Cemetery Shade

cemetery shade bosses elden ring wiki 600px
Locations & Drops

Tombsward Catacombs:
runes currency elden ring wiki guide 182,200
Lhutel the Headless

Black Knife Catacombs:
runes currency elden ring wiki guide 183,500
Twinsage Sorcerer Ashes

Caelid Catacombs:
runes currency elden ring wiki guide 186,800
Kindred of Rot Ashes

Strong VS
Immune to
All Status Effects
Weak to

Cemetery Shade is a Boss in Elden Ring. This Elden Ring Cemetary Shade Guide features boss locations, tips, strategies and videos on how to defeat Cemetary Shades easily, as well as boss stats and lore for the Cemetary Shades.

Cemetery Shade is a dark and formless humanoid brandishing two sharp blades. They are found in various catacombs - the Tombsward Catacombs, Black Knife Catacombs, and Caelid Catacombs. While the nature of the Cemetary Shades is largely ambiguous, the description of the Mantis Blades they carry suggest that they are grave keepers infested with insects.

This is an optional boss, as players are not required to defeat it in order to advance in Elden Ring. While they may be frail, they makes up for it with quick flurries of attacks, while also phasing in and out to strike. It may be worthwhile to bring Consumables and/or put on Equipment that can alleviate the build-up of Hemorrhage as some of their attacks can inflict the status effect. Cemetary Shades drop Lhutel the Headless, the Twinsage Sorcerer Ashes, or Kindred of Rot Ashes depending on which one was defeated.

Bosses are unique and challenging Enemies that can be encountered all over the Lands Between. Great Enemy bosses can drop unique Spirit AshesWeaponsSpells, and other various Items.

Lesser Cemetery Shade is the normal enemy form of this boss.

 

Insect-ridden grave keepers.

 

Elden Ring Cemetery Shade Location

Cemetery Shade Combat information

Negations (or Absorptions)

The negation numbers are the % of your damage that gets blocked. For example, if a negation is 60, 40% of that damage by that type will go through and 60% will be negated. Bigger number = less damage. A negation of 100 means no damage goes through, and a negation of -100 mean the enemy takes 2x damage from that source. 0 means damage goes pretty much as is.

Resistances

The resistance numbers are the buildup amount to trigger it. For example, if a resistance is 100 you must deal 100 points of the given buildup to trigger it. Note that these go down over time, and increase each time the effect procs.

 

Elden Ring Cemetery Shade Boss Guide

Cemetery Shade Fight Strategy

The Best Tips for Cemetery Shade:

 

Melee Users

Blitz it Down: Cemetery Shade has extremely low health. If you've got enough damage output and the vitality to survive a few hits, you'll probably win a fight where you just trade blows until one of you dies.

Defensive Maneuvers: If you want to play defensively, equip a shield with 100% physical negation. Block its attacks and guard counter afterwards to get in damage and wear down its Stance. You can also parry its attacks, but the timing is difficult since they come in rapid succession. It can still inflict Hemorrhage through a shield, so be ready to consume a Stanching Bolus.

Magic and Ranged Users

Quick Attacks: Cemetery Shade tends to teleport quickly around the arena, making it hard to hit if your cast time is slow or if you're using a ranged weapon skill like the Mighty Shot. Spells that like Swift Glintstone Shard that can be cast quickly are helpful, as long as you avoid its projectile attacks.

Greatbows Barrage: A hit from a Greatbow will knock Cemetery Shade down if it hits. You can ensure that it does by firing right after it teleports. It'll take enough time getting back up for you to nock another arrow and repeat the process.

 

Cemetery Shade Attacks & Counters

Attack Description Counter
Teleport Vanishes and reappears elsewhere in the arena. Used either to escape when being attacked or to close distance and reposition before attacking When the shade teleports close to you, there's a brief period before it starts to attack when you can roll away or start guarding
Spit Trap Blows a bubble above its head, then shoots it at you. If it hits, you're unable to move or attack for 5 seconds Roll once the bubble is a little bigger than the Shade's head
Spider Grab Its head begins to glow and its spider legs wriggle as it brings it down to grab your head. Only used after Spit Trap Avoid getting hit by Spit Trap
Dual Stab parry icon 40pxDraws back both blades with tips pointed downwards and stabs you with them This attack's windup is difficult to distinguish from Furious Slashing, so the safest course of action is to get far away in case it does that. If you're up for a little risk, it's usually safe to block or dodge this—it will usually teleport afterwards, but often close enough that you can still hit it with an attack
Dual Slash parry icon 40pxSlashes both of its blades in a wide arc from its left to its right. Block or dodge to your right, then attack
One-Two Slash parry icon 40pxSlashes once clockwise then again counterclockwise Block both attacks and then guard counter, or roll backwards
Overhead Slam parry icon 40pxSlams both blades into the ground in front of it Dodge or block, then attack back. It's at its most vulnerable after this attack
Pincer Attack parry icon 40pxSpreads its blades wide, then closes them in on both sides at once Because the attack comes from the sides this is a dangerous move to block. Rolling forward is more reliable
Spinning Swings parry icon 40pxSlashes once from its right to its left, pauses for a moment, then slashes in the opposite direction four times in quick succession while moving forward. The long pause after the first strike gives you a chance to run away or try to stagger it out of the attack. Note that a single dodge won't get you fully out of range of its follow-up swings.
Furious Slashing parry icon 40pxDraws back both blades with tips pointed upwards, slashes twice, pauses briefly, slashes five more times, then finishes with an Overhead Slam Once you see it pull back its blade, roll or run away and prepare to punish the Overhead Slam. Blocking this isn't advisable, since it will still inflict a substantial amount of Hemorrhage

parry icon 40px: Attack can be parried

Cemetery Shade Lore, Notes & Other Trivia

  • Other Notes and Trivia Go Here

Cemetery Shade Combo Chart

cemetery shade combo chart


Cemetery Shade

Tombsward Catacombs

__image__
Drops runes currency elden ring wiki guide 182,200
Lhutel the Headless
HP 780

Elden Ring Cemetery Shade Boss (Tombsward Catacombs)

  • Optional boss
  • Field boss
  • Closest Site of Grace: Tombsward Catacombs
  • Multiplayer allowed for this boss
  • You can summon Spirit Ashes for this boss

Cemetery Shade Combat information

  NG NG+ NG+2 NG+3 NG+4 NG+5 NG+6 NG+7
HP 781 2,232 2,455 2,566 2,678 2,901 3,013 3,124
Defense 102 117 120 123 129 135 140 152
runes currency elden ring wiki guide 18Runes 2,200 11,000 12,100 12,375 13,200 13,475 13,750 14,025

Cemetery Shade

Black Knife Catacombs

cemetary shade 1 elden ring wiki guide
Drops runes currency elden ring wiki guide 183,500
Twinsage Sorcerer Ashes
HP 691

Elden Ring Cemetery Shade Boss (Black Knife Catacombs)

  • Optional boss
  • Field boss
  • Closest Site of Grace: Black Knife Catacombs
  • Multiplayer allowed for this boss
  • You can summon Spirit Ashes for this boss

Cemetery Shade Combat information

  • Health: 691 HP
  • Defense: 107.9
  • This fight features several Skeletons as well, but only the Cemetery Shade needs to be defeated to win
  • Drops runes currency elden ring wiki guide 183,500, Twinsage Sorcerer Ashes

Additional Fight Strategy

  NG NG+ NG+2 NG+3 NG+4 NG+5 NG+6 NG+7
HP 691 1,275 1,402 1,466 1,530 1,657 1,721 1,785
Defense 107 117 120 123 129 135 141 153
runes currency elden ring wiki guide 18Runes 3,500 14,000 15,400 15,750 16,800 17,150 17,500 17,850

Cemetery Shade

Caelid Catacombs

__image__
Drops runes currency elden ring wiki guide 186,800
Kindred of Rot Ashes
HP 1,467

Elden Ring Cemetery Shade Boss (Caelid Catacombs)

  • Optional boss
  • Field boss
  • Closest Site of Grace: Caelid Catacombs
  • Multiplayer allowed for this boss
  • You can summon Spirit Ashes for this boss

Cemetery Shade Combat information

  NG NG+ NG+2 NG+3 NG+4 NG+5 NG+6 NG+7
HP 1,467 2,235 2,458 2,570 2,682 2,905 3,017 3,129
Defense 109 117 120 123 129 135 141 153
runes currency elden ring wiki guide 18Runes 6,800 20,400 22,440 22,950 24,480 24,990 25,500 26,010

Cemetery Shade Image Gallery

cemetary shade 2 elden ring wiki guide

 

Elden Ring Bosses
Abductor Virgins  â™¦  Adan, Thief of Fire  â™¦  Alabaster Lord  â™¦  Alecto Black Knife Ringleader  â™¦  Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader  â™¦  Ancestor Spirit  â™¦  Ancient Dragon Lansseax  â™¦  Ancient Hero of Zamor  â™¦  Astel Naturalborn of the Void  â™¦  Astel, Stars of Darkness  â™¦  Battlemage Hugues  â™¦  Beast Clergyman  â™¦  Beastman of Farum Azula  â™¦  Bell Bearing Hunter  â™¦  Black Blade Kindred  â™¦  Black Knife Assassin  â™¦  Bloodhound Knight  â™¦  Bloodhound Knight Darriwil  â™¦  Borealis the Freezing Fog  â™¦  Cleanrot Knight  â™¦  Commander Niall  â™¦  Commander O'Neil  â™¦  Crucible Knight  â™¦  Crucible Knight and Misbegotten Warrior  â™¦  Crucible Knight Ordovis  â™¦  Crucible Knight Siluria  â™¦  Crystalians  â™¦  Death Rite Bird  â™¦  Deathbird  â™¦  Decaying Ekzykes  â™¦  Demi-Human Chief  â™¦  Demi-Human Queen Gilika  â™¦  Demi-Human Queen Maggie  â™¦  Demi-Human Queen Margot  â™¦  Draconic Tree Sentinel  â™¦  Dragonkin Soldier  â™¦  Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella  â™¦  Dragonlord Placidusax  â™¦  Elden Beast  â™¦  Elemer of the Briar  â™¦  Erdtree Avatar  â™¦  Esgar, Priest of Blood  â™¦  Fallingstar Beast  â™¦  Fell Twins  â™¦  Fia's champions  â™¦  Fire Giant  â™¦  Flying Dragon Agheel  â™¦  Flying Dragon Greyll  â™¦  Frenzied Duelist  â™¦  Glintstone Dragon Adula  â™¦  Glintstone Dragon Smarag  â™¦  God-Devouring Serpent  â™¦  Godefroy the Grafted  â™¦  Godfrey the Grafted  â™¦  Godfrey, First Elden Lord  â™¦  Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Golden Shade)  â™¦  Godrick the Grafted  â™¦  Godskin Apostle  â™¦  Godskin Apostle & Godskin Noble  â™¦  Godskin Apostle (Caelid)  â™¦  Godskin Apostle and Godskin Noble  â™¦  Godskin Duo  â™¦  Godskin Noble  â™¦  Grafted Scion  â™¦  Great Wyrm Theodorix  â™¦  Guardian Golem  â™¦  Hoarah Loux, Warrior  â™¦  Kindfred of Rot  â™¦  Kindred of Rot  â™¦  Leonine Misbegotten  â™¦  Lichdragon Fortissax  â™¦  Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree  â™¦  Mad Pumpkin Head  â™¦  Magma Wyrm  â™¦  Magma Wyrm Makar  â™¦  Malenia Blade of Miquella  â™¦  Maliketh, the Black Blade  â™¦  Margit, The Fell Omen  â™¦  Mimic Tear  â™¦  Miranda the Blighted Bloom  â™¦  Misbegotten Crusader  â™¦  Misbegotten Warrior  â™¦  Mohg, Lord of Blood  â™¦  Mohg, the Omen  â™¦  Morgott the Omen King  â™¦  Necromancer Garris  â™¦  Night's Cavalry  â™¦  Nox Swordstress & Nox Priest  â™¦  Omenkiller  â™¦  Omenkiller and Miranda, the Blighted Bloom  â™¦  Onyx Lord  â™¦  Perfumer Tricia  â™¦  Putrid Crystalians  â™¦  Putrid Grave Warden Duelist  â™¦  Putrid Tree Spirit  â™¦  Radagon of the Golden Order  â™¦  Red Wolf of Radagon  â™¦  Red Wolf of the Champion  â™¦  Regal Ancestor Spirit  â™¦  Roundtable Knight Vyke  â™¦  Royal Knight Loretta  â™¦  Royal Revenant  â™¦  Runebear  â™¦  Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy  â™¦  Scaly Misbegotten  â™¦  Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing (Boss)  â™¦  Soldier of Godrick  â™¦  Spirit-Caller Snail  â™¦  Starscourge Radahn  â™¦  Stonedigger Troll  â™¦  Tibia Mariner  â™¦  Tree Sentinel  â™¦  Ulcerated Tree Spirit  â™¦  Valiant Gargoyle  â™¦  Wormface

 




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    • Anonymous

      these things came straight from Silent Hill or the first classic Resident Evils, their very presence after you enter that boss room is a jumpscare, the only things that managed to creep me out more than that were the Deep Accursed from DS3

      • Anonymous

        I just walked in with the coded sword and hit L2 once and the fight was over. On another playthrough I casted comet immediately and one shotted it again. In a shocking turn of events it was the boss that got vigor checked.

        • Anonymous

          I just walked in with the coded sword and hit L2 once and the fight was over. On another playthrough I casted comet immediately and one shotted it again. In a shocking turn of events it was the boss that got vigor checked.

          • Anonymous

            As a level 42 Astrologer I used the tips above and rinsed this thing before it could lay finger on me.

            Used bubbletear and greenspill tear before entering the room, then immediately summoned either Raya Lucaria Soldier or Lone Wolf Ashes, can't actually remember.

            Then sprinted to the far side of the room while the ashes got aggro before I spammed Swift Glintstone Shard.

            I did catch aggro, but thankfully I was able to roll away and finish it off before it reached me.

            Not sure if I got lucky, but it was a surprisingly quick and easy fight.

            I had 27 Int with Imp Helm, 25 Mind, and used the Meteorite Staff.

            Sadly I'm finding Lhutel a bit underwhelming so far, but it's nice to have her collected.

            • Anonymous

              First time I encountered one of these dudes, it was in Hero's Grave or whatever. Didn't know what the hell I was even looking at as I ran into it. Then it murdered me while I **** my pants in fear. They're terrifying when you're already playing with your screen darkness low and at appropriate levels.

              • Anonymous

                Cool looking but the Black Knife Catacombs version with the skeleton gank squad is annoying.

                If you start spamming Magic Glintblade as soon as you traverse the fog, roll and run away as it gets within range, then cast some more it should go down.

                • Well, this was the first time I killed a boss by accident lol. As soon as I saw the skeletons in the boss room, I rushed to try killing them first to avoid get swarmed. I accidentally hit the boss a couple times while swinging at one of the skeletons, then noticed that the boss health bar was empty and it was dead. Easiest boss in the entire series lmao

                  • Anonymous

                    I love how the easiest one has the best Ash Drop(Lhutel The Headless) and the drops get progressively worse as the difficulty increases(Twinsage and Servant of Rot).

                    • Anonymous

                      The thing on their head looks like one of those horrible nightmarish butt tentacle moths with those feelers on top of it mixed with a spider crab, just nope nope nope so much nope.

                      • Anonymous

                        Easy if you're using a weapon that can stagger or it, or can stay out of its range. Can easily kill you if you're using a melee weapon with lower stagger, like an axe or a dagger.

                        • Anonymous

                          "Melee users should take care of the Skeletons first, especially the ones that shoot out arrows." Absolutly not, you'll kill him in 2 hits and it can kill you in one hit, the worst idea would be to take the time to kill the skeletons!

                          • Anonymous

                            Disturbing fact: These weird things on their head is a parasitic crab that controls them. So Half Life 3 is confirmed. Source Zullie The Witch.


                            S K E L E T O R W I L L R E T U R N N E X T W E E K W I T H M O R E D I S T U R B I N G F A C T S

                            • Anonymous

                              Seeing as a lot of new players are likely to want Lhutel's spirit ashes as early as possible I think this page should give some warning about how it can poise through a hard hitting heavy attack, then stun-lock and quickly kill you with its furious slashing combo.

                              • Anonymous

                                The one in Gelmir’s Hero Grave, I shot it with an arrow while I was riding the chariot. It walked forward and got pulverized. Delightful.

                                • Anonymous

                                  If you're having trouble with this boss, get the Ruptured Crystal Tear and mix it into your Physique flask. Drink it right after entering the boss fog, then run towards the boss. The explosion does Holy damage, which the boss is weak too, and this boss has very little health, so it'll one-shot it even with no Faith investment.

                                  • Anonymous

                                    I understand the insect infesting them are still alive, but these things are clearly spectral in nature, how do they not count as undead?

                                    • Anonymous

                                      There is one of those bastards hiding in the Gelmir Hero's grave when you ride the chariot from the bottom up. He was in a "safe spot" shadow, waiting there to kill me as soon as I jumped off the chariot and I lost about 60k runes. That's what I get for trying to explore every space in this game.

                                      • Anonymous

                                        Just fought him in black knife- don’t be intimidated. Even with 12 Str 16 dex a single heavy attack does 1/3 of his health bar. Summon a multiple targets ash right away, take out a melee skeleton then attack him while he’s targeting something else and you’ll kill him in 2 seconds

                                        • Anonymous

                                          I clapped this guy with a Sacred Vow off the start of the fight and it hit him for about 95% of his health bar. Finished him off with a second one. He's extremely dangerous if you get close to him and has a seemingly instant grab attack that absolutely wrecks you.

                                          • Anonymous

                                            Does anyone know something about the lore of this guy? It feels as if nothing is known on it and it just makes me curious.

                                            • Anonymous

                                              Wolf ashes and fire grease. Summon wolves run to back of room kill archer and other skeletons activate fire grease and one shot the shadow.

                                              • Anonymous

                                                Wolf ashes and fire grease on sword ready. Summon wolves as soon as you cross the fog. Run around to back of room kill archer and other skeletons activate fire on your weapon and you shld be able to one hit kill the shadow.

                                                • Anonymous

                                                  I’m surprised that, this is actually a boss. Not used anywhere else outside of a boss room. Also not a rehashed common mob

                                                  • Anonymous

                                                    Not sure if it was a glitch but Blasphemous Blade Taker’s Flame one-shotted the shade in Black Knife Catacombs. NG+

                                                    • Anonymous

                                                      I am almost confident Great Heal (20 faith/level 95) halved the health bar for the Shade in the Tombsward Catacombs. Not really sure if it was my spell, or if the host I was assisting had damaged him the same time I cast my spell. I plan on trying Lord’s Heal the next time I assist and will ask the host not to attack.

                                                      • Anonymous

                                                        For some reason Litany of Proper Death will just NOT hit them at all. Idk if its the uneven floor or what. But I tried it about 10 times both when he's distracted and not teleporting and when he is. He just doesn't get affected by it period.

                                                        • Anonymous

                                                          Got 6800 runes in NG from the one in Caelid Catacombs. Also did not see any skeleton adds, and he went down superfast, had about 2.5k hp.

                                                          • Anonymous

                                                            For some reason the one in Caelid catacomb is much weaker than the one in blacknife catacomb. It deals much less damage, and dont have the stun move. No skeleton escort either.

                                                            • Anonymous

                                                              The one in the black knife catacombs teleported in with its back to me (targeting my summon) as I was in middle of attacking one of the skeletons - instead of hitting the skeleton, I got a backstab on the shade and 1-shotted it, lol. Sweet revenge for all the times I've been screwed by teleporting bosses.

                                                              • Anonymous

                                                                Better tip for sorc users: use rock sling, since all enemies that can dodge will only react to initial cast, not the actual rock throw. In other words, it will just eat the rock with it's face

                                                                • Anonymous

                                                                  He lurks out there in the Unknown
                                                                  Seekin' those who are far from home
                                                                  Hoping never to let you return

                                                                  Oo, better beware
                                                                  Oo, the Beast is out there

                                                                  • Anonymous

                                                                    i dont have a crazy one shot build and what finally did it for me was summoning the nobles and sprinting to the other side of the room, once they aggrod the boss i went and killed the skeletons that they didnt take care of, so then it was just me and the boys and the boss, makes it fairly trivial at that point

                                                                    • Anonymous

                                                                      just get a holy ash to make this a 5 second fight.
                                                                      For example Sacred Blade from a Scarab north of Church of Marika next to the whirlwind. Don't need to slot into faith for it, this oneshots undeads with any class.

                                                                      • Anonymous

                                                                        These guys can drop the Mantis Blade. I had one drop from the cemetery shade in Gelmir Heroes Grave after getting the mecha trojan horse to back over the SoB.

                                                                        • Anonymous

                                                                          One of these appears in the Gelmir Heroes Grave. Walk down past the first chariot trap, go left up the rubbed slope, past the enemies in there, up the ramp, past the first trap, onto the 2nd chariot slope and down at the bottom. He spawns in the little nook on the right. Super annoying to fight when you've got the chariot flying up and down.

                                                                          • Anonymous

                                                                            i walked into this boss unsure what to expect in tombsward and one shot it with a very basic spell. i was very confused and wish it at least had a phase 2

                                                                            • Anonymous

                                                                              Does anyone know if this guy is based off the beast from Over the Garden Wall? It looks like it but I want proof

                                                                              • Anonymous

                                                                                Weeping Peninsula was meant to be done after the greater Limegrave zone at around lvl 20-25, so if you one shot this boss, you did the game out of order or you farmed too much.

                                                                                • Anonymous

                                                                                  There is a Cemetery Shade in Black Knife Catacombs. It's behind the main boss door.
                                                                                  The assassin boss is just also in that dungeon.

                                                                                  • this boss is my favourite boss in the entire game and i am not kidding. not only is the design incredible, but it is the perfect example of the Souls boss formula; if you're scared of it, it's dangerous, but if you aren't, it's harmless. genuinely the formula boiled down to its bare bones. I went into that boss room wayyyy overleveled, but it was such a scary design that i was terrified of it. took way more damage than i needed to and when I eventually got around to, y'know, swinging at it, it died in one hit. All that fear for nothing, and it nearly got me killed all the same. Wondeful

                                                                                    • Anonymous

                                                                                      This dude is a ****ing cakewalk with an UGS, as I've learned. Came in with a level 40-45 build and killed him in 4-5 hits.

                                                                                      • Anonymous

                                                                                        Is this thing supposed to be easy or hard? I just switched to that scythe you can find at the ruin nearby upgraded to like +6 or so and killed it in one hit lmao. Definitely took a bit to actually land the hit, but the ash of war on that scythe is insane

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