Ultimate Guide to Defeating Jori, Elder Inquisitor in Shadow of the Erdtree

If you’ve been exploring the expansive world of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, you may have encountered one of the more formidable optional bosses, Jori, the Elder Inquisitor. While seemingly unbeatable at first glance, learning his attack patterns and equipping the right gear can turn this challenging battle into a manageable confrontation. Follow this in-depth guide to gain insights and strategies on how to effectively defeat Jori and move forward in your journey.

Step 1: Locating Jori, the Elder Inquisitor

First things first, it's essential to know how to reach Jori. Jori is situated in the heart of the Darklight Catacombs, a hidden dungeon players must conquer to access the Abyssal Woods and face Midra, the Lord of Frenzied Flame.

• Starting Point: Begin at the Shadow Keep's East Courtyard.
• Hidden Ladder: From there, locate a hidden ladder that leads you down.
• Waterfall Entrance: Proceed through an entrance concealed behind a waterfall.
• Fake Wall: Navigate through a fake wall to find a coffin that will deliver you to the Castle Watering Hole Site of Grace.
• Path to Darklight Catacombs: Head south from this site of grace, following the path that leads into the Darklight Catacombs. Traverse through the catacombs to find Jori awaiting at the end.

Step 2: Understanding Jori's Moveset

Familiarizing yourself with Jori’s attack patterns is crucial for your survival. Jori has a combination of ranged and melee attacks, along with summoned minions that can complicate the battle.

Ranged Attacks

• Golden Arcs: Jori launches a barrage of small golden arcs towards you.
• Giant Golden Arc: A powerful singular arc that deals substantial damage.
• Triple Golden Arcs: Three smaller golden arcs deployed in a conical pattern.
• Spira Spell: A persistent stream of attacks emerging from the ground.

Tactic: Running diagonally can help you evade the majority of these attacks. Utilizing the gravestones in the arena can also provide temporary cover from the barrage.

Melee Attacks

• Jori's melee attacks are highly telegraphed and can be easily dodged by rolling into his swings. Use these opportunities to get behind him and perform backstab critical hits, dealing significant damage.

Summons

• Periodically, Jori summons various types of enemies to assist him. While they have relatively low health, they can distract and split your focus.

Tactic: Summon your own Spirit Ashes to engage these summoned enemies while you concentrate on Jori.

Step 3: Optimal Loadout

Defensive Gear

• Golden Braid Talisman: Reduces Holy Damage by 22%, which is effective against Jori’s holy spells.
• Opaline Hardtear: Combine this in the Mixed Physik for an additional defensive buff.
• Pearldrake Talisman +3: Equip this for general damage mitigation.
• Heavy Armor: Don a good set of heavy armor to increase your overall defense and poise.

Offensive Gear

• Dagger Talisman: Enhances the damage of backstab attacks.
• Axe Talisman or Claw Talisman: Use these to boost charged and jump attacks, respectively, aiding in staggering Jori.
• Stonebarb Cracked Tear: Drink this mixed with your Flask of Wondrous Physik to further increase stagger potential.

Weapon Choice

Choose a large weapon that deals substantial poise damage. Specific damage types are less critical since the primary damage-dealing methods will be from riposte and backstab. A fully upgraded Greatsword is recommended.

Supplementary Gear

• Two-Headed Turtle Talisman: Helps generate stamina, letting you stay agile and responsive throughout the fight.

Step 4: Fight Strategy

Initial Phase

• Close the Gap: Start the fight by closing the gap quickly so Jori doesn’t get to use his ranged attacks for long.
• Dodge and Backstab: Dodge through his melee attacks and position yourself behind him to execute backstabs. This will deplete his health substantially.
• Stagger and Riposte: Utilize heavy attacks and charged attacks to break Jori’s poise quickly. When he’s staggered, move in for the riposte to deal immense damage.

Summoning Phase

• Summon Spirits: When Jori summons his minions, use your own Spirit Ashes to divert their attention. This will give you breathing room to continue focusing on Jori.
• Prioritize Crowd Control: If overwhelmed, take out the summoned enemies swiftly to reduce the chaos in the arena.

Final Phase

• Stay Aggressive: As his health depletes, Jori may resort to using more ranged attacks. Maintain your aggression to keep him from using these effectively.
• Use Opportune Moments: Utilize the gravestones for cover when you need to heal or rebuff, then resume your assault with a blend of dodges, backstabs, and heavy attacks.

Step 5: Claiming Your Rewards

Upon defeating Jori, you won’t receive a Remembrance as he isn't a Remembrance boss. However, the rewards are still lucrative.

Received Items

• Barbed Staff-Spear: Jori drops his unique weapon—a Great Spear with 86 Physical and 86 Holy damage. It’s upgradeable to +10 with Somber Smithing Stones.
• 260,000 Runes: A substantial amount of runes to aid in leveling up your character or upgrading your gear.

Barbed Staff-Spear Details

The Barbed Staff-Spear comes equipped with the Jori's Inquisition skill, which cannot be swapped. Using 9 FP, it launches a barrage of golden arcs that deal holy damage, making it a potent weapon for Faith builds and ensuring sustained damage at range.

Conclusion

Defeating Jori, the Elder Inquisitor, is no small feat, but with the correct strategy and gear, it's an achievable goal. By understanding his moveset, optimizing your loadout, and employing a smart fighting strategy, you can overcome this challenge and continue your adventure in the Shadow of the Erdtree. Stay persistent, adapt as needed, and enjoy the thrill of victory as you claim your hard-earned rewards!