How to Defeat Jori, Elder Inquisitor in Elden Ring
This guide covers everything you need to know to overcome Jori, from build recommendations and environmental tactics to tips for maximizing rune rewards.
Who Is Jori, Elder Inquisitor
Jori is a hornsent commander and an expert in both melee combat and spirit summoning. He guards the gate to one of the expansion's darkest and most mysterious regions. The arena itself, drenched in ankle-deep water, adds another layer of danger and opportunity.
Jori's mix of aggression, summoning abilities, and environmental hazards make him a formidable mid-to-late-game foe. As with many bosses in Elden Ring, exploiting elemental weaknesses and smart summon timing can turn the tide in your favor.
Where to Find Jori
You'll encounter Jori at the end of the Darklight Catacombs, a treacherous, shadowy dungeon in Shadow of the Erdtree. These catacombs are filled with spectral enemies and environmental traps, and they culminate in a flooded chamber where Jori waits to test your mettle.
Battle Environment
The entire boss fight takes place in a water-logged arena, which has two key consequences:
Lightning weapons and spells deal increased damage.
Fire spells and certain AoEs may lose effectiveness or become harder to deploy.
To capitalize on this, equip Lightning-based armaments or incantations such as Lightning Spear or a Lightning-infused weapon to deal additional burst damage against Jori and any summons he brings forth.
Recommended Build and Gear
Spirit Summons
Mimic Tear – A top-tier choice that mirrors your loadout. Perfect if you're running high DPS or tanky builds.
Demi-Human Swordsman Yosh – Agile and chaotic, Yosh is excellent for distracting Jori and keeping pressure on him during summon phases.
Weapons
Great Stars – A powerful weapon that offers passive healing on hit, making it ideal for long duels with bosses that summon reinforcements.
Lightning-infused weapons – Any melee weapon with Lightning damage becomes especially potent in the wet arena.
Ashes of War
Lion's Claw – A somersaulting heavy strike with high poise damage. It can break Jori's stance and interrupt his summoning sequences.
Consider pairing Lion's Claw with a heavy strength build for maximum stagger potential.
Spells and Incantations
Ekzykes's Decay – While not Lightning-based, this spell inflicts Scarlet Rot, which will passively sap Jori's health even when he's on the move or summoning.
Lightning Spear or Lansseax's Glaive – Excellent picks for exploiting the watery battlefield.
Talisman and Item Recommendations
Talismans
Golden Braid – Boosts Lightning resistance; useful if you're dealing with returned summons who use Lightning-based attacks.
Great-Jar's Arsenal – Lets you wear heavier armor or wield larger weapons like Great Stars without becoming over-encumbered.
Consumables and Flask Tears
Windy Crystal Tear – Boosts Dexterity for agile builds relying on speed and evasion.
Opaline Hardtear – Grants resistance to all damage types for a short time, helping you survive Jori's burst combos.
Lightning-Shrouded Cracked Tear – If available, this will significantly increase your Lightning damage during the fight.
Armor
Rakshasa Set – A balanced armor set with decent elemental resistances and poise. Its aesthetic also matches the theme of the region, blending fashion and function.
How to Defeat Jori
Phase 1: Direct Combat
Jori starts the fight aggressively, using the Barbed Staff-Spear to execute sweeping strikes and charged thrusts. These attacks are fast and deal high damage, so stay light on your feet. Bait out his lunges and punish during recovery frames.
Use Lion's Claw or heavy jump attacks to break his poise. If you're using status builds like Bleed or Rot, trigger them early for consistent pressure.
Phase 2: Summons and Area Control
Once Jori reaches around 60% health, he begins summoning Hornsent Spirits to aid him. These can quickly overwhelm unprepared players.
This is where your Spirit Ash becomes essential. Have your Mimic Tear or Yosh engage the summons while you isolate Jori. Use area-of-effect Lightning spells to damage both the boss and his helpers simultaneously.
If things get hectic, kite toward the edges of the arena to reset aggro or heal safely.
Post-Fight Rewards
Upon defeating Jori, you'll be rewarded with a significant number of Elden Ring Runes, which can be used to level up, buy upgrade materials, or invest in spell slots. To increase your haul, consider using a Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot just before delivering the finishing blow.
In addition to runes, Jori may drop rare Elden Ring Items, such as:
The Barbed Staff-Spear, allowing you to wield the same weapon he used.
A unique talisman or crafting material tied to the Hornsent faction.
Progression toward deeper lore regarding the Abyssal Woods and the Shadow Realm.
Conclusion
While Jori, Elder Inquisitor is an optional boss in Shadow of the Erdtree, the fight is anything but forgettable. From the eerie flooded arena to his aggressive summons and tragic backstory, Jori offers a rich, cinematic challenge for any Tarnished.
With the right Elden Ring Items, elemental strategy, and summon coordination, you'll not only defeat him, you'll walk away with a stockpile of Elden Ring Runes and gear that will help you face even greater threats ahead.