If you’ve ever chucked a controller across the room or screamed into the void because of a boss in Dark Souls, you’re not alone. Many Dark Souls players certainly had horrible nightmares with one or more of the bosses on the list below.
Based on a mix of personal torment and the sheer epicness of the encounters, here’s my take on the top 10 bosses that have left a mark (or several) on players’ souls: the top 10 bosses in the Dark Souls Franchise.
10. Sir Alonne (Dark Souls II: Crown of the Old Iron King DLC)
Found in the Memory of the Old Iron King, Sir Alonne is a wandering swordsman and formerly the Iron King’s right-hand man. He’s quite an intimidating opponent.
He attacks using several different strikes and dashing attacks from a long distance, and wields the Bewitched Alonne Sword. The good thing is that he is open to counterattacks while he’s launching his attacks. He also tends to act slower and uses fewer combos as the fight progresses.
Just make sure to bring a large shield to block all melee damage. While Sir Alonne is relatively resistant to all forms of magical attacks, he takes significant damage from Lightning.
Additional tips:
- Stay Light: Equip lighter armor to dodge his rapid attacks effectively.
- Parry Opportunity: For the bold, some of his moves can be parried, opening him up for critical hits.
- Mind the Arena: The lack of obstacles means nowhere to hide, so keep moving.
9. Pontiff Sulyvahn (Dark Souls 3)
The Pontiff Sulyvahn lurks in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. Draped in bejeweled ceremonial robes, Sulyvahn wears a crown over a chain mail. He wields two greatswords – the Greatsword of Judgment on his left and the Profaned Ultra Greatsword on his right.
He is an extremely aggressive boss and attacks using two elements, Fire and Magic, giving you little breathing room. Blocking his attacks is hard, so the best thing to do is dodge and have a shield ready.
He has a ghost that he can summon, so make sure to hit him while he’s at it to deal a few good hits at his ghost at the same time.
Not only is Sulyvahn resistant to Fire and Magic, he’s also immune to Poison, Toxic, Frost and Bleed.
Additional tips to defeat:
- Roll Through Attacks: Dodging is more effective than blocking due to his high stamina damage.
- Focus on the Clone: Taking out the phantom quickly can simplify the fight.
- Use Dark Damage: He’s slightly more susceptible to dark-based attacks.
Also read: Unknown Knights Tier List
8. Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3)
One of the toughest bosses in the Dark Souls series, the Dancer was once a maiden to Gwynevere then forced by the Pontiff Sulyvahn to become a dancer and eventually turn into an Outrider Knight.
The Dancer is an unpredictable boss. She will make you second-guess every dodge and counterattack. That’s because she has an extensive moveset and deceptively short windups, leaving you struggling to come up with counterattacks.
She moves around with an eerie calm to bait you into circling her and getting hit easily as she’s quick to turn around and deliver strikes that deal large amounts of damage.
Her grab attack is also quite damaging, although gives you enough time to avoid it. The Dancer is known to be immune to Frost and Poison/Toxic.
Additional tips:
- Patience is Key: Wait for her combos to finish before counterattacking.
- Watch for the Grab: Her grab move has a telltale animation – back off when you see it.
- Fire Up: She’s weak to fire, so pyromancies or fire-infused weapons are effective.
7. Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Old Iron King DLC)
Also known as Raime the Traitor and Rebel Raime, the Fume Knight is the final boss of the Crown of the Old Iron King and found at the bottom of the Brume Tower.
The fight starts with the Fume Knight wielding a Fume Sword and a Fume Ultra Greatsword, which he uses to attack with random combos. He buffs the greatsword with a mix of Fire and Dark. You can block his attacks, but doing so can eat up your stamina.
Often hailed as one of the toughest fights in Dark Souls 2, the Fume Knight, aka Raime, is a master of punishing reckless players. His colossal greatsword deals massive damage, and his adaptability in combat keeps you on your toes.
Tips:
- No Summons: Bringing phantoms increases his resistance, making the fight harder.
- Use Magic Defense: Equip gear that boosts magic defense to mitigate his dark attacks.
- Stay Close: Oddly enough, staying near his left side can help avoid some of his swings.
6. Manus, Father of the Abyss (Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss DLC)
One of the most difficult bosses to defeat in Dark Souls, Manus is the final boss of the AotA expansion. He was once a human before becoming the Father of the Abyss, losing his humanity in the process. Since he’s a force to be reckoned with, you’ll need additional help.
What you need to do is either summon the Great Grey Wolf Sif or collect the Silver Pendant in the Oolacile Township in order to deflect sorcery. Having a strong shield with high endurance will also help you block most of his attacks.
His downward strikes can’t be blocked; the only way to avoid them is to roll. You’ll also have an edge if you’re an Intelligence Caster or a Faith Caster.
Manus is weak to Lightning while being resistant to Fire and Magic, as well as immune to Curse and Poison.
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5. Knight Artorias (Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss DLC)
The tragic tale of Artorias, the Abysswalker, is as compelling as his boss fight. Corrupted by the Abyss he sought to destroy, he remains a formidable warrior with swift movements and powerful strikes.
Although he has virtually no ranged attacks, he has incredible speed that makes up for it. As such, almost every attack coming from him tends to be very powerful. The good thing is that he broadcasts his moves beforehand, giving you time to dodge, block or come up with counterattacks.
The Knight Artorias is resistant to Magic and Fire as well as immune to Bleed and Poison/Toxic.
Tips to win:
- Interrupt His Power-Up: When he starts charging, hit him hard to prevent him from buffing.
- Learn His Moveset: His attacks have tells – mastering them is key to victory.
- Keep Mid-Range: Too close and he’ll punish you; too far and he’ll lunge.
4. Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough (Dark Souls)
The infamous duo guarding the cathedral in Anor Londo have crushed many a player’s spirit. Facing the swift Dragoon Knight Ornstein alongside the hulking Executioner Smough requires strategy and adaptability.
Facing one boss is hard enough in a game like Dark Souls. Fighting two at once is a very tough challenge and one that will grow you some white hairs. But at least it’s fun. Eventually.
They’re both close-ranged opponents, so the Havels shield and Iron Flesh can be useful.
Additional tips:
- Take Out Ornstein First: Many find it easier to deal with a powered-up Smough solo.
- Use Pillars: The arena’s pillars can block some of their attacks.
- Fire and Lightning: Ornstein is weak to fire; Smough is weak to lightning.
3. Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)
The Nameless King is known to be the hardest boss in Dark Souls 3, especially when riding his dragon King of the Storm. The Nameless King is located in the Archdragon Peak and can be summoned by ringing the bell of the Great Belfry.
An optional boss, but missing this fight means skipping one of the series’ most epic battles. The Nameless King, believed to be Gwyn’s firstborn, brings the thunder – literally.
He will be riding King of the Storm in the first phase. Which means you’ll have to kill the dragon first. The best place to dodge his attacks is to stay underneath him and his dragon. Make sure to wear heavily resistant lightning gear to block his Lightning attacks and avoid massive Physical damage.
He becomes more powerful once his dragon is dead as he can absorb the latter’s powers. His attacks may not be incredible, but the damage large enough to lose nearly half your health for every swing.
He is weak to Fire and Dark damage, resistant to Frost and Lightning, and immune to Poison/Toxic.
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2. Slave Knight Gael (Dark Souls III: The Ringed City DLC)
As the final boss of the series, Gael embodies the culmination of Dark Souls’ brutality. His relentless three-phase fight showcases a range of combat styles, from melee to ranged dark magic attacks.
Tips to defeat:
- Use Bleed Weapons: Gael is susceptible to bleeding, which can expedite the fight.
- Stamina Management: Conserve stamina for dodging his rapid combos.
- Watch the Cape: His cape attacks have deceptive reach.
1. Darkeater Midir (Dark Souls III: The Ringed City DLC)
Claiming the top spot is Midir, the colossal dragon tasked with consuming the darkness of humanity. This boss is not just a test of combat prowess but of patience and perseverance. With an enormous health pool and devastating attacks, Midir is the embodiment of a Soulsborne challenge.
Tips:
- Magic Defense: Equip gear that boosts dark resistance to withstand his attacks.
- Attack the Head: Deals the most damage but comes with high risk.
- Learn His Patterns: His moves are telegraphed but can be hard to read due to his size.
BONUS: Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)
The final boss of Dark Souls 3, the Soul of Cinder is the amalgamation of all the Lords of Cinder. And even though you’re probably surprised to see him ranked so low, well… here it is!
He’s a tall knight wearing badly worn/charred armor. The Firelink Greatsword is his weapon of choice. It’s a larger version of the Coiled Sword which can change its shape to suit its wielder’s needs.
For the first phase, he uses a variety of Dark Dialectics spells and movesets, and Gwyn’s moveset during the second phase. It will be hard for you to counterattack him as he changes his attack moves very smoothly.
This means you’ll need to utilize different fighting tactics. The Soul of Cinder is known to be weak to Frost, Lightning and Dark, as well as resistant to Bleed and immune to Poison/Toxic.
What do you think about the list and, most importantly, which bosses made you question your sanity, and which ones did you defeat with a smug grin? Share your war stories below!