It might be hard to believe but not all bosses in Elden Ring are wretched bullies who will figuratively kick sand in the player’s face. Some of them kick that metaphorical sand respectfully and with noble intent. Because in hindsight, the Tarnished are not exactly a force of good and are typically viewed as power-hungry upstart usurpers.
In fact, some of these bosses and their feats can easily dwarf the players when it comes to honor, altruism, and camaraderie (for their comrades, of course). So while they might be the source of constant frustration after they’ve killed the players an unhealthy number of times, the Tarnished will surely find it in their hearts to respect these bosses once the dust has settled and once the blood pressure has gone down.
8 Godfrey, The First Elden Lord/Hoarah Loux
If there was an even bigger and more admirable chad than General Radahn, it would be his father/stepfather, Godfrey. Godfrey is originally known as the barbarian conqueror Hoarah Loux but had to reinvent himself into Godfrey when Marika chose him to become Elden Lord. At the same time, he also restrained his bloodlust and warmongering to adhere to a noble image and maintain order.
Players get a taste of his true self upon fighting him and the respectable part about this boss fight is that he even held back. He didn’t go all-out until the players forced his hand. He was also probably grieving after the players killed one (or two) of his sons but didn’t let his emotions get in the way. Even when he was defeated, Godfrey unironically praised the players for their skill and competence.
7 Starscourge Radahn
One doesn’t need to play the game in order to see Radahn’s views about honor and a fair fight. Elden Ring’s story trailer tells a lot about him. In his fight with Malenia, Radahn can be seen patiently waiting for his sister/half-sister to recover and put back her detached prosthesis so the fight can resume fairly.
Too bad Malenia cared too much about winning. Beyond that, Radahn also cared too much for his pet horse, as the initial reason he learned Gravity Magic is to prevent Leonard from getting slipped disc from carrying his giant frame. There are also speculations that another reason he learned Gravity Magic is to keep aliens and stars at bay from crashing into the Lands Between and causing mayhem.
6 Commander Niall
Speaking of commanders and royal soldiers who had more compassion for the marginalized groups in the Lands Between, players might find Commander Niall too endearing. Niall served the lord of Castle Sol who had already fallen. Despite being lordless, he still continued to defend the castle with his life.
In addition to that, Niall also once offered his prosthesis in exchange for the lives of defeated knights held prisoner (presumable casualties of the Shattering). Niall would then go on to command these men in an army that serves no nation in their own little sanctuary in Castle Sol.
5 Lichdragon Fortissax
There’s always that one non-human friend of a noble character in a Souls game who sacrificed too much just to save its master. In Elden Ring, Lichdragon Fortissax takes on the mantle left behind by Sif the Great Wolf from Dark Souls. Fortissax initially didn’t have the “Lichdragon” title since he was a proud and uncorrupted friend of Godwyn the Golden.
Then, Godwyn was killed and became a Deathblight monster. Fortissax tried desperately to save his friend from the anomalies of Death but in the process, became corrupted in the ongoing battle with no victor. That’s how he earned the Lichdragon moniker. And that’s also why he tried to stop the players after the latter interrupts Godwyn’s sleep in Fia’s arms.
4 Red Wolf Of Radagon
While on the topic of loyal and stalwart animal friends/pets, the Red Wolf of Radagon is another unfaltering example. He’s Radagon’s pet dog whom he bequeathed to Rennala when he left her for Marika, basically making the Red Wolf a divorce gift. The Red Wolf also had another purpose: to defend Rennala in her state of grief.
Rennala was perpetually plunged into despair upon the loss of her husband. Hence, the Red Wolf of Radagon fiercely upheld its duty of defending those who would usurp Raya Lucaria Academy from Rennala. It’s also worth noting that the Red Wolf was aware that its original master had already left and abandoned them; nevertheless, it kept guard.
3 Radagon Of The Golden Order
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Except, Radagon isn’t really a devil — he’s actually the more selfless between himself and Marika. When Marika destroyed the Elden Ring and plunged the Lands Between into chaos, Radagon didn’t hesitate to mend the fallout of her transgressions.
The problem regarding Radagon like this is that he’s also Marika. But their division is never clear and Radagon could very well be a person of himself (but still a male mirror image of Marika). After all, he tried to mend the Elden Ring so it stands within reason that he had a mind of his own and is thus a kinder and more considerate version of Marika. But not kind enough to stop hammering his holiness into the player.
2 Loretta, Knight Of The Haligtree
The Albinaurics are an artificial race of beings created in the underground Eternal Cities in the Lands Between. Thus, they are graceless and those who serve under the Greater Will and the Erdtree see them as inferior beings to be treated as slaves or playthings. Not many cared for them; the few that did were, of course, the noblest souls in Elden Ring. Loretta is one of those.
Players face her first as a magical projection in Caria Manor. That’s because her original self went through a long and bloody journey to find the Albinaurics a home. That’s why she was in Miquella’s Haligtree. Loretta became a champion of the oppressed Albinaurics and found them sanctuary and salvation in the Haligtree.
1 Margit/Morgott The Omen King
All that trash talk from Margit/Morgott made him look like an unrefined grouch, but deep down he’s actually the most dependable and virtuous out of all the demigod siblings. Because while his siblings took advantage of the power struggle and waged war for a chance to claim the Elden Ring, Morgott was the only one who defended the Erdtree.
Morgott defended the Royal Capital and presumably won against the dragons and also pushed back numerous invasions, including one led by General Radahn. He has no foolish ambitions as his only goal was to defend the Erdtree for he loved the Greater Will even as though it didn’t love him back.
