Best Boss Fights In Dark Souls With Multiple Phases, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Dark Souls boss fights feature intense multiphase encounters that challenge players to adapt to new tactics.
• Notable bosses like Iudex Gundyr and Sister Friede keep players on their toes with unexpected twists in battle.
• Players must strategize and execute precise dodges and attacks to overcome the powerful bosses in the series.

The release of Dark Souls allowed players to enjoy a series with some of the best boss fights in gaming. The sheer number of epic encounters in the series is mind-boggling as players put it all on the line to defeat a fearsome foe and make progress.

Some boss fights in the series have an ace or two up their sleeve when players deplete their health up to a certain point. These multiphase boss fights will get a player’s adrenaline pumping in no time as they figure out the best way possible to survive such a hellish encounter.

8 Iudex Gundyr

Intimidates Players With His Transformation

• Appears In:Dark Souls 3
• Number of Phases: 2

In typical Dark Souls fashion, the third game in the series opens early on with a boss fight that has two phases. Iudex Gundyr seems like a manageable boss until it transforms into a grotesque abomination that’s wilder and more aggressive than before.

Most Dark Souls veterans will be able to manage the second phase, but newcomers may find it tricky to read his attacks when most of his form is covered by the black mass distorting his being. It sets the tone for Dark Souls 3‘s fast-paced boss fights, where staying passive isn’t a viable strategy anymore.

7 Burnt Ivory King

Starts As A Chaotic Gank Fight Before The King Steps Into The Picture

• Appears In:Dark Souls 2
• Number of Phases: 2

Dark Souls 2 is known for featuring many multi-enemy boss fights, but players still give the Burnt Ivory King a pass. This is because the DLC boss encounter involves a fun mechanic where players must enter the boss arena with at least three knights to seal a portal summoning an endless horde of charred enemies.

If players come up short here, then the fight against the Burnt Ivory King can be a pain to deal with. The boss is tough enough as it is, even without having to worry about other enemies that can catch the Bearer of the Curse unawares.

6 Fume Knight

Two Challenging Phases That Can Smash Players To Smithereens

• Appears In:Dark Souls 2
• Number of Phases: 2

The DLC of Dark Souls 2 features some of its most epic and challenging boss fights, and the Fume Knight is no exception here. The battle starts with the boss dual-wielding a greatsword and longsword before getting down to business.

When the swords merge to form an ultra-greatsword wreathed in dark flame, that’s when players should be worried. Immaculate dodging and using attack windows wisely is a must to ensure that players don’t rack up too many deaths in Fume Knight’s second phase.

5 Abyss Watchers

The First Phase Can Be Dealt With Passively, But The Second Half Is Challenging

• Appears In:Dark Souls 3
• Number of Phases: 2

A unique boss fight that shows how Artorias’ knights have succumbed to madness, the Abyss Watchers encounter is both epic and tragic. At the start of this fight, Abyss Watchers will spawn continuously and fight each other, allowing players to be more passive in this phase.

However, Phase 2 is where things get real. A single Abyss Watcher will home in on the player with a fiery sword that can hit for serious damage. Immaculate dodges and swift attacks are a must to deal damage without being caught out by this boss’ unpredictable moveset.

4 The Nameless King

A Tough, Cinematic Boss Who Must Be Unseated From His Dragon

• Appears In:Dark Souls 3
• Number of Phases: 2

Despite being an optional boss, The Nameless King is a central part of Dark Souls lore and is one of the toughest bosses in the third game. This is evident from the moment this figure comes riding a dragon, known to players as the mysterious King of the Storm.

It’s only after unseating this boss from its mount that the true fight begins against The Nameless King. His lightning-fueled attacks are no joke and can wipe out players in no time. Swift flurries and well-timed dodges are a must to keep up with this boss’ pace and defeat the exiled firstborn of Gwyn.

3 Sister Friede

Three Phases Of Pure, Unadulterated Adrenaline

• Appears In:Dark Souls 3
• Number of Phases: 3

Ashes of Ariandel may not be FromSoftware’s best DLC, but fans believe that this experience is redeemed by one of the greatest multiphase boss fights in the series’ history. Players must face off against Sister Friede, who has charmed Ariandel to her cause.

This cauldron-wielding behemoth joins the fight when Friede is pushed against the ropes, but defeating the duo isn’t enough to win the fight. After an ominous wait, Darkflame Friede jumps into the battle and forces players to bring out their A-game to defeat one of the most epic bosses in the trilogy.

2 Slave Knight Gael

A Great Farewell To The Dark Souls Series

• Appears In:Dark Souls 3
• Number of Phases: 3

The Ringed City served as a return to form for the DLC of the third and final game, letting players explore a cursed city with a ton of fun equipment and some of the toughest enemies in the game. Darkeater Midir is a pain to deal with, but the cinematic spectacle fans want from the final chapter of the Dark Souls trilogy will find Slave Knight Gael to be a worthy encounter.

The first phase is manageable until Gael turns Hollow and becomes a nightmare to deal with. Players must avoid his fast-paced attacks and keep up their aggression, but they must be wary of a fight-ending attack in the third phase. In this phase, the boss launches several homing projectiles that can take out the Ashen One for good if they don’t time their dodge properly.

1 Ornstein & Smough

The Surviving Foe Transforms Into A Tougher Variant

• Appears In:Dark Souls
• Number of Phases: 2 (The second phase differs based on who survives)

A boss fight that fans can’t stop raving about to this day, Ornstein & Smough is a dual boss fight that tested everything players had learned about the game up till that point. Both fighters compliment each other’s movesets brilliantly, and there’s another surprise in store for players who whittle down one fighter’s health to 0.

At this point, the surviving boss absorbs their friend’s power, increasing in size and boasting stronger attacks than ever before. Players must run for their lives and attack only when a window presents itself. Both Super Ornstein and Super Smough are tough cookies to crack, but most players prefer the latter since he’s slower and can be easier to read, unlike his Dragonslayer brethren.

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  Released

  September 22, 2011

  OpenCritic Rating

  Mighty

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  Released

  March 11, 2014

  OpenCritic Rating

  Mighty

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  Released

  March 24, 2016

  OpenCritic Rating

  Mighty