Elden Ring: Runebear (Earthbore Cave) Boss Fight

I apologize for the picture quality of this video – the recording settings had somehow gotten reset, and I didn't realize this until I was about to edit the video. I hope it's tolerable, nonetheless.

As you may know, bosses in Elden Ring are divided into three tiers. From lowest to highest: Field Bosses, Greater Enemy Bosses and finally Demigods and Legends.

Runebear is in the lowest tier, Field Bosses, and is the end boss of the small dungeon called Earthbore Cave on the Weeping Peninsula.

As you make your way through Earthbore Cave, you will eventually come across a very large bear called a Runebear. You have most likely encountered one or more of these in the forest on your way here. This one is a boss version though, that I believe has more health and does more damage – although, I don't think there's really a huge difference.

When you encounter it, the Runebear is just relaxing in its cave amidst some dead bodies with intriguing shiny loot indicators on them, so we all know where this is going and that this cave isn't big enough for peaceful coexistence between an angry bear and a greedy Tarnished. I would think that can be said about most caves though.

Like all bosses, the Runebear appears to be either in a foul mood or just hungry for Tarnished flesh as it will immediately attempt to rip it from your bones. Or perhaps it just doesn't like visitors, I've heard bears can be quite protective of their caves. As if a big hole in the ground is something to be proud of. Anyway, its reasons are its own, but the result is that you have a big grumpy carnivore on your hands that you will need to deal with before claiming the sweet loot and taking your place as the rightful ruler of the cave. Or maybe just the loot.

First thing to watch out for is its grab attack, where it will grab you and give you a massive bear hug, but not the nice kind. I usually like bear hugs, but it turns out that a Runebear is too much bear for me and it quite hurts to be squished like this. I'm pretty sure the big teddy bites as well.

Never mind that you will see me get grabbed this way right at the start of the fight, even though I just said to watch out for it. Don't do what I do, do what I say. It was on purpose, of course, just to show you what not to do. Right.

Apart from that, stay alert and keep moving. The bear has many high-damage attacks, it will charge you and bash you and grab you for more hugging if you let it. Try to bait out attacks and then get a couple of quick hits in while it recovers, and you should be able to wear it down without too much trouble, especially if you have successfully fought its outdoors kin on your way here.

Go give someone a bear hug. It's free and awesome ;-)