Elden Ring players are already killing a boss they're not meant to

elden ring grafted scion
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

Elden Ring players are conquering the game's first boss - even though they're not meant to.

At the very beginning of Elden Ring, players face off against the Grafted Scion, a multi-limbed behemoth meant to instantly crush players and send them to a timely demise. However, less than 24 hours after FromSoftware's new game launched, players are figuring out how to overcome the Grafted Scion, and ultimately defeat the lumbering boss.

Well, that sure didn't take long. As our Elden Ring Grafted Scion boss guide explains, you're actually supposed to die at their spindly hands in the opening few minutes of FromSoftware's latest. Doing so will transport you to a brand new location, where you'll be given tools like the Flask of Crimson Tears that you'll no doubt need to actually survive Elden Ring.

What's really fascinating is that there's seriously no benefit to actually beating the Grafted Scion. As we explain in our aforementioned guide, you actually don't obtain anything by overcoming the seemingly insurmountable monster, as you can't keep or use the weapon that it drops, and you're meant to die anyway for story purposes.

Still, that hasn't stopped players from pummelling the Grafted Scion into the ground. Seasoned FromSoftware players might remember this was the case back when Bloodborne launched in 2015, as Hunters were expected to die in the face of the opening werewolf enemy, and thus be spirited away to the Hunter's Dream, where they'd get tools like Blood Vials vital to survival. Bloodborne's werewolf didn't stop players eventually killing it in 2015, and nearly seven years later, Elden Ring's Grafted Scion isn't stopped them either.

Elden Ring tips | Elden Ring Classes | Elden Ring Keepsakes | Elden Ring PS4 and PS5 comparison | How to get the Elden Ring horse | Elden Ring Smithing Stones | Elden Ring weapon scaling explained | How to strengthen weapons in Elden Ring | Elden Ring Rune farming locations | Elden Ring Summons | Elden Ring stats explained | Elden Ring bosses | Elden Ring Ashes of War | Elden Ring weapons 

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Elden Ring
Elden Ring streamer puts us all to shame and beats every boss - including the DLC fights - in a single hit in 54 hours, which is less than your average playthrough
A screenshot of Elden Ring boss Godfrey, the first Elden Lord
Elden Ring player becomes the first to beat every New Game+ difficulty back to back without getting hit, in an 8-playthrough run that somehow took under 12 hours
Elden Ring
You might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeath
Screenshots of battle in Elden Ring Nightreign along with a logo for GamesRadar+'s Big in 2025 features
Elden Ring Nightreign could be the Fortnite of Soulslikes, but probably not for the reason you think
Elden Ring
After 3 weeks and 115 attempts, Elden Ring sicko becomes the "first in the world" and "probably the last" to complete a no-hit run at uncapped NG+1,000
Shadow of the Erdtree Final Boss Radahn
With one hand for each character, Elden Ring master beats Shadow of the Erdtree and its infamous final boss while playing on PC and PS5 at the same time
Latest in Action
Former Xbox boss says GTA: San Andreas and its infamously NSFW Hot Coffee minigame "signified a maturing of the industry" and put games "on par with movies and music"
Death Stranding 2 PS5 screenshot
Death Stranding 2 pre-orders are estimated to go live this month, and will reportedly include a $230 collector's edition that I pray doesn't come with another creepy baby statue
Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji expansion Naoe and Yasuke in Awaji forest
Assassin's Creed Shadows roadmap, DLC and future content
Grand Theft Auto 3
A GTA streamer is trying to beat every single 3D entry without dying, and in 33 hours he's made it as far as San Andreas but keeps getting caught in Vice City purgatory
The Last of Us 2
Naughty Dog has done it: it's remastered the PS5 controller with a Last of Us-themed DualSense announcement 24 hours after Neil Druckmann dashed our hopes for The Last of Us 3
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows reverses roles to show off Naoe's combat and Yasuke's stealth, and I'm suddenly sold on playing Yasuke like a clumsy Snake in Metal Gear Solid 3
Latest in News
Thomas Shelby on a horse
Although Netflix is making the Peaky Blinders movie, fans need not to worry as it will be released in theaters too
Former Xbox boss says GTA: San Andreas and its infamously NSFW Hot Coffee minigame "signified a maturing of the industry" and put games "on par with movies and music"
Suikoden
As Suikoden returns from the dead, Konami wants the cult JRPG classic to "become a huge title that can rival other AAA" games
King Kong wrestling a giant squid monster
The Monsterverse expands with Return to Skull Island, a comic tying into Netflix's King Kong-centric animated series
Balatro Joker card
"I was in super crunch mode": Balatro creator opens up on the toll the stress of indie development took on his "physical and mental health"
Diablo 4 season 8 boss
Diablo 4 season 8 is revamping the boss ladder system with new mechanics and bosses, including one of the best from Diablo 3