Lion Guardian

lion guardian enemies elden ring wiki 600px
Location Stormveil Castle
Fort Gael (Caelid)
Redmane Castle (Festival)
Castle Sol
Leyndell, Royal Capital
Drops

Stormveil Castle:
1138 runes currency elden ring wiki guide 18 Runes
Somber Smithing Stone [1]

Beast Blood
Old Fang x2

HP 2,119 - 7,019 HP
Strong VS
Weak to

Lion Guardian is an Enemy in Elden Ring. Lion Guardians are aggressive beasts that serve as guard animals, and fight with their sharp claws and a blade attached to their right arm. Once slain, they do not respawn.

 

Lion Guardian Enemy in Elden Ring

Lion Guardian is an Enemy found in various locations.

  • This enemy is not a boss
  • This enemy does not respawn once killed

 

Where to find Lion Guardian in Elden Ring

  • A Lion Guardian can be found in Stormveil Castle, guarding the eastern bridge entrance. [Map Link]
  • A Lion Guardian can be found in Fort Gael. Drops Ash of War: Lion's Claw upon defeating it.
  • A Lion Guardian can be found in the southern part of Caelid, southeast from the Nomadic Merchant Caelid South.
  • 2 Lion Guardians can be found in Redmane Castle during the Radahn Festival.
  • A Lion Guardian is disguised as a Wandering Noble cowering in a corner in the unnamed ruins south of Windmill Village. The ruins are on the clifftops, most easily reached by going north from the Rampartside Path site of grace. Drops Larval Tear upon defeating it.
  • A Lion Guardian is found sleeping by a dry fountain in the southern part of Leyndell, Royal Capital accompanied by a Perfumer, which will constantly buff it. Can be reached by going up the stairs from Avenue Balcony site of grace then turning right and up the stairs on the left. 
  • 2 Lion Guardians can be found in Castle Sol. They are unique in that they have a breath attack that builds up Frostbite.

 

Elden Ring Lion Guardian Combat Information

ABSORPTIONS

The absorption numbers are the % of your damage that gets blocked. For example, if an absorption is 60, 40% of that damage by that type will go through and 60% is absorbed. Bigger number = less damage. An absorption of 100 means no damage goes through, and a resistance 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 whatever aux buildup to trigger it. Note that these go down over time, and increase each time the effect procs.

 

Lion Guardian Boss Guide for Elden Ring

Video Guide Lion Guardian Boss

[video coming soon]

 

Lion Guardian Fight Strategy

The Best Tips for Lion Guardian:

  • Use the pillars to create separation when you need to use a Flask
  • You can sneak up on the Lion to get a free hit
  • Many of its attacks have a delayed extra attack, so watch out for this and don't attack until you are sure it's safe
  • Most Spirit Summons can get shredded by this enemy due to its fast attacks, making them rather unfit as distractions.

 

Melee Strategy

The Lion Guardian is extremely aggressive, and it's likely that you made it to him with a less than ideal Flask count, making it even harder than it should be. Sneak up on him by crouching if you can and get in one good heavy attack or Weapon Skill if you can, and follow it up immediately with another attack or two, since you'll have a second for him to wake up once hit. This should take about a 1/4 of his HP off before the fight really begins.

You need to bait his attacks and wait for openings, but it's difficult because you cannot Block some of his combo chains without being guard broken, so you need to create separation if you can. Use the pillars to do this, and wait for him to do his jump attack when he plunges to the ground, and then wait for the delayed follow up before attacking. This is your best opening, and baiting him until he does this is the safest way to get him, unless you have a Weapon Skill that can AoE through a pillar.

 

Magic and Ranged Strategy

Much like melee, you can sneak up on him for some free damage before the fight begins. Try to keep the pillar between you and cast spells when you can hit him, quickly getting behind the pillar again once cast. You likely will be low on FP Flasks for this fight, so you should plan on doing some melee attacks at the beginning and end of this fight.

Using a Shield in your off-hand can help a lot to Block as needed, just don't Block more than you have to. Try not to use a Spirit Summons as they will die quickly, and they cost a good amount of FP. You will be low, so don't waste it.

 
Ballista Strategy

Instead of attacking the Lion Guardian yourself, you can instead use the ballistae that are firing on you. Simply aggro the beast, then run back down the ramp through the gate. You may need to head back inside in order to get the Lion Guardian to continue following, as sometimes it will stand at the top of the ramp, pacing back and forth. Once it heads down the ramp, align yourself so you are standing in a line with the beast, so it's in front of you and the ballistae are behind it. You will still need to dodge the bolts, as they can pierce the Lion Guardian and hit you. Three or four ballista bolts will kill the beast in a matter of seconds. This will only work if the soldiers firing the ballistae are left alive, so keep moving in a zig-zag pattern to avoid the shots.

 

 

Attacks & Counters

Attack Description Counter
Claw Swipe  The Lion runs toward the play and strikes with its claw.  Since the range of this attack isn't very large, take a step back or side step this action. 
Sword Swipe   The lion runs toward the player in the same way as the claw swipe, but uses the claw with the sword attached, giving it a larger range. This can happen in combination with the claw swipe. Roll through this attack.  
Rotating
Attack
The lion's basic attacks can be accompanied by a movement to redirect his attack. A sword slash or claw swipe can follow a quick turn as the lion locates the player.  Back away or roll through each attack of the movement combination as they come. 
Sword Lunge Similar to the sword swipe except the direction the sword attack lunges down forward toward the player. This can follow a leap.  Roll back  or side step to avoid this attack. There will be a second to follow up with an attack of your own. 
Lion Bite A small range attack where the Lion runs toward the player and makes a damaging bite. Block this attack if you can, or side step as the lion reaches you and stops to make this attack. 
     

Elden Ring Lion Guardian Lore, Notes & Other Trivia

  • The Lions in Redmane Castle drop Somber Smithing Stone [4].

 

 

 

Elden Ring Lion Guardian Image Gallery

 lion guardian 1 elden ring wiki guide lion guardian 2 elden ring wiki guide er lion guardian

 

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

 




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    • Anonymous

      The pair in Redmane Castle can damage each other. They swing and fly around wildly, it's easy to bait them and get their health down until one is dead.

      • Anonymous

        Very intimidating but not particularly hard, the way they move makes them look a lot faster than they actually are and their attacks have long recovery times.

        • Anonymous

          Alternative strategy: don't wake them up and slooowly kill them with poison mist if you can sneak up to them, doesn't make enemies notice you

          • Anonymous

            The one in Fort Gael can be fairly easily cheesed if you have Latenna summon as she can just continually keep shooting at it from up top, also great support for the rest of the enemies.

            • Anonymous

              I just poke these lions with a Pike and Shield to death. Basically I stick to its left side while I turtle poke it to death. Occasionally, I even use Giant Hunt to punish their blade slam attack and it staggers them.

              Now, if I were fighting them without shields, I'd be screwed.

              • Anonymous

                Attacking a lone wandering noble, only to ha e him transform into one of these ****ers, is a big **** you to anybody who plays this game. It's bullshit like this that keeps ER from greatness.

                • Anonymous

                  I have one question. There is information that can parry the enemy, but I couldn't parry the enemy. If there is a video of someone succeeding in parry, I want to share it. Or please revise the contents because it can't be parried.

                  • Using a ranged spirit summon from the catwalk above is safe if not tome consuming. I wanted fornit to Quickstep to avoid the spirit attack to send my lighting.

                    • Anonymous

                      I wonder if these guys have any corpses laying around so I can see their model better, they're super cool tho

                      • Anonymous

                        I'm almost positive that they are immune to bleed. +23 Blood Naginata with Silver Tear Mask + Seppuku and I couldn't get it to proc once. Either immune or very high resistance.

                        • Anonymous

                          Spam the Thunderbolt Ash of War on them from a high ground. Tested at both Redmane Castle and Fort Gael. It is very VERY rare for them to dodge it but other than that it's a good cheese method.

                          • Anonymous

                            From my testing it is resistant to bleed and poison. Fire arrows did less damage than regular wood arrows. Tested with Serpent bow with many consecutive hits in stormveil castle.

                            Stormeil cheeze strat if you struggle: Run past it into the hall towards the great eastbound bridge, the lion does not dare enter the chamber with four kneeling knight staues. You can spam arrows from the door if you shoot while he is mid-air.

                            • Anonymous

                              From my testing it is resistant to bleed and poison. Fire arrows did less damage than regular wood arrows. Tested with Serpent bow with many consecutive hits in stormveil castle.

                              Stormeil cheeze strat if you struggle: Run past it into the hall towards the great eastbound bridge, the lion does not dare enter the chamber with four kneeling knight staues. You can spam arrows from the door if you shoot while he is mid-air.

                              • Anonymous

                                Spam Blood Flies and force them into a locked jump as they "dodge" your projectile. They are slow enough to eventually hit and kill them

                                • Anonymous

                                  Feel like they should have made these guys hit a little harder and move a little faster, maybe add a perfumer to the mix.

                                  • Anonymous

                                    The two at Castle Sol have a breath attack that inflicts frost, but also an insane amount of damage at once. I have nearly 850 health without using a Rune Arc or any health buffs, and just barely touching the very edge of the frost cloud insta-killed me from full health!

                                    • Anonymous

                                      For you low level lads, Consider skeleton militia summons. the 2 of them do an excellent job of distracting it, and their self-ressing nature combined with his tendency to leap around alot means he doesn't often kill them after dropping them, letting them re-res to continue providing distraction

                                      • Anonymous

                                        Says it's parriable, who where or what confirmed this? I've been testing for 10 minutes now and haven't been able to parry anything

                                        • Anonymous

                                          Magic users can cheese the one in royal capital by aggroing it and running back and jumping onto the small roofed building that has a stonesword key on top of it. From there just cast night maidens mist or rock sling or any spell you can get to hit him.

                                          • Anonymous

                                            Be careful with the one in fort Gael. The lion CAN jump on top of the platform where this guide tells you to use range attacks from. It just happened to me lol if he does, just run straight into the room with the katar, he can’t get inside of there

                                            • Anonymous

                                              For the one inside the castle, i recommend sneaking through to the bridge grace if you can. That will let you fight it at full health/flasks. Not sure if you need to have beaten the main boss of the castle for that.

                                              • Anonymous

                                                Although it's not that easy like somebody claimed, it's indeed not that hard when you are not panic and start reading him. (with a shield helps a lot sure)
                                                He looks very aggresive and moves lot, but in fact quite simple and those opening chance is very clear. (most obviously, jump body slam)
                                                Just be caution that when his hp drops, those opening window become small because he will add extra attack after that, but you should still get guarantee 1 hit.
                                                So just make sure only hit ONCE at later stage of fight, and then block/roll immediately.

                                                • Anonymous

                                                  Really easy as a melee user if you know how to dodge for positioning, having a weapon with good reach helps too. Just as a tip, rolling behind this kitty when he uses his slam attack will net you a few free hits, in general rolling in works fairly well, just make sure you don't go to town every time on his tail because he turns around with a swipe like super quick. Last time I played a Soulsborne game was 10 years ago on PS3 so I'm definitely not an amazing player, but honestly, if you're finding yourself having to resort to cheesing with this one, I'd reconsider my choice of game if I were you. It won't get any easier - no joke, this was the least difficult large enemy I've come across yet, but then again I've dueled every single one I've met, so I guess there's been some learning happening along the way. At least he doesn't buffer his attacks, unlike one particular brass colored sh*thead...

                                                  • Anonymous

                                                    Is this a boss though? I only count things as bosses in this game if they have a big health bar with their name on it at the bottom of the screen. This one, at least the Stormveil one, did not have that. It was just a tough non-respawning enemy. For better organizing lists of bosses on here I think the "name with health bar at bottom" method is the simplest and most problem-free method.

                                                    • Anonymous

                                                      These cheating lions are button input readers, maybe get rid of that and they’d be fun to fight, nothing more unfair then AI that reads your button inputs

                                                      • Anonymous

                                                        You can also cheese him in the valley ahead of him where you are ambushed by the two ballista soldiers. Juts jump and shoot the bow to make it over the wall.

                                                        • Anonymous

                                                          Latenna the archer skips this fight entirely. You find a decently high spot where she cant be hit, summon her, and then walk away for 5 minutes and its done

                                                          • Anonymous

                                                            Used a +2 Godrick knight summons and they hardly took a scratch... summons are very much helpful here just upgrade them a tad

                                                            • Anonymous

                                                              There's another one in the Altus Plateau, disguised as an undead cowering in the corner of some ruins, similarly to the disguised Runebear near Agheel Lake South.

                                                              • Anonymous

                                                                Easier method is leaving the ballista users alive, dodging through them, and baiting the lion into being shredded by them. Kinda cheap, but still, the amount of times I took him head on and lost got tiresome after a bit. He’s just so relentless, and against a melee build, it’s slightly problematic.

                                                                • If you want to cheese this, you can draw it out of the woods from the ballista spots that are near the stone gargoyle tunnel exit. Use a bow and you can fight it with no worries at all.

                                                                  • There are technically 3 sites of grace: Limgrave Tower Bridge, Gateside Chamber and Stormveil Main Gate.

                                                                    Both the Gateside Chamber and Stormveil Main Gate are easily accessible if you choose the option to “Use the main gate”. Or for the Gateside Chamber, you can kill all the soldiers and not aggro the Lion Guardian, and then just run by/kill the ballista archers.

                                                                    If you run through the archway where the Lion Guardian appears, you can keep walking through the statue room to the Limgrave Tower Bridge site of grace.

                                                                    • Anonymous

                                                                      There's a bonfire right past him, so run to that and rest up before engaging with full health. Using a 2H greatsword and no summons, he wasn't too bad. Bait out an attack string, dodge, then get a hit in. Rinse and repeat. The jump is a super easy dodge and lets you land a short charge hit.

                                                                      • Anonymous

                                                                        BOI! Dark souls II Lion warriors flash back! Its so cool to have more lion themed bosses/enemies in the game.

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