The Top Ten Bosses in Dark Souls 3

Dark Souls III continues the tradition of epic, fantastical boss fights that are challenging, interesting, and never disappoint. I enjoyed every boss in the game but some certainly stood out more than their contemporaries. I'll start out this out by listing the bosses that didn't make it onto my list in the order of my least favorite to my most. I'll say a few passing remarks but won't go into detail as I will with the top ten.  Check me out at www.twitch.tv/xtravesty0690x SPOILERS AHEAD.

19. Deacons of the Deep

This boss was pretty easily my least favorite of Dark Souls 3. For a mob boss, I think that it's a decent fight but I don't really like these sorts of battles. It was painfully obviously who I had to strike to beat the boss and while I really enjoyed the fact that when I hit a fatty in the crowd, they sprawled out and knocked back their compadres, it still didn't have enough of that excitement that the rest of the boss fights provide.

18. Crystal Sage 

First of all, I'll say that the boss does look pretty cool with the flowing, dilapidated robes and the massive hat that swathes the face in darkness. With that being said, this was probably the least dangerous fight in the game as you simply run up to the creature and hit him with whatever you have. Even after he splits, you can tell instantly that the one you have to kill is the one shooting purple crystals at you.

17. Judex Gundyr 

While not really the fault of old Judex Gundyr, the first boss of Souls games are not typically challenging to a souls veteran.  To new players, I'm certain this guy puts up quite a fight. Nonetheless I'm not new and he didn't. Still the transformation halfway through quickens the pulse and demands your attention because he will beat you to death if you're not careful.

16. Ancient Wyvern 

At this point in the list, we get to start seeing all the bosses that narrowly didn't make my top ten. Ancient Wyvern presents an interesting choice because it simply isn't really a boss. It's more of a level hazard and, in that way, it's fantastic. I loved the feeling of dodging this guys fire while luring the other enemies into its line-of-sight. But as a boss, it's not really on par with the enemies you actually have to fight.

15. Oceiros, the Consumed King 

Oceiros, the Consumed King is the only boss that speaks during the course of the game and from a lore perspective, he's quite interesting. The fight itself is quick and relentless and Oceiros changes his tactics halfway through making it all the better. However, his attacks never really registered enough damage. I'm not sure if I was overpowered for that area but I never really felt fearful for my life during the fight which is essential to the best bosses.

14. Vordt of the Boreal Valley 

Vordt certainly looks the part as dangerous threshold guardian to the wider world of Lothric and, in some senses, he delivers. His mad rushes provide for some genuine thrills as you attempt to dodge them and the weight with which he slams his mace certainly feels intimidating. Nonetheless, Vordt's slow enough and weak enough that any practiced hand at Dark Souls will fell him with little trouble.

13. Yhorm the Giant 

EDIT: So, apparently, my first encounter with Yhorm glitched much like Bloodborne's bosses did in the first build. The first time I fought Yhorm, he never became enraged and never lit on fire. His explosion AoE attacks and his hugely ranged Jack-from-Lost punches made the fight far more interesting. I stand by my original statement of the boss feeling slightly lazy for reusing the same gimmick and that it's not an overwhelmingly difficult fight but I had a lot more fun fighting him and he actually did kill me. You can see my original statements (without enrage mode) below.

Undoubtedly, Yhorm the Giant was the most disappointing boss in Dark Souls 3 especially given his prominence in the opening sequence. Generally, I don't particularly mind gimmick fights if they're well constructed and interesting but, honestly, reusing the same gimmick from Demon's Souls felt pretty lazy. The boss initially comes across as interesting and difficult but as soon as you pick up Storm Ruler, it snuffs out the challenge of the fight instantly. The one cool thing about this fight is that it's the conclusion of an NPC storyline that feels pretty awesome and is the single thing that elevates this boss.

12. Dragonslayer Armour 

At the top of Lothric Castle, you'll face a familiar set of animated armor plus a massive greatshield. It was around this point in the game where I was hoping for more than a large humanoid creature to battle but still, the fight had enough quirks to make it interesting and enough danger to make it exciting. Having the giant, moth-like creatures (what the hell are those anyway) shoot blasts of dark at the battlefield was exciting and changed the battle's dynamic.

11. Old Demon King

Old Demon King almost made the top ten as I truly enjoyed the battle with him but went with ingenuity over a solid but dated standard. The piled corpses of demons fought in the past makes a great backdrop to this optional fight. The Old Demon King provides a consistently fun and dangerous battle that ramps up throughout the course of the engagement. Still, the design is a bit derivative and feels similar to much the Souls community has faced in the past.

10. Curse-Rotted Greatwood

Link: http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Curse-Rotted+Greatwood

Curse-Rotted Greatwood may be a contentious pick for this list as I have heard that many players did not enjoy this fight as much as I did. I believe that part of that was the fact that I had not seen any gameplay of this monstrosity other than a few quick glimpses in trailers. Nonetheless, I personally had a blast when fighting this beast. Yes, it's partially a gimmick fight but excitement of figuring out that gimmick and the sheer terror when that thing rolls at you are great moments that got my blood flowing. The entire area exudes atmosphere with villagers mindless worshipping a seemingly harmless tree, the flowers carpeting the ground, and even the big moment when the Greatwood smashes open the floor and you descend to entirely new arena. Even searching for the herpes bubbles to pop is exciting as you maneuver around the flailing arms of the boss. I truly enjoy when something provides me a new interesting, experience and the Curse-Rotted Greatwood did exactly that.

9. Lothric, Younger Prince

Link: http://twinfinite.net

As the penultimate boss of the main storyline, Lothric, Younger Prince alongside his older brother Lorian provide a healthy test to the player, demanding twitch reflexes and the ability to correctly identify the tell tale signs of each attack in a microsecond time frame. Most of this is due to the teleporting attacks done by the older brother where he'll wind up for an attack across the map and then spawn next to you to deliver it. Misreading one of the signs leads to swift defeat. One of his attacks, a downward slash that erupts in a corridor of light, one-shotted me more than any other attack in the entire game including the Dancer's deadly grab. Once the boss moves into his second phase, Lothric descends to resurrect his recently decease brother and then latches onto his back to fling magic at you while you deal with the vicious swipes from his brother. Despite being yet another 'giant guy with a big sword', the variance in his attacks and the interesting second phase land him a spot on this list.

8. Soul of Cinder

Link: Fextralife Dark Souls 3 Soul of Cinder

How interesting that From Software chose to use the image of the final boss as the box art for their game. By the end of the game, I had completely forgotten about the epic set of armor seen in almost all of the promotional material for the game. But, boy did this guy remind me. It comes as bit of relief to me that Soul of Cinder offers a genuine challenge to end the game as opposed to the pushover that was Nashandra from Dark Souls 2 and, to a lesser extent, Gwyn from the original game. Soul of Cinder's move set is vast and can be a challenge to become acquainted with. Switching between four distinct transformations during just the first phase of the fight, each one emblematic of each type of character that has defeated the lord of cinder, he becomes a mage, a cleric, a strength build, and a dexterity build. Then he fills his health bar (a mechanic I'm actually not in love with) and channels the essence of the former Lord of Cinder: Gwyn. Despite my misgivings about him gaining all his health back (why not just have all the health in one bar. The mechanic made sense in the Lothric and the Watchers fight as something fundamentally changed but here it just doesn't feel right. In turn, this is probably why Soul of Cinder ranks lower than Gundyr and Wolnir), his second phase thrilled me on multiple levels. Hearing the sad chords of Gywn's boss fight from the original game interspersed in the booming score gave me a rush of nostalgia and made the whole fight feel bittersweet particularly if this is indeed the last Souls game we'll see. Soul of Cinder also adopted some of the old lord's moves and they remain challenging to this day (parrying notwithstanding). Soul of Cinder ended the game on a high note with the right amount of challenge and introspection.

7. Champion Gundyr

http://www.zam.com/article/357/how-to-beat-champion-gundyr-in-dark-souls-iii

So, you thought that squirming mass of dark made me more dangerous? You haven't seen nothing yet. These are the words I imagine Gundyr saying at the start of this fight. Much more than a rehashing of the games first boss, Champion Gundyr breaks your expectations and your resolve quickly and without mercy.  As one of the games most challenging encounters, Gundyr swings his halberd around like it's a toothpick chipping away your stamina whether your blocking or desperately rolling.  The first phase is fairly manageable but once you get him below half health, his eyes light up with crimson glee and his moveset expands considerably making him vastly more agile. Punishing those without the patience to wait out an attack string, he is one formidable S.O.B. Just remember going in, this is NOT the same guy you fought before.

6. High Lord Wolnir

Link: http://www.zam.com/article/367/how-to-beat-high-lord-wolnir-in-dark-souls-iii

Talk about an entrance. Wow, watching this guy's massive, crowned skeleton face come into startling view remains as one of the best moments of the game. Immediately, it puts you on the back foot as he claws his way toward you. As you desperately smack away at gaudy jewelry, he summons the 'no seriously, I'm going to kill you' skeletons en masse to come destroy you. If he's not summoning from the bonezone (a nickname myself and few friends developed after spending some quality time in the catacombs), he's vomiting poison gas, slamming the very hands your desperately trying to hit, or pulling a huge webbed sword from nowhere to tear you up with. The challenge of this fight comes from how quickly you catch on to the fact that you need to break his bling to beat him. Even once you do that, if you don't do them in the right order, you're in for a tough time as the fight is essentially timed as he forces you to the back of the arena where his poison gas will end you if you don't have space to maneuver. An incredibly atmospheric fight that gives you all the right feelings of dread, epiphany and triumph.

5. Pontiff Sulyvahn

Link: http://cdn3.whatculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/RjlnpyLN.jpg

Pontiff Sulyvahn stands as one of the most challenging fights in Dark Souls 3 due to his dexterity, the lethality of his attacks, and his ghostly second phase that introduces the player to a brand-new meaning for doppelganger. The Pontiff is no slouch before that second phase though, hitting hard in difficult to identify patterns that can quickly end any player. Then you get to the second phase where he summons a phantom mirage of himself that copies the maneuvers of his summoner only with a seconds delay. You never quite realize how important a single second can be until this fight. That second closes the door on many of the opportunities you had in the first part of the fight to strike back forcing you to come up with an alternate plan that usually includes the phrase, "Nope, that didn't work. Put the estus in the mouth." It's a lot of trial and error with this fight but it doesn't feel wasted once you've identified that one moment that you can force damage through and remain unscathed. The challenge is steep here but, as with many boss fights, that only makes victory all the more satisfying.

4. Aldritch, Devourer of Gods

Link: http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/file/Dark-Souls-3/aldritch3_tc.jpg

Has there ever been a more badass moniker than "Devourer of Gods"? Damn, this boss better live up to the promise of that title. Fortunately, it does. Immediately upon traversing the fog gate, you are greeted by a boss that seems familiar yet horribly deformed. That headpiece, isn't that Gwyndolin's? And, wait, that dress, isn't that Gravelord Nito's? Soon, you spy the creature itself, a worm of bone that burrows through the environment wearing these vesitiges of the old deities like masks. Devourer of Gods indeed. The fight itself is a startling bombardment of highly damaging ranged attacks, from twisted sorcery to a literal storm of arrows.  Getting in close isn't safe either as the swats from its staff hit hard and, towards the end of the fight, it begins to light the immediate area on fire.  Aldritch, Devourer of Gods challenges your patience as much as your skill as you learn the tell tale signs of her most devastating attacks, attacks that if unprepared for will nearly one-shot you.  The most terrifying boss both in visual imagery and twisted realization, Aldritch haunts the player beyond the scope of the fight. (Is that a part of Aldritch way down in Smouldering Lake? What other deities fell prey to this abomination? Is this the new form of the Abyss?) Overall, the fight feels fresh and dangerous and can leave quite the impression past the confines of the boss arena.

3. Watchers of the Abyss

Link: https://zone1-vgu.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Dark-Souls-III.jpg

While this ranking may seem high to other who have played through Dark Souls 3, I put a high premium on originality during a boss and, for my money, I cannot remember the last boss that captivated and challenged me to change my game plan so many times during the course of a fight . When first encountered, the Watchers of the Abyss appear to be a humanoid, knight style boss typical of these games. The moveset he uses is quick and relentless but with a few openings to exploit and the player feels they've gotten a hold of the fight. Then a second watcher rises from the numerous bodies strewn across the field and the player becomes worried because two of these watchers could be a problem. And the fight becomes more challenging, with the player backing away, scrambling to become acquainted with the multiple foes. Then a third knight rises and player begins to either panic (like me) or think that the fight is similar to Four Kings from Dark Souls where you have to take down the first king as fast as possible before the next one spawns. And then, wait what? He's attacking himself? The third knight flies at the first boss and begins to engage. Immediately, your tactics change, hoping to take advantage of the now evened odds. Perhaps you take down the boss at this moment, able to take advantage of the new distraction, and a cutscene ensues showing the boss falling to his knees. The player thinks that was pretty cool but easier than expected. Slowly, doubt creeps in as the ashes of the rest of the fallen watchers is drawn towards the boss and he rises, taking on a new fiery sheen.  That was the moment that I knew this was a brilliant fight. So many highs and lows, so many on the fly alterations of tactics and combat orientation. The way this fight draws itself forward with the innumerable options that present themselves, from the equal footing of a one on one, to the backpedaling of one on two, to the surprise evening of the odds and subsequent aggression, to finally the adjustment to one final boss enemy with a brand new and more deadly moveset. I absolutely loved the design, the ebb and flow of this fight and it is a worthy entry into the series varied bestiary.

2. Dancer of the Boreal Valley

Link: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aZIV3LvRlmo/maxresdefault.jpg

The Dancer of the Boreal Valley was perhaps the most hyped boss prior to the release of Dark Souls 3 and it did not disappoint. The Dancer moves with lithe grace, deceptively quick and mercilessly punishing when she lands a hit. Whoever did the animations for her over at From Software deserves a raise. A simple masterwork in how to mount tension during a boss engagement, you can feel your palms grow wet as she lights your surroundings on fire with sweeps from her sword and the moment she pulls the second sword from the ether. The music in turn ratchets up from the somber, mysterious melody that accompanies her first phase to a more climactic orchestral piece as you chip away at her life bar. The whole fights, especially the first few times you face her, you wonder when she's going to attack and whether you have the dexterity to get your character out of the way. A fantastic, challenging, and nerve-wracking experience that will certainly live on the memories of all those who braved her and prevailed.

1. Nameless King

Link: http://i.imgur.com/2vYOXJv.jpg

From Software outdid themselves with this boss. The Nameless King has managed to usurp my top spot for Souls series bosses previously held by the iconic Ornstein and Smough. As you first enter the stunning arena, shrouded by clouds amidst a whirling storm, you can see six towering dragon statues lining a wispy, ethereal avenue. Then The Nameless King descends upon a massive dragon , touching down in a flurry of wind and smoke. Immediately, the fight is visually arresting and intimidating, letting you know you're in for one hell of a fight. The duo attack with massive force, occasionally taking flight and flinging lighting bolts at you. When you eventually topple the dragon, you breathe a sigh of relief only to be greeted by the eponymous Nameless King. The fight that follows is fast and ferocious granting you barely a moment to chug an estus or get in a counter attack.  At your moment of victory, that ecstatic feeling of accomplishment when triumphing over a seemingly impossible foe floods through you and reminds you that no other franchise can deliver such thrills. This is the feeling that I felt was missing from Dark Souls 2. This is the feeling that I've been missing for too long. Top notch, From Software, top notch.