Ranking Every Souls Boss
#39 - #20
The boss fights within the Souls series are some of the most compelling, dynamic and challenging in the industry. Many of them demand excellence when approached. They do not give quarter and we, the player, expect none. You must master the mechanics, persist through death, and, above all, learn from your mistakes in order to come out victorious. Regardless, some fights were clearly superior to others and, in order to make my opinions a little more balanced, I devised a five category, 50-point system to rank each of the bosses. The categories are Gameplay, Lore, Originality, Challenge, and Entertainment. Below, I go into detail about each category which I encourage you to read because it informs the bosses point totals. For example, Challenge is not just about how difficult it is but also about whether or not the difficulty is organic and fair (looking at you Ancient Dragon). Additionally, I'd like to note that I'm not including the Chalice Dungeon bosses on this list. Thanks for reading and please enjoy full list!
Gameplay
This encompasses the actions that you're taking during a boss. Are you frantically trying to avoid attacks and desperately chuggin Estus or are you trying to dodge randomly falling platforms that will instantly kill you. The way that a fight utilizes interesting mechanics will increase this score such as the tense Executioner Chariot battle while poor design choices will hurt this score like the Bed of Chaos falling platforms.
Lore
Lore takes a few aspects of a fight into account. This include the quality of the backstory of the character, the amount of investment you have when facing them, and overall environment and aesthetics of a fight. Are you fighting some random dude in a nondescript cave with no pertinence to the story or are battling a legendary figure of old in a glorious cathedral? Much of the time, the quality of the location and relevance of the story can be enough to elevate a boss into excellence.
Originality
How original is the concept for this boss? Is this the same design that From Software used before or is it something fresh? A unique design goes a long way in making a boss memorable. Large dudes with big swords and growling, burning demons are fairly commonplace but can set themselves a part with interesting mechanics or move sets.
Challenge
Not only does this score take into account the actual difficulty of a boss but also how 'fair' it is. What this means is whether or not a player can anticipate and counter a bosses attacks, no matter how difficult they are. The best bosses are demanding in terms of reaction time but never unfair in either their move set or how much damage they do (looking at you Ancient Dragon).
Entertainment
This score is more about gut reaction to a boss. How much fun did I have when fighting it? Was it exciting and interesting? Did I get a rush of adrenaline when defeating it or was it merely a roadblock before getting to the better battles? It's hard to define and tabulate what gives certain encounters that elusive magic but some have it and some don't.
Without further adieu, here's number 39 through number 20 of the best bosses in the Souls series!
39. Maneaters
Gameplay - 8.4 * Lore - 7.6 * Originality - 8.8 * Challenge - 8.4 * Entertainment - 8.0
Total - 41.2/50.0
Standing as a superb highlight of Demon's Souls, the Maneaters is one of the most initially intimidating fights on this entire list, the first one descends and prowls along the slim boss arena, tossing magic at you and casually slapping you around if you get close. Then, it takes off and begins to hover in the open space around the elevated pathway that you're trapped on. Green blasts emerge from the Maneater's fingertips, detonating magic blasts that will throw you off the edge and send you careening to your death. Finally, once you're able to whittle this swaggering gargoyle's health down to half, a second Maneater joins the battle. Now, it's a race against time with your chances of success quickly dwindling the longer two gargoyles survive. This fight is nail-bitingly tense on your first playthrough of Demon's Souls, a desperate juggling of multiple villains. While the fight becomes much more manageable when you bring magic or a leveled bow to the fight, it remains an excellent experience that has your mind and body teetering close to the brink.
38. Champion Gundyr
Gameplay - 9.0 * Lore - 7.6 * Originality - 8.0 * Challenge - 9.0 * Entertainment - 9.0
Total - 42.6/50.0
 |
| Deviant Art by GLV-DA |
The savage beatings that this boss delivered to me time and time again still haunt my dreams. As one of the hidden, late-game bosses, Champion Gundyr is a beefed up version of the first boss in Dark Souls III. Rather than a black mass of tentacles erupting from his back during his second phase, Champion Gundyr instead gains a whole swath of hyper-aggressive combo attacks that will decimate the unprepared. Finding the correct moment to both heal and attack is a delicate balancing act that must be mastered in order to come out victorious. Recently, I did a no-hit boss run of Dark Souls III not only did Champion Gundyr present quite a challenge but he also gave me one of the best moments I've had in any Souls game ever. After about two hours of beating my face against him, getting tagged by his lightning fast kick that he occasionally pulls out after combos, I finally decided to just throw caution to the wind and go for a parry kill, something that I'm not incredibly talented at. But the stars aligned and I managed to parry him not once, not twice, but three times straight in a row to finish out the fight. It was exhilarating and terrifying and completely awesome. Regardless, this fight is terrific and still shines as one of the best in Dark Souls III.
37. Vicar Amelia
Gameplay - 8.8 * Lore - 8.2 * Originality - 8.6 * Challenge - 8.3 * Entertainment - 8.8
Total - 42.7/50.0
Vicar Amelia is the quintessential Bloodborne boss fight. All roads in Yharnam seems to lead to the central cathedral that dominates the landscape. As the doors open, you can already feel the magnitude of this environment, the daunting history that you can feel just beneath the surface. As you approach the altar, a slight woman garbed in white quietly, desperately prays to some unknown god, clutching some type of golden pendant. A shiver trembles her body. Then a tremor. Finally, she is convulsing and screaming, violently morphing into a gargantuan beast draped in white. With a final howl, it's head, all human resemblance lost, turn at you and its maw hungrily snaps at you. One of the best introductions and boss arenas on this list, the actual fight with Vicar Amelia is more bark than it is bite. Her moves are typically slow but also highly damaging. Then, towards the end of the fight, she will attempt to heal approximately 30% of her health pool which can be stunted by either beating her senseless or, more effectively, throwing Numbing Mist at her which can be conveniently found in the area before the boss. Either way, Vicar Amelia can dish out huge amounts of damage and has a huge stock of health, especially for how early in the game you take her on.
36. Twin Princes
Gameplay - 8.0 * Lore - 9.6 * Originality - 9.0 * Challenge - 8.0 * Entertainment - 8.2
Total - 42.8/50.0
Prince Lothric stands as the final Lord of Cinder to topple in Dark Souls III. Whispers have been heard of his sickly stature, his refusal to light the fire. When you finally encounter him, he appears bedridden and frail, hardly an intimidating combination. That's when his brother crawls into the scene. Massive, armored and strangely plodding around on his knees, Lorian, Prince Lothric's brother appears to be the true battle. As the fight starts, he instantly teleports across the room, slamming you to the ground and you know that you're in for battle that will strain your reflexes to the max. Eventually, after dodging his devastating teleport attacks, you manage to take down all of is health and the fight appears over. But his brother descends from his royal bed and resurrects his brother before climbing upon his back adding a flurry of magical attacks to his brothers aggressive swordplay. This fight tests patience and opportunism rewarding players who time their attacks expertly and correctly learn to adapt their maneuvers to the barrage of magic. It's a test of patience rewarded when finally toppling this so-called Lord of Cinder, unlocking the final area of the game and making for a desperate engaging battle.
35. Bell Gargoyles
Gameplay - 9.0 * Lore - 7.4 * Originality - 9.0 * Challenge - 9.0 * Entertainment - 9.0
Total - 43.4/50.0
The Bell Gargoyles are one of the earliest make it or break it moments in the first Dark Souls severely testing the unprepared players. Taking a page out of the Maneaters battle from Demon's Souls, a single gargoyle descends and engages you upon the roof of the Undead Parish. It's a perfect place to battle with a terrifically atmospheric feel combined with the dread of falling to your death. As an additionally incentive, you can chop the gargoyle's tail off and receive a special weapon, a mechanic that was superb and remains bizarrely absent from future installments. Once you've brought the first gargoyle to half health, a second joins the fray but instead of the same attacks, it begins to breath fire in wide swaths across the rooftop. Despite the fact that this new foe only has about half of his health, the battle's challenge ignites exponentially. It's a wonderfully dangerous fight with each second feeling like you're about to fall, defeated. While there's little in the official lore on these foes, the boss fight is simply excellent and a great indicator of how much you've grown as a player since this fight becomes much more manageable the better you are at the game.
34. Looking Glass Knight
Gameplay - 9.0 * Lore - 8.6 * Originality - 7.8 * Challenge - 9.0 * Entertainment - 9.2
Total - 43.6/50.0
As part of the first, controversial footage that was shown of Dark Souls II, The Looking Glass Knight was a sight to behold. Perched atop the infamous Drangleic Castle with rain pouring down, the scene is set for a great encounter and, despite the obvious graphics downgrade, he remains one of the best fights in the game. Dealing crushing damage and able to blank any attack that bounces off his impenetrable shield, this mirrored warrior does not stagger and does not hesitate when he is attempting to cleave you apart. About halfway through the fight, he'll summon another phantom warrior for you to contend with and this is where the excellence of this battle really comes into play. If another human player places their red sign down anywhere in the castle, they could be summoned to come to the Looking Glass Knights' aid at this moment. It's an exciting mechanic that really ratchets up the tension of the fight. Overall, this battle was one of the most anticipated in the entire game and despite the overall lack of challenge found in Dark Souls II, this was a great battle.
33. Demon Prince
Gameplay - 8.8 * Lore - 8.6 * Originality - 8.0 * Challenge - 9.0 * Entertainment - 9.4
Total - 43.8/50.0
One of the best dual enemy fights in the entire franchise, The Demon Prince kicks off with two opposing demons facing you down appropriately named the Demon of Pain and the Demon from Below. The genius of this fight comes down to the aggression mechanics, when one of the demons is on fire, they'll become hyper aggressive charging you from across the map and will always be trying to get up in your grill. However, when the demons extinguish themselves, they'll change tactics attempting to spit toxic poison at your from a distance. These forms will cycle forcing you to adapt to one of the three permutations: two hyper-aggressive demons, two passive, poison demons, or one of each. This makes the fight continuously interesting and adaptive, forcing you to change tactics multiple times. All of this before you hit the second phase of the boss, a phase that will change depending on which demon you killed last. Either way, you'll be facing down the Demon Prince: a massive, ultra-damaging demon that can easily obliterate you if you lose concentration. It's a lengthy battle that requires dedication and a willingness to adapt the way you play in order to come out victorious.
32. Gravelord Nito
Gameplay - 8.8 * Lore - 10.0 * Originality - 9.4 * Challenge - 7.8 * Entertainment - 9.0
Total - 45.0/50.0
One of the most iconic villains in the entirety of Dark Souls canon is the daunting Gravelord Nito, First of the Dead. Beneath the blackness of the Tomb of the Giants rests the lord of the dead, one of the first beings to be granted a Lord Soul, one of combatants in the Great War who eradicated the ancient dragons to the brink of extinction. The singular image of Gravelord Nito's skeletal hand outstretched, sporadically unfolding to accept a glowing soul is one of the most memorable images from the opening cutscene of Dark Souls. Facing off against the first of the dead is not so much challenging as it is unsettling. Little skeletons swarm you at the beginning of the battle while Nito's screeches pierce the air, a ghostly sword erupting from the ground at seemingly random points. As you move closer, Gravelord Nito looms forward, a mass of bones and skulls tangled together, swathed in a cloak of darkness. Throughout the fight, he will attempt to split you with his poisonous greatsword, grab you for devastating attack, or even detonate you in his signature miasma of disease. While he's not the most difficult fight on this list, he's still one of the best.
31. Black Dragon Kalameet
Gameplay - 9.4 * Lore - 8.2 * Originality - 8.8 * Challenge - 9.4 * Entertainment - 9.4
Total - 45.2/50.0
Kalameet makes his appearance well before his boss fight, landing ominously on a bridge that you were about traverse and staring menacingly at you. Even then he's not available to engage with as he will simply fly over his boss arena and spray black fire everywhere, one-shotting all but the most heavily armored players. Only after you speak with Hawkeye Gough, a renowned archer, about the dangers of the dragons will impel him to use his massive bow to ground the flying reptile in one of the coolest cutscenes in any of the Dark Souls games. Finally, now that you're on even ground, you begin to engage Kalameet. Presenting a significant obstacle mainly due to his range, surprising speed and heavily damaging attacks, Kalameet will demand that you understand his patterns before success can be achieved. The fact that you can get one of the games coolest swords for slicing off his tail before defeating him is just icing on the cake of a superb boss fight.
30. Fume Knight
Gameplay - 9.6 * Lore - 9.4 * Originality - 8.0 * Challenge - 9.5 * Entertainment - 8.8
Total - 45.3/50.0
While a giant knight with a pair of swords is not the most ingenious design, the deadly viciousness with which he wields them was a refreshing blast of fresh air in the boss design standards for Dark Souls II. Easily the most difficult, individual boss in the entirety of the game including all DLC's, the Fume Knight impresses with his damage, his variety of attacks from heavy swings to light slashes, and his relative importance in the game's lore. Entering dressed in Velstadt to immediately start the fight in his enrage mode is a cute mechanic and adds depth to his character: a fallen, forgotten knight sworn to protect a vestige of the Abyss. According to the statistics of Dark Souls, more players fail more consistently to the Fume Knight than any other boss in the game with over 60% of attempts ending in failure. Difficulty isn't everything when judging the quality of bosses but the true challenge that this boss presented was so vastly different than the majority of Dark Souls II that it deserves to be highlighted. Beating the Fume Knight provides that elusive wave of euphoria in success that so many of the best battles give you in the Soulsborne series.
29. Executioner's Chariot
Gameplay - 9.6 * Lore - 7.5 * Originality - 10.0 * Challenge - 8.9 * Entertainment - 9.4
Total - 45.4/50.0
What an interesting fight this was! A monstrous chariot rumbles through the arena, flattening anything in its way, you included while skeletons appear to infinitely spawn in the arena. Slowly you figure out the puzzle step by step. Try not to get run over by the boss by hiding in the alcoves along the main lane, kill the necromancers to stop the skeleton from endlessly respawning, and finally pull the lever to bring down a gate to crash the chariot. After all that has been accomplished you still have to contend with the demonic, two-headed horse that was controlling the chariot all along which could have easily passed as a boss on its own. Top to bottom, this is a fun fight that requires several stages of planning and execution. With that being said, the dangerous run back to this fight if you do fail is fairly aggravating with enemies commonly knocking you out of the animation to go through the fog wall. Regardless, From Software were smart to give players a chance to face off against this boss in the beta because it's one of the most interesting fights in the entire series.
28. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder
Gameplay - 8.8 * Lore - 10.0 * Originality - 8.6 * Challenge - 8.5 * Entertainment - 9.6
Total - 45.5/50.0
Well, here he is, the granddaddy of the franchise, the big cheese, the head honcho, the final boss. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder started the story and the effects of his actions continue to reverberate through the game world, not just of the original Dark Souls but throughout the series. Clearly, there was a lot of hype for this boss fight to deliver a grandiose spectacle and put a pin the story and the experience as a whole. But as soon as you enter the fight and his soundtrack begins to play, soft, haunting piano notes, you realize that you're in for a different kind of engagement. Melancholic and retrospective, you battle the former lord of sunlight reduced to the lord of cinder in a grand arena reduced to ash and rubble. Despite the subdued tone of the fight, Gwyn himself offers no reprieve slashing quickly and violently at you, hardly giving you time to breathe. If you've become an expert at parrying, now is the time to put that skill to work and, if not, well then it's time to dodge for your life. If you're a mage who has been relying on endgame spells to carry you through then Gwyn will be a punishing battle, forcing you to use faster spells or some sort of weapon as he can cross gaps extremely quickly. Facing this lord of cinder at the edge of the world ends Dark Souls on a high note, allowing you to really comprehend the scale of the world that you've conquered.
27. Soul of Cinder
Gameplay - 9.4 * Lore - 9.2 * Originality - 9.0 * Challenge - 8.6 * Entertainment - 9.4
Total - 45.6/50.0
Taking the form of all previous lords of cinder, Soul of Cinder rapidly alternates forms, essentially between dexterity-weapon user, strength-weapon user, magic user, and a faith user. He is the amalgamation of thousands of cycles, distilled down to their essential form. In a way, you're fighting some version of yourself. Genius in its simplicity, it really brings home the fact that you're at the conclusion of the series, the climax to a series that millions of other fans have taken apart of. This phase, the first phase is great all on it's own but relatively easy depending on which forms take precedence during the fight. So, when he fell, I felt satisfied if not exerted. But then he rises again and a familiar harmonic series of piano notes played, interspersed in the background of the song, and you knew that the soul of Gwyn has returned to greet you one last time. With some familiar moves and some new ones, the Soul of Cinder ends Dark Souls III on a perfect note, with a remembrance of the past, symbolic that you're truly breaking the cycle this time around. It's grandiose, it's moving, and it's an excellent final battle.
26. Darkeater Midir
Gameplay - 9.6 * Lore - 8.8 * Originality - 8.6 * Challenge - 9.3 * Entertainment - 9.4
Total - 45.7/50.0
As soon as Shira mentions that you're going to meet a dragon named Midir, you knew that you were going to fight it. What you didn't know is that it would turn out to be one of the best boss encounters in the entire series, even outclassing the mighty Kalameet. Initially knocking the gargantuan dragon off of the initial cliff felt too easy but, when you fall into his lair, Darkeater Midir is anything but welcoming. Chaos reigns in this battle as he charges across the entire arena, clawing, stomping and breathing fire all over the place. Getting a handle on this beast and his enormous health pool takes a few tries in and of itself before you're comfortable enough to deal real damage to him. After managing to carve him down to his half his health, he gains a host of new, devastatingly dark maneuvers. This fight is the definition of an epic spectacle and finally taking this beast down is a wonderfully fulfilling moment.
25. Father Gascoigne
Gameplay - 9.4 * Lore - 9.6 * Originality - 8.8 * Challenge - 8.8 * Entertainment - 9.2
Total - 45.8/50.0
"Beasts all over the shop," gasped Gascoigne, tired from cleaving a beast's head from its body. "You'll be one, sooner or later." What an entrance. Probably the most brutal gating boss (a boss that must be defeated to progress) to a game that I've experienced in recent memory, Father Gascoigne comes at you with everything he has. And he has a lot. He has a shotgun that staggers and cuts slivers from your health; he has a transforming axe that is devastating at close or long range; and he has his inner beastiality just waiting to emerge and tear you apart. Oppressively aggressive in every form, Father Gascoigne will obliterate all but the most nimble hunters and has stopped legions of fans from progressing in Bloodborne. But there is a secret weapon that you can employ. A music box given to you by his daughter so that her father remembers who he is. It will stun him when you play it perfectly combining lore with gameplay as he struggles to remember who he used to be, the proud hunter that he was. This expert combination of lore with ingame mechanics truly brings this game over top, standing as one of the best fights in any of the souls games.
24. Tower Knight
Gameplay - 9.1 * Lore - 8.0 * Originality - 10.0 * Challenge - 9.0 * Entertainment - 9.8
Total - 45.9/50.0
It was at this moment that gamers around the world knew that they had something special in Demon's Souls. The first two areas of Boletaria are complex and interwoven but the boss encounters leave something to be desired. Not so with the imposing Tower Knight. Facing this momentous giant of steel and blade is truly one of those jaw-dropping moments. The mechanics behind the fight are excellently implemented as well, encouraging you to eliminate the archers before you tussle with the big boy. Don't get too complacent though when you are in the ramparts as the Tower Knight will peg you with a blast of magic from his lance at any open chance. Finally toppling the monster is intuitive and challenging requiring you to back away and then dart in to get some damage on his feet. Once he goes down, you'll feel your blood racing as you desperately attempt to get around to his head to get some serious damage in. It's a terrifically glorifying experience when you finally bring down this colossus, it makes you stop and take a moment to bask in your own victory.
23. Pontiff Sulyvahn
Gameplay - 9.2 * Lore - 9.6 * Originality - 9.0 * Challenge - 9.2 * Entertainment - 9.0
Total - 46.0/50.0
The first boss in Dark Souls III that really stood out for me, Pontiff Sulyvan offers no quarter and has, what seems at the time, a ludicrously overpowered second phase. But the design is more elegant than just adding artificial difficulty, just like the rest of this battle. When he first unleashes a flurry of attacks on you, you simply sit agape at how fast he slashed down your health. But each swipe, each cut has a tell, has a moment that you can recognize and adapt yourself around which makes this fight infinitely more interesting. Once a ghostly phantom splits itself from the main Pontiff Sulyvahn and begin attacking you, you'll feel overwhelmed but the elegance of the design really comes out in this stage. The phantom will immediately precede the real Pontiff Sulyvahn performing the exact same moves, allowing you to appropriately dodge or, if you're even more agile, give you an attack window as you'll know where the real Pontiff will be in a few moments. All of that in conjunction with the fact that the phantom can be killed separately brings Pontiff Sulyvahn into the upper echelons of overall Soulsborne boss fights.
22. Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon
Gameplay - 9.2 * Lore - 9.3 * Originality - 8.6 * Challenge - 9.6 * Entertainment - 9.4
Total - 46.1/50.0
Everything about this boss works for me. He appears numerous times throughout the DLC, careening over the side of a cliff or blasting some unsuspecting enemies on a bridge which build up the excitement to actually face him yourself. The lore of him still having Yorgh's spear embedded in himself, and that causing the poison to come pouring out of his body. The battle itself, where he will attempt burn you, poison you, blast you, crush you, and slash you to death. It all just works so harmoniously with one another that you can't help but admire the craftsmanship, a common theme throughout the Crown of the Sunken King DLC which, with the exception of the other two bosses, was leagues above the base game in terms of depth and complexity. The fight feels perfectly challenging too, with no cheap shots but plenty of patterns that require precise timing. Put simply, this is one the best bosses in the entirety of Dark Souls II with only two other contenders ranking ahead of it. It even edges out two of the other excellent dragon fights in Souls history with both Kalameet and Midir not quite eclipsing this terrific battle.
21. Sir Alonne
Gameplay - 9.8 * Lore - 8.8 * Originality - 8.7 * Challenge - 9.2 * Entertainment - 9.8
Total - 46.3/50.0
Awaiting deep within the Crown of the Iron King DLC is the legendary Sir Alonne. He sits and waits alone and bows out of respect to you when you enter his stunning, reflective arena. But you will find no comradery from that point forward, his precise slashes aimed to cut you down to size. Agile, without any wasted movement, Sir Alonne dance around you in a whirlwind of steel. This fight is the essence of elegant brilliance, striking the perfect balance of beauty and challenge. You can't help but to admire the straightforwardness of this battle, a simple bout between two masters. He will give you no quarter and you ask for none. If you manage to defeat him without taking a single hit, he will fall to his knees, ashamed, and take his own life rather than let you finish him off, recognizing the power of his opponent. It's tiny details like this that really bring bosses to life, more than simply another minion, more than just another howling demon. Sir Alonne feels like a complete character who puts you to the test in a way very few bosses can. Simply an awesome experience.
20. Martyr Logarius
Gameplay - 9.0 * Lore - 9.2 * Originality - 9.4 * Challenge - 9.4 * Entertainment - 9.4
Total - 46.4/50.0
Guarding the threshold of the Vileblood Queen is where you will find the broken husk of the man formerly known as Logarius. After leading a blood-drenched crusade against Castle Cainhurst, the executioners and they're eponymous leader failed to complete their quest and fell to the power of Annalise. Rather than kill Logarius, she instead raised him and forced him to play the part of guard dog to her hidden throne room. It's a rich backstory that adds depth to an already incredible fight. Adept at both swordplay and wielding the dark magic of Cainhurst, a tactic he assuredly picked up in from the queen, Logarius assaults you with vicious thrusts and violent slashes. Occasionally, he'll drive his sword into the ground, summoning spectral swords to swirl and attack you from above, turning the fight into a frantic exercise of finding the sword and breaking it before it overwhelms you. Logarius's attacks are fast but fair and highly telegraphed, giving you the chance, however slim they may be, to either dodge or counter. More than anything this fight feels dangerous and unpredictable but not unfairly, like it's a contest between you and an powerful force that you just may have a chance of defeating. I may be overvaluing this battle compared to others but I truly enjoyed every second of it, giving me that quintessential, desperate sensation that if I could just execute everything perfectly, I could bring down Martyr Logarius.
Thanks for reading
Comments
Post a Comment