Facing the Putrescent Knight in a challenging boss fight can be a daunting experience, especially for players unprepared for its aggressive moveset and dual-wielding chaos. This optional boss, found deep within the rot-infested realms of Elden Ring, has tested the patience of many. Fortunately, for those looking for an easier path to victory, there are a few clever strategies commonly referred to as cheesing that allow you to bypass most of the difficulty and defeat the Putrescent Knight with minimal risk. This guide breaks down effective cheese methods while keeping the game fun and accessible for all playstyles.
Understanding the Putrescent Knight
Before jumping into cheese tactics, it’s helpful to understand what makes the Putrescent Knight so dangerous. This boss is located in the Consecrated Snowfield’s secret regions and is part of the ever-expanding post-game content. The Putrescent Knight is fast, hits hard, and has a combination of melee flurries and spectral steed charges that can catch even seasoned players off guard.
Key Traits
- Fights while mounted, giving it mobility and reach.
- Uses large sweeping strikes and stomps.
- Inflicts rapid damage with combo attacks.
- Has a spectral steed that can charge unexpectedly.
Players who try to engage head-on will often struggle due to the erratic movement and power behind the boss’s dual weapons. That’s where cheesing comes in handy.
Best Cheese Strategy: Terrain Exploitation
The most reliable cheese method to defeat the Putrescent Knight involves luring it into environmental hazards or positioning yourself in a way where it can’t reach you effectively. The snowy battlefield is not flat or smooth it has small elevations, cliffs, and rocky edges that work to your advantage.
Steps to Cheese Using Terrain
- Enter the boss arena and immediately head toward the elevated ledges on the outer edge.
- Use Torrent (your spectral steed) to quickly leap onto a rocky outcrop or hill that the Knight has trouble climbing.
- From this elevated position, use ranged attacks such as sorceries, bows, or incantations to whittle down its health.
- If the Knight gets stuck below or begins pacing awkwardly, you’ve found a safe cheese spot. Stay patient and keep attacking.
This approach works best with long-range weapons like the Pulley Bow or spells like Comet, Loretta’s Greatbow, or Lightning Spear. Just make sure your FP and arrows are well-stocked before attempting this method.
Alternate Cheese: Summon Spam Strategy
If ranged combat isn’t your strength, or you’re more of a melee-focused build, you can rely on Spirit Ash summons to do the heavy lifting while you stay out of harm’s way.
Using Summons Effectively
- Equip a tanky summon like Lhutel the Headless, Banished Knight Oleg, or Greatshield Soldiers.
- Enter the boss arena and immediately summon your Spirit Ash.
- While the summon engages the Putrescent Knight, circle around and use hit-and-run tactics or ranged damage.
- Buff yourself with protection spells like Flame, Grant Me Strength or Blessing of the Erdtree to improve survivability.
This method doesn’t guarantee that you’ll avoid damage, but it greatly reduces the Knight’s aggression toward you, allowing for a safer and more controlled fight.
Poison and Rot: Damage Over Time Cheese
Damage over time is another excellent method to cheese the Putrescent Knight. Due to its large size and relatively slow response to status buildup, this boss is susceptible to poison and Scarlet Rot.
How to Apply Poison and Rot
- Use Rotten Arrows or Poisonbone Arrows from a distance.
- Equip weapons that inflict rot or poison like the Antspur Rapier, Serpent Bow, or Rotten Greataxe.
- Apply poison or rot grease to your weapon if needed.
Once the Putrescent Knight is afflicted with either status effect, back off and let the damage tick down. Reapply the effect as necessary, staying at a safe distance throughout the process. This method is slow but consistent and risk-averse.
Build Recommendations for Cheesing
Certain builds and gear combinations will enhance your ability to cheese this boss. Focusing on survivability, FP management, and long-range effectiveness will give you an edge.
Recommended Builds
- Intelligence Build: Use Glintstone Icecrag, Comet, or Stars of Ruin to maintain distance and constant pressure.
- Faith Build: Lightning Spear and Pest Threads work well from range; also use Flame, Cleanse Me to remove status effects.
- Dexterity/Archery Build: Equip Black Bow or Pulley Bow with rot-inflicting arrows for constant poison application.
Useful Talismans and Items
- Radagon Icon: Reduces spell casting time for faster cheese execution.
- Shard of Alexander: Increases damage from skills and summons.
- Green Turtle Talisman: Boosts stamina recovery to help with dodging or Torrent movement.
Tips to Maximize Cheesing Effectiveness
Even with cheesing methods, the fight requires some attention and preparation. Here are some final tips to help you succeed:
- Keep your distance at all times; the boss can close gaps fast with mounted attacks.
- Manage stamina carefully. Even when cheesing, you may need to dodge a surprise attack.
- Be patient. Many cheese strategies are slow but steady, so avoid rushing or getting greedy with damage.
- Use Torrent for repositioning but be careful not to get stuck in tight spots near cliffs.
The Putrescent Knight is one of Elden Ring’s more unique and frustrating optional bosses, combining mobility, power, and erratic patterns that can overwhelm players. But with the right cheese strategies whether it’s using the terrain, relying on Spirit Ashes, or applying status effects you can dramatically reduce the difficulty of this fight. Cheesing might not be for everyone, but for those looking to advance without a long struggle, it offers a creative and resourceful way to triumph over one of the game’s deadliest encounters. Prepare your gear, plan your route, and go forth knowing that sometimes, smart tactics beat brute strength.