This ranking provides an insightful breakdown of the most challenging bosses for mage builds in Elden Ring. These bosses are tough for mages due to their high magic resistance, relentless melee aggression, and challenging fight mechanics. Here's a summary of each:

8. Red Wolf of Radagon

Location: Academy of Raya Lucaria

Why It's Hard:

High magic resistance.

Agile movement makes landing ranged spells difficult.

Suggested Strategy: Use Carian Slicer for fast melee damage.

7. Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon

Location: Academy of Raya Lucaria

Why It's Hard:

Phase 2 features high magic resistance and dangerous summons.

Players need to avoid her summons while finding casting opportunities.

Suggested Strategy: Use Rock Sling for its physical damage component.

6. Fire Giant

Location: Flame Peak

Why It's Hard:

Immense size and mobility make targeting difficult.

Long casting times leave mages vulnerable to ranged attacks.

Suggested Strategy: Attack the Fire Giant's ankles up close and bring plenty of Cerulean Flasks.

5. Elden Beast

Location: Elden Throne

Why It's Hard:

High mobility and wide AoE attacks punish stationary casting.

Mana's management is critical due to the double-boss fight with Radagon.

Suggested Strategy: Stay close, bait melee attacks, and attack during openings.

4. Metyr, Mother of Fingers

Location: Finger Ruins of Miyr (Shadow of the Erdtree DLC)

Why It's Hard:

High magic resistance and a massive health pool.

Devastating ranged attacks test dodging skills.

Suggested Strategy: Focus on consistent dodging and use physical damage spells to chip away.

3. Maliketh, The Black Blade

Location: Crumbling Farum Azula

Why It's Hard:

Extremely fast and aggressive in Phase 2.

Limited windows for safe spell-casting.

Suggested Strategy: Use quick spells like Carian Slicer or Night Comet for consistent damage.

2. Rellana, Twin Moon Knight

Location: Castle Ensis (Shadow of the Erdtree DLC)

Why It's Hard:

High magic resistance and relentless aggression in a small arena.

Frequently dodges spells, limiting viable options.

Suggested Strategy: Use Ranni's Darkmoon to lower her magic defense and Night Comet for consistent damage.

1. Malenia, Blade of Miquella

Location: Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree

Why It's Hard:

Insanely fast and aggressive, healing herself with every hit.

Ranged attacks often trigger her devastating Waterfowl Dance more frequently.

Suggested Strategy: Use Night Comet and master dodging to avoid healing her while dealing consistent damage.

Key Tips for Mages

Balance Your Flasks: Ensure sufficient Cerulean Flasks to maintain spell-casting capability.

Dodge Timing: Many of these bosses punish poorly timed casting. Prioritize mobility and use spells with shorter wind-ups like Night Comet or Carian Slicer.

Invest in Stamina: You'll need to roll more frequently than other builds due to limited defensive options.

Each boss requires a tailored strategy to overcome the challenges they pose to pure mage characters, making these encounters both frustrating and rewarding for spell-slinging Tarnished adventurers.

If you need Elden Ring items and Elden Ring runes, consider farming in-game or seeking reputable sources to bolster your mage build for these tough encounters!