The Dark Souls franchise is home to some truly challenging bosses that will really test your patience and your psyche.
Setting the standard for ‘hard but fair’ game design many moons ago, Dark Souls dished out a unique brand of punishment we all couldn’t get enough of, all thanks to their roster of terrifying bosses.
I have spent many an hour in the Souls games, and there are some bosses that no matter how many times I tackle them, I still stumble, and it takes me multiple attempts to get through them.
But, while some make me stumble, others make me scream, weep, and bargain with the gaming gods above to show mercy. These are those bosses that serve as the hardest Dark Souls has ever produced.
10
Ornstein and Smough
Double Trouble!
I’m sure it comes as no surprise that Ornstein and Smough are on this list. For Dark Souls 1, they are the first true wall that most players hit, including me.
Phase one is hard enough, as one is incredibly agile, while the other annihilates you with strength attacks. Trying to split them up and deal with them separately is challenging, especially if you are playing the game without summoning any NPCs or friends via co-op.
Phase two is another beast entirely, and it can be much more challenging depending on which boss you kill first. In my opinion, Super Ornstein is easier to deal with than Super Smough, but it all comesdown to personal preference.
9
Gravelord Nito
Resurrect Once More
I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who don’t find Gravelord Nito that challenging. However, to a new player, Gravelord Nito can prove to be incredibly overwhelming and difficult.
Not only do you have to try to focus on killing the boss, but you have a horde of skeletons after you.
While Nito does destroy them in combat occasionally, they can very quickly overwhelm you and stagger you consistently, making it difficult to recover from the attacks. Plus, even if they die, it won’t be long before they pop back up, so respite is only temporary.
Killing Nito is incredibly rewarding, once you get past dealing with all of his minions.
8
The Four Kings
Here, There and Everywhere
The Four Kings aren’t inherently hard on their own merits, but when one becomes four, things become near impossible.
You have a set amount of time to kill one before another one spawns. If you aren’t doing enough damage, you can very quickly be overwhelmed by The Four Kings. Plus, no one tells you that four can become five or six if you really drag your heels. Not the most accurate name.
If you’re someone who doesn’t mind being a bit scummy, you can very easily equip Havel’s armor and tank most of the attacks with ease. You’ll move incredibly slowly, but it may make the fight just a bit easier for you if you find you’re struggling too much.
7
Knight Artorias, the Abysswalker
Please Stop Sliding
Defeating Artorias is a full-circle moment in Dark Souls, especially after killing Great Grey Wolf Sif. Reading through the lore and then experiencing this battle just adds to the heartbreak.
Moving on to the actual fight, it can be quite challenging. Artorias is incredibly agile and has a wide moveset that involves a lot of jumping, sliding, and sludge. It can be quite difficult to deal with and feel impossible to get a hit in at times.
Artorias possesses a lot of attacks that are similar, if not the same as Great Grey Wolf Sif, so enjoy that extra level of heartbreak.
6
Sir Alonne
The Old Iron King
While Dark Souls 2 is often looked down upon for a myriad of reasons, it is home to some truly amazing boss fights, with some incredible challenges.
One of these boss fights is Sir Alonne. Found in the Crown of the Old King DLC, the boss arena is stunning and provides a beautiful aesthetic while you’re getting pummeled into the ground.
Sir Alonne is quite an agile boss and can make it difficult to get an attack in when you spend most of your time dodging. However, it makes for great combat and a test of your patience.
Plus, if you beat Sir Alonne without taking damage, you get an extra special animation that you wouldn’t see otherwise.
5
Lud and Zallen, the King’s Pets
Where am I?
I will admit that a lot of my problem with the Lud and Zallen fight isn’t the boss fight itself; it is the run to the boss fight. I can’t even express how many times I got lost in the Frigid Outskirts trying to find this fight. It’s overwhelmingly difficult and will test your sanity much more than the fight will.
The battle against Lud and Zallen, the King’s Pets, is a challenge in itself, as you have to fight two agile animals that deal the same amount of damage as Aava, but now you have to deal with two of them!
You’d better hope that you remember the way to the boss arena or that you do it on the first try, because the runback will drain your sanity.
4
Fume Knight
Stop Swinging, Please
I have a mixture of strained and fond memories of battling the Fume Knight. A big part of the challenge was getting to the bottom of Brume Tower to be able to access the boss fight.
However, the Fume Knight poses a significant challenge and can be a major hurdle for many players. His attacks are brutal and will see your character on the floor. On top of that, you also have to deal with his Dark Flame attacks that come in the form of slashes and orbs.
Luckily, there are NPC summons for this fight, but just remember that it will make the fight more challenging in a lot of aspects.
3
Dancer of the Boreal Valley
Follow her Footsteps
Dancer of the Boreal Valley will always be one of my favorite boss fights across the franchise. She is so ethereal and delicate, but brutal and powerful all at the same time. Her boss music is enchanting, and her footsteps are in time with the music, which just makes it that much better.
The first initial phase of the fight isn’t too challenging, but phase two is when it really picks up. Pulling an extra sword out of the ground, adding extra damage to her twirling attacks.
Her moveset can be hard to keep up with, but it truly is a matter of dancing in battle with her to beat her.
Just make sure not to trigger the fight too early.
2
Sister Friede and Father Ariandel
Is it over yet?
This is another one of my favorite fights in Dark Souls 3. That being said, nothing can prepare you for the false sense of security you are lured into. Not just once, but twice.
Phase one is a challenge in itself, especially since she has the ability to inflict Frostbite as well as go invisible. Phase two amps it up significantly, as you have to deal with her same moveset, as well as Father Ariandel setting the place on fire and smashing stuff with a pot.
You think it’s over when you finally get an item and can breathe. However, that is far from true, and she gets back up again, and it’s even harder than before.
I love it and hate it all at the same time.
1
Slave Knight Gael
Why is this arena so darn big?
Slave Knight Gael is a phenomenal boss, especially since you’re introduced to him relatively early on in the Dark Souls 3 experience. You think that he is a harmless fellow, but he is far from it.
This fight is easily one of the coolest fights in the game, but also one of the hardest. Dark Souls 3 is home to many excruciating boss fights (looking at you, Pontiff Sulyvahn).
The arena is absolutely massive, and yet, you find yourself covering so much of it while fighting Slave Knight Gael. His attacks are incredibly fast and agile, and it only gets worse in phase two.
