Dark Souls Bosses That Are Only Difficult The First Time You Fight Them

Key Takeaways

• Dark Souls emphasizes gameplay over graphics, challenging players to succeed.
• Boss strategies vary, requiring players to adapt and learn game mechanics.
• The Dark Souls series’ bosses demand patience and skill, rewarding players who persevere.

Dark Souls is one of the greatest video games ever made. It shows mainstream gaming how important it is for titles to promote stellar gameplay over everything else and treat players like adults by challenging them. The juicy lore tidbits set the stage for FromSoftware to capitalize on this series’ success and let gamers enjoy a trilogy for the ages.

Each game in the Dark Souls series is a blast to play, featuring its fair share of challenging bosses that can be a nightmare to deal with. However, players familiar with these games will know the tricks needed to defeat bosses that may give first-timers a hard time.

8 Asylum Demon (Dark Souls)

A Tutorial Boss That Seems Impossible Until Players Know What To Do

The player’s first encounter with the Asylum Demon is a memorable one, with a broken weapon doing barely any damage against this intimidating foe. What players won’t be aware of, however, is that they need to avoid this boss and go through a small doorway first, finding a decent set of equipment before taking it on properly.

Players are taught the plunging attack technique, which can make short work of a boss that seemed impossible the first time around. Veterans can come equipped with the Black Firebombs to deplete the boss’s health in a flash the first time around, acquiring the powerful Demon’s Great Hammer in the process.

7 Ornstein And Smough (Dark Souls)

A Notorious Boss That Becomes Easier To Deal With For Veterans

Anor Londo is one of the best locations in Dark Souls, with this royal area being a joy to explore as players make their way through a location populated with tough enemies and Silver Knights that snipe the Chosen Undead from afar. However, the difficulty of this area pales in comparison to the boss fight players must deal with here.

Dragonslayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough are two of the toughest foes that Dark Souls players can face. Taking out one foe leads to the other becoming stronger and restoring its health, but those who are skilled at this game can time their dodges in the first phase and ensure that Smough is the survivor in Phase 2, since his super-powered version is easier to handle than Ornstein’s.

6 Bell Gargoyles (Dark Souls)

The Addition Of A Second Gargoyle Can Throw Players Off Their Rhythm If They Don’t Expect It

One of the first boss fights in the game that is bound to give players a tough time, those who want to ring the bells that open the gate to Anor Londo must deal with the two gargoyles that stand in their way. The one-on-one battle is relatively manageable, but things take a turn for the worse when players are forced to take on two gargoyles at the same time.

Thankfully, this fight is easier for those who are adept at handling multi-enemy encounters in Dark Souls. Effective dodging and quick attacks are key to victory in this challenging boss fight.

5 Throne Watcher And Throne Defender (Dark Souls 2)

Players Who Know The Trick To This Boss Will Waste No Time Depleting Both Their Health Bars

Dark Souls 2 is home to a vast assortment of bosses, and not all of them hit the mark. The Throne Watcher and Defender duo has split fans down the middle, especially since a player’s first encounter with these foes is nothing short of frustrating if they don’t know what they’re in for.

If players focus on one enemy throughout this boss fight, then they’ll be left fuming when the foe they’ve downed comes back with full health. Instead, players must manage the health bars of both opponents and kill them quickly one after the other to prevent this resurrection mechanic from coming into play.

4 Mytha, The Baneful Queen (Dark Souls 2)

Draining The Poison And Learning The Fight Makes This Boss Fight Simpler To Deal With

Mytha, the Baneful Queen can be a huge pain for those who didn’t know they could drain this boss arena’s poison before beginning the battle. Dealing with diminishing health while going up against a boss who slowly regenerates her health in this toxic pool is nothing short of frustrating.

Players must set fire to the windmill opposite the Central Earthen Peak bonfire to remove this pool of poison. This ensures that the boss fight isn’t impossible, with a few well-timed dodges and capitalizing on attack windows being just enough for players to take out this foe with relative ease.

3 Pontiff Sulyvahn (Dark Souls 3)

A Flashy, Challenging Boss Who Is More Doable Once Players Know What To Do

Dark Souls 3‘s fast-paced combat system means that players used to being passive in combat will have a hard time in this game. For what it’s worth, a conservative playstyle isn’t the worst idea in the world, but players will be singing a different tune after taking on Pontiff Sulyvahn in battle.

His magical moveset and impressive speed make him an overbearing boss to deal with for those who hang back instead of jumping into the fray. The best way to deal with this boss is to match his aggressive pace, and this is something that Dark Souls 3 veterans are great at.

2 Abyss Watchers (Dark Souls 3)

Letting The Abyss Watchers Beat Themselves Up Makes The Encounter More Manageable

The battle against the Abyss Watchers makes for one of the most cinematic encounters in the entire series, coming after players traverse the classic poison area present in most FromSoftware titles. Those unfamiliar with this boss may find it challenging to take the respawning Abyss Watchers on in the first phase.

However, after players get accustomed to the pace of this fight, they’ll realize that the Watchers have lost their minds and are fighting against each other. This makes it viable for players to let these enemies take each other out before the second phase kicks in, where players will be forced to get serious.

1 Dancer Of The Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3)

Players Who Remember This Boss’ Moveset Can Time Their Dodges To Perfection

One of the most infamous boss fights in the Dark Souls trilogy that takes no prisoners, the Dancer of the Boreal Valley is no joke. This enemy makes quick work of the Ashen One by hacking them to bits with its flowing combos.

Players who know how relentless the Dancer’s combos are can manage their stamina accordingly, choosing to deplete it only when they have to dodge the incessant combos thrown their way. It’s a tough fight, but players who don’t get too greedy with their attacks and are well-versed with the Dancer’s moveset can take her out in successive attempts with ease.