The Lands Between are a treacherous place, filled with fearsome bosses and challenging encounters. Many a Tarnished has found themselves seeking an advantage, and the alluring prospect of summoning NPCs for assistance often arises. But a persistent question haunts the minds of players: Do NPC summons increase boss health in Elden Ring? The answer, like so much in this sprawling world, is nuanced.
Let's embark on a journey to uncover the truth, exploring the complexities of summoning in Elden Ring and how it affects boss fights.
Does Summoning NPCs Increase Boss HP in Elden Ring?
The short answer is: Yes, but not always and not necessarily in a directly proportional way. The impact of summoning NPCs on boss health isn't a simple "yes" or "no." It depends on several factors:
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The Boss: Certain bosses have a clearly defined increase in health when players summon NPCs. You'll notice a significant jump in their health bar. These bosses often have mechanics designed to accommodate multiple combatants.
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The Specific NPC: The type of NPC you summon can also play a role. Some NPCs are more resilient than others, potentially influencing the overall fight length and thus indirectly impacting the perceived increase in boss health.
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The Difficulty: While not directly altering boss HP, your chosen difficulty setting might influence the overall challenge. A harder difficulty will naturally make the boss fight more difficult regardless of whether you summon allies.
What About Multiplayer Summons?
This is where things get even more intricate. While NPC summons almost always impact boss health (albeit in varying degrees), the effect of summoning other players is less predictable. FromSoftware hasn't explicitly stated the precise formula, and community testing has yielded inconsistent results. Some believe it doesn't increase health, whereas others maintain that the increase is less pronounced compared to NPC summons.
Why Do Some Bosses Have Increased HP with Summons?
The game designers implemented this mechanic for several reasons:
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Balancing: Increasing boss health when summoning additional players aims to balance the advantage gained from having extra help. Facing a more challenging foe compensates for the extra damage potential of multiple players.
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Gameplay Variety: This approach adds an extra layer of complexity and decision-making to the game. It forces players to carefully consider the implications of summoning, weighing the risks and rewards of additional assistance.
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Immersion: In a way, it makes sense that a greater threat would demand a greater response, creating a feeling that the boss is truly reacting to the presence of multiple fighters.
Does Summoning Affect Boss Aggro?
While not directly related to HP, it's important to note that summoning NPCs does often affect how the boss behaves. Aggro might shift between you and the summoned NPC, sometimes leading to more predictable attack patterns. This can be both a boon and a bane, creating more opportunities for effective attacks or potentially leading to your demise if you don't manage the aggro effectively.
Are There Any Bosses Where Summons Don't Increase HP?
While rare, some players believe that there are certain bosses where summoning doesn't increase HP. This might be due to the nature of the boss fight itself, where the challenge lies less in raw health and more in its attack patterns and special mechanics. This is often debated within the community and needs further research.
The Bottom Line: Strategic Summoning in Elden Ring
The impact of NPC summons on boss health in Elden Ring is multi-faceted. While not a universally fixed increase across the board, it's generally safe to assume that many bosses will have increased HP when you summon allies. Understanding this nuanced mechanic is key to developing effective strategies and conquering the challenges that lie ahead in the Lands Between. Remember that careful consideration of which NPC to summon, for which boss, and when is crucial to your success.
