Summary
In the epic fantasy world of theDark Soulsgames, it’s no surprise that there are heaps of epic boss fights. As the games that pioneered an entire subgenre predicated on brutal boss fights, there’s an amazing selection to choose from.
Whether it’s lonely warriors standing sentinel at the end of time, or doomed loyal companions who await their master long after they’re gone, theDark Soulsgames are a rich tapestry for pathos-ridden fights to the death on the most epic scale possible. These arethe most epic boss fights in theDark Soulsseries.
ThoughDark Souls 2is a somewhat controversial entry into the canon, it still has itsfair share of epic bosses and powerful bosses. However, nestled away in theOld Iron KingDLC isSir Alonne, a warrior who traveled from an eastern land to pledge service to the Old Iron King.
Clearly inspired by samurai warriors, Sir Alonne is a boss like no other in theDark Soulsfranchise. Dishing out rapid fire attacks over a reflective floor, parrying the player’s attacks, and featuring a unique animation where he commits seppuku if the player defeats him without taking damage, Sir Alonne is a fearsome challenge that tests the very limits of what the player is capable of doing.
Though the Soul of Cinder is the true last boss ofDark Souls 3, Sister Friede is the last boss of the game’s first DLC, andshe lies at the heart of one of its hardest zones. Not only areSister Friede and Father Ariandelfearsome in their own right as a duo, but they have a surprising and devastating three-phase setup that puts them in the upper echelon ofSoulsbosses in toughness alone.
With the entire painted world burning down around the player, this fight has stakes of epic proportions. Freide’s first defeat awakens Ariandel, causing him to use his flame to revive her and make her an Unkindled, only for her to be defeated once again. Yet she rises a third time as the devastatingly-powerful Blackflame Freide.
Sifis one of the most famousDark Soulsbosses, and for good reason. The one-time companion of the legendary Knight Artorias, Sif the Great Grey Wolf guards his master’s grave many centuries later, wieldingone of the most powerful weapons in the game. Need we say more?
Apart from being a genuinely tragic ending for a beautiful and loyal animal, Sif is no joke, executing sweeping aerial strikes and attacking viciously. Paired with a tragic musical accompaniment, this fight takes on a near mythic tone, making it a shoo-in for one of the most epic fights in the series.
5The Nameless King
The Silent Stormlord
Regularly considered to be one of the hardest, if notthehardest boss in theDark Soulsseries,The Nameless Kingis an optional bosssecreted away in one of the best hidden areasnear the end ofDark Souls 3. His fight tests every aspect of a player’s ability, from blocking to dodging to buildcrafting.
Summoning the very power of the storms and fighting atop a dragon, The Nameless King is one of the most enigmatic bosses in the franchise, with a whirl of mystery in his lore dating back to the series' first game and potentially labeling him as Gwyn’s first son. It all culminates in an epic fight atop the clouds.
4Soul Of Cinder
It All Burns
Where some bosses in theDark Soulsfranchise are epic in appearance alone, theSoul of Cinderis actually a manifestation of the player-character from the first twoDark Soulsgames, as well as every other hero who ever linked the flame. That’s why Gwyn’s theme kicks in during phase 2.
That means the Soul of Cinder is literally the embodiment of countless mythic heroes in a single persona, fighting the player character ofDark Souls 3at the literal end of the world. In a game that already embodies fantasy apocalypse esthetics, the Soul of Cinder takes it to epic proportions, making it one of the most memorable fights of the entire series, andone of the most satisfying to conquer.
3Manus, Father Of The Abyss
The Dark Deep Below
Some fights in theDark Soulsfranchise have a tragic backstory that makes them genuinely sad to fight through, but that’s not so withManus, who lies inone of the best areas in the game. While there are many ways to think about Manus, sometimes it’s best to be straightforward: He is the embodiment of darkness in the lore and one of the most fearsome foes in the entire franchise.
That makes the fight self-evidently epic. The lone protagonist ofDark Soulsmust stand their ground in a pit of darkness against a God-like figure, withstanding bout after bout of brutal attacks, desperately hoping for the possibility of victory. It doesn’t get much more epic than that.
2Ornstein & Smough
The Terror Twins
On their surface,Ornstein and Smoughdon’t embody “epicness.” However, as every player ofDark Soulsknows, Ornstein and Smough are considered one of, if notthe hardest bosses in the entire game. That means that the encounter at the heart of Anor Londo comes to embody one of the biggest challenges the game ever throws at its players.
Paired with an epic orchestral score that’s scarred into the minds of many players, and a nail-biting second phase that tests a player’s patience and skill to their max, Ornstein and Smough have come to embody the epic and painfully difficultDark Soulsboss fight.
1Gwyn, Lord Of Cinder
The Source Of It All
Few bosses have the narrative weight behind them thatGwyn, Lord of Cinderdoes. The final boss ofDark Soulsis easily the most epic boss fight in the entire series. Gwyn is arguably the reason why the events ofDark Soulshappen at all, as he sacrifices his Lord Soul in an attempt to link the First Flame – turning himself Hollow in the process – in a desperate effort to prolong his Age of Fire.
With a quiet piano soundtrack that underscores the tragedy of the fight and an incredible moveset that communicates the sheer power of the old lord,Dark Soulslays all its cards out on the table with this final boss fight, one that epitomizes the emotions and epic nature ofSoulsgames attheir very best and most difficult.
