With From Software’s new game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, on the horizon, I thought it’s time we dove back into the wonderful, brutal world of the Dark Souls series (sorry, Andrew, this will be my last Souls article… for a while). As challenging as these games are, there’s no denying that they present some of the most jaw-dropping, memorable boss fights in all of gaming. From Software are masters at creating not only visually compelling battles, but superbly designed ones too. Whether it’s the decrepit amalgamation of nightmarish body parts or the rage of a mad king, there’s enough lore and detail in each boss to make them intriguing.

This list aims to look at the top 10 bosses across the Dark Souls series that have caught my attention, but most importantly, also left their mark on the gaming community. We’ll not only look at the designs of each boss, but how well the fight is designed, how the difficulty is balanced, and that feeling you got after overcoming a particularly brutal encounter. Let’s get one honourable mention out of the way first…

Honourable Mention
The Nameless King



I imagine that The Nameless King would rank higher up on many people’s lists, but on my first playthrough of Dark Souls 3, I completely missed this optional, climactic boss fight. It didn’t stop me from researching him, though, and lo and behold: he happens to be the true heir and firstborn to the first game’s antagonist, Gwyn (well, according to Souls lore speculations anyway). There’s no denying the scope of the battle either, taking place on misty plains with nothing but you and The Nameless King – and his pet stormdrake. The fight is broken into two phases; the first with the King riding on the dragon, while the second has you squaring off with him on equal footing. It’s a fantastically designed boss battle that’s also a fittingly epic finale to the trilogy. Well, that is if you don’t count…

10. Soul of Cinder



The Soul of Cinder is the true final boss of Dark Souls 3, and the final boss of the entire trilogy (excluding the DLC). Soul of Cinder isn’t particularly memorable in his design, but it’s his movesets and beautiful setting that really gives the game – and entire series – a sense of finality. The bosses moves consists of various styles across the Dark Souls series, including Gwyn’s aggressive attack patterns, magic usage, and a lot more that I won’t spoil. The best part about the fight is getting accustomed to each style as he switches it up randomly, meaning that no two people will have the same experience with the boss (May RNG be on your side). Soul of Cinder can either tip the scales to be ridiculously easy, or insanely difficult. His unpredictability makes him a perfect boss to end the series on a high note.

9. Sir Alonne



Featured in the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC for Dark Souls 2, Sir Alonne is a humanoid boss fight done right (one major problem that held Dark Souls 2 back was its inclusion of several humanoid boss battles as opposed to grotesque creatures of your nightmares). The fight takes place in a grand empty room, and relies on players’ quick reflexes and skills. Sir Alonne is no slouch either, as his combat style is directly lifted from traditional Japanese samurai, meaning lightning fast blows and defensive retreats that will get on your nerves if you don’t time your counters properly. It’s the only samurai-themed fight in the series, and boy does it do a good job of making you feel like you’re taking on a trained Japanese combatant. Come out victorious, and the rush of success makes you feel like you’ve truly earned it.

8. Oceiros, The Consumed King



In terms of dialogue, Oceiros, The Consume King is hands down my favourite boss in the series. Very few Dark Souls bosses talk during their fights, but Oceiros spews interesting lore and a tragic backstory that’s not immediately clear from the get-go. It may seem like the ramblings of a mad man – or mad man/monster hybrid – but Oceiros gives us some of the most iconic lines in all of Dark Souls. Who could forget him frustratingly yelling “Ocelotte!” and “ignorant slaves.” I highly recommend you look into Oceiros’ lore as this makes him one of the most tragic characters in the whole series, but the fight itself is also marvelous. His animalistic design makes him extremely quick on his feet and can combo-rush you in the blink of an eye. It’s best not to sneeze while fighting this guy.

7. Looking Glass Knight



My personal favourite boss from Dark Souls 2, the Looking Glass Knight is epic in every sense of the word. You fight this towering knight high above the stormy rooftops of Drangleic Castle, the final area in the main game before taking on the last boss. While his lore is almost void of any substance, the design of this fight is incredible. The arena you fight him on is a destroyed rooftop with a fierce thunderstorm crackling above you; meanwhile a booming orchestra assaults your ears. The Knight carries a large sword and even larger mirror shield that’s used to summon other players to fight alongside him, adding a lot more challenge to a fight already filled with sensory overload. You’ll have an easier time if you aren’t connected online, but the Looking Glass Knight will still easily punish careless players who aren’t good with telegraphing attacks.

6. Four Kings



The Four Kings are some of the best designed, most unnerving bosses in Dark Souls. You fight them in an empty black void called the Abyss, meaning there’s no way of actually knowing your bearings. The only way to fight them is to be as aggressive and relentless as possible, going against everything the game has taught you about being tactical. The fact that you only have half a minute to take out one King before another shows up gives this battle a staggering sense of urgency; one second wasted results in you easily being overwhelmed. It’s the first (and only) boss fight in Dark Souls that throws caution to the wind, and it’s an adrenaline rush like no other.

5. Great Grey Wolf Sif



Another tragic boss fight on this list and probably the most iconic in the Dark Souls franchise, Great Grey Wolf Sif packs a punch in the lore department while also being a mesmerizing – but not insanely difficult – boss battle. If you’re familiar with the backstory of Sif and his master, Artorias, before attempting this fight, it makes each blow so much more devastating to deliver to the faithful canine. The fact that he wields Artorias’ abnormally large sword with his mouth is an unforgettable image, and one that resonates with every gamer familiar with fantasy-RPG video games. Putting down Sif is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, not because the battle itself is hard, but because it emotionally destroys you. If you get him down to 90% of his health, he starts limping towards you, whimpering and crying. Damn you, From Software! Stop chopping onions in my room.

4. Abyss Watchers



For sheer ingenuity alone, the Abyss Watchers makes the top 5. One of the most memorable bosses in Dark Souls 3, the Abyss Watchers is basically the evolution of the Four Kings. In the first phase of the fight, you’ll only encounter one Watcher, but after 20 seconds, another enters the battle – but he doesn’t fight you. Instead, the second Watcher surprisingly aids you in fighting the first one, and for a while, you feel pretty empowered fighting alongside another boss. Eventually, when you do take out the first Watcher, the second one who helped you turns his attention on you, and it’s a much tougher ensuing fight. The lore behind these fellows is also amazing, and if you’re willing to sift through the item descriptions to find all of it (or take the easy way out and watch a " class="general_link" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" >VaatiVidya video), then you’ll walk away knowing you just encountered something special.

3. Ornstein and Smough



Here they are, the great killers of motivations to continue playing Dark Souls; Ornstein and Smough. Arguably the hardest boss fight in gaming history, Ornstein and Smough are a notoriously challenging duo. Their fighting styles – Ornstein being quick and nimble, while Smough is slow and hits like a highway full of trucks – perfectly complement each other, forcing players to be light on their feet and smart with their strategies. I died more times to Ornstein and Smough than I can count, but when I did finally take out the ruthless guardians of Anor Londo, the overwhelming feeling of triumphant victory reminded me why I adore this series so much.

2. Dancer of the Boreal Valley



Let’s just get it out of the way; Dark Souls 3’s Dancer of the Boreal Valley is, aesthetically, the coolest boss From Software has ever designed. As her title suggests, this imposingly tall boss combines dancing with her dual sword fighting style, creating a fight that’s more akin to a dark fantasy dance-off. You’ll still be doing a lot of dodging as her attacks can span a wide range in 360 degrees. It’s the perfect example of balancing a great challenge with visual spectacle; something that From Software tends to nail with their boss fights. The Dancer tops the lists of many Dark Souls 3 bosses, and it’s easy to see why.


Knight Artorias



Artorias of the Abyss might be the most recognizable figure in Dark Souls lore, simply because his personal story is so damn captivating. Once an honourable member of the Four Knights of Gwyn, Artorias’ heroic tendencies led him to investigate the mysterious Abyss that’s been claiming people’s lives. Sadly, in an attempt to save his puppy, Sif, Artorias spares his canine’s life as he succumbs to the Abyss, becoming another pawn of the overlord, Manus. In the DLC for the first Dark Souls, Artorias of the Abyss, your job is to finally put the once upstanding knight to rest; it culminates in a battle with plenty of high stakes.

Artorias is maddeningly difficult, and I only recommend more experienced players take him on, but once you study his vast attack patterns, the fight turns into an epic duel between two skilled combatants that makes you feel like you’re a part of The Lord of The Rings. Knight Artorias is hands down the best boss fight in the Dark Souls series, and one that solidifies the franchise in the great halls of gaming history.

There you have it! Ten of the most amazing boss fights in the Dark Souls trilogy. What’s your personal favourite? Comment down below.