There are a lot of scary things in Elden Ring, too many to list in any reasonable amount of words. Some of the more common monstrosities, but nonetheless the most terrifying to fight, are the Abductor Virgins. These constructs tower over players with a haunting gaze, charging and spinning their way around the battlefield as they pull victims inside its chest cavity.
These enemies hit hard, move fast, and have wildly unpredictable attack patterns. Worse yet, dying to a certain Abductor Virgin in Elden Ring teleports players to a much more dangerous place deep in the Lands Between. They aren't impossible to kill, and with careful timing and planned attacks they can be downed in just a few strikes to its weak spot.
What Are Abductor Virgins?
Iron Virgins, or Abductor Virgins, are found in countless areas throughout Elden Ring. They are terrifying constructs that move as fast as they hit, and their two chainsaw-like arms and spinning attacks make for quite the bloody fight. They also have a midsection that can open up and pull a target inside its terrifying body - most of the time, this just deals damage and spits the player out if they survive. The Abductor Virgin in the Academy of Raya Lucaria does something unique: it teleports the player to Volcano Manor.
Abductor Virgins are used to kidnap living beings to the Volcano Manor: Tarnished and the strong are brought there for Rykard to consume, while Albinaurics and others are brought there for experimentation. A lot of Abductor Virgins can be found at Volcano Manor, and Rykard's blasphemous ambitions in creating new Sorceries and forms of life required a lot of test subjects. It is implied by the location of the teleporting Abductor Virgin hidden beneath the great Water Mill that he worked with the Academy to achieve these goals in some way.
Iron Virgins stole people away to Volcano Manor too, but they were also used by Rykard as a defense against the armies of Leyndell after the shattering. The Battle of Mount Gelmir is one of the most appalling fights in the history of the Lands Between, in part thanks to the depraved lengths Rykard is willing to go to defend his blasphemous intent.
Strategies To Beat An Abductor Virgin
Abductor Virgins are a lot scarier to look at than to fight, if you know what you're doing. The strategy is the same for both melee and caster classes: don't attack when the midsection is closed, and let loose when it opens up. The thing about this strategy is that if you aren't able to dodge the incoming grab attack as its midsection opens, it will pull you inside and deal a ton of damage before launching you back out. If you dodge towards it right as the charge ends, and before it grabs you, there are a few seconds where damaging the Abductor Virgin is much more effective than normal.
Its other attacks are powerful but well-telegraphed. Both types of Abductor Virgins have virtually the same moveset, a charge and spinning top-like attack, with one key difference. Both charge the player and spin in place, but the Abductor Virgin with guillotine-like blades will periodically launch them towards the player, dealing damage both on hit and on the pull-back.
To dodge the Abductor Virgin's charge, wait until it is just about to reach you and dodge towards it - this reduces the chance of your hitbox being caught in the enemy's damaging hitbox as they overlap for less time. To avoid its spinning attack, watch for it to start spinning in place and sprint the other way, making as much distance as possible, then try to sprint around it as it inevitably starts heading your direction. To avoid the blade-launching attack, simply dodge as its about to hit you, but remember to dodge again about a second later when it pulls the blade back.
Rewards For Beating Abductor Virgins
Beating regular Abductor Virgins yields naught but Runes, no matter how high your Item Discovery is. However, there is a boss called the Abductor Virgins located in the Volcano Manor, which features two of these gargantuan constructs. To get to this out-of-the-way Duo Boss encounter, you must be teleported by the Abductor Virgin beneath Raya Lucaria. As long as you die when the Abductor Virgin pulls you in for its grab attack, you will wake up in Volcano Manor.
For beating this Duo Boss, which is found just a short walk from the teleporter point, players get 10,000 Runes and the Inquisitor's Grandiole Armament. This Spear resembles a three-pronged candlestick and scales equally with Strength, Dexterity, and Faith. It causes Blood Loss and has the Charge Forth Ash of War, which closes a great distance with a thrusting attack. Unfortunately, this Ash of War can't be replaced,
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.