How to Beat Lion Guardian: Boss Fight Guide

This is a guide on how to beat Lion Guardian, an optional mini-boss in Elden Ring found in various locations. Read on to learn more about Lion Guardian's strengths, weaknesses, attack patterns, and lore!

Lion Guardian General Info

Stats and Rewards

Lion Guardian
Weakness	Resistance	Immune
Strike Slash Bleed	━	━
Affected By	Poison, Scarlet Rot, Frost, Bleed, Sleep
Spirit Ashes Available?	Yes
Rune Rewards	Stormveil Castle: ・1428 Fort Gael: ・1968 Redmane Castle: ・2 x 2676 Southern Caelid: ・1968 Leyndell, Royal Capital: ・3398 Northern Altus Plateau: ・2643 Castle Sol: ・4567
Summonable NPCs	・None
Locations	・Stormveil Castle, Limgrave ・ Fort Gael, Caelid ・ Redmane Castle, Caelid ・Southern Caelid ・Leyndell, Royal Capital, Altus Plateau ・Northern Altus Plateau ・Castle Sol, Mountaintops of the Giants
Item Drops	Stormveil Castle: ・Somber Smithing Stone 1 ・Beast Blood ・2 x Old Fang Fort Gael: ・Ash of War Lion's Claw Redmane Castle: ・2 x Somber Smithing Stone 4 ・2 x Beast Blood ・4 x Old Fang Southern Caelid: ・Somber Smithing Stone 4 ・Beast Blood ・2 x Old Fang Leyndell, Royal Capital: ・Somber Smithing Stone 6 ・Beast Blood ・2 x Old Fang Northern Altus Plateau: ・Larval Tear Castle Sol: ・ Somber Smithing Stone 7 ・Beast Blood ・2 x Old Fang

Lion Guardian Location

Where to Find

Stormveil Castle

A Lion Guardian is located within Stormveil Castle, near the eastern gate. It will be resting on the right side before you enter an arched entryway.

Fort Gael

Another Lion Guardian can be found in Fort Gael, in the region of Caelid.

Redmane Castle

Two Lion Guardians can be found in Redmane Castle, in the region of Caelid.

Southern Caelid

The final Lion Guardian in Caelid can be found near the Impassable Greatbridge, in the southern parts of Caelid.

Leyndell, Royal Capital

A Lion Guardian can be found in Leyndell, Royal Capital, near the Avenue Balcony Site of Grace. It's in the region of Altus Plateau.

Northern Altus Plateau

A Lion Guardian can be found in the ruins west of the Outer Wall Battleground and the Hermit Merchant's Shack in Altus Plateau. It will be disguised as an Undead Enemy.

Castle Sol

Two Lion Guardians can be found in Castle Sol, in the region of Mountaintops of the Giants.

When to Fight

How to Beat Lion Guardian

Tips for Beating Lion Guardian
Wait for an Opening Before Attacking the Lion Guardian
Avoid Spells with Slow Projectile Speeds
Use Spirit Ashes with Multiple Summons
Don't Rely on Blocking

Wait for an Opening Before Attacking the Lion Guardian

The Lion Guardian will be extremely aggressive, so it's best to stay defensive. It'll be easy to find an opening to attack since it'll usually take a few seconds to recover after a move.

Avoid Spells with Slow Projectile Speeds

Avoid using spells with slow projectile speed since Lion Guardians have great mobility. Instead, try casting spells that have a fast projectile speed or one with a larger hitbox, such as the Glintstone Pebble, which is quick enough to hit the lion, or the Beast Claw, which hits anything in front of you in a wide cone for a good amount of damage.

Try to make sure you're safe when casting these spells, such as when they're distracted or when you're far away to safely use them.

Use Spirit Ashes with Multiple Summons

Try using spirit ashes that summons spirits in a group, as this will increase the time the boss is distracted since their attacks don't cover that much area. Spirits such as the Lone Wolf Ashes are ideal since they can easily avoid attacks thanks to their mobility and small hitbox.

Alternatively, you can also summon the Wandering Noble Ashes. They have less mobility than the wolves but are greater in number.

Don't Rely on Blocking

Running a build that uses a shield will make this fight much safer as you'll be able to move freely around the Lion Guardian without running the risk of getting hit.

However, try not to be over-reliant with it, since most of Lion Guardian's attacks can be chained together, making you susceptible to guard break.

Lion Guardian Attack Patterns

Melee Attacks

Melee Attack Variations
Bite Attack: Lion Guardian will run towards you in an attempt to bite you. Dodge towards the boss' sides and be prepared for the double headbutt right after the bite.
Jumping Slice Attack: An attack where the Lion Guardian jumps high up in the air before lunging itself towards where you are as it drops down. Roll into the attack when it raises its sword while mid-air.
Ground Slam: A slow-moving attack, where the Lion Guardian lifts itself up before slamming the sword attached to it to the ground, damaging anyone near the impact. Rolling underneath the lion lets you dodge it entirely.
Claw Swipe: A quick attack where Lion Guardian drags its claws in the ground before turning to swipe at you. Dodge backward to avoid this.
Blade and Claw Strike: Lion Guardian strikes you with its blade then follows this up with its claws. Dodge as it raises its weapons for both attacks. There will be a delay in between the two moves so don't spam your rolls.
Sword Swipe: Lion Guardian raises its sword and swings it at you. Roll into the attack once the Lion fully pulls its sword back.

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!