How to Defeat the Mage in Elden Ring
This guide breaks down everything you need to know to consistently defeat mages in Elden Ring.
Understanding Mage Enemies in Elden Ring
Mages come in different varieties throughout the Lands Between, but they share a few core traits:
High Ranged Damage – Most mage enemies cast Glintstone sorceries, comets, or soul arrows that can easily stagger or kill you if you’re unprepared.
Low Physical Defense – They’re typically fragile with low poise and health pools, making them vulnerable to aggressive melee rushdowns.
Predictable Casting Animations – Sorceries have wind-up animations, giving you small but crucial reaction windows.
Glass Cannon Role – They can devastate you if you play passively, but crumble under consistent pressure.
Because of this design, the best way to approach mage encounters is to close the gap quickly while managing stamina and spacing.
Preparing for the Fight
Before charging into battle with a mage, proper preparation makes the difference between victory and frustration.
1. Gear and Resistances
Magic Resistance Shields – Equip shields with high magic negation, such as the Carian Knight’s Shield or Silver Mirrorshield, to block sorceries effectively.
Talismans – The Spelldrake Talisman (and its upgraded versions) reduce incoming magic damage, giving you more survivability.
Armor – Heavier armor with decent magic resistance helps, but prioritize mobility over tankiness.
2. Consumables
Magicproof Dried Liver – Temporarily boosts your magic negation.
Stonesword Keys & Spirit Summons – Having distractions like spirit ashes (wolves, Latenna, or tanky summons) gives you breathing room against spellcasters.
3. Playstyle Choice
Melee Builds – Focus on fast weapons like katanas, straight swords, or curved swords that let you close distance quickly.
Ranged Builds – If you’re also a caster, bring faster sorceries like Glintstone Pebble or Swift Glintstone Shard to interrupt their casts.
Combat Strategy: Defeating the Mage
Now let’s break down how to actually approach combat against mage-type enemies and bosses.
1. Close the Distance Quickly
Mages thrive in ranged combat. As soon as the fight begins:
Sprint diagonally towards them to avoid projectiles.
Use terrain (rocks, walls, pillars) to block their line of sight.
Jump or roll through spells rather than backstepping.
Once you’re within melee range, most mages struggle to retaliate effectively.
2. Recognize Common Mage Spells
Most mages use variations of Glintstone sorcery:
Glintstone Pebble / Comet – A fast, straight projectile. Dodge sideways.
Glintstone Shards (Multiple Projectiles) – A delayed, multi-shot spell. Roll toward the caster to avoid tracking.
Carian Piercer / Greatblade Phalanx – Melee-range sorceries. Don’t stay directly in front of the caster.
Comet Azur / Big Channeling Spells – High damage but long wind-ups; punish by rushing in for heavy attacks or weapon arts.
Learning their rhythm is key. Most sorceries have a half-second telegraph before firing.
3. Pressure and Punish
Don’t Let Them Breathe – Continuous pressure stops them from safely casting. Even light attacks stagger many mages.
Jump Attacks & Weapon Arts – A strong jump attack or weapon art can stagger them quickly, sometimes outright breaking their poise.
Guard Counters – If you block with a high-magic-resistance shield, immediately counter with R2 (guard counter) to punish their recovery frames.
4. Use Summons Wisely
Spirit ashes can distract mages, splitting their aggro. While they focus on your summon, you can flank and strike. Wolves and Skeletal Militiamen are particularly effective at staggering caster enemies.
5. Keep Stamina for Dodging
Don’t drain all your stamina attacking. Mages often chain sorceries, so you’ll need stamina to dodge follow-ups.
Mage Bosses vs. Mage Mobs
Mage Mobs
Found in legacy dungeons, academies, and catacombs.
Often appear in groups, overwhelming unprepared players.
Tip: Pull them one by one with ranged attacks instead of rushing into groups.
Mage Bosses
Examples include Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon and various sorcerer minibosses.
Boss mages have phases where they summon adds, change spells, or combine melee and sorcery.
Always watch for big AoE sorceries—they have long cast times but devastating range.
Tip: Summon Spirit Ashes early to distract while you rush down the boss.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Staying at Range Too Long – Trading sorceries or arrows with a mage often backfires. They scale harder with ranged burst damage.
Rolling Backwards – This keeps you in range of homing projectiles. Always roll toward or diagonally.
Ignoring Resistances – Going in with no magic defense almost guarantees a one-shot.
Overcommitting Attacks – Long combos leave you vulnerable to fast-cast sorceries. Stick to one or two strikes before dodging.
Rewards for Defeating Mages
Defeating mage enemies often yields:
Glintstone Staffs or sorcery scrolls for your own use.
Rune drops, slightly higher than regular melee mobs.
Unique loot from bosses, like Remembrances (Rennala) or powerful sorceries.
This makes mage battles rewarding both for survival experience and progression.
Final Thoughts
Defeating mages in Elden Ring requires a different mindset than fighting melee enemies. Instead of cautious trading, the key is decisive aggression—close the gap, stagger them, and cheap Elden Ring Runes punish their vulnerability. With the right gear, mobility, and awareness of casting animations, even the deadliest sorcerers in the Lands Between can be brought low.
Remember: mages are glass cannons. If you master dodging their spells and forcing them into close-quarters combat, victory is inevitable.