Dark Souls has staked its claim to the boss battle throne ever since its debut in 2011, not counting 2009’s Demon’s Souls, with fans hotly debating what the best bosses in the series are. With over 70 possible choices, it’s easy to see why the crown tends to change hands so much. However, the often forgotten bosses of the series are those that players aren’t forced to take on.
With so many retries already going into the main storyline, it’s no surprise that some players try and avoid as many of the grueling struggles as possible. Missing out on some of the best fights in the games, players have to work to get to these enemies. Some hold coveted rewards and massive soul bounties while others just provide a step up in competition, nevertheless delivering some of the finest Dark Souls content in the game.
10 Dark Sun Gwyndolin
One of the best-hidden bosses in the game, players will have to specifically search Anor Londo’s Darkmoon Tomb bonfire if they want to battle. The fight almost exclusively takes place at long range so fire up the bows and magic, otherwise players will be stuck chasing Gwyndolin the whole fight.
The most vital piece of gear would be high magic resistance, nullifying the main attack and opening up the boss. Victory doesn’t come without a price, placing a permanent sin on the player and constantly at the mercy of a Blade Of The Dark Moon attack. The rewards are well worth the cost, unlocking the Sunlight Blade Miracle and Gwyndolin’s armor in return.
9 Hydra
At the end of Darkroot Basin lies this unholy beast, being forced to defeat four golems before even getting to the fight. The first thing to watch out for is a water projectile, as all of the Hydra’s seven heads can fire extremely long-range missiles.
The easiest way to take it down is by standing in the shallows of the lake, forcing it to use the head strike instead of the projectile. It leaves itself wide open after it strikes, slowly cutting off heads until the hydra’s defeated. The 5000 souls and Dragon weapon upgrades make the battle well worth the trip.
8 Hellkite Dragon
A strong enemy for the early game, the Hellkite Dragon defends the bridge. If players have lightweight and make it to the center of the bridge, there’s a small area to the right where a shortcut lies, dodging the wyvern’s breath and skipping the fight.
Players should use a bow to agitate the dragon then hack behind its claws upon landing, a strong enough weapon should stop it on the second or third attempt. Players should aim for the tail and sever it before the end, looting the Drake Sword and acquiring a powerful weapon to move forward with.
7 Smelter Demon
The Smelter Demon is the first boss available in The Iron Keep and one of the first difficulty jumps in the game. This leads many fans to dismiss the boss due to frustration, that and the path to him is one of the most arduous parts of Dark Souls 2.
The dodge and roll technique is key in this fight, as the Smelter Demon is highly mobile and deals more damage than players can handle if they fight right away. Magic attacks are recommended and fire-resistant gear is mandatory, especially when the Smelter Demon stokes the fire and becomes even stronger.
6 Taurus Demon
A real lesson in level design, the Taurus Demon is a heavy hitter that players have to fight in a very enclosed space. Turning what would usually be a race to get behind its back into a timing challenge and a great challenge of skill.
One of the biggest issues players run into is the Taurus Demon’s ability to close distance, forcing perfectly timed dodges. It’s extremely vulnerable to lightning damage and plunging attacks from the top will give a healthy lead to whoever pulls it off.
5 Flexile Sentry
Found on the lower deck of the pirate ship, the Flexile Sentry provides a varied attack that can throw some players off. On top of the rotating styles, the room is also filling with water, impeding movement.
Too much movement can be dangerous in this fight anyway, running the risk of rolling right into the opposing side of the boss. Players should take advantage when the Flexile Sentry’s spiked club side attacks as it’s much slower and easy to predict. Once beaten, the warped sword is a fast and powerful weapon that can make things much easier for the player.
4 Darklurker
Darklurker is another great boss fight that’s marred by the long and unnecessarily difficult path that leads up to it. Requiring a human effigy to attempt it, those that struggle will be wasting resources as well.
Unless players are using lightning or fire melee weapons, it’s best to stick to magic and ranged attacks. At a certain point, the boss will split and become a bit of a handful. Sorcery is the best option for spread damage.
3 The Pursuer
This boss splits the fanbase in half, with some thinking that he has simple mechanics and the others raging at the mere sight of him. The Pursuer is a test of how many mechanics the player has mastered, making or breaking the fight.
Effective dodging and an eye for pattern recognition are all that’s really needed. Once the Pursuer is conquered, his Ultra Greatsword is one of the heaviest hitting weapons in Dark Souls 2 that scales as the player levels up.
2 Nameless Kingdom
Riding a very dangerous wyvern into battle, the Nameless King is the master of battle dynamics. Changing strengths, weaknesses, and attack styles throughout the battle, players tend to get lost in the sauce along the way.
The Nameless King goes from being weak to resistant to lightning damage and the reverse is true for fire. The king cannot be countered but he can be staggered and riposted for a big hit. The camera gets a little reckless in this fight so players should try to refrain from locking on as much as possible.
1 Champion Gundyr
Iudex Gundyr is the tutorial boss in Dark Souls 3, but a more powerful version can be found in the Untended Graves. This enemy is known as Champion Gundyr.
It’s only when phase 2 begins that players get to see Champion Gundyr’s true form. The boss will run long combinations that will confuse and heavily damage the player. While it will probably take most players a few attempts, once some light forms at the end of the tunnel, Champion Gundyr’s intricate battle mechanics become a joy to fight against.
NEXT: Dark Souls 3: 15 Best Strength Weapons
