Andy Montoya
Cheesing the first encounter with Scourge in *Elden Ring* requires exploiting mechanics to trivialize the fight. Players often use strategies like summoning NPC allies, such as Latenna the Albinauric, to distract Scourge while focusing on dealing damage from a safe distance. Another popular method involves using the terrain to your advantage, such as luring Scourge into the narrow pathway near the site of grace, limiting its movement and attack options. Additionally, equipping high poison or bleed damage weapons can quickly whittle down Scourge's health, especially when combined with flasks or talismans that boost status buildup. These tactics allow players to bypass the boss's intimidating presence and secure an early victory with minimal risk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Encounter | First encounter with Scourge in the game Elden Ring |
| Cheese Strategy | Utilize the environment and enemy AI to gain an advantage |
| Location | The Shaded Castle, Liurnia of the Lakes |
| Recommended Level | 30-40 |
| Required Items | None (optional: ranged weapons, poison/bleed weapons, or summons) |
| Key Tactics | 1. Lure Scourge near the castle entrance, 2. Use the narrow pathway to limit its movement, 3. Attack from a distance or use poison/bleed buildup, 4. Alternatively, summon allies to distract Scourge |
| Enemy Weaknesses | Fire damage, poison, and bleed buildup |
| Enemy Resistances | Physical damage, magic damage |
| Rewards | Scourging Crystal, runes, and progress in the game's storyline |
| Difficulty | Medium (with cheese strategy) to Hard (without) |
| Notes | This strategy may require patience and practice to execute successfully. Be cautious of Scourge's grab attack and area-of-effect spells. |
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What You'll Learn
- Exploit Terrain: Use pillars for cover, forcing Scourge to path around, wasting its time
- Focus Weak Points: Prioritize destroying its legs to immobilize and reduce damage output
- AoE Spam: Use wide-area abilities to hit multiple weak points simultaneously for faster destruction
- Kite Effectively: Stay at max range, forcing Scourge to chase while avoiding melee attacks
- Burn Phases: Save high-damage cooldowns for phase transitions to maximize burst damage
Exploit Terrain: Use pillars for cover, forcing Scourge to path around, wasting its time
In the first encounter with Scourge, every second counts, and leveraging the environment can be the difference between victory and defeat. One of the most effective strategies is to exploit the terrain by using pillars for cover. These structures are not just obstacles; they are tools to manipulate Scourge’s movement, forcing it to take longer paths while you reposition or attack safely. By understanding Scourge’s pathing mechanics, you can predict its movements and use pillars to create natural choke points, effectively controlling the flow of the battle.
To execute this tactic, position yourself behind a pillar as soon as Scourge begins its approach. Ensure you are just out of its line of sight but close enough to engage when necessary. Scourge’s AI prioritizes the shortest path to its target, so when it detects you, it will attempt to move directly toward your position. However, the pillar will block its path, forcing it to navigate around the obstacle. This detour buys you precious seconds—time you can use to heal, reload, or prepare your next attack. For maximum efficiency, stay mobile but always within range of a pillar, creating a pattern of engagement and retreat.
A critical aspect of this strategy is timing. Scourge’s attacks are devastating, so you must avoid prolonged exposure. Use the pillar’s cover to break line of sight momentarily, then peek out to fire a few shots before retreating again. This hit-and-run approach minimizes damage while maximizing your damage output. Additionally, be mindful of Scourge’s abilities, such as its area-of-effect attacks, which can bypass pillars if not timed correctly. Always prioritize staying just out of range, using the pillar as a shield rather than a static hiding spot.
Comparing this method to direct confrontation highlights its advantages. While aggressive players might attempt to outdamage Scourge head-on, this approach often leads to quick depletion of resources and higher risk of death. By contrast, exploiting terrain is a low-risk, high-reward strategy that conserves ammo and health while wearing down Scourge over time. It’s particularly effective for players who prefer a methodical, tactical approach rather than relying solely on reflexes and firepower.
In practice, mastering this technique requires patience and observation. Spend a few attempts studying Scourge’s movement patterns around pillars to identify the most efficient routes for your hit-and-run strategy. For example, if Scourge consistently takes a wide arc around a pillar, position yourself on the opposite side to maximize its detour. Small adjustments, like moving diagonally instead of straight back, can further optimize your positioning. With practice, this method becomes second nature, turning a daunting encounter into a manageable, even predictable, challenge.
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Focus Weak Points: Prioritize destroying its legs to immobilize and reduce damage output
The Scourge's legs are its Achilles' heel—literally. By focusing your attacks on these weak points, you can cripple its mobility and significantly reduce its damage output. This strategy is particularly effective in the first encounter, where the Scourge's movements are more predictable and its defenses less refined. Aim for the joints where the legs meet the body, as these areas are less armored and more vulnerable to concentrated fire. A well-coordinated team can exploit this weakness, turning a daunting battle into a manageable one.
To execute this strategy, divide your team into squads with clear roles. Snipers and long-range DPS should prioritize the legs, using high-caliber weapons or precision abilities to chip away at their durability. Close-range fighters should focus on distracting the Scourge, drawing its attention away from the snipers and creating opportunities for uninterrupted leg attacks. Communication is key—use markers or callouts to ensure everyone is targeting the same leg, maximizing efficiency. Once a leg is destroyed, the Scourge's movement speed decreases, and its ability to execute devastating area-of-effect attacks is severely limited.
However, this approach is not without risks. The Scourge will attempt to protect its legs by repositioning or summoning minions to disrupt your focus. Assign one squad to handle these adds while the rest maintain their assault on the legs. Be mindful of the Scourge's attack patterns; it may try to stomp or sweep with its legs, dealing massive damage to anyone nearby. Stay mobile and use cover to avoid becoming a casualty while executing this strategy. Patience and persistence are crucial—destroying the legs takes time, but the payoff is well worth the effort.
For solo players or smaller groups, this tactic can still be effective with adjustments. Use terrain to your advantage, luring the Scourge into positions where its legs are exposed. Employ traps or environmental hazards to immobilize it temporarily, giving you a window to focus fire. While solo attempts are more challenging, targeting the legs remains a viable way to reduce the Scourge's threat level. Practice and familiarity with its movements will increase your chances of success.
In conclusion, prioritizing the Scourge's legs is a high-reward strategy for the first encounter. It requires coordination, precision, and adaptability, but the benefits—reduced mobility and damage output—make it a cornerstone of effective cheesing tactics. Whether in a full team or solo, understanding and exploiting this weakness can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
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AoE Spam: Use wide-area abilities to hit multiple weak points simultaneously for faster destruction
In the first encounter with Scourge, efficiency is key, and AoE spamming emerges as a potent strategy to dismantle the boss's defenses swiftly. The core idea is simple yet powerful: leverage wide-area abilities to target multiple weak points simultaneously, maximizing damage output while minimizing time spent on the encounter. This approach not only speeds up the fight but also reduces the risk of being overwhelmed by Scourge's escalating mechanics. By focusing on abilities that affect large areas, players can ensure consistent damage across all vulnerable points, preventing any single weak spot from being neglected.
To execute this strategy effectively, players must prioritize abilities with high AoE damage potential. Skills like "Blizzard," "Meteor Shower," or "Chain Lightning" are prime examples, as they can hit multiple targets within their radius. For instance, a well-timed "Blizzard" can cover three weak points if positioned correctly, dealing significant damage in one cast. However, timing is crucial; players should synchronize their AoE abilities to coincide with phases when Scourge’s weak points are exposed, typically during its charge-up animations or after it performs a sweeping attack. Coordination with teammates is essential to avoid overlapping abilities and ensure maximum coverage.
One common pitfall in AoE spamming is over-reliance on a single ability, which can lead to diminishing returns or leave players vulnerable if the ability is on cooldown. To counter this, diversify your AoE toolkit. For example, combine a ground-based ability like "Flamestrike" with a projectile-based skill like "Arrow Storm" to cover both horizontal and vertical weak points. Additionally, monitor your resource management—AoE abilities often consume more mana or energy, so balance them with efficient single-target attacks during downtime. This hybrid approach ensures sustained damage output without burning through resources prematurely.
Practical implementation requires awareness of Scourge’s arena layout and movement patterns. Position yourself centrally to maximize the overlap of your AoE abilities on weak points. Avoid clustering too close to teammates to prevent friendly fire or accidental triggering of proximity-based mechanics. For solo players, mobility skills like "Dash" or "Blink" can help reposition quickly to maintain optimal AoE coverage. In group settings, assign specific weak points to different players while ensuring at least two AoE abilities are active at any given time for redundancy.
The takeaway is clear: AoE spamming is a high-reward strategy for the first Scourge encounter, but it demands precision, coordination, and adaptability. By mastering the timing, diversification, and positioning of wide-area abilities, players can significantly shorten the fight while mitigating risks. Whether solo or in a group, this approach transforms the encounter from a test of endurance into a showcase of tactical efficiency, proving that sometimes, the best defense is a well-executed, overwhelming offense.
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Kite Effectively: Stay at max range, forcing Scourge to chase while avoiding melee attacks
In the first encounter with Scourge, mastering the art of kiting is crucial for survival. By maintaining maximum range, you force Scourge to chase you, effectively neutralizing its devastating melee attacks. This strategy requires precision, timing, and a deep understanding of both your character's abilities and Scourge's behavior patterns. To execute this tactic successfully, you must prioritize movement speed, range-based attacks, and situational awareness.
Steps to Effective Kiting:
- Positioning: Start the encounter by positioning yourself at the edge of Scourge's aggro range, ensuring you have ample space to maneuver.
- Movement Speed: Invest in temporary movement speed boosts, such as potions or abilities, to create distance quickly when needed.
- Range-Based Attacks: Equip weapons or abilities with maximum range, allowing you to deal damage while staying out of Scourge's melee range.
- Aggro Management: Be mindful of your threat generation; avoid using high-damage abilities that may cause Scourge to focus on you exclusively.
As you kite Scourge, pay close attention to its movement patterns and attack animations. Scourge's melee attacks have a noticeable wind-up, providing a brief window to reposition. Use this time to create distance or sidestep the attack entirely. Additionally, be aware of Scourge's ranged abilities, which can deal significant damage if you're caught off guard. By anticipating these attacks and adjusting your positioning accordingly, you can minimize damage taken and maintain control of the encounter.
Cautions and Considerations:
- Environmental Hazards: Be mindful of obstacles and terrain features that may impede your movement or provide Scourge with an advantage.
- Ability Cooldowns: Keep track of your abilities' cooldowns, ensuring you have a consistent source of damage and movement speed.
- Health Management: Monitor your health closely, using healing abilities or potions as needed to avoid being caught off guard by Scourge's attacks.
In practice, effective kiting requires a delicate balance of aggression and caution. You must deal sufficient damage to weaken Scourge while avoiding its deadly attacks. By mastering this technique, you can significantly reduce the encounter's difficulty, making it more manageable for players of all skill levels. Remember, the key to success lies in patience, precision, and a deep understanding of both your character's capabilities and Scourge's behavior. With practice and persistence, you'll be able to kite Scourge effectively, paving the way for a successful first encounter.
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Burn Phases: Save high-damage cooldowns for phase transitions to maximize burst damage
In the Scourge encounter, phase transitions are pivotal moments where the boss becomes vulnerable to burst damage. This is when you should unleash your high-damage cooldowns to maximize their impact. For instance, abilities like Adrenaline Rush (Rogue), Avenging Wrath (Paladin), or Heroism/Bloodlust (Shaman) should be reserved for these windows. The key is to synchronize these cooldowns with the boss’s vulnerability phases, typically marked by the end of a major ability or the start of a new phase. This strategy ensures your team’s damage spikes align with the boss’s weakest moments, significantly shortening the fight duration.
Analyzing the encounter, the Scourge’s phases are structured around predictable patterns of damage and vulnerability. Phase 1, for example, ends with a Shadow Crash cast, leaving the boss exposed for 8 seconds. This is the ideal time to activate cooldowns like Combustion (Mage) or Blade Dance (Outlaw Rogue), as the boss takes 20% increased damage during this window. Similarly, Phase 2 transitions often coincide with the boss’s Dark Reckoning ability, another opportune moment to burn cooldowns. By saving these abilities for these specific moments, you avoid wasting their potential during less impactful periods of the fight.
To execute this strategy effectively, communication is critical. Assign a raid leader or damage dealer to call out phase transitions and cooldown usage. For example, a simple “Phase 2 in 5…4…3…2…1… GO!” ensures everyone activates their cooldowns simultaneously. Additionally, track the boss’s cast bars to anticipate transitions—abilities like Void Eruption often signal the end of a phase. Tools like WeakAuras can help visualize these timings, ensuring precision in cooldown management.
A common mistake is to use cooldowns prematurely, such as during Phase 1’s Shadow Bolt Volley spam, where the boss is less vulnerable. This not only reduces the effectiveness of your burst but also leaves you without key abilities for more critical moments. Instead, prioritize building resources (e.g., combo points, charges) during less impactful phases, then unleash everything during transitions. For example, a Fury Warrior should save Recklessness and Avatar for Phase 2, pairing them with Heroism for maximum effect.
In conclusion, mastering burn phases is about timing, coordination, and restraint. By saving high-damage cooldowns for phase transitions, you capitalize on the boss’s vulnerabilities and amplify your team’s burst potential. This approach not only speeds up the encounter but also reduces the risk of wiping to mechanics. Practice identifying transition cues, communicate effectively, and resist the urge to use cooldowns early. Done correctly, this strategy turns the Scourge encounter into a manageable, even trivial, challenge.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common method involves using a combination of invisibility potions and stealth to bypass the initial wave of enemies, allowing you to reach the boss directly without engaging in combat.
Yes, by positioning yourself at maximum range and using high-damage ranged abilities or weapons, you can pick off enemies one by one before they reach you, minimizing direct confrontation.
Some players have reported using terrain glitches to get out of bounds or trap enemies in specific areas, but these methods are often patch-dependent and may not work in all versions of the game.
Focus on using environmental hazards, such as explosive barrels or traps, to deal damage to enemies while keeping your distance. Alternatively, summon allies or pets to tank damage while you attack from safety.
