Dark Souls 2: Ranking NPCs Strength Based on Lore

[@BunnyGirlMet]

I call Gavlan “The Beer Merchant.” It’s because he’s a merchant that drinks beer. Thas all I wanted to say. I hope everyone who reads this has a great day/afternoon/evening/night!

[@reionyxxx]

with gavlan if you wheel (or drink) you deal

[@Sektorad]

Wholesome souls comment

[@LordDuddy77]

Galvan wheel 🛞 Galvan deal 🤝

[@Krutonkreatura]

gavlan beel gavlan deaal

[@ikigai1799]

Vendrick never believed in Gods. He knew from the very beginning that the Curse was a creation of the Gods. Therefore, he did not respect the clergy and saw the powers of miracles and those who used them as weak. Vendrick is identified with "Strength". Whenever a powerful warrior lost his way, they would come to Drangleic to serve him, hearing that King Vendrick admired simple warriors who relied solely on their own raw strength in battle. Vendrick defeated the "Four Great Ones" who once terrorized the realm. Whoever they are. The people we fight in the game are called "Four Old Ones". Just because they've been around for so long. They cannot be compared to those the king fought against. Vendrick was on his own when he brought the Giants to their knees. Gwyn similarly defeated the dragons, but he was accompanied by powerful allies, each with Lord Souls, and the First Mens (who never received the credit they deserved). Gwyn could never have done this alone. DS2 Giants are made of stone and arch trees, similar to Everlasting Dragons. Vendrick took them down on his own. Vendrick was a person who looked into the essence of the soul. Only with Vendrick's blessing can we be freed from the curse Gwyn created. Vendrick is referred to as the "Old King of Want". Vendrick's power is "Want". Man's desire is an insatiable desire for whatever he desires, until he gets it. We die many times to defeat a powerful enemy/boss but we still want to defeat it, this is the unshakable human will. And Drang means desire/wish and will in old Germanic. When Vendrick learned the truth about the First Flame, the Undead Curse, and Nashandra, he became depressed and retreated into seclusion. He lost all Want. Vendrick could easily have become Lord of Cinder if he wanted, but he rejected the power that would come from the Flame. He neither wanted to continue the Age of Fire, which was a big lie, nor did he want to start a dangerous Dark Age. He was just looking for a third way. Vendrick could easily kill Nashandra if he wanted, but he is still in love with his wife and still calls her "My Dear Shandra". However, he made sure that Nashandra would never attain the throne. He made us strong enough through the challenges he set. Finally, although it was too late, he discovered the mystery of the crowns. Vendrick's crown held the power of the Dark Soul. And Vendrick was called "the ruler of the human world." Lordran was, as the name suggests, the land of Lords, but Drangleic was the land of men. The Soul of Vendrick is known as the "Great" and the "Immense Soul". The soul that Nashandra coveted. Vendrick could have done anything if he had not lost his desire, that is, if he still "Wanted". A single person can defeat the lords of the era and mighty giants. Can access the First Flame. Nashandra most likely asked Vendrick to become the Dark Lord. Vendrick fits the description of the Dark Lord Gwyn fears might one day emerge from among humans quite well. Vendrick is one of the most powerful characters in Dark Souls history. Everything falls into place when you realize that he's not Gwyn for the game, but rather a Chosen Undead type character. I think Vendrick is the strongest character in the entire trilogy after Gael and SOC.

[@BigBroKuma]

This was nice to read. Especially cause Vendrick is one of my favourite characters in the Souls trilogy.

[@ididntaskverified3663]

Vendrick became a hollow😮, even gwyn and the nameless king had more consciousness than him proven by their death animations

[@ikigai1799]

@@ididntaskverified3663 Yet Hollow Vendrick was stronger than both of them. Vendrick still has enough awareness to protect himself.

[@ididntaskverified3663]

Uhhhhh gwyn knew that he was sacrificing himself, he left everything to his children. Hollow venderick was completely docile until attacked with no semblance of swordsmanship. Souls bosses later in the timeline are not stronger than their progenitors, ITS LITERALLY THE PLOT OF DARK SOULS 3. The souls of the ancient ones reincarnating because of their immense strength was the plot of ds2, The longer the age of fire goes, the weaker the souls that link the fire become. So weak that they are resurrected to link it again. Not the strongest fire linkers of all time but the most recent, since the powerful ones are long gone.

[@ikigai1799]

@@ididntaskverified3663 This still doesn't disprove Vendrick's power. Vendrick did NOT want to bind the fire. He rejected the power from fire. He didn't need it anyway. Gwyn bound the Fire with his Lord Spirit and so the Fire burned for a long time, there is no reason why Vendrick cannot defeat Gwyn. Also note that the thrones in DS3 are linked to DS2. In a way, Yuria wants from us what Nashandra wants from Vendrick.

[@Katanagatari-b2o]

This video might be 3.5 hours long, but I will spend close to 35 hours on in rewatching it man

[@spencerjohnston5969]

@@PaganichiI also will sleep to this video 60 times and thus never hear past the 12 minute mark.

[@Katanagatari-b2o]

@@Paganichi i have a lot of free time, and I enjoy putting this mans videos in the background whenever I do something u feel me

[@BestiaryYT]

@Katanagatari-b2olegend, this is exactly how I intend them to be consumed ❤

[@Katanagatari-b2o]

@@BestiaryYT Your voice is very calming, I'd honestly listen to you talk about pretty much anything

[@dawidzambrowicz4932]

Same bro i already put IT 5 times

[@mountaineer2961]

Dark Souls 2 will always be my favorite from the trilogy because it's not a story of grand betrayals or climatic endings. It's about people. It's about the people who want something and not being able to have it and how they react to that fact. It's a somber game.

[@tudorleonte9950]

thats why its called Peak Souls 2

[@bruschetta7711]

It's a story about people surviving and understanding, accepting their role and place in their cursed existance The events of the first game felt so distant that the impact it had was much less direct on the mind of its people

[@sethlhaynes]

I just found your channel a few days ago. I really thought I was up to date on my Souls lore, but man…you have taught me things about Dark Souls that I didn’t even know existed. I say that to say: I’ve binged all your “ranked by lore” videos in like 4 days; and you helped me get through the holidays with my sanity intact for another year! Thank you, you’re awesome!

[@hiddenshadow2105]

Came for fun NPC power breakdown. Got a (small) lecture on class stratification, in addition to a really good job on each character's background. Nice.

[@HoiPolloiNtertains]

Bro forgot the 3 fire keepers are looking over the fire place’s fire. They’re doing their job… from a certain point of view.

[@livingalife8879]

Ladel girl should be rank 1

[@HoiPolloiNtertains]

@ level 1 broken ladle run proves she’s suppressing her powers for our sake.

[@d.w.k.7383]

I'd argue that Creighton should rank not only higher than Pate, but arguably much higher in the tier list in general since he makes a canonical appearance in Dark Souls 3, marking him as the true winner between him and Pate. Plus he managed to survive so many more kingdoms rising and falling by the time DS3 occurs.

[@meinkanal7438]

do we know its creighton in ds3 and not just someone wearing his armor?

[@Grimsly3736]

@@meinkanal7438yes it’s Creighton his body armor might be generic to knights of Mirrah however his helm/mask is unique to those sentenced to death and its item also says “Creighton never removed it.” And item descriptions don’t really lie outright

[@bruschetta7711]

Too bad he no longer speaks

[@PuritanProdcutions]

Yeah man, you are one of the best souls KZbinrs we have seen in a few years

[@jonathanc6905]

Keep making ds2 content and I’ll keep watching it.

[@brandonament832]

What an absolutely beautiful closing statement. Dark Souls 2 changed my life, being my first souls game but especially the narrative and the story. It is important in the franchise and a fantastic piece of art that stands equal with it's peers.

[@DabroodThompson]

I think the obnoxious tendency of people to defend DS2 is drawn more from the emotional connection that people made with it rather than because of its objective quality. It really isn't an equal to the other entries of the series. It's good, but not great. That said, I'm glad that people find value where I don't and that art is being appreciated. I just wish they didn't have such a victim complex about *liking a mediocre video-game*.

[@shadowedfang2098]

This coming out three days after finishing a platinum replay of DS2 is a lovely personal treat. Cheers!

[@punkrockdavid]

49:32 “IVE GOT BOSSS WEAPONSSSSSSS”

[@hiddenshadow2105]

"BOSS WEAPONS?!"

[@punkrockdavid]

@@hiddenshadow2105 “right down the road”

[@nekobot222]

a someone who travels and cooks alot, thi sis a wonderful addition to videos ill be rewatching and relistening to thousands of times

[@Alexis-8889]

Broooo my work shift of today just got a whole lot better!! This is going to be great!

[@halemmerich4844]

After watching all of your videos, this channel probably became one of my favorites recently. The way you basicaly use the ranking as a wellcoming excuse to give an terrific essay on the whole story of the series, even if you could just make a 20min video and call it a day is simply awesome to me. I never looked at this series with a "class perspective" before, and the way you present in the videos just make so much sense and is so fascinating, not to mention entertaining. Please, keep up the good work and I hope to see this channel become really big in the future. Oh, and if you'll allow me to make a suggestion: when you run out of carachters to rank, I woul love to see some more interpretations of the story of the series in a philosophical/sociological way, just as your first video :)

[@adamyohan]

Much like every previous video you put out, I kept coming back for more out of my own volition and zero reminders. Your work is astoundingly good. So much love and diligence on display.

[@JE-gj5di]

I cannot tell you how great your videos have been, I'm greatly looking forward to watching your next video!

[@Finzombie]

Incredible, my guy. This is an excellent video that took a ton of work. Don’t forget to add all the ranking videos to the playlist!

[@songsaboutjoan]

WAS WAITING FOR THIS ONE!! let's gooooo

[@tudorleonte9950]

Lucatiel is one of the greatest NPCs in from soft game she might be only outranked by Milicent

[@Virhernir]

I love your work, please never stop bringing us si much quality content, I watched your ds1 npcs video so many times, I can't stop loving it

[@melkerbotin7098]

Took me a long time to finish this video but man was it worth it, incredible work!

[@matteo2042]

Damn I love these videos, hopefully they are worth the time and effort for you and you got more things to cover. You analyse the lore like a historian

[@embellishedspoon3567]

After you go through these npc lore videos, could you do one where you rank the strongest bosses throughout ALL Dark Souls history? I think it'd be really cool!

[@BestiaryYT]

By the looks of it Elden ring Nightreign may just be that video haha, but yes, definitely in the near horizon

[@RagnarokiaNG]

Don't think even Gavlan could survive a drinking game every time Way of White is mentioned instead of Way of Blue

[@mister_smiles_hee_hee_ha_ha]

WHERE'S MY MANS!?! BRADLEY OF THE OLD GUARD DESERVED BETTER!! 😭😭😭😭😭

[@flaherty9248]

Love the DS2 videos, my favourite in the series and so under appreciated

[@landonmiller5448]

I’ve been waiting for this I love it

[@misteranderbro2328]

Was literally watching the DS1 episode earlier today and was wondering if a DS2 episode would come out. Good timing, I guess

[@sergiosxorafios9888]

So many hours... Love it

[@devinshorb9676]

One of my favorite series is back!!!!!

[@Just-a-Dad-tryin]

Yessssss these vids are amazing for writing characters for dnd content

[@bruschetta7711]

That last entry felt like a love letter to the people that worked on DS2 While i like Myazaki's work and i prefer the gameplay of his games the writing of DS2 is phenomenal and speaks much deeper philosiphically which works really well with the theme of the series

[@BestiaryYT]

Exactly, dark souls 2 is such a human story, fitting for a series about the triumph of humanity at the very end of its world.

[@CeciditLux]

Welcome back brotha

[@acromny]

glad ur back, been waiting for this one!

[@pockystyx4087]

I like to think Lucatiel showing up as a summonable ally for the Ivory King fight, a long with her maskless hat being in the frigid wastes, implies that even though she is lost and gone, she still had the strength of will to help us out one last time. So while she may not be the strongest, and ultimately met a tragic end, her will carried her and the bearer of the curse on.

[@m00nch1ldslunatic4]

This is AWESOME ! loving every minutes of it! Dark Souls 2 is the greatest in my heart

[@spencerpollock5688]

Hope you do demon souls Boss lore ranking next and have a happy new year 😄👍

[@nickashman6987]

ITS HERE YESSSSSS

[@weirdybeardystuff9261]

Idc how bad pate was, when Peter Serafinowicz talks I listen 😂

[@Snagavitch]

Always strange picks but a fun idea and makes you think

[@wassim6351]

Great video as usual my man but i think The once legendary knight king in the ring of steel and protection description is referring to Knight King Rendall who died in sen's fortress. I don't think that's referring to Saulden as that's antithetical to the point of his character which is representing the experience of the average undead of no renown's experience in drangleic and their slow descent into despair. Which is further demonstrated by his armor and weapon. I think him having that ring that boosts defense actually demonstrates how terrified he was of getting hurt. Probably bought it, found it as he was traveling in drangleic just like we found loot or it's a family heirloom since he is technically a knight and those come from a noble family which has heirlooms and proofs of their past exploits. The existence of +1 and +2 rings demonstrates the possibility of the +1 and +0 being replicas of the original ring so it may not even be the original.

[@FalseShepherd]

To this i'm still waiting for a Bosses ranking based on lore video of Demon souls. But this video was fantastic too gonna have to eat while watching this Banger.

[@adamyohan]

We are eating so, so good

[@Kishin18]

I'm so happy Lucatiel made it to top 10. She is my fav npc in all fromsoftware games 🥰

[@hiddenshadow2105]

Cromwell maybe self-initiated pardoner instead of outright impostor, somebody who found his own way into Velka's priesthood (given that Velka is not around much anymore) instead of being formally initiated, hence his lack of a rapier; he might have started as a priest but delved into nature of curses and therefore, sins. He has a power of pardoner, after all (i.e. placates aggroed NPCs).

[@Buddha717]

THE GOAT UPLOADED🔥🔥🔥

[@RazalasTrebla]

Pure cinema

[@s.i.rjewel828]

Literal legend

[@hiqivupr3174]

I need something abaut bloodborne again ive watched bloodborne video like 40 times

[@2taptimmy212]

The goat is back

[@volnomut2682]

NO SWEET SHALQOIR???? Execuse me, may be that states that her immortality grands her place beyond all others as 0 number? I demand new proper video with her.

[@jandeiification]

Such insights... i too love Darksouls 2. Among other fromsoft games, it has a different feel on it, the lore... its all about human connection, Love in Particularly... just like how the Japanese view love... subtle and pure... Vendrick's love for Nashandra, The Ivory King's Love for one of Nashandra's sister who was changed by the Ivory Kings love, Raime's yearning for a fatherly love... if only some players see this deep story telling...

[@danishcookies]

My guy never misses!

[@quequito6039]

God Souls 2 the better one

[@lPuffalo]

Pog it's here

[@braytechexoscience2790]

What graphical mod are you using?

[@BestiaryYT]

DS2 Light engine SOTFS + DS2 Texture renewal project 😊

[@livingalife8879]

“Sure why not”

[@burymeinjhenny918]

LETS FUUUUUUCKIN GOOOOO IVE BEEN WAITING ON THIS ONE

[@alenezi989a3]

47:07 I'm confused, yore means old times or the past, so did anyone think it's the name of a place or something? English is not my first language and even I know what "yore" means.

[@BestiaryYT]

While you are entirely correct, the usage of the word yore is very old English, something far outdated from English vocabulary, even in the UK and England. So it tends to throw people off.

[@MrFallenone]

So. What about the Green Herald?

[@hazyviewpoint7194]

Really glad you moved away from your whacky political takes on DS to these vids. Seriously. I love them. Currently going thru some ptsd stuff and your vids are my go to for relaxation. Thanks for that man.💚

[@hiddenshadow2105]

Yay, my favourite voice (Agdayne) made it into top three!

[@surprisedlobsta8543]

is it me or is this analysis of all the NPCs and the overall story of the series quite marxist in tone, cause my ears did pick up at certain points like the mention of means of production and reference to venture capitalism and bourgeoise (not saying this is bad ofc, and tbh I wholeheartedly believe that the story of Dark Souls is at the very least one told through a hegelian viewpoint)

[@BestiaryYT]

Great spot, my background is in academia with my theses heavily related to materialism. I could talk Hegel, Heidegger, Marx, Engels, Lenin to death haha. I try to keep things accessible as I appreciate academia especially in the contemporary post Frankfurt school era is incredibly alienating to the classes they are supposedly made to galvanise.

[@flagertshkurti7249]

Well Dark Souls and FromSoft games in general tend to put a nobody up against systems that seem to be divinely blessed, only to find out that those systems are corrupt. Socialist reading of the story and characters are not at all outlandish in my opinion. If you want to see more of dark souls from this pov I would wholeheartedly suggest TB Skyen.

[@surprisedlobsta8543]

@@BestiaryYT that's very fair that you keep the accessibility a priority but i would absolutely love to see a full materialist analysis from you of the trilogy. Tbh I sometimes feel like Aldia looking at how we might have been able to prevent some of the bigger climate effects and resulting partial collapse we're going to experience

[@AhmedAhmed-qs3kq]

🎉

[@speckstreifen4808]

Okay then, lets find out wich NPC's the strongest (I never played DS2 & don't plan on doing, I don't know any of them)

[@AhmedAhmed-qs3kq]

❤

[@FirstLast-l8f]

another peak upload

[@DabroodThompson]

Dark Souls 2 is the least important because you could skip it and the only thing you'd miss *kind of* is the context of different kingdoms rising and falling. Even then, DS3 already establishes that well enough. DS2 is basically filler content, but there are some worthwhile self-contained stories within. Ultimately though, it is the least important entry of the series.

[@kalacs32]

...with a falcon?

[@Sir1Take]

Love it

[@spencerjohnston5969]

3rd weakest: Malenia.. WHAT… oh malentia

[@Tinkatat]

I love you

[@AhmedAhmed-qs3kq]

Finally 🎉🎉😅