The Putrescent Knight is an odd encounter waiting at the deepest point of the Shadow Lands, guarding one of the biggest lore reveals thatShadow of the Erdtreehas to offer. However, this position is only the first of many hints that the Putrescent Knight stands in stark contrast againstthe elevated Promised Consort Radahn, who waits at the highest point of the Shadow Lands.
This opposition built between Putrescent Knight andShadow of the Erdtree’s shiny new Radahn goes deeper than the difference in location, as their relationship is also shown through their lore and combat mechanics. Where the final boss is a fast-paced onslaught of neverending attacks, Putrescent Knight fights with a more measured moveset that catches players with unconventional telegraphing and awkward movement.
Putrescent Knight Guards St. Trina’s Affection
Putrescent Knight Pushes the Challenge Without Aggression
A major theme of the toughest bosses inElden Ring, which continued intoShadow of the Erdtree’s toughest bosses, has been an emphasis on aggression that forces the player on the back-foot. While this works for bosses like Godfrey in the base game, or Messmer in the DLC, enhanced aggression isn’t the only trick that FromSoftware has and continues to lean on in order to elevate these challenging encounters. The Putrescent Knight is a perfect example of pulling away from endless combos to create a degree of difficulty that leans on a unique moveset that is difficult to read on the first few attempts before players start to fall into the rhythm of the fight.
This uniqueness comes from the awkward way that Putrescent Knight moves, twisting and spinning in inhuman ways that makes each attack difficult to read at first glance. Combine the boss bending its spine around to charge across the arena with a large-chested body shape that more closely resembles a gorilla than a human knight, and this fight quickly sets itself apart from the ordinary “large enemy with sword” archetype. Then there is the Putrescent Knight’s horse to consider, a mount that adds a lot more to the fight than giving the boss enhanced speed and a drifting stride like in the originalRadahn fight as he mounts his trusty steed Leonard.
All of these design aspects that capitalize on the Putrescent Knight’s unique visuals are what sets the fight apart from the hyper-aggressive Promised Consort Radahn. This isn’t to say that one is a better design than the other, but rather that these two bosses express the extremes of how FromSoftware designs these types of encounters. However, considering that the unique design of the Putrescent Knight introduces the boss' multi-charge alongside their horse and the volcano of blue fire to theboss roster ofElden Ring, there is definitely an argument to be made for more of these types of bosses.
Putrescent Knight and Promised Consort Radahn Resonate with the Ludonarrative
This drastic difference between Putrescent Knight and Radahn goes deeper than merely their mechanical designs, as the lore of the two bosses also reflects the disparity between the two. For one, while Radahn is a holy symbol of the new order that Miquella would bring, the Putrescent Knight is a guardian of thecompassion that was cast off alongside St. Trina. Then there is Radahn lacking his companion Leonard to show how both he and Miquella have given up an important part of themselves, and the Putrescent Knight is a decaying sludge of human remains that continues to hang on to the companionship of an equally rotting horse.
Between the lore implications of Putrescent Knight and Radahn, or the mechanics of their fights, comparing these two imposing figures helps to highlight the strengths of each. Even ifFromSoftware is still balancing Promised Consort Radahn, his leaning towards aggression certainly elevates the challenges that the developer is known so well for. On the other side, the awkward, contorted design of Putrescent Knight showcases how FromSoftware doesn’t have to always rely on aggression for interesting combat encounters.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
