One of the most dreaded optional bosses in Elden Ring is undoubtedly the Death Rite Bird. This powerful bird possesses lethal abilities capable of killing the hero with just a few well-placed hits, and sometimes even a single attack can be enough to end the fight. In this guide, we'll explain how to counter the Death Rite Bird and where you can find it.
Where to Find the Death Rite Bird
The Death Rite Bird is a type of optional boss that can be encountered multiple times throughout the main game, and it also appears in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in a location called Charo's Hidden Grave.
If you've unlocked this site of grace, simply teleport there. Afterward, rest at the “bonfire“ and wait until nightfall, as the boss only appears during this time. Then, head towards the body of water ahead of you, where the Death Rite Bird will spawn.
Other Locations with the Death Rite Bird in the Main Game:
- Academy Gate Town — Appears northwest of the site of grace with the same name.
- Southern Aeonia Swamp Bank — Appears south of this site of grace.
- Mountaintops of the Giants — Appears west of the Snow Valley Ruins Overlook site of grace.
- Consecrated Snowfield — Appears northwest of the Ordina, Liturgical Town site of grace.
How to Prepare for the Fight with the Death Rite Bird
This boss is quite powerful, so it's advisable to prepare in advance to make the battle easier. First, you should identify the boss's weaknesses and strengths.
Death Rite Bird has strong resistance to:
- Lightning damage
- Piercing attacks
Immunity to:
- Bleeding
- Frostbite
- Poison
Weaknesses:
- Strike damage
- Holy-type damage
Based on this, it's clear that magic, incantations, Ashes of War, and consumables that provide effects or enhancements for attacks that the boss is immune or resistant to won't be effective.
Instead, you should focus on improving attacks that deal holy, strike, and physical damage overall. You could use the Sacred Scorpion Charm to increase holy damage, but be aware that you'll also take more physical damage.
For this fight, it is recommended to be mounted on Torrent, which will increase your mobility, allowing you to evade attacks faster than on foot. Due to this, you might want to use the Lance Talisman to boost your attacks while mounted. Other talismans can be chosen based on your build, such as those that increase health, stamina, or defense.
Using summon spirits like the Mimic Tear can be very helpful in this fight. They not only distract the boss and deal additional damage but can also help you deal with the smaller grave birds that might get in your way.
You might also find area-of-effect (AoE) abilities and attacks useful, as they can help you control the crowd. Use them to clear the birds near the water before approaching the boss. Otherwise, you could get surrounded and overwhelmed.
Death Rite Bird’s Attacks
The boss’s basic attack involves swings and strikes with its staff. These attacks have a wide reach, so it’s important to watch the boss’s movements carefully to dodge or jump with Torrent in time. Occasionally, in close combat, the Death Rite Bird may start pecking at you.
This attack deals significant damage and can kill you, so it’s best to position yourself behind the bird, where it’s likely to miss.
The most deadly attacks from the Death Rite Bird are those that involve ghostly flames, which inflict frostbite. The boss has several such attacks. In one, it imbues its weapon with flames and swings it, sending a wave of fire outward. This usually happens when the player is far from the boss.
A stronger version of this attack causes a powerful explosion in front of the boss. You can avoid this by moving behind the bird or retreating in time. However, be wary of an even more powerful attack where the bird flies into the air, lands, and creates a massive explosion around itself.
This strike spreads flames over a large area. If you’re caught in the wrong position, you’ll be hit by the flames, knocked off Torrent, and will have little chance to recover before dying.
A less dangerous but still unpleasant ability of the Death Rite Bird is a barrage of fiery feathers that fly directly at you. You can avoid this, as well as the spreading flames, by taking cover behind an object and using it as a barricade.
Strategy for Fighting the Death Rite Bird
As mentioned, before approaching the boss, kill some of the birds around the area to prevent them from interfering during the main fight. After that, go to the Death Rite Bird. Like other similar bosses, it doesn’t differ in abilities and attacks from previous encounters (just be careful not to confuse it with the Death Bird).
In ranged combat, use powerful spells with attacks that can stagger the enemy, allowing you to land critical hits. For this, you could use the Rock Sling spell. Since the boss isn’t immune to Scarlet Rot, Rotten Breath or Ekzykes's Decay will be very effective.
When possible, aim for the head when the Death Rite Bird is vulnerable. In other situations, try to stay behind it, dodging or jumping over its attacks. Again, don’t forget that your greatest enemy is the ghostly flames.
Tips for Fighting the Death Rite Bird
- Don’t hesitate to use summoning spirits or online players if you feel you can’t handle the boss alone.
- Before the fight, replenish your health supplies, health flasks, and consider using a Moonlight Greatsword.
- The boss is immune or highly resistant to most effects except for Scarlet Rot and holy damage.
- Stay under the boss or behind it to avoid most direct attacks.
- If the boss exposes its head, attack it for extra damage.
- Take cover behind obstacles if there are any nearby.
Rewards for Defeating the Death Rite Bird
Defeating the Death Rite Bird in Charo's Hidden Grave will reward you with 230,000 runes and a powerful Ash of War: Ghostflame Call, which inflicts frostbite on enemies — useful in certain builds.
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