The Epic Return of Elden Ring's Morgott – A Masterclass in Boss Design

Highlights

Morgott the Omen King in Elden Ring provides a drastically different second encounter, changing his weapon and moveset, making it a challenging fight.

Morgott's entrance as Margit the Omen of Doom sparks curiosity among players, while his initial battle establishes a framework for future confrontations.

In the second phase of the fight, Morgott intensifies the challenge by introducing new attacks and displaying heightened aggression. This forces players to reassess their strategies and limits their opportunities to launch counterattacks.

From Software has included several bosses in Elden Ring that make multiple appearances, sometimes leading to a sense of repetition due to a lack of variation. However, Morgott the Omen King stands out as one of the few examples where the second encounter diverges significantly from the initial encounter with Margit in Stormveil Castle.

While other bosses in Elden Ring also undergo changes in movesets or damage types in subsequent encounters, Morgott takes this concept to a new level. He transforms his weapon, switching from a knotted club to a curved sword, resulting in a completely different battle with only a few similarities connecting the two occurrences.

Morgott's First Fight Under a False Name

Morgott's introduction sparked speculation among Elden Ring fans, as it mentioned the Flame of Ambition and hinted that the Night's Cavalry are minions of the boss. However, what stands out the most is Morgott's strange decision to introduce himself as Margit the Fell Omen instead of using his real name. This is particularly odd considering the outsider's lack of knowledge about the Lands Between and the fact that the player may not yet have visited the Roundtable Hold and learned about the Demigods' identities.

Nonetheless, this initial fight with Margit establishes a pattern for his subsequent encounters. He wields a large club and uses spectral blades that deal holy damage, creating a tense battle. Many players may find themselves unable to progress through Elden Ring unless they have thoroughly explored Limgrave and equipped themselves with powerful gear and improved Crimson Flasks. As a result, the satisfaction of overcoming the next major fight against Morgott's true form is heightened, making the victory even more rewarding.

Morgott's Showcase of FromSoftware Difficulty Hardly Reflects Margit

Morgott acts as a formidable obstacle in Elden Ring, particularly before reaching the Mountaintops of the Giants and engaging in the controversial Fire Giant battle. Naturally, his presence signifies a significant spike in difficulty. This heightened challenge can be attributed to both his altered moveset and increased damage output, as well as the psychological impact of encountering what appears to be Margit for a second time. Even as Morgott sheds the bark from his weapon, revealing Morgott's Curved sword, the initial stages of the fight resemble the previous encounter leading up to Stormveil Castle.

However, it is only when players successfully land hits on Morgott that the true extent of the changes become evident. The range of spectral weapons expands from a sword, hammer, and dagger to include a spear and an onslaught of swords across the entire arena. What makes this twist interesting is that many of these new attacks only manifest once Morgott reaches a specific damage threshold, reminiscent of the transitional phases experienced in Elden Ring's battles with Godfrey and Hoarah Loux. Furthermore, the second phase of the fight takes the difficulty to a whole new level as Morgott becomes significantly more aggressive and follows up his attacks in ways unseen at the beginning of the encounter.

In the second phase, there is a significant difference - Morgott summons a spectral spear before charging towards the player. This change is further emphasized by a follow-up attack, where Morgott swings both his weapon and tail, turning what was once an easily punishable action into a trap. Although Morgott is not the toughest boss in Elden Ring, these alterations set the stage for future encounters, reducing opportunities for players to attack and challenging their preconceived notions.

Elden Ring is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.