preparation to overcome his deadly bleed attacks and devastating rituals. Ready your weapons and summon your courage; defeating Mohg is not just a battle, but a rite of passage toward unlocking the darkest secrets of the Lands Between.
In this guide, we’ll break down our best tips on how to beat Mohg in Elden Ring, including a few highly recommended items to get first, and if all else fails, a Mohg cheese.
Mohg location in Elden Ring
Mohg, Lord of Blood is located in Mohgwyn Palace, a secret subterranean area accessible either by progressing White Mask Varré’s questline or using a teleporter in the Consecrated Snowfield. To reach Mohg, players must navigate through the palace’s blood-filled pools and tunnels to the central mausoleum, then ascend to the top where Mohg awaits just beyond the Mausoleum Midpoint Site of Grace, inside the Dynasty Mausoleum. This location is deep underground, beneath Caelid, and is known for its eerie, blood-soaked environment.
Mohg, Lord of Blood is located in Mohgwyn Palace, a secret subterranean area located in the Siofra River Well region which features Nokron, Eternal City. However, despite Mohgwyn Palace being part of Siofra River Well, there is direct route from that location – instead, it requires the use of a teleporter to reach, such as by progressing Varré’s questline.
From there, you need to reach Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum. The nearest site of grace is the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint; from there, take the lift up to the Mausoleum proper (you might have to throw the switch on the right first), and enter the fog wall to meet Mohg.
How to prepare for Mohg in Elden Ring
To prepare for the fight against Mohg, Lord of Blood in Elden Ring, it is crucial to focus on bleed resistance and mitigation. Completing the Volcano Manor questline rewards you with armor that offers high bleed resistance, which is highly beneficial against Mohg’s blood-based attacks. Equipping a shield with 100% physical block and defensive talismans like the Dragoncrest Shield Talisman or Pearldrake Talisman can help reduce incoming damage. Bringing the Purifying Crystal Tear in your Flask of Wondrous Physick is essential to negate Mohg’s Blood Curse mechanic during his second phase, greatly reducing the damage taken from his ritual. Additionally, obtaining Mohg’s Shackle from the Subterranean Shunning Grounds allows you to temporarily stun him twice in the first phase, creating valuable openings for attacks. Upgrading your weapon to maximize damage, preferably with bleed buildup like the Ruvia Dagger, and using the Lord of Blood’s Exaltation talisman to boost attack power when blood loss occurs will also improve your chances. Finally, patience and careful dodging of his bloodflame and claw attacks are key to surviving this challenging battle.
There are multiple strategies for battling Mohg depending on whether you’re melee user or a ranged magic enthusiast, but whatever your playstyle, there are two items that can make a huge difference. We highly recommend you seek them out.
Get Mohg’s Shackle
Mohg’s Shackle behaves just like Margit’s Shackle – using this item will temporarily stun Mohg, up to two times and only during the first phase of the right. Use the shackle to get a few free hits in on old Mohg.
Mohg’s Shackle can be found in Leyndell, Royal Capital down in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds (where you’ll also find Dung Eater) where it is guarded by two giant crayfish. The above embedded video shows the exact location.
Get the Purifying Crystal Tear
This Crystal Tear will purify the Lord of Blood’s curse in a mixed physick, diminishing the powerful health-draining Nihil attack that Mohg does when he is at half health. The Purifying Crystal Tear is dropped by Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger at the Second Church of Marika in Altus Plateau, who appears by progressing Yura’s questline. This Crystal Tear pairs well with the Speckled Hardtear in your Wondrous Physick mix.
As well as the above two items, other things to prepare include:
Bring lots of healing and blood loss prevention
Mohg will drain your health using his Nihil spell, and you may wind up chugging your healing flask repeatedly just to stay alive. He also inflicts hemorrhage (blood loss), so have Staunching Boluses equipped or use the Lord’s Aid incantation to diminish the effect.
When in doubt, Mimic Tear
The Mimic Tear (one of the best Spirit Ashes in the game) provides a great distraction for Mohg, letting you attack him from behind and breaking his poise to inflict extra damage. Or use the upgraded spirit summon of your choice. This is a judgment-free safe space.
Mohg weakness in Elden Ring
Mohg, Lord of Blood in Elden Ring is notably weak to bleed (hemorrhage) damage, physical attacks, and gravity spells such as Rock Sling. Utilizing bleed-inducing weapons or incantations like Swarm of Flies can significantly hasten his defeat. Despite his blood-based attacks, Mohg is immune to fire, frostbite, scarlet rot, and poison, so these damage types should be avoided. Equipping armor with high robustness and fire resistance helps mitigate his damage, especially in the first phase where he is more vulnerable. Additionally, using the Purifying Crystal Tear in the Flask of Wondrous Physick can protect against his devastating ritual attack in the second phase, making the fight more manageable.
Mohg has strong resistance to fire, so inflicting frostbite and/or hemorrhage on him may be your best option. With all the blood loss going on around Mohg, you may want to equip the Lord of Blood’s Exultation talisman, which raises attack power (by 20%) when blood loss occurs in the vicinity.
How to beat Mohg in Elden Ring
To beat Mohg, Lord of Blood in Elden Ring, prepare for a challenging two-phase fight in Mohgwyn Palace. In the first phase, focus on dodging his bloodflame attacks and spear strikes while getting hits in during his slower movements. Use Mohg’s Shackle, found in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds, to briefly bind him and deal significant damage. Equip high bleed resistance gear, such as the armor from the Volcano Manor questline, and defensive talismans like the Dragoncrest Shield Talisman. In the second phase, Mohg becomes more aggressive and regenerates health with a powerful spell; use a Purifying Crystal Tear in your Flask of Wondrous Physick to mitigate damage during this phase. Summoning Spirit Ashes, especially a Mimic Tear, can help manage the fight. Maintain distance when possible, avoid bloodflame pools to prevent hemorrhage buildup, and capitalize on openings after his attacks to chip away at his health.
Like many boss battles in Elden Ring, Mohg, Lord of Blood is a two-phase boss fight. In the first half, Mohg will inflict standard and pierce damage using his trident, and attack with sprays of bloodflame – a combination of fire and bleed damage that will build up over time.
Make sure you’ve equipped armor and talismans that negate physical, fire, and blood-based damage. Make sure you use Mohg’s Shackle, by the way – it only works in the first phase, so use it to get in some easy hits.
For the second half of Mohg’s boss fight, when he reaches 50% health, he’ll cast Bloodboon Ritual. This spell will heal Mohg considerably and inflict blood loss on the player, and this is where using the Purifying Crystal Tear will stop it causing significant harm.
From here, if you haven’t used one, now’s a good time to use a Spirit Ash of your choice – as mentioned above, Mimic Tear is your best bet – to provide a distraction in the second phase, especially as there will be more bloodflame to contend with all around you. Be vigilant of where it lands, stay mobile, and keep moving to help avoid these sprays.
If you’re still struggling, then levelling up might help with your damage output and survivability – and the good news is the best rune farming method in the entire game is just round the corner.
Mohg cheese in Elden Ring
Mohg cheese in Elden Ring involves exploiting certain glitches or strategies to defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood, without engaging in a full, challenging fight. One popular method uses Mohg’s Shackle item repeatedly at the boss room’s entrance to freeze him in place, allowing players to safely attack him until he is defeated. This technique requires careful timing to avoid breaking his poise or causing him to become aggressive again. Another approach involves standing on a tombstone outside the arena and firing ailment-inflicting arrows, such as Poison or Hemorrhage arrows, to gradually wear him down from a safe distance. Although some older cheese methods, like falling through the map, have been patched, these newer strategies remain effective for players seeking an easier victory over Mohg.
If you have done the above and are still struggling – or prefer to skip the above steps and get straight to victory – there is a cheese method that, at the time of writing in mid-June 2024, we have verified still works.
The long and short of the Mohg cheese is after starting the boss fight, then saving and reloading your save, you return to the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint site of grace and make your way down the cliff. Following a specific route down and across the rocky terrain below will lead you to a gap in the floor, which you can drop down while riding Torrent. By slashing the air as you freefall into the abyss for a couple of minutes, you’ll result in Mohg magically dying without laying a finger on him.
The above embedded video goes into the exact route in detail, and note if you die on the way down the cliffs, you must start the whole process over – a visit to Mohg and reloading your save and all. It’s a little tricky to pull off, but it works, and depending on your playtime, skill level, and patience, is arguably the best way to beat Mohg and get to accessing the DLC as fast as possible.
What secret strategies can help me outsmart Mohg in Elden Ring
Secret Strategies to Outsmart Mohg, Lord of Blood in Elden Ring
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Use Mohg’s Shackle Twice Early: Equip and use Mohg’s Shackle item as soon as he approaches to pin him down and land multiple charged or heavy attacks. Repeat this once more before he transitions to phase two, as the shackle only works twice per fight and only in phase one. This tactic significantly reduces his health early on and staggers him for critical hits.
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Attack from Behind or Left Side: When using the shackle combo, avoid attacking Mohg from the front; instead, position yourself behind or to his left side to avoid missing the stagger window and maximize damage output.
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Summon Ashes to Distract: Summon your spirit ashes immediately to draw Mohg’s attention, allowing you to safely use the shackle and land attacks while he is busy with the summon.
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Exploit Bleed and Scarlet Rot: Mohg is especially vulnerable to bleed effects and scarlet rot. Applying bleed weapons or using scarlet rot-inducing items like rot bone arrows or rot pots can rapidly drain his health, potentially ending the fight before phase two.
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Dodge Timing and Positioning: Learn to dodge Mohg’s melee combos, which are mostly three hits long. Roll into his overhead slam and forward thrust attacks just before impact to avoid damage and create openings for counterattacks. Stay behind him during his blood rain attack to avoid damage and punish when possible.
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Use Pillars for Cover: The arena has pillars that can block Mohg’s blood splatter attacks if they remain standing. Use these to your advantage to avoid damage and reposition safely.
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Magic and Ranged Tactics: For spellcasters and ranged players, use quick or heavy-hitting spells from a safe distance. Cast spells like Triple Rings of Light or Comet Azur with buffs such as Golden Vow and Howl of Shabriri to maximize damage. Use the terrain and pillars for cover from his bloodflame projectiles.
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Phase Two Caution: Once Mohg enters phase two after his blood ritual, he becomes more aggressive and the shackle no longer works. Play more conservatively, relying on ranged attacks and careful dodging. Use jump attacks after his charge to create openings, then back off quickly to avoid his counterattacks.
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Flask of Wondrous Physick Buffs: Prepare your Flask of Wondrous Physick with Purifying Crystal Tear to cleanse blood loss and Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear to boost magic damage or reduce FP cost, enhancing your survivability and damage output.
By combining these strategies-early shackle use, exploiting bleed and scarlet rot, precise dodging, and smart use of summons and buffs-you can outsmart Mohg and conquer this formidable Elden Ring boss.
How can I time Mohg’s shackle for maximum damage and stagger
To time Mohg’s Shackle for maximum damage and stagger in Elden Ring, follow these key tips:
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Use the Shackle only during Phase One: Mohg’s Shackle can be activated twice per fight and only in the first phase. Attempting to use it in phase two will fail.
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Deploy Shackle when Mohg is Close and Grounded: Wait until Mohg is near you and on the ground, ideally after dodging or baiting one of his attacks, before using the Shackle. This ensures the large hitbox of the Shackle will ensnare him effectively, preventing him from moving and allowing you to land multiple charged or heavy attacks.
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Avoid Overcommitting Before Second Shackle: Use the first Shackle to lock him down and deal heavy damage, then back off briefly to avoid staggering him too early. After Mohg recovers, use the second Shackle when his health is around 50-60%, maximizing damage before phase two begins.
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Attack from Behind or Left Side During Shackle: Position yourself behind or to Mohg’s left side while he is shackled to ensure your attacks connect and stagger him properly, as attacking from the front may cause misses or reduced stagger.
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Coordinate with Spirit Summons: Summon spirit allies to maintain aggro on Mohg while you approach and use the Shackle, giving you safer windows to unleash your attacks without immediate retaliation.
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Avoid Staggering Mohg Prematurely: If Mohg is staggered to the point of dropping to one knee, he will immediately enter phase two, which is harder to handle. Time your attacks so you do not prematurely stagger him but instead use the Shackle to control him without triggering phase two too early.
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Take Breaks Between Attack Bursts: To prevent accidentally staggering Mohg, some players recommend attacking in bursts (e.g., five strikes), then pausing for about 10 seconds before continuing. This pacing helps manage the stagger meter and keeps Mohg in phase one longer.
By carefully timing the Shackle to catch Mohg when he is grounded and close, using it twice strategically around half health, and managing your attacks to avoid premature stagger, you can maximize damage and control the fight’s pace before his dangerous second phase begins.
