Death Rite Bird

**Death Rite Birds** are a recurring boss in *Elden Ring* that only appear at night. They are a more powerful version of the deathbirds.

## Overview

Death Rite Birds are gigantic decaying birds with incrusted corpses over their body, partially covered in ghostflame and guarded by spirits inside their wings.

All deathbirds are said to be the offspring of an entity called the twinbird, which is an envoy of an outer god. Their purpose was to tend the ghostflame by raking out the ashen remains of the death from their kiln. Because of this, they were called graveyard fire keepers and used to be widely active before the Erdtree existed, although regarded as malevolent deities by some.

Through the ancient act of the rite of Death, priests of old were permitted to come among the deathbirds and become their guardians, and act which serves as an oath sworn to their distant resurrection. Such priests can be seen inside their wings as spirit beings wielding death ritual spears.

## Boss fight

The Death Rite Bird often spawns from a giant ball of Ghostflame up in the sky.

It is possible to lock onto either the boss's head or the spine. It takes extra damage when hit in the head, but due to how much it moves, it can disorienting and result in getting dead-angled when blocking, so it's usually safer to lock into the spine or not at all.

While it is possible to fight this boss on horseback, it is not recommended. The safest place to be in melee range is behind its legs, where neither the weapon swings, nor the beak can hit you.

This boss can be staggered when dealt enough damage, giving you a window to land a visceral attack on its head.

### Moveset

Melee attacks are the same as the Deathbird's, but augmented with ghostflame.

The first phase is very similar to a normal Deathbird fight, with the difference that its melee attacks deal both physical and ghostflame damage, making shields somewhat less effective although blocking is still preferable to receiving the damage directly.

Death Rite Birds also uses Ghostflame Ignition, the unique ash of war of the Death's Poker.

##### Phase 1

 Melee attacks that inflict Frostbite status. Half physycal and half fire damage.
 The bird will hit the ground with its poker, leaving a giant fireball in front of it.
Close Range: If the player is nearby, the bird will detonate the fireball, creating a huge blast in its close range.
Long Range: If the player is mid-to-long range, it will hit the ball to create a wall of ghostflame in the direction of the player.

##### Phase 2

Death Rite Bird preparing for the second hit of its Ghostflame Ignition.

When dropping to 50% HP it gains 3 new attacks:

 Inflicts Frostbite status.
His poker will light brightly with ghostflame and then stab it into the ground, followed by a large explosion that leaves a trail of black flame that deals continuous damage all across the arena.

### Weaknesses

As they count as Those Who Live in Death they are weak to Holy damage and extremely weak to specific anti-undead weapons. Ash of War: Sacred Blade and Holy Water Pots are useful tools to make short work of these enemies, even if the user doesn't have a lot of Faith.

## Bosses

* Liurnia of the Lakes
* Caelid
* Mountaintops of the Giants
* Consecrated Snowfields

## Boss Information

### Background

Found at night. A short distance South of the Gate Town North grace, in the area in-between the small islands and ruins.

## Boss Information

### Background

Found at night. Go east and slightly south of the Southern Aeonia Swamp Bank grace.

## Boss Information

### Background

Found at day or night, far west of the Snow Valley Ruins Overlook grace, past the cemetery and facing the cliff. There is a Stake of Marika nearby.

## Boss Information

### Background

Found at night, Southeast of the Apostate Derelict grace and at the end of the frozen river.
## Gallery

Picture showing a path from the nearest grace (left) to the Death Rite Bird in Caelid (right)
## References

1. ↑ Twinbird Kite Shield
2. ↑ Explosive Ghostflame
3. ↑ Death's Poker
4. ↑ Explosive Ghostflame
5. ↑ Sacrificial Axe
6. ↑ Death Ritual Spear