The Cleanrot Knight in Elden Ring is a difficult boss battle that you might face twice, but you won't only come across these tough opponents there. There are many Cleanrot Knights in Caelid, and many of them live in the Shaded Castle as well as the Aeonian Swamp.

Although the Knight's assaults are lethal and cause Rot, engaging in these battles is worthwhile despite the danger. While fighting those you face elsewhere can grant you the Cleanrot armor set and some potent weapons helpful for any build, defeating the dungeon boss versions drops thousands of Runes and useful goods.

Cleanrot Knight Overview

There are two types of Cleanrot Knights: one uses a sword, and the other a scythe. In Liurnia's Stillwater Cave, you'll encounter the sword-wielding Cleanrot Knight, but Caelid's Abandoned Cave has one of each.

Both versions have comparable attack patterns that function well at close and medium ranges and can provide Scarlet Rot damage if they connect. While you can summon Spirits during the majority of the regular field encounters, you should use Spirit Ashes during the boss battles.

Cleanrot Knight Attacks in the Elden Ring

The Knight has strong attacks that can easily knock you out, but it also telegraphs its attacks more than most foes do. Despite this, it could still take a few tries to figure out its patterns and when to dodge.

The magic attack Miquella's Ring of Light, which fires a disc of light at you, is the Cleanrot Knight's main weapon. You'll need to move forward to create a gap because it is used repeatedly.

Cleanrot Knight Strategies

Due to the Cleanrot Knights' vulnerability to backstab and leap strikes, melee classes are better at dealing with them. The Moonveil Katana, Cipher Pata, or Angel Scythe are examples of magic-scaling weapons that users of magic would want to switch their spells for.

Melee Technique

Melee characters can stay back to deflect the Cleanrot Knight's basic blows before closing in for a jump attack or, with the appropriate time, a backstab.

By giving the Knight something to focus on, using a Spirit summon makes the battle more manageable. Particularly helpful if you want to attempt backstabs.

Ashes of War like Bloodhound's Finesse or Bloodhound's Step are useful since they let you attack, rapidly withdraw, or move without putting yourself at risk.

Magical Technique

During the boss battles, magic users who rely on spells must employ Spirit Ashes to create a distraction so they can cast Incantations and Sorceries. For Intelligence characters, Rock Sling is a strong option that hits numerous times and has the added advantage of being long range.

 

Again, the Cleanrot Knight's speed and strength strongly suggest picking a weapon that scales with your magic stat.