Dark Souls 10th anniversary: celebrating the best Dark Souls bosses

Date:
Wed, 22 Sep 2021 19:00:00 +0000

Description:
Its hard to believe Dark Souls is now a decade old, but that wont stop us
from reminiscing about the hardcore action-RPGs most iconic boss encounters.

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Its quite hard to believe that Dark Souls is now a decade old. A true modern classic, this 2011 action-RPG reintroduced mainstream audiences to a devilishly old-school level of high difficulty, replete with danger-filled areas and monstrously hard boss encounters.

Developer From Software had been around since the mid 90s, pumping out ambitious, weird and ambitiously weird titles like the Armored Core and Kings Field series alongside cult classics such as Metal Wolf Chaos and Chromehounds. However, it was arguably 2009s Demons Souls that truly put the company on the map, before Dark Souls propelled it to household name status.

Following Dark Souls monumental success, From Software has since made a name for itself developing hardcore action-RPGs, including two Dark Souls sequels alongside Bloodborne , Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and the highly anticipated Elden Ring . Dark Souls 3 now runs at 60fps on Xbox Series X Waiting for
Elden Ring? Here are 10 games to tide you over until its 2022 release Elden Ring will include a free PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrade

However, its difficult to say if any of that wouldve been possible without
the transformative effect Dark Souls had. To this day, its still one of the best and most fondly remembered games in From Softwares back catalog. So to celebrate the games 10th anniversary, lets reminisce on some of the most iconic bosses that pushed our skills to the absolute limit. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Capra Demon

While it's not the first boss Dark Souls throws at you, the Capra Demon represented the games first big roadblock for many players. And the strangest part is that the boss itself isnt overly difficult. Rather its the arena you fight in and the company it keeps.

Upon stepping through the fog wall into the Capra Demons den, you have mere milliseconds to react to a pair of undead hounds that immediately charge toward you. That initial shock is usually backed up by the boss itself performing a deadly lunging attack that will deplete most of your health bar.

If you managed to survive that brutal introduction, youre then made keenly aware of just how tiny the Capra Demons arena really is. In essence, its a rectangular box with a set of stairs off to the side, which you can use to great advantage by running off to perform a jumping attack on the boss (while hopefully taking out one or both of the hounds in doing so).

The Capra Demon certainly isnt the hardest boss in Dark Souls, but it is a grim introduction into how the games level design can often serve to make bosses tougher than they need to be. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Gaping Dragon

After besting the Capra Demon and trawling through the miserable Depths,
youre met with one of the most grotesque creatures in the entire series. The Gaping Dragon is enormous, and can easily knock you off your feet with its claws, tail and exposed ribcage.

The Gaping Dragon was best dealt with by sticking to its rear, while attempting to chop off the tail to minimize the risk of getting hit. Its not
a foolproof strategy, however, as the creature possesses an ability to literally vomit corrosive bile which spreads to cover a substantial portion
of the arena.

Players needed to be sufficiently leveled up for this boss fight, as the Gaping Dragons health bar is as large as the creature itself. The boss does telegraph its attacks quite generously, which gave you a decent amount of
time to avoid them, but one slip-up was usually all it took for players to be sent back to the bonfire. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Chaos Witch Quelaag

Youve just descended through the treacherous Blighttown, one of the trickiest areas in the entire Dark Souls series, and trudged through the toxic swamp at its base. Whats waiting for you next is a fire-breathing human/spider hybrid. Yeah, it's not the prettiest place to be.

Arguably the most difficult boss at the point in the game you fight her,
Chaos Witch Quelaag guards the second of two Bells of Awakening needed to progress through to Dark Soulss second act: the trap-filled Sens Fortress and the glistening city of Anor Londo beyond.

Quelaags regular attacks arent too much of a pain to avoid, especially if youve gotten better at evading attacks thanks to your dodge rolls invincibility frames. However, her ability to breathe fire and spread lava across the floor of the arena can greatly diminish the areas you can safely move in. And without decent fire resistance, these attacks can chew through your health in no time flat. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Great Grey Wolf Sif

A boss thats as challenging as it is utterly heartbreaking, the fight against Sif taxes the player on so many levels. Sif wields the greatsword of his former master, whose grave he appears to be protecting from you.

This means that you should expect big, sweeping attacks that cover a deceptively large part of the arena, and knowing how to effectively dodge through attacks was key to victory in the fight against Sif, as his attacks with the greatsword drained tons of stamina when blocked with a shield.

However, arguably the most harrowing part of the fight against Sif was in having to put the poor dog down. When his health is extremely low, Sifs attacks become almost listless, and he starts limping helplessly around the arena. The scene is made even more impactful if you complete Dark Souls DLC expansion before fighting Sif, as the content gives you an opportunity to rescue Sif in the past, when he was just a wolf pup, something he remembers when he meets you again in the future.

Its a tragic sendoff to one of Dark Souls coolest bosses, and its goodest
boy. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Dragonslayer Ornstein & Executioner Smough

The guardians of the radiant city of Anor Londo, Ornstein and Smough
represent one of Dark Souls hardest challenges, and arguably its most iconic. Ornstein attempts to pin you down with his lightning spear and quick movements, while Smough charges in with his devastating hammer. Together, the pair make a brutally effective team while youre left scrambling for even the tiniest window to heal or get just one attack in.

When you do manage to take down one of these titans, however, the fights far from over. Progressing into phase two, the surviving warrior will drain the life force of the others remains, greatly powering themselves up in the process. If Ornstein is the remaining fighter, hell grow absurdly large and his attacks become even more powerful. If its Smough, his attacks are imbued with the lightning that made his partner such a threat.

Taking down both Ornstein and Smough is no small feat, especially if you manage to do it on your own with no players summoned for co-operative help. The pair dont go down without a serious fight, though, effectively
gatekeeping Dark Souls final act and one of its most useful items: the Lordvessel, which lets you warp between certain Bonfires. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Gravelord Nito

Gravelord Nito, the lord of the graves. Now theres a title that commands respect. And as a boss fight, hes no slouch, either. You fight Nito in the innermost depths of the Tomb of the Giants, and his appearance leaves a lasting impression. Essentially a mass of skeletons cloaked in a black robe, this bosss giant sword is also (predictably) made of sharp bones.

Nitos got more tricks up his sleeve than just that bony sword, though. He can use area-of-effect dark sorceries to keep you at a distance, while also summoning skeleton soldiers to do his dirty work for him.

While Nitos ghastly cool appearance is certainly his most iconic trait, the boss is very good at countering melee-based playstyles, meaning that you
might have to even the odds with your own sorceries or pyromancies if you
have any. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Gwyn, Lord of Cinder

In what would become something of a series tradition, the final boss of Dark Souls isnt actually its hardest, but its certainly its most poignant, thanks in large part to the melancholic piano melody that plays throughout the battle.

As the Lord of Cinder, Gwyn expectedly throws out fire-based attacks, most of which are with his flaming sword. But hes also got a nasty grab attack that can ruin your attempt if you dont give him the respect hes due.

Gwyn doesnt go down easy, but when he does, the fight becomes a reflective capstone on your journey through the dreary world of Lordran. The final
threat has been toppled, and all thats left to do is sacrifice yourself to continue Gwyns legacy, or snuff out the First Flame for good, ushering in a new Age of Dark. (Image credit: Bandai Namco) Knight Artorias

Theres a decent amount of bosses in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC for Dark Souls, most of which are stunningly difficult, hugely impressive set pieces. But its perhaps the DLCs namesake that provides the most memorable challenge not just in the expansion, but arguably the entire game.

Consumed by the Abyss, Artorias is ruthlessly quick on the draw, giving you barely any downtime between his onslaught of high-damage attacks. In fact, with such little time to attack or heal yourself, the Knight Artorias boss fight demands near-perfection from the player, a huge reason as to why the
DLC shouldnt be tackled until youre much further into the game.

Artorias himself exacerbates the whole process at half health, when he begins to desperately unleash everything he has to send you hurtling back to the
last bonfire you rested at. Besting the knight is one of Dark Souls toughest challenges, but oh-so rewarding when you manage to put him down for good. Roguelikes: how Spelunky, Dark Souls and Isaac made death matter again



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