Conquering Romina, Saint of the Bud in Elden Ring

Romina, the Saint of the Bud, is an essential boss in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring. After her church was set ablaze by Messmer during his campaign, Romina became infused with Scarlet Rot, transforming her into an embodiment of fury and revenge.

This guide will help you pinpoint the location of Romina, the Saint of the Bud, and provide strategic tips for defeating her. We also offer an effective character build to help you navigate the fight with ease.

Location of Romina, Saint of the Bud

You can find Romina at the far end of the Ancient Ruins of Rauh, specifically in the Church of the Bud, located in the western area of the ruins. Accessing this area is crucial for burning the Sealing Tree.

Begin at the Specimen Storehouse First Floor site of grace in the Shadow Keep. Move to your left and enter the first room. Then, take the elevator in the adjacent room to reach the Infirmary within the Shadow Keep.

From the infirmary, proceed to the West Rampart site of grace. Use the small gate to enter the bridge on your right and take the lift at the end of the bridge to access the Ancient Ruins of Rauh.

Navigate through the Ancient Ruins of Rauh using our comprehensive guide to ultimately reach the Church of the Bud. Expect to encounter tunnels filled with Scarlet Rot and hostile Kindred of Rot foes along the way.

Romina, Saint of the Bud: Stats and Weaknesses

Romina has 35,798 HP in Elden Ring, with a Defense of 124 and Stance of 80. Players can parry her attacks and break her stance for critical hits.

Keep in mind that Romina has strong resistance to Slash attacks and is immune to Poison, Scarlet Rot, Sleep, and Madness. However, she is particularly vulnerable to Fire and Frost attacks.

Romina can inflict Scarlet Rot through both her melee and magic assaults, so be sure to stock up on Preserving Boluses to endure the fight.

Optimal Build for Romina, Saint of the Bud

As Romina serves as a near-endgame boss in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, it’s advisable to have at least 12-15 Scadutree Blessings and a character level of 180 or higher. Since she is weak to both Fire and Ice, consider using the Blasphemous Blade or Backhand Blade, both featuring Keen Affinity.

The Blasphemous Blade can deal fire damage, making it an excellent choice for effective jump slam attacks against larger foes. Alternatively, the Backhand Blade allows you to apply both Fire and Frost greases.

Equip the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Millicent’s Prosthesis, Claw Talisman, and a Two-Handed Sword talisman (swap with the Shard of Alexander for Backhand Blade). This setup will maximize your consecutive damage output.

In the Flask of Wondrous Physick, mix the Opaline Hardtear with the Stonebarb Cracked Tear for enormous defense boosts and quick stance breaks on Romina.

For casting incantations, utilize a fully upgraded Erdtree Seal.

If you’re seeking an alternative to this build, consider a sorcery setup with the Academy Glintstone Staff and Glintstone Sorceries. You can adjust your stats using a Larval Tear at Renalla’s location in the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

Phase 1 – A Malformed Saint

Romina, the Saint of the Bud, has a disfigured body featuring a centipede head at one end and a scorpion tail at the other, with her torso linking them.

This grotesque form allows her to unleash unique attacks against players. The fight typically begins with a triple centipede bite, where she swings her centipede head in three quick strikes from left to right.

To avoid this, simply roll backward. You’ll have an opportunity to land some hits after her third strike.

Romina also lashes out with her scorpion tail at close range, inflicting heavy damage and knocking players back. This attack can be dodged by moving toward Romina.

Romina employs her poleblade for a double swing attack — first downward, then upwards. If this attack connects, it will trigger Scarlet Rot buildup, so dodge twice at the right moment to evade.

One particularly tricky attack occurs when Romina ascends into the air before crashing down with her stinger. Just before this attack, her stinger will flash, signaling you to dodge left or right.

She also performs a circular swing with her poleblade two times at close range, which can be avoided by rolling back twice. Following this attack, she presents a prime chance to counterattack.

When Romina’s health drops to 65%, she will unleash a special sweeping attack involving her poleblade, followed by a second spinning sweep that leaves behind a trail of scarlet butterflies.

These butterflies will explode, inflicting both Physical and Scarlet Rot damage. Be sure to dodge at the moment of impact and retreat as far from the butterflies as possible.

Phase 2 – A Butterfly Saint

This previous attack marks the transition into the second phase. During this stage, Romina will initiate a grab attack using her pole and strike at players with her stinger, causing significant Scarlet Rot buildup.

Wait for Romina to twirl her poleblade and dive at you; this will be your signal to roll sideways or backward.

When Romina points her poleblade upwards and it glows red, she will perform a double 360-degree attack. This attack entails her spinning twice with both her poleblade and body, hitting players in the process.

This attack features a lengthy charge-up, giving you ample opportunity to deal damage. Many of Romina’s attacks during the second phase will leave a trail of scarlet butterflies.

The butterflies will explode and inflict Scarlet Rot, making it impossible to block or dodge. Keep your distance and wait for the area to clear before re-engaging.

The final and most frustrating attack is when Romina jumps and rolls into a ball, tracking the player before finishing with a slam and a poleblade swing.

This attack is extremely challenging to avoid or block. It’s best to maintain maximum distance from Romina while she rolls. Once she finishes, you can launch your counteroffensive.

These comprise Romina’s entire attack arsenal. While some moves are more perilous than others, most can be dodged with careful attention to our guide. Keep chipping away at her health, and she will be defeated before you know it.

Drops and Rewards from Romina, Saint of the Bud

Upon defeating Romina, you will receive 380,000 Runes and the Remembrance of the Saint of the Bud. You can exchange this remembrance with Enia at the Roundtable Hold to acquire either the Poleblade of the Bud (a weapon) or the Rotten Butterflies (an incantation).

Moreover, you will have the opportunity to reach and burn the Sealing Tree that Romina was fiercely guarding. However, to do so, you must first defeat Messmer, the Impaler, to obtain his kindling.