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What Level Should I Be At Rykard in Elden Ring?

Generally speaking, you should aim to be around level 60-70 when facing Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy in Elden Ring. This level range provides a comfortable balance between having sufficient health, damage output, and weapon upgrades to effectively utilize the Serpent-Hunter great spear, which is crucial for this boss fight. However, “should” is a loaded word. It’s entirely possible to defeat Rykard at lower levels with skillful play and strategic resource management, but levels 60-70 provide a good foundation for success. Your build and playstyle also impact this significantly.

Understanding Level Recommendations

Level recommendations in Elden Ring are largely subjective and depend on several factors:

Your Build: A heavily optimized build focused on a specific damage type (like Strength or Faith) might allow you to tackle Rykard at a slightly lower level. Conversely, a more spread-out build might require a higher level to compensate for lower overall damage output.
Your Weapon Upgrade Level: The upgrade level of your weapons, especially the Serpent-Hunter, is arguably more important than your character level. Upgrading your weapon to at least +6 (Somber Smithing Stone) or +18 (Regular Smithing Stone) will significantly boost its damage.
Your Skill: A seasoned Souls player can often overcome level disadvantages through skillful dodging, parrying, and exploiting enemy weaknesses. If you’re comfortable with the game’s combat mechanics, you might be able to challenge Rykard at a lower level.
Your Playstyle: Do you prefer a more aggressive, high-risk playstyle, or a more cautious, defensive approach? An aggressive playstyle might require higher damage output to quickly burst down the boss, while a defensive playstyle might benefit from higher health and stamina.

Ultimately, the “right” level is the level at which you feel comfortable and confident in your ability to learn Rykard’s attack patterns and execute your chosen strategy effectively. Don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust your approach based on your own experience.

Preparing for the Fight

Before charging into the Volcano Manor to face Rykard, consider these key preparations:

Acquire the Serpent-Hunter: This weapon is specifically designed for this fight and is found in the boss arena. It is absolutely essential.
Upgrade the Serpent-Hunter: As mentioned before, upgrading this weapon is paramount. The higher the upgrade level, the easier the fight will be.
Increase your Vitality: Health is crucial for surviving Rykard’s powerful attacks. Aim for at least 30-40 Vitality to give yourself a decent health pool.
Level your primary damage stat: Whether it’s Strength, Dexterity, Faith, or Intelligence, invest points into your chosen damage stat to maximize your damage output.
Consider your Talismans: Talismans can provide significant buffs to your character. Useful Talismans for this fight include those that increase attack power, defense, or stamina.
Memorize Rykard’s attack patterns: Learning Rykard’s attack patterns is essential for dodging his attacks and finding opportunities to strike.
Upgrade your Flasks: Ensure your Flasks of Crimson Tears (healing) and Flasks of Cerulean Tears (FP) are upgraded to maximize their effectiveness.

Understanding Rykard’s Fight

The fight against Rykard is a two-phase encounter:

Phase 1: God-Devouring Serpent: In this phase, Rykard is in his serpent form. Use the Serpent-Hunter to unleash powerful ranged attacks, staggering him and eventually breaking his stance. Focus on maintaining distance and utilizing the weapon’s special attack.
Phase 2: Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy: Once the serpent is defeated, Rykard reveals his true form. He wields a flaming sword and uses powerful fire attacks. Continue using the Serpent-Hunter, but be mindful of your positioning and stamina. Dodge his attacks carefully and strike when you have an opening.

The Serpent-Hunter’s weapon art, Great-Serpent Hunt, deals immense damage to Rykard, especially when fully charged. Keep your distance, charge the attack, and unleash it when he’s vulnerable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rykard

1. Can I beat Rykard at level 50?

Yes, it’s possible to beat Rykard at level 50, but it will be significantly more challenging. You’ll need to have a well-optimized build, a high weapon upgrade level (especially the Serpent-Hunter), and excellent knowledge of his attack patterns. Expect to die several times while learning the fight.

2. What’s the easiest way to defeat Rykard?

The easiest way is to fully upgrade the Serpent-Hunter and repeatedly use its Great-Serpent Hunt weapon art from a safe distance. Focus on dodging his attacks and maintaining your distance.

3. Do I need to respec my character for the Rykard fight?

Respeccing isn’t strictly necessary, but it can be beneficial if your build isn’t optimized for the Serpent-Hunter. Consider allocating more points to Strength or Dexterity to maximize its damage output.

4. Is Rykard weak to any particular damage type other than the Serpent-Hunter?

While other weapons can deal damage, the Serpent-Hunter is specifically designed to exploit his weakness, making it the most effective choice by a large margin.

5. What Talismans are recommended for the Rykard fight?

Good choices include:

Ritual Sword Talisman: Increases attack power when at full health.
Green Turtle Talisman: Increases stamina recovery speed.
Erdtree’s Favor: Increases maximum HP, stamina, and equip load.
Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: Greatly boosts Physical defense.

6. How important is upgrading the Spirit Ashes for this fight?

Spirit Ashes aren’t particularly useful in the Rykard fight as they tend to get overwhelmed quickly. Focus on upgrading the Serpent-Hunter instead.

7. What should I do if I’m struggling with Rykard’s second phase?

In the second phase, focus on dodging his fiery attacks. Keep your distance, charge the Serpent-Hunter’s weapon art, and unleash it when he’s vulnerable. Be patient and don’t get greedy with your attacks.

8. Can I use summons in the Rykard fight?

Yes, you can summon other players or NPCs to help you. However, remember that summoning increases Rykard’s health, so ensure your summons are capable of dealing significant damage. The Mimic Tear is rarely effective in this fight.

9. What level should I upgrade my Vigor stat to before fighting Rykard?

Aim for at least 30-40 Vigor to give yourself a comfortable health pool. More is always beneficial, especially if you’re struggling to survive his attacks.

10. Is there a specific strategy for dodging Rykard’s attacks?

Many of Rykard’s attacks are telegraphed, giving you time to react. Roll towards him to avoid his sword swings and away from him to avoid his fire attacks. Pay close attention to his attack patterns and learn the timing of his attacks.

11. What happens if I accidentally kill the God-Devouring Serpent too quickly?

It’s practically impossible to kill it “too quickly” with the Serpent-Hunter. Don’t worry about this scenario.

12. How do I respec my character in Elden Ring?

You can respec your character by using a Larval Tear at Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon in the Raya Lucaria Academy. You’ll need to defeat her first.

13. Are there any consumables that are particularly helpful for this fight?

Exalted Flesh: Temporarily increases your attack power.
Boiled Crab: Temporarily increases your physical damage negation.

14. Can I use other weapons besides the Serpent-Hunter?

While technically possible, it’s highly discouraged. Other weapons deal significantly less damage and make the fight much more challenging. The Serpent-Hunter is the intended and most effective weapon for this encounter.

15. What if I’m still struggling after trying all of these tips?

Don’t be afraid to take a break and come back to the fight later. Consider exploring other areas of the game to level up further and improve your skills. You can also watch videos of other players defeating Rykard to learn new strategies and techniques. Persistence is key!

What level should I be at Rykard?