How to Beat Demi-Human Chief: Boss Fight Guide

This is a guide on how to beat the Demi-Human Chief, an optional boss in Elden Ring. Read on to learn more about the Demi-Human Chief's strengths, weaknesses, attack patterns, and lore!

Demi-Human Chief General Info

Stats and Rewards

Demi-Human Chief
Weakness	Resistance	Immune
Standard Strike Slash Fire Holy Frost Thrust	Bleed Frost Sleep	Madness
Affected By	Poison, Scarlet Rot, Bleed, Frost, Sleep
Spirit Ashes Available?	Yes
Rune Rewards	900 (NG)
Summonable NPCs	・Old Knight Istvan
Location	・Coastal Cave, Limgrave
Item Drops	・Sewing Needle ・Tailoring Tools

Demi-Human Chief Location

Where to Find

Map Location
View Full Image
Recommended Level	Lv.15

The Demi-Human Chief is located inside the Coastal Cave in Limgrave. Trace the coastline all the way to where the cave marker is on the map provided. The cave itself is mostly dark, so make sure you bring either a Torch or Lantern before venturing inside!

How to Beat Demi-Human Chief

Tips for Beating Demi-Human Chief
Clear the area first of enemies before engaging the boss
Try to focus on killing any additional enemies that spawn during the boss fight
Save a bit of your stamina for dodging
Before the fight, summon a Spirit to aid you in battle

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Ranged Strategy

Demi-Human Chief Boss Tips
Watch your surroundings
Use spirit summons to tank for you

Watch your surroundings

Keep close attention to your surroundings as the boss room is small. Position yourself correctly and always have a space to dodge. You will otherwise run the risk of dodging into a wall.

Use spirit summons to tank for you

Use Spirit Ashes to summon a spirit for this fight to make this battle really easy for you. You can use the Lone Wolf Ashes or the Wandering Noble Ashes as they will serve not only to distract the boss but any additional enemies that spawn. You can then throw as many spells as you can while the boss focuses on the spirits from a safe distance.

The Northern Mercenary Ashes are also really good in this boss fight as their attacks cleave through multiple enemies. Its attacks are quick and also deal a ton of damage, and could chip the boss' health down enough for you to kill it. If your damage output is high enough, your summon can last until the Second Demi-Human Chief comes out.

Melee Strategy

Demi-Human Chief Boss Tips
Keep attacking to stagger him
Block and run
Watchout for his overhead attack
Use spirit summons to get in close

Keep attacking to stagger him

This boss can be staggered, so let loose with a chain of attacks and stunlock him. It usually takes around 4 hits of your melee attack before it recovers.

Makes sure to leave enough stamina to dodge after you attack the boss to avoid getting hit by its attack.

Block and run

Due to the small size of the boss room, having a shield up while the boss attacks will be helpful.

However, watch out for its triple strike attack, as it can break your guard if your stamina is low.

Watchout for their overhead attack

After the boss performs the large overhead swing, it will be open to attack. Parry or dodge this attack and then focus on attacking the boss as much as you can.

Use spirit summons to get in close

Before you engage the Demi-Human Chief, don't forget to use Spirit Ashes to summon spirits to make this fight really easy. Summons such as the Wandering Noble Ashes or Lone Wolf Ashes will spawn in groups and can distract the boss and any enemies that spawn. While the boss is busy, get in close and unleash on the boss.

Another spirit you can use is the Spirit Jellyfish Ashes. They have a large health pool, making it a great tank and a distraction. If your damage is good enough to kill the boss quickly, the Jellyfish Spirit should last until the Second Demi-Human Chief arrives.

Demi-Human Chief Attack Patterns

Knife Attacks

Knife Attack Variations
Flurry: Demi-Human Chiefs swing their knives wildly, unleashing a flurry of deadly attacks that often end in an overshooting dash attack. Take note that the chiefs can stagger their swing timings at any point during the combo and can even chain other attacks in-between or afterwards.
Pounce: An attack where Demi-Human Chief leaps towards the closest player and strikes three times in quick succession. This is usually followed by either a Flurry or Overhead Attack. Dodge backward, away from the boss just after the pounce, to avoid the attack.
Overhead Attack: An attack where the Demi-Human Chief rushes towards you with its arms raised high. The chief brings both knives down directly in front, dealing insanely high damage to anyone it catches. This attack can be chained from any attack in the Chiefs' arsenal, so watch out for its heavy telegraph at all times.
Spinning Knives: Demi-Human Chief spins with its knife twice, and each spin moves the boss forward. This typically ends with either an Overhead Attack or Rallying Cry.

Quick Bites

Quick Bites Information
Quick Bites: Demi-Human Chiefs can use their massive jaws to do quick bites in-between attacks. These can easily break stances, especially during the early game. Chiefs take a while to recover from this move, so take advantage of the opening by healing or counterattacking.

Rallying Cry

Rallying Cry Information
Rallying Cry: A move where Demi-Human Chief screams to call for help. It will spawn additional enemies in the field. Take them out asap to avoid getting swarmed.

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Elden Ring Related Guides

List of All Bosses

Main Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Margit the Fell Omen	Godrick the Grafted
Red Wolf of Radagon	Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
Royal Knight Loretta	Starscourge Radahn
Godfrey, First Elden Lord	Morgott, the Omen King
Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy	Fire Giant
Malenia, Blade of Miquella	Mohg Lord of Blood
Regal Ancestor Spirit	Astel, Naturalborn of the Void
Lichdragon Fortissax	Godskin Duo
Dragonlord Placidusax	Maliketh, the Black Blade
Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing	Hoarah Loux, Warrior
Radagon of the Golden Order	Elden Beast

Optional Bosses

Limgrave Optional Bosses
Beastman of Farum Azula	Bloodhound Knight Darriwil
Demi-Human Chiefs	Flying Dragon Agheel
Guardian Golem	Leonine Misbegotten
Mad Pumpkin Head	Miranda the Blighted Bloom
Patches	Runebear
Scaly Misbegotten	Soldier of Godrick
Stonedigger Troll	Tree Sentinel
Liurnia of the Lakes Optional Bosses
Adan, Thief of Fire	Alabaster Lord
Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader	Bols, Carian Knight
Bloodhound Knight	Glintstone Dragon Smarag
Glintstone Dragon Adula	Magma Wyrm Makar
Royal Revenant	Spirit-Caller Snail
Caelid Optional Bosses
Battlemage Hugues	Black Blade Kindred (Caelid)
Commander O'Neil	Decaying Ekzykes
Fallingstar Beast	Flying Dragon Greyll
Frenzied Duelist	Magma Wyrm
Nox Swordstress & Nox Priest	Putrid Tree Spirit
Altus Plateau Optional Bosses
Ancient Dragon Lansseax	Crucible Knight Ordovis
Demi-Human Queen Gilika	Demi-Human Queen Maggie
Demi-Human Queen Margot	Draconic Tree Sentinel
Elemer of the Briar	Esgar, Priest of Blood
Fell Twins	Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast
Godefroy the Grafted	Kindred of Rot
Mohg, The Omen	Necromancer Garris
Onyx Lord	Perfumer Tricia
Red Wolf of the Champion	Sanguine Noble
Virgin Abductors	Wormface
Mountaintops of the Giants Optional Bosses
Astel, Stars of Darkness	Black Blade Kindred (Mountaintops of the Giants)
Borealis the Freezing Fog	Commander Niall
Misbegotten Crusader	Putrid Grave Warden Duelist
Great Wyrm Theodorix	Vyke, Knight of the Roundtable
Siofra River Optional Bosses
Ancestor Spirit	Valiant Gargoyles
Mimic Tear
Ainsel River Optional Bosses
Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella	-
Deeproot Depths Optional Bosses
Crucible Knight Siluria	-
Multiple Location Optional Bosses
Ancient Hero of Zamor	Black Knife Assassin
Bell Bearing Hunter	Cemetery Shade
Cleanrot Knights	Crucible Knight
Crystalian	Death Rite Bird
Deathbird	Erdtree Avatar
Erdtree Burial Watchdog	Godskin Apostle
Godskin Noble	Grafted Scion
Grave Warden Duelist	Mad Pumpkin Head
Misbegotten Warrior	Night's Cavalry
Omenkiller	Tibia Mariner
Dragonkin Soldier	-

Mini-Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Elder Dragon Greyoll	Lion Guardian
Valiant Gargoyle (Leyndell)	-

Hostile NPCs and Invaders

Limgrave Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Bloody Finger Nerijus	Old Knight Istvan
Recusant Henricus	-
Liurnia of the Lakes Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Great Horned Tragoth	Festering Fingerprint Vyke
Altus Plateau Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger	Inquisitor Ghiza
Maleigh Marais, Shaded Castle Castellan	Rileigh the Idle
Vargram the Raging Wolf & Errant Sorcerer Wilhelm	Magnus the Beast Claw
Mountaintops of the Giants Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood	-
The Roundtable Hold Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Mad Tongue Alberich	-
Multiple Location Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater	-

These sections are currently under construction. Check back later for updates!