Elden Ring: How to Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood

Mohg, Lord of Blood, is one of Elden Ring's most punishing optional bosses, and Elden Ring Runes getting stuck in his second phase is a common experience-even for well-prepared players. If you are consistently bringing him low but dying before the finish, that usually means your strategy is sound, but a few key mechanics are being overlooked. This guide breaks down how to reliably close out the fight, even if you are already using Mimic Tear, Mohg's Shackles, and a strong damage weapon.

Understanding Why Mohg's Second Phase Feels Overwhelming

Mohg's difficulty spike comes from stacking pressure, not raw damage alone. In Phase Two, you are dealing with:

Constant bloodflame pools limiting movement

Increased Bleed buildup

Faster and more aggressive melee chains

Reduced healing windows

Many players lose not because their damage is too low, but because they are forced into panic rolls or heal at unsafe times. Winning the fight means controlling the pace, not racing him.

The Most Important Item: Purifying Crystal Tear

If you are not already using it, this is non-negotiable.

The Purifying Crystal Tear, obtained by defeating Eleonora at the Second Church of Marika, nullifies Mohg's "Nihil" curse damage during his phase transition. Without it, you are effectively starting Phase Two at a massive disadvantage, often burning multiple Crimson Flasks just to survive the transition.

Recommended Flask Setup:

Flask of Wondrous Physick

Purifying Crystal Tear

Defensive or stamina-focused tear (Opaline Hardtear or Greenburst)

This single change often turns repeated near-kills into clean victories.

Using Mohg's Shackles Correctly

Mohg's Shackles are extremely powerful-but only in Phase One.

You can use them twice

They only work before he enters Phase Two

They temporarily slam Mohg to the ground, opening huge damage windows

The optimal approach is to:

Open the fight with Shackles

Burst him aggressively

Use Shackles again once he recovers

Push him as close to Phase Two as possible before Nihil triggers

This reduces how long you have to survive his most dangerous phase.

Maximizing Mimic Tear Effectiveness

Mimic Tear is excellent for Mohg, but only if your loadout supports it.

Before summoning:

Remove situational items or consumables you do not want the Mimic wasting time on

Equip Bleed-resistant armor if available

Consider equipping a seal with healing incantations if your build allows it

Your Mimic's real value is not damage-it is drawing aggro and creating safe healing or attack windows. Let it tank while you punish from the sides or back.

Weapon Choice and Damage Optimization

If your weapon is already doing good damage, focus on consistency rather than greed.

Mohg is:

Weak to Bleed (ironically)

Vulnerable to Fire resistance stacking

Extremely dangerous if you overcommit

Use short combos and disengage early. In Phase Two especially, one extra swing often leads to death due to delayed bloodflame explosions.

If possible:

Use Fire resistance talismans

Stack Robustness to reduce Bleed buildup

Favor jump attacks or charged heavies during safe openings

Positioning Wins This Fight

Most deaths in Phase Two happen because players fight Mohg inside bloodflame pools. Always reposition the fight toward clear ground, even if it means delaying damage for a few seconds.

Key positioning rules:

Roll toward, not away, from his melee swings

Circle clockwise to avoid trident follow-ups

Heal only when Mohg is locked onto your Mimic

Final Takeaway: You Are Closer Than You Think

If you are consistently reaching Mohg's second phase and getting him low, your build is not the problem. The missing piece is usually damage mitigation and fight control, not more DPS.

With the Purifying Crystal Tear, disciplined Shackle usage, smarter positioning, and cheap Elden Ring Runes controlled aggression, Mohg becomes far more manageable. Apply these adjustments, and that "almost" victory will quickly turn into a clean kill-and one of Elden Ring's most satisfying triumphs.