Optional bosses are everywhere in Elden Ring's Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC, but the Lamenter may be one of the hardest to beat. This small but quick adversary uses clones to prolong their boss fight, using a tricky gimmick that can kill your character instantly. You'll have to learn the mechanics of this fight fast if you want to reap the rewards dropped by this cunning enemy and some cheap Elden Ring Runes and Items.

Unlike some of the other boss fight types in Elden Ring's DLC, Lamenter is a human opponent with a single phase you have to contend with. This makes it slightly easier to predict the boss' movements as opposed to other foes you may meet in Shadow Of The Erdtree. However, keep in mind that any boss can be a threat if left unchecked without any preparation beforehand.

Where To Find Lamenter

Search For Charo's Hidden Grave First

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC map with Lamenter's Gaol location marked with the red circle

The Lamenter is located in Lamenter's Gaol, an area you can only reach by traveling through the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion and Charo's Hidden Grave areas. These two spots are off the beaten path in the larger Gravesite Plain region in the Land of Shadow. The Altar of Dragon Communion Site of Grace can be found by taking a path south from the Castle Front, then east from the Dragon's Pit.

Another area, the Foot of the Jagged Peak, will be the spot where you can find the Altar as you explore. From here, go past the dead dragon and drop down ledges before heading north to Charo's Hidden Grave in Elden Ring, a spot marked by bright red flowers. This bigger section of the DLC map will be where you can start searching for Lamenter's Gaol, a place hidden from view to most travelers.

Go north and northwest from Charo's Hidden Grave until you eventually see small pools of water marked by dozens of graves scattered in the area. Continue exploring until you spot large cages broken and lying on the ground everywhere near the entrance of a cave mouth. Enter the cave to delve into a small dungeon, with Lamenter's Gaol's Site of Grace resting at the beginning of the location as you go inside.

How To Prepare Against Lamenter

Bring Crowd Control Weapons Or Spells

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Tarnished character fighting Lamenter boss and their clones

It shouldn't take you too long to find the golden wall signifying the impending boss fight against Lamenter as you explore their Gaol dungeon. The main element of this battle you must plan for is how Lamenter will summon clones and use an attack to instantly kill you if you don't kill enough clones in time. Lamenter is not a dangerous foe on their own, but they can be deadly if you only focus on them during the fight.

The best way to prepare for Lamenter's boss fight is to bring weapons or spells that can crowd-control the boss' clones. Long-reaching melee weapons in Elden Ring, such as the Rivers of Blood katana or Loretta's War Sickle halberd can both cleave through clones easily. Clones do not have health bars and go down in one hit, making your reach the most important tool needed to take them out fast.

Many spells or Ashes of War can also help you combat the clones, including the huge gravity aura from the Unique Skill on the Starscourge Greatsword. Magic that deals damage in a large area, or affects multiple targets at once, can be a great way for different builds to approach this fight. Do not try to create status conditions on clones, as they can be killed much faster through direct damage.

One of the best spells for this boss fight is Rellana's Twin Moons, a piece of Intelligence magic from the DLC you can get from the Remembrance of the Rellana, Twin Moon Knight boss in Elden Ring.

Another strategy for dealing with the clones is to summon allies through Spirit Ashes to even the numbers of the fight. One or more ghosts on your side will be able to take out multiple clones at the same time as you do, making this battle almost trivial. Those looking for a challenge may not wish to do this, but anyone struggling with this boss fight can use this option as a simple way to find a solution.

How To Defeat Lamenter

Understand Different Attack Patterns

Even if you have a solid plan against the clones Lamenter summons, you still need to know which attacks the boss will use against your character. Lamenter is an agile enemy who teleports and dashes across the large cave arena where you fight them. This boss also uses a small amount of magic to attack you from a distance, which could be a problem as you start to deal with clones Lamenter summons.

Each of Lamenter's clones has access to the same attacks as the boss, making every enemy that appears an additional threat with the same move list.

As you can see in the above video by YouTube creator FP Good Game, the hardest part of this fight is how you react to the clones once they've been summoned.