Spanning a trilogy of challenging encounters, breathtaking locations, and incredibly complex characters, the Dark Souls series impresses even years after the final flame has extinguished, and despite the absence of the series itself, the characters burn brighter than ever in memory with the love for some of the best Dark Souls characters out there.
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Across the Dark Souls trilogy, fans have encountered and remembered some great characters who have truly tragic tales to them – characters who impress with their visual identity, voices, and their stories that make them forever memorable, even when faced with the concept of going hollow.
8
King Vendrick
A Once Noble King Who Sacrificed It All for His Kingdom
- Featured in: Dark Souls 2
- Voiced by: William Houston
King Vendrick was a conqueror who managed to slay the last giants, killing them for their strength and to become a step closer to fire itself and to bring Drangleic into a golden age. Yet, the curse of the undead was incurable, and it was only a matter of time before Drangleic fell, and King Vendrick would rot in a well-guarded prison to aimlessly wander until a hollow brave enough to battle him would retake the Throne of Want.
King Vendrick’s story is told through the past and the etchings he leaves behind with the many crowns players can seek, and it’s a fascinating one, even after his downfall from the Bearer of the Curse. King Vendrick might not be a hero to the story, but he’s certainly a hero of his own, and while he may be somewhat aware of the manipulation and dark desires of his wife, Nashandra, the fact that he locks himself away to halt her ultimate power shows that he seeks the right thing even after all his sin.
7
The Fire Keeper
A Woman Forcefully Bound to Duty Who Breaks Chains for New Fates
- Featured in: Dark Souls 3
- Voiced by: Oliva Mace
To be a Fire Keeper is essentially to be eternally punished. Stripped of eyes to see and forced into servitude to those who seek great souls for further power, the Fire Keeper doesn’t have much free will but to sit within Firelink Shrine and do whatever the Ashen One asks. That is, until she is given the Eyes of a Fire Keeper to see the world for what it truly is, and break the chains that bind her to a fate she couldn’t previously escape.
The Fire Keeper has raw power within her, and aiding her as she aids you provides an interesting character that will nurture champions through their quest, while also providing valuable insight into what should be done to fix the world, or let it die. It’s interesting to see a character born of servitude become one with understanding and goals.
6
Knight Lautrec
A Dangerous Knight Who Seeks the Embrace of Goddess Fina
- Featured in: Dark Souls
- Voiced by: Daniel Roberts/William Vanderpuye
Freeing Knight Lautrec from his cell in Undead Parish is something any noble hero would do, but it’s not until it’s too late that one discovers the treachery of this fiend, for Knight Lautrec is not an ally, but in actuality, a murderer who seeks to kill the Firekeepers so that he may impress the goddess he is utterly devoted to, Fina.
Knight Lautrec is a fanatic for his goddess, and his brass armor will rust with the blood of her enemies, killing all who stand in the way of her and the embrace he so seeks. His obsession is shown in his armor, as brass arms hold him close around the chest. This true fiend is a cunning personality, and his polite nature rots away to reveal something truly sinister and twisted.
5
Knight Artorias & the Great Gray Wolf Sif
Heroes, Swallowed by the Abyss in Immense Tragedy
Artorias and Sif are packaged deals, and these two are immensely loyal and loving to one another, as a man and his dog should be. Knight Artorias is one of the coolest characters in Dark Souls, and his fight against the dreaded abyss is one of hardship and tragedy, for even with his faithful wolf by his side, corruption eventually takes over, and this hero must live in his armor as a villain until his life is taken from him and he can move on.
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When it comes to Artorias’ loyal pup, Sif will do right by his master and his friend and watch over his grave for centuries if he has to. There is no dog more loyal than Sif, who will protect his master’s grave to prevent anyone from desecrating it, or worse, entering the abyss that claimed him all those years ago. Having to fight both of these heroes is immensely tragic, but it shows the dangers of the dark and duty.
4
Siegward of Catarina
The Large Onion-Shaped Knight with a Promise to Keep
- Featured in: Dark Souls 3
- Voiced by: Miles Richardson
It seems that every fellow that one meets from Catarina is as jolly as can be, and as heavy as can be. Siegward of Catarina continues this tradition with his onion shaped armor, which is why he’s often dubbed as the Onion Bro – a bro he is indeed, for Siegward is always willing to help players along their journey with his sword in his hand, a roaring spirit, and a love for a victory nap.
Siegward is very capable in battle and doesn’t need help, but it’s always nice to lend a hand, as he would do the same. What makes Siegward so memorable isn’t his love of sleep, toasting the player, or estus soup, but his devotion to a promise made years ago. Siegward’s quest involves fighting the behemoth, Yhorm the Giant, to stop this mad giant before more harm comes to the world. A small man taking on a giant with nothing but a sword and his spirit is as courageous as it gets.
3
Lucatiel of Mirrah
A Skilled Warrior, Fighting to Keep Her Memory
- Featured in: Dark Souls 2
- Voiced by: Sarah Beck Mather
Lucatiel of Mirrah holds one of the most tragic tales in the Dark Souls series, and she’s a woman of immense pride, who will aid the player in their mutual quest. While she likes to keep to herself, Lucatiel isn’t opposed to doing the right thing, even if the right thing involves intense bravery and hardship with her sword, all for the distinct goal of finding her brother before she goes hollow.
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Lucatiel may hide her fears under her mask, but she’s courageous enough to face them and death itself as she slowly rots and hollows to the undead curse. Finding Lucatiel is one of tragedy, as there’s no way to halt or slow her condition. Her memories will fade, and her time as an ally will be over soon, but she made the journey worthwhile for the time spent with her.
2
Patches
A Scheming Trickster Who Oozes Greed
- Featured in: Dark Souls, Dark Souls 3
- Voiced by: William Vanderpuye
Patches is certainly not trusty, as he so claims to be. This sometimes merchant, always scammer, is a man who sticks to himself with a grin and a squat, waiting for a passerby to give him the time of day so that he can potentially kill and rob them for their valuables, showcasing that even in the dying age of fire, man’s greed still persists.
Patches is incredibly gifted with his art of betrayal, and every time players run across Patches, they need to prepare for the worst, knowing that he’s going to eventually push them down into a pit whenever one is available. His trickster ways and charismatic attempts to get out of trouble when caught make him a hilarious addition that’s impossible to hate, especially when meeting his amnesiac self, Lapp.
1
Solaire of Astora
The Jolly Co-Operator, the First and Best Friend
- Featured in: Dark Souls
- Voiced by: Daniel Flynn
Solaire of Astora is the first hopeful and friendly face that players meet in Dark Souls, just after defeating the dreaded Taurus Demon in Undead Burg. Solaire immediately leaves a strong impression on players since he’s staring directly at the sun, perhaps for hours more if left unattended. Often dubbed by the community as ‘Sun Bro’, Solaire is a friendly and cheerful chap who boasts of his love for the Sun and provides insight into jolly co-operation with the White Sign Soapstone.
Solaire’s makeshift armor and drawn depiction of the Sun on his shield and chest prove his devotion, and his unwavering optimism helps to heal hearts through a perilous and dangerous journey. Yet, Solaire is capable of breaking the very hearts he heals when a Sunlight Maggot infects his desperation to become the Sun, yet helping Solaire will see this hero bound to his duty to the very end, where he can battle alongside players one last time against the final boss.