A Review of Every Dark Souls Boss

[@utes5532]

"The giant lord is basically the last giant with a sword" That's because it literally is lol

[@camaraslaurentiu3811]

@@shitfacejohnson4085 lore wise its the same giant who got captured

[@r0bz0rly]

that's actually really cool to know, god my lore knowledge sucks

[@Savra]

That's why he was angry when he saw you in the cutscene. Because you are the one who defeated him in the past.

[@evieisleavie]

@@Savra This. God I love this game :3

[@Dante-xf1mu]

@@r0bz0rly His knowledge sucks too, he doesn't know shit!

[@thisstatementisfalsenothin5312]

“Gwyn’s story is so tragic and his family is gone” - the guy who killed his family

[@toastle8005]

Tee hee 👉👈

[@ScourJful]

TBF Gwyn did that shit to himself. The guy is a Greek tragedy in the sense that in his efforts to save himself and his family, he doomed the world with his family suffering the worst Fates they possibly could.

[@oglightexcalibur]

I hope they dont try to build upon Dark Souls. Ending it with Darkeater Midir, Slave Knight Gael and Soul of Cinder was honestly the greatest sendoff to Dark Souls ever

[@aharon6035]

Compare the Voice of the painting girl in Ariandel, to the voice of the narrator of Elden ring.

[@elias.t]

@@aharon6035 Would you suppose that Marvelous Chester, Vendrick, Djura and Oceiros are all the same person since they share a voice actor? How about the Maiden in Black and the Doll/Maria? From Soft has been using the same voice actors for entirely different characters before. Them using the Painter's voice for the Elden Ring narrator says nothing.

[@aharon6035]

@@elias.t I'm on your side in that for sure. The painter was painting a new world. The connection certainly doesn't need to only be the voice actor, as I'm sure you know.

[@elias.t]

@@aharon6035 I just don't like these theories trying to link the games together in lore, rather than just thematically. Not only is it grasping at straws, but it is like refusing to give these different games their own identities. The narrator is most likely our level-up lady. And no one from a past game.

[@aharon6035]

@@elias.t That theory is just as relevant of a theory as someone's who holds a more unified belief. Especially where there is smoke. Above all we should just be rational.

[@Vexxing_0001]

Fun fact the hollow slayer great sword does more damage to gael in his second/third phase, presenting the idea that he goes hollow mid fight

[@Dantelor]

Makes sense considering he achieves his eternal goal of getting the pigment; which is the blood of the dark soul. The moment he starts bleeding, he knows that the Ashen One will complete it, so after all this uncountable days, he knows his task is done. His beautiful realisation is where he just lets go.

[@aclosh2983]

Is the first phase that the hollow slayer deals more damage, in the other phases you do more damage with anti abyss weapons, implying that in the end he fought as a knight one last time

[@jurivjerdha2467]

@@aclosh2983 that makes sense tbh…since he kinda lost hope that the blood would ever be his making him go hollow and when he saw that he infact had the blood he finally had a reason to live again . To give the blood to Ariendel

[@ramrodbldm9876]

That's not a fun fact. It's a old known fact. It's only a fun fact to elden ring noobs

[@retronoodles_but_cooler]

@@ramrodbldm9876ds3 was my first souls game and I didn’t know that

[@Joseph_Biten]

You said Gwyndolin's room is endless but if you run towards Gwyndolin for long enough you'll actually corner him at the end of the hallway. Pretty cool stuff.

[@AzureKite]

Damn I never had the patience to try that. I assumed it was endless but, of course, a true endless hallway in a game is impossible because at some point you would crash the game.

[@toprak3479]

@@AzureKite Not necessarily

[@Tsukuyomi28]

@@AzureKite not if they deleted the areas behind you or something

[@ItsGBMoD]

@@Tsukuyomi28 or they can just teleport you back to the start due to it being repeating

[@alwest4472]

@@AzureKite my guy mario 64 already did the ‘endless’ hallway with those damned stairs

[@arthurdurham]

I could never take the Rapier seriously. *Gael:* Flies in the air and strikes the ground with righteous fury in an explosion of lighting and remnants of the dark soul *Ashen One:* Poke

[@asandflavoredpoptart9151]

I always found that hilarious. Coming from an irithyll rapier main… Boss: I’ve been standing here for ages, accumulating power. I’ve defeated hundreds of opponents! You cannot defeat me. Me: haha freezie stick go poke poke

[@arthurdurham]

@@asandflavoredpoptart9151 Ice cream stabby stab

[@wngmv]

Given how op estoc was in ds3 (and even more so, bss in ds1), they always looked really funny. I watched the part where he kept poking the twin princes. I fought them with uchigatana on my first playthrough, and it's the one I remember the most. With a katana it was almost like a dance because how beautiful the moveset was.

[@furrytrash653]

Personally I love the feel of the rapiers. Feels more eligent even if its just another thing to spam r1 with. I'll always love the crow quills.

[@shamrockgaming9505]

@@furrytrash653 i will always fondly remember rapier r1 spam in ds2

[@mineman633]

1:37:16 “this boss is a total push over” *souls retrieved*

[@Devon.with.an.i]

One of the worst bosses in the trilogy

[@mineman633]

@@Devon.with.an.i as in difficulty or what?

[@Devon.with.an.i]

@@mineman633 too many projectiles, and it was based on luck

[@mineman633]

@@Devon.with.an.i ah one of them

[@Hellwaterva]

that moss can go and suffer burns from evertr pyromancy

[@bb-152ussmeta9]

One added detail I adored on the Old Demon King of DS3 was when you brought him to around 10% of his health. He'll unleash all of his remaining power in an AOE attack that leaves him with nothing left, just a crippled demon with no more fire, unable to even lift his hammer to attack till you finally finish him off out of pity.

[@pajtimo23]

One of my favorite moments in any game I've played, so small but tells so much about a character you don't really think twice about.

[@Ethan-ib5hk]

Cringe

[@jakubjakistam9137]

@@Ethan-ib5hk Okay Ethan.

[@mackenziebeeney3764]

It would be interesting if you could just leave the area then and leave it to wither away and come back later just to collect its soul from its corpse.

[@pajtimo23]

@@mackenziebeeney3764 best to put it out of its misery

[@LordTactusMe]

I love the Dragonslayer armor fight just for its implications. The world you’re in is so devastated that the best adversary it can throw at you is literally a suit of old armor.

[@firetarrasque4667]

I love how much it feels like Gothic Horror. I've always thought that Gothic Horror is really about time. Something happens that's so significant that it refuses to remain in the past - Whether it be a man seeking vengeance for a wrong done to him twenty years ago, or a ruined castle that's trapped in the moment of its owner's death, or a pale, blood-drinking man who won't move on and accept that the world doesn't want him. I think a suit of armor that's run through the motions so many times that it doesn't even *matter* there's no one in it anymore is a powerful representation of that. God, that fight is so good.

[@ultrachara2818]

It gets better when you realize there are two DRAGONS at the second half of the area.

[@g0blinfractal472]

@@firetarrasque4667 zzzzzzz

[@RandomPerson-yf4ox]

@@firetarrasque4667 said to say the armor is being controlled by the things off the boss stage, so it is not exactly like you said

[@whiteblade798]

And right after that they throw two teleporting princes weilding a giant flaming sword and casting spells and healing the other from the brink of death.

[@coolbro9782]

*people standing next to each other* Eldritch Augur: This is an homage to Ornstein and Smough

[@pandinus1377]

I mean nameless king is literally killing dragon ornstein lmfao

[@coolbro9782]

@@pandinus1377 huh i never thought about it like that...

[@roomtempwater1]

@@pandinus1377 yes but he said the demon prince was an homage to ornstein and smough which is just stretching it a lot

[@BW-CZ]

@@roomtempwater1 I think that might have been meant in the way that the final form's moveset is based on the order you kill them in. But yeah, a bit weird lol

[@OmgItsOni]

lmaooooo

[@billyhenerson2871]

Dark Souls 1 5:34 Asylum Demon 6:49 Taurus Demon 7:53 Bell Gargoyles 10:25 Capra Demon 11:27 Gaping Dragon 12:35 Chaos Witch Quelaag 14:08 Iron Golem 15:21 Ornstein and Smough 18:17 Moonlight Butterfly 18:43 Great Grey Wolf Sif 19:53 Four Kings 20:54 Seath the Scaleless 22:07 Stray Demon 22:37 Ceaseless Discharge 22:58 Demon Firesage 23:21 Centipede Demon 23:59 Bed of Chaos 25:24 Crossbreed Priscilla 25:54 Pinwheel 26:26 Gravelord Nito 27:27 Sanctuary Guardian 28:15 Knight Artorias 29:57 Black Dragon Kalameet 31:03 Manus, Father of the Abyss 32:37 Dark Sun Gwyndolin 33:25 Gwyn, Lord of Cinder Dark Souls 2 36:30 37:50 The Pursuer 38:57 The Last Giant 39:43 Dragonrider 40:19 Old Dragonslayer 40:47 Flexile Sentry 41:43 Ruin Sentinels 43:01 Belfry Gargoyles 44:13 The Lost Sinner 44:48 Executioner's Chariot 45:34 Skeleton Lords 46:42 Covetous Demon 47:15 Mytha, the Baneful Queen 48:19 Royal Rat Vanguard 48:46 The Rotten 49:37 Scorpioness Najka 50:36 Royal Rat Authority 51:46 Prowling Magus and Congregation 52:48 The Duke's Dear Freja 54:03 Smelter Demon 55:37 Old Iron King 56:04 Twin Dragonriders 56:29 Looking Glass Knight 57:52 Demon of Song 58:33 Velstadt, the Royal Aegis 1:00:22 Guardian Dragon 1:01:41 Ancient Dragon 1:04:18 Darklurker 1:06:06 Giant Lord 1:06:21 Vendrick 1:07:39 Elana, the Squalid Queen 1:08:44 Three graverobbers 1:10:48 Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon 1:12:49 Fume Knight 1:14:36 Sir Alonne 1:18:25 Blue Smelter Demon 1:20:06 Aava, the King's Pet 1:21:16 Lud and Zallen 1:23:18 Burnt Ivory King 1:27:38 Throne Watcher and Defender 1:28:57 Nashandra 1:29:41 Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin Dark Souls 3 1:31:54 1:33:11 Iudex Gundyr 1:34:55 Vordt of the Boreal Valley 1:35:58 Curse-rotted Greatwood 1:37:05 Crystal Sage 1:38:00 Deacons of the Deep 1:39:16 Abyss Watchers 1:41:18 Old Demon King 1:43:10 High Lord Wolnir 1:44:25 Pontiff Sulyvahn 1:46:19 Aldrich, Devourer of Gods 1:49:08 Yhorm the Giant 1:50:32 Dancer of the Boreal Valley 1:51:57 Ocerios, the Consumed King 1:52:52 Dragonslayer Armour 1:55:24 Champion Gundyr 1:56:59 Ancient Wyvern 1:58:07 Nameless King 2:00:22 Twin Princes 2:03:54 Gravetender Greatwolf and Champion's Gravetender 2:05:31 Father Ariandel and Sister Friede 2:10:41 Demon Prince 2:14:13 Halflight, Spear of the Church 2:16:48 Darkeater Midir 2:19:21 Slave Knight Gael 2:28:24 Soul of Cinder

[@ac1dnet]

thank you i love you

[@alkarbalaay4148]

Wondrous gent !

[@oblivion1924]

So close to perfection... but "Gravetender" had to ruin it smh

[@billyhenerson2871]

​@@oblivion1924 Fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out. Can't believe I missed it.

[@oblivion1924]

@A Person that's not really what I meant, but sure, that is better. That was a coincidence. I didn't mean that. I was talking about how it was this perfect straight line of blue that is suddenly cut off by "gravetender." It is better now though.

[@utes5532]

A small shame you didn't mention how the arena affects the fight against the four kings. Since it's all a black void, you have next to no depth perception. In my experience the most difficult aspect of that fight was the projectiles for that reason, I could never get the timing to dodge them right because I had no idea how far away they were.

[@looksfineforme9471]

Me with no depth perception: your puny tricks won't work on me!

[@mahmud7645]

4 Kings arena is scary

[@thegreatpiginthesky3904]

Also to add to the arena you must wear the ring the entire time which could affect your builds. This was unfortunate for my strength build because I couldn't use beefy armor with my greatsword

[@thomaslareau453]

the hardest part of that fight is figuring out to put that damn ring on before plunging to your death

[@rmrzthethird5464]

Its a homing spell so i don't think it is dodgeable

[@SpicyDeddy]

I also love Gael’s story because it turns the player character into someone else. You’re no longer a nameless undead/unkindled repeating a cycle, you are the herald of a new world. For the first time, your actions truly matter and have weight to them. You’re not beginning a new cycle, you’re creating something entirely new. You completely outgrow your station as cannon fodder to return the lords to their stations and link the flame and you, Gael, and Aria shepherd a new world.

[@noahluke3152]

Perhaps...Yharnam? Or at this point Elden Ring's world seems more likely.

[@why8298]

@@noahluke3152 well in the gameplay previews of elden ring, there’s an area with the word forlorn in the title and I’m pretty sure that’s what the inhabitants of the first painting were called, so it’s entirely possible that elden ring is the new world that she was painting, but it’s all just theoretical until there’s official confirmation.

[@lightningrain3114]

Well it basically comes down to 2 nobodies fighting over nothing in a world of anything no longer for the hope a new world would be created. Gael leading you through the dlc was him knowing that only you could defeat him once he had finally turned hollow from his duty.

[@lightningrain3114]

@@noahluke3152 no, if anything it would be closer to yharnam because the new world is supposedly a cold and dark place. But its unlikely

[@lightningrain3114]

@@why8298 no cause it isnt a cold and dark place

[@CrimeFighterFrog]

Its been 4 years and I still cant believe how perfectly they topped of this now legendary series with the Gael boss fight. Its incredible.

[@Catwomans_Belt]

the ringed city was absolutely insane thinking back on it. the tough as shit enemies, the locations, and 3 of the most badass bosses ive ever fought.

[@CrimeFighterFrog]

@@Catwomans_Belt I mean, I love the ringed city, but the church boss really wasnt great.

[@strangegreenthing]

@@CrimeFighterFrog I think he's referring to demon prince, midir, Gael.

[@genderfr3ak]

The lesson Asylum Demon teaches you is one of the most fundamental lessons in Dark Souls: there's no shame in retreating, exploring, and finding a better way.

[@nayyarrashid4661]

That's how I played the game. There is a better way to every situation. I made every situation easy for myself.

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

Kinda, but you're usually locked in with bosses thereafter. However, as regards lessons for non-boss encounters, I'd add that running past enemies is absolutely OP in the entire series.

[@IHateDubstep]

25:25 "Pricilla is the only 100% optional boss in Dark Souls." This sentence hits different when you have the forbidden, eldritch knowledge that you only have to kill 7 bosses to beat the game.

[@mahmud7645]

Edit: I realize that DS has a lot more free exploration (if you know what you are doing) than I have thought of. The comment below me mentions all mandatory bosses that must be beat and are unavoidable for progression without glitches, the rest is optional. Though Ceaseless Discharge is technically optional, having the fire resist to avoid dying in Lost Izalith with him being alive makes him kinda mandatory for almost all builds imo.

[@IHateDubstep]

@@mahmud7645 There are only 12 strictly mandatory bosses. The only mandatory bosses, without glitches, (you don't need master key) are: Asylum Demon, Bell Gargoyles, Quelaag, Iron Golem, Ornstein and Smough, Sif, Four Kings, Bed of Chaos, Pinwheel, Gravelord Nito, Seath the Scaleless, Gwyn.

[@btchiaintkidding7837]

@@mahmud7645 stray demon is optional as well, In the dlc kalameet is also optional

[@IHateDubstep]

@@btchiaintkidding7837 every boss I didn't list in the above comment is intentionally optional

[@HasvenWorld]

@@IHateDubstep we don't count Pinwheel

[@louis559]

Another thing to add about the Abyss Watchers that makes the fight even better: a pretty big portion of their moveset is adapted from Artorias' moves. This is great because it's drawing from an already great boss fight and it also plays into the lore.

[@ecthelionalfa]

They are artorias fanclub

[@Brunopoti.]

@@ecthelionalfa yeah they do be simping over artorias

[@imjonathan6745]

@@ecthelionalfa but the artorias fanclub knew about the "Astoria's flip"??

[@darymanzueta8875]

Don’t you technically fight Artorias in phase 2 because they share wolf’s blood

[@jonathanjardines469]

Personally I must say that sitting and listening to this 2 and a half hour masterpiece whilst getting my ass handed to me by lorian and lothric for the third playthrough in a row has made me realize that I have soulsborne Stockholm syndrome

[@InfamousRafe]

Didn't even know until you said something and I'm 20 minutes

[@InfamousRafe]

In

[@graynomad7735]

Who doesn’t

[@crusadertsakos4638]

I believe the Asylum demon boss fight doesn't teach you that the plunging attack is very powerful, but instead that exploration is rewarded. Taurus demon can be lured to the top of the tower to fight him in a more open area. Gaping dragon can be made easier by finding and killing the mage in the balcony. There are more examples but i think that dark souls early game was meant to tell you that this game isn't "become parry/dodge god", but to explore. It's an adventure after all. A depressing one, but an adventure still

[@crusadertsakos4638]

@Luis Martinez Asylum demon is a micrography of the actual world. You can beat him by going from the front door or by going to the top and plunging. It is not meant to be a secret technique, this is the tutorial. It just shows you that hey, if you look around for a bit you might find a way to make your life easier

[@sassas1487]

yeah it's cool but i more like gameplsy part of bosses rather than finding someone/something and killing/taking it to make fight easier

[@gallow_]

@@sassas1487 awaiting your sl1 run

[@overlordchemm3705]

"Using the same boss 3 times is when it starts to get annoying" I need to hear this man's take on the Godskin bastards in ER.

[@cannibalist1c231]

Dumbest boss in elden ring

[@menialbee]

I mean elden ring is an open world game, and nearly twice as long as dark souls 1. It's definitely excusable in elden ring, not to mention the godskins are fairly good bosses anyway. Stray demons just kinda lame

[@ds3isgreat355]

@@menialbee Not the duo.

[@Ultrakrill2411]

@@ds3isgreat355 exactly, shoving two similar bosses together that weren't even designed to be fought at the same time and making that a MANDATORY BOSS is completely inexcusable

[@LowIntSpecimen]

Most bosses in general in er

[@salvale9184]

12:25 I don't blame you for not knowing this, but the spit attack actually degrades your equipment. It only has broken my stuff like once though.

[@alilweeb7684]

yeah i also knew the hard way, it degrades fairly quickly aswell

[@sassas1487]

doesn't it have a sign like YOUR WEAPON IN DANGER, BIIIIITCH

[@twoworldwars4633]

If you kill Sir Alonne without being hit at all, you get a special death animation where he ends his own life. Like he wasn’t skilled enough to take you down, much less strike you once, so as a last honorable act, he ends his own life so you don’t get the satisfaction of ending him.

[@shroudthewolf1105]

Or if you show up to the Fume Knight wearing Velstadt's armor he changes to his pryomancy moveset because Velstadt and Raime were once best friend but later fought and Raime lost.

[@Wadusher]

@@shroudthewolf1105 Its specifically the helmet, he doesn't seem to notice the rest of the set.

[@help_me1580]

alonne is a weeb

[@Winasaurus]

It's not some sort of spiteful thing to prevent you getting the satisfaction, it's the seppuku trope. The only way to properly atone for extreme dishonor is to end your own life, to show you have come to terms with your failure and are willing to accept the ultimate punishment. It's not to stop you being satisfied, it's to stop him from continuing to shame himself. To try and fight you despite being utterly outmatched would be disrespectful to you, the player, so he saves you the trouble.

[@lolwhatever7307]

There is also a timer for this event, something about 3m. I got it in my last playthrough randomly without aiming for it, and let me tell you, that was really satisfying to see

[@EldritchAugur]

Well... Seems like this video has caught the algorithm lately. Just a few things since this has been blowing up. - I don't make KZbin videos anymore. Sorry to say but I had to focus on other things in my life. I might return to this someday but for the moment, I'm retired. - Yes there are some mistakes in this video. I don't know 100% everything about every minor detail in these games, please refer to corrections by others in the comments. - Jesus guys the Prowling Magus is like an ok little boss fight. I didn't think I made some 40 minute passionate defense of it to justify these lengthy rebuttal comments. My opinion of it is that it's kinda fun and that's all I really have to say about it. I didn't think it was that controversial or offensive to so many people. - I'm getting a lot of criticism for not being good at Halflight. Folks I said PvP is not my thing, I'm sure if you play PvP all day you'd enjoy it more, but I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who has never invaded or sought out PvP. It's an aspect of the game I don't enjoy, the connection is always laggy and the game is full of sweatlords using cookie cutter min/max builds. My invaders would sit behind the painting guardian for minutes at a time waiting for an opening to L1 spam me to death with carthus rouge. It was obnoxious and it wasn't any fun for me. Just my opinion and experience with the fight. - I kinda knew saying that I liked DS2 would ruffle some feathers but I probably shouldn't have just lit the fuse and ran away. The nature of this video showcases DS2 at its worst, the bosses. DS2 takes a different approach to bosses that I really dig but that annoys a lot of people. They aren't climactic encounters to wrap up an area like in DS1 and 3. DS2 uses them for variety, flavor, and experimentation. They aren't as strong individually but I like the overall approach. If I'm ranking the games based on bosses I would say: DS3>DS1>DS2, but if I'm ranking the games based on the whole experience I would say DS2>DS1>DS3. I know that's unpopular but its just the way I feel. They are all amazing games but they are all severely flawed. DS2's approach is just the one I like the most. I love the sprawling nature of the game and playful level design and enemy placement. I love DS1's interconnected world but it's build options are limited compared to DS2 and 3 and there's a ton of little annoyances (4 way rolling, 2 ring slots, oppressive equip load, etc.). Lost Izalith can go sit on a cactus as well, worst part of all 3 games. DS3 is solid but is so uncreative it hurts, it's also the most unpolished with some bad animations and hitboxes (yes worse than DS2). They are all pretty equal but I like DS2 more and more every time I play it. It's really underappreciated. - I haven't played Demons Souls or Bloodborne so I don't have a frame of reference for how DS compares. It's not because I don't want to. I don't own any consoles, so unless they get ported to PC than I'm out of luck. Sony annoyingly doesn't port their games to PC. - Finally I'm getting a lot of comments that my voice is annoying. I'm aware lol. My voice is like nails-on-a-chalkboard to me in editing. I just naturally have a weak voice and it takes a lot of effort to annunciate words properly. I apologize if it annoys you because it annoys me too. I just ain't a very talented narrator so if you've made it through the video all the way I commend you. I appreciate all the engagement with the video lately. I'm currently doing other things with my life but it's kinda cool to see this video doing well. Hope ya'll are doing great.

[@devonvox5618]

Don't care didn't ask

[@snazzystardust608]

Glad other adore DS2 as much as I do

[@Dlúith]

If you do come back, I’ll be happy as a lark, if you don’t I’ll have plenty of fun watching the rest of your content that’s up. Either way good luck to you mate

[@narudude1994]

Your voice isn't annoying at all, man. Thanks for the video!

[@Flordajit55]

I realize that you’ve likely realized, since the video is three years old, but the gaping dragon puke attack corrodes armor very fast, and considering that many players buy crystal weapons from domhall it can break them easily

[@iamdingus]

Gael is definitely one of the best bosses of all time. The build up across the DLC is amazing. Gael himself being just a regular old Undead persisting through tenacity and force of will for EONS is really crazy when you think about it. When we first meet him, he's already one of the most ancient characters we've met across any of the games, bar the gods. It's uncertain how far in the future we get sent, but if you look at Gael before, and compare it to after the warp, his armour and weapons are DESTROYED. They tell you as much in the description of the crossbow and sword. The Pygmy Lords even know of him. "The Red Hood". He's so infamous to them that they know of him as this mythical boogieman who hunts them. He's been fighting and searching until the end of time, and when he finally finds the remnant of the Dark Soul entrusted to the furtive pygmy, it's diluted and weak. Through generations the blood of the Dark Soul is shared among the descendants of the Pygmy. So Gael comes to the simple conclusion of, if it's diluted and unfit to be a proper pigment, he'll just condense the blood together. In himself. He'll use himself as a crucible to reforge the Dark Soul. At the start of phase 2, there's a touch they added which is absolutely my favourite part. When phase 2 starts, you probably won't notice, but he goes Hollow. The game does not tell you this. The only way to see it in game is that the Hollowslayer Greatsword will do noticeably more damage to him. When you beat him down, and he sees his own blood, he sees the Blood of the Dark Soul. Not diluted like it was when he consumed it, but thick and black. With this, he sees that his job is done. All that's left is for you to do your part and take the newly reforged Dark Soul from him, which, clearly, cannot just be given like an item. so he goes Hollow, and what you fight in phase 2 and 3 is the unrestrained might of an ancient knight at the end of his journey, no longer holding back, using every power at his disposal and soul he's consumed on his journey as a weapon. No reason, no bias, just battle. He even, in a rare attack I've personally only seen him use a couple times, uses summon signs to warp towards you. When an undead loses their way, or gives up, they become a mindless, aggressive hollow. That was the general theory. But the other criteria to going fully hollow is completion of your purpose. We see it throughout the game, especially with Anri of Astora and Horace. Horace fell into a pit, and was unable to find a way out of the Smouldering Lake. We can see ourselves that you can't get out of the Smouldering Lake without warping from a bonfire, unless someone above cuts the bridge to make a ladder. He succumbed to despair and gave up, becoming a vicious Hollow we have to put down. Anri themselves, through their personal questline, will eventually go completely Hollow after they slay Aldrich and accomplish their task. Even Siegward would have gone Hollow too after we slay Yhorm if he didn't presumably take his own life or succumb to injuries. Gael also accomplished his final task by seeing the pure Dark Soul. Just some late night word vomit on why I fucking love Dark Souls 3.

[@lolan7410]

Bravo, good sir. I wholeheartedly agree.

[@MasterDrakon009]

Nice shit bro, loved reading that

[@TheGameCritc]

Wonderful comment. I really enjoyed reading that.

[@xavierbenitez1071]

Well gentlemen, I will be replaying dark souls 3 just to fight gael again. Top tier comment sir

[@DiabolicalHater]

@@xavierbenitez1071 stop talking like a redditor

[@hghfhtgdfvf]

Little timestamps for the specific boss enjoyers DS1 Asylum Demon 5:34 Taurus Demon 6:49 Gargoyles 7:53 Capra Demon 10:24 Gaping Dragon 11:27 Quelaag 12:35 Iron Golem 14:07 Hell in the main hall of Anor Londo aka Ornstein and Smough 15:21 Moonlight Butterfly 18:16 Sif 18:43 4 Kings 19:53 Seath 20:53 Stray Demon 22:07 Ceaceless Discharge 22:37 Demon Firesage 22:57 Centipede Demon 23:20 BoC 23:58 Eldritch speaking fax 24:33 Priscilla 25:23 Pinwheel 25:54 Nito 26:26 Sanctuary Guardian 27:26 My boy Artorias at 28:15 Kalameet 29:56 Manus 31:03 Gwyndolin 32:36 Gwyn 33:24 DS2 Pursuer 37:50 Last Giant 38:57 Dragonrider 39:43 Old Dragonslayer 40:18 Flexile Sentry 40:48 Ruin Sentinels 41:43 Gargoyles 43:01 Lost Sinner 44:13 Executioner Chariot 44:48 Skelly lords 45:34 Covetous Demon 46:42 Mytha 47:12 Royal Rat Vanguard 48:09 The Rotten 48:45 Najka 49:36 Royal Rat Authority 50:36 Prowling Magnus 51:45 Dukes Dear Freja 52:46 Smelter Demon 54:02 Old Iron King 55:37 Twin Dragonriders 56:03 Looking Glass Night 56:28 Demon of Song 57:51 Velstadt 58:32 Guardian Dragon 1:00:21 Ancient Dragon 1:01:40 Darklurker 1:04:17 Giant Lord 1:06:05 Vendrick 1:06:20 Elana 1:07:38 Three Musketeers (Graverobber, Varg and Cerah) 1:08:43 Sinh 1:10:48 Fume Knight 1:12:48 Sir Alonne 1:14:35 Smelter Demon, but only he's blue 1:18:24 Aava 1:20:06 Lud and Zallen 1:21:16 Burnt Ivory King 1:23:17 Throne Watchers 1:27:38 Nashandra 1:28:57 Aldia, Scholar of the first Sin 1:29:40 DS3 Iudex Gundyr 1:33:10 Vordt 1:34:55 Curse-rotted Greatwood 1:35:58 Crystal Sage 1:37:04 Deacons of the Deep 1:38:00 Abyss Watchers 1:39:16 Old Demon King 1:41:17 Wolnir 1:43:10 Pontiff 1:44:25 Aldrich 1:46:19 Yhorm 1:49:08 Dancer 1:50:31 Oceiris 1:51:57 Dragonslayer Armor 1:52:51 Champion Gundyr 1:55:22 Ancient Wyvern 1:56:57 Nameless King 1:58:06 Prince Lothric 2:00:22 Champions Gravetender 2:03:53 Sister Freia 2:05:30 Demon Prince 2:10:40 Spear of the Church 2:14:12 Midir 2:16:48 Gael 2:19:20 SoC 2:28:24 Edit: fixed the moonlight butterfly stamp

[@weirdlookindoll]

Thank you

[@aquacyanide]

Absolute chad

[@recluse5245]

You god of a man

[@sovietbiscuit9918]

This comment is too underrated for the dedication put into getting all the time stamps

[@pgp]

Praise thee kind heart

[@weskerpawnch]

I really appreciate the preface, especially the mention that you haven't played Demon's Souls and Bloodborne, because I feel that those games can contextually change how certain bosses in Dark Souls are experienced.

[@justinharris2272]

Ain't that the truth, once you've played Bloodborne Oceiros for example just looks like a botched version of Lawrence

[@murii_desu1436]

@@justinharris2272 and on the Sister Friede fight, you're basically fighting a hunter instead of an ashen one

[@wngmv]

Absyss watcher phase 2 basically is a copy of Lady Maria phase 3.

[@Corrupted]

I feel like ancient dragon is awful by design, there's absolutely no reason to attack the poor thing after it was helping you - it seems like a "yeah, you want to be an asshole? alright, enjoy"

[@gdsparky6465]

I DIDNT WANT TO FIGHT IT BUT I ACCIDENTLY USED THE OTHER FOUR GIANT SOULS AND I WAS NOT ABOUT TO FIGHT VENDRICK DOING 4DMG

[@Corrupted]

@@gdsparky6465 lmao that hurts

[@loganlaslo2098]

@@Corrupted The boss is actually easy with fire resistance gear, flash sweat, and small orange burr (not including dlc items) but most players won't actually look at that anyway. The boss tests your game knowledge at that point on what to utilize for that one specific attack but like I said....not many gamers are going to spend a few hours figuring that out so of course this boss is looked down upon.

[@NineArc]

average dark souls 2 cope

[@loganlaslo2098]

@@NineArc Easy but still a pain in the ass that regular people don't want to do. I never said I liked the boss cause even though it tests game knowledge it's a VERY poor example to do that by constant frustrating death to figure that out. DS2 is the definition of experimental and most of these ideas were executed correctly, later titles did the ideas better.

[@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth]

1:41:18 Really disappointed you didn't mention this boss's third phase, when brought to low health. He falls to one knee, clutches his wounded chest with one hand, and weakly swipes at you with his hammer if you get close. It really drives home the tragedy of the situation. It's implied in DS3 that demons never actually were any more evil then humans or giants, and the Old Demon King's feeble desperation before the end somewhat emphasizes that. He's not fighting you out of malice, he simply doesn't want to end up like all the demon corpses that surround him. He was the last demon alive who still remembered the now-extinguished Chaos Flame, and you just killed him for no other reason then because he was there.

[@iamdingus]

Yeah pretty much. He's not even a required boss. His arena is disconnected from the entire level and you can finish the whole area without entering it. He's just hiding out among the graves of his people and we walk in and murder him.

[@jooot_6850]

@@iamdingus Ash seeketh embers. What better source of fleeting warmth than an ailing old fire demon?

[@scrimblo_the_second]

but think about this, killing him was an act of mercy. so he would not have to fight anymore, he could finally rest

[@bigmannn2443]

@@scrimblo_the_second To be fair he was already resting and most likely he would've rested until the end of time because of all the enemies that you have to face to even get to him, we just barged in, disturbing his slumber, for what? For another soul to add to your collection? Really makes you think if you really are the good guy in the game when you realize some of the bosses that we killed aren't even doing any harm to others and instead just want to be left alone

[@steaksauce232]

Not even the last demon who remembered the Chaos Flame, there's strong implication that he, the Stray Demon on the wall, and the two Demons in the Dreg Heap are the last demons period.

[@menumorut21]

Just wanting to clarify that the "slowing attack" of the gaping dragon actually destroys durability for weapons

[@K1NG-R3X]

Evil.

[@awkwurdknight2088]

And armor

[@LovelyNyx7]

Never knew that i started skipping him entirely after my 3rd playthrough and just never went down to fight him anymore lol

[@casualgamingauraous2345]

When he does that running attack if you get caught in his teeth I’ve witnessed people get one-shot and I heard that it also destroys gear durability as well

[@Anaax]

​@@casualgamingauraous2345 The running attack does a lot of damage, it doesn't affect durability though.

[@bestsouls2446]

Fun fact: You CAN parry Velstadt, and the timing is fairly generous too and is a very viable strategy to dealing with him.

[@barkerbarks2537]

yup

[@Nazo-kage]

19:25 it is actually an even bigger gut punch, if during the DLC you save her. Not only does she become a ally summon for the fight against Manas. But if you wait to have the fight with Siff until after the fight with Manas, A cut scene will happen at the start of the fight. The giant dog pins you to the ground snarling, until it picks up your scent, and she remembers you. She backs up looking at you sadly and then howls. Before slowly making her way to the sword and picking it up ready to fight. This makes it even more tragic because she doesn’t want to fight you and even though you need that ring she must protect her masters grave.

[@Xxgxxaxx]

talk about attention to detail

[@killionaire4097]

@@Xxgxxaxx more like talk about pain

[@jirivlk9862]

She doesn't even protect the grave, she protects you by not allowing you to go into the Abyss so it won't corrupt you and grow even more

[@Xxgxxaxx]

@@killionaire4097 that too

[@catisreckless4647]

Sif's gender is never revealed. Why is everyone trying to insist they're a female all of a sudden? Did the developers confirm something or is this the usual grasping at straws?

[@alexberube5269]

In relation to the last giant. The lore comes to fruition later in the game, as a first playthrough you think nothing of him but after beating the giant lord you may come to realize that the last giant and giant lord are one and the same. After being beaten by you it tumbles down and get impaled, sitting there for years until setting eyes on you, the very same soul who beat it all that time ago, it lashes out and after losing it goes all out attempting to wield his arm like his sword as giant lord

[@woden__]

You can tell hes used to ds2, rolling a mile away from the boss just to heal

[@cosmiclikesminecraft]

I don’t know that’s just how some people play. I do the same thing in case I get caught off guard with a fast attack

[@HoHhoch]

@@cosmiclikesminecraft Yea, but that DS2 drink animation is slow as molasses.

[@sonder006]

@@HoHhoch at least it can be sped up with adp

[@SeviathTheHumanDrago]

I don't heal until after the battles. If I die, I die. If I win by the skin of my teeth, or using cheap tactics I'm perfectly fine with that. Like I just spammed throwing knives with the Last Giant.

[@spamalam9274]

@@SeviathTheHumanDrago okay😐

[@unstugen340]

I actually really like Yorhm, I used to just think "Lets get this over with" but then I did challenge runs like pyro only or class only knight etc. Etc. Where I couldn't use the storm ruler and I began to respect the boss even if it is repetitive.

[@ambralemon]

Same here. I did a co-op spellcaster only run with a buddy of mine. I could only use miracles and dark magic while he was in charge of sorceries and pyromancies. The sheer amount of precision and pressure the boss required to be defeated and the teamwork needed was so much fun. Blast his head with sorceries and dark magic, then as soon as he's down chaos storm and wrath of the gods on him Oddly enough, it was the best fight in the entire run that way.

[@schmoobmcfroob2800]

I didn’t know what the Storm Ruler was, meaning that I got very, very familiar with his moveset on my first playthrough. And yes, Yhorm is actually very fun to fight normally. In fact, I think I would have preferred it if he was a tad more frustrating, anything to give new players the hint that ‘there’s gotta be a better way to do this’. Because there was nothing about the fight to tip me off that it wasn’t just going to be a half-hour long endurance test.

[@dirt_dert_durt]

Real men fight Yhorm head-on

[@squirtbrainz1219]

Exactly what happened to me

[@RegalRoyalWasTaken]

Mods where his damage resistance is nerfed to more manageable levels rules because if you're actually fighting him, he's pretty damn fun.

[@DerekIsNotRich]

Champion Gundyr showed me one thing that I never would have learned in DS3. When you have a near max stamina bar and a standard shield, if you block on of his strong knockback attacks, you get flipped backwards, and stick the landing, still keeping your guard up. Almost useless animation but a welcome surprise when you panic block his kick. xD

[@xuanathan]

Same thing happens with Nito's humanity tide attack in ds1

[@MajinMoon]

My character slid back a few meters during the Gael fight when I panic blocked

[@GenEric1305]

I got that animation during the Dragonslayer Armour fight and it sent me off the edge when I was 2 hits from beating him.

[@doncoria9505]

I love that mechanic, its one of those tricks that i teach to my friends when they join the series: its more effective break your guard againts a one-shot attack than trying to avoid or dodge it

[@mckaygoodman6514]

@Luis Martinez Alas, us shield users will never break away from our old habits. Though often a deadly crutch, we will never abandon our faithful metal guardians.

[@XeresKyle]

In defense of the Vendrick boss fight, I think the point of it is that you're going through the game hearing tales of this great king who built the kingdom of Drangleic, and you're assuming he's going to be the final boss of the vanilla game, but then after beating Velstadt this other dark room opens up and you retrieve the King's crown wondering why a giant man is roaming around the room not even aware of your presence. Then if you attack him,unexpectedly you learn in that very moment that that is Vendrick, or a Hollow, decrepit and broken Vendrick, just a husk of his former self and all the legends that spoke of him. Its the contrast of him now vs his legacy. Its sad. Also the fight can be hard if you don't have the Giants Souls from the memories. You need five to even really do damage to him.

[@esaammirza4361]

i felt like it was such a rehash of the gwyn concept tbh

[@grimkxdo]

@@esaammirza4361because Gwyn caused the cycle to repeat Vendrick didn’t link the flame but then Manus basically got to him instead

[@brightsoull]

His power is really important, this is a mad broken ancient hollow vendrick, and he will completely decimate you unless you get the pure unfiltered hate of the giants in their souls and have that do 90% of your damage

[@jp969]

Can't believe I ended up watching the whole thing, when I thought of just watching DS1 bosses, and watch the rest later. Astounding work.

[@axurous1]

This is mostly for my own use, don't mind it. Another great guy provided timestamps down below, these timestamps are his. Dark Souls 1 0:05:34 Asylum Demon 0:06:49 Taurus Demon & Undead Archers 0:07:53 Bell Gargoyles 0:10:24 Capra Demon 0:11:27 Gaping Dragon 0:12:35 Chaos Witch Quelaag 0:14:07 Iron Golem 0:15:21 Dragon Slayer Ornstein & Executioner Smough [Best Boss in the Base Game] 0:18:16 Moonlight Butterfly 0:18:43 Great Gray Wolf Sif 0:19:53 Four Kings 0:20:53 Seath the Scaleless Dragon 0:22:07 Stray Demon 0:22:37 Ceaseless Discharge 0:22:57 Demon Firesage 0:23:20 Centipede Demon 0:23:58 Bed of Chaos 0:25:23 Crossbreed Priscilla 0:25:54 Pinwheel [Easiest Boss in the First Game] 0:26:28 Gravelord Nito 0:27:26 (DLC) Sanctuary Guardian 0:28:15 (DLC) Knight Artorias [Best Boss in the First Game] 0:29:56 (DLC) Black Dragon Kalameet 0:31:03 (DLC) Manus Father of the Abyss [Hardest Boss in the First Game] 0:32:36 Dark Sun Gwyndolin 0:33:24 Lord of Cinder Gwyn Dark Souls 2 0:37:50 The Pursuer 0:38:57 The Last Giant 0:39:43 Dragonrider 0:40:18 Old Dragonslayer 0:40:48 Flexile Sentry 0:41:43 Ruin Sentinels 0:43:01 Belfry Gargoyles 0:44:13 Lost Sinner 0:44:48 Executioner's Chariot 0:45:34 Skeleton Lords 0:46:42 Covetous Demon 0:47:12 Mytha the Baneful Queen 0:48:09 Royal Rat Vanguard 0:48:45 The Rotten 0:49:36 Scorpioness Najka 0:50:36 Royal Rat Authority [Worst Boss in the Second Game] 0:51:45 Prowling Magus & Congregation of Hollows 0:52:46 The Duke's Dear Freja 0:54:02 Iron Keep's Smelter Demon 0:55:37 Old Iron King 0:56:03 Archer Dragonrider & Previous Dragonrider 0:56:28 Looking Glass Knight 0:57:51 Demon of Song 0:58:32 Royal Aegis Velstadt [Best Boss in the Base Game] 1:00:21 Guardian Dragon 1:01:40 Ancient Dragon [Worst Dragon Boss in the Series] 1:04:17 Darklurker(s) 1:06:05 Giant Lord 1:06:20 King Vendrick 1:07:38 (DLC 1) Squalid Queen Elana & Summoned Velstadt 1:08:43 (DLC 1) Afflicted Graverobber & Ancient Soldier Varg & Old Explorer Cerah 1:10:48 (DLC 1) Sinh the Slumbering Dragon 1:12:48 (DLC 2) Fume Knight 1:14:35 (DLC 2) Sir Alonne [Best Boss in the Second Game, Best Music in the Series] 1:18:24 (DLC 2) Iron Passage's Smelter Demon [Most Unfair Fight in the Game, supposed Hardest Boss in the Game] 1:20:06 (DLC 3) King's Pet Aava 1:21:16 (DLC 3) King's Pet Lud & King's Pet Zallen [Worst Boss Run in the Series and Worst Bosses in the Series] 1:23:17 (DLC 3) Burnt Ivory King & Charred Loyce Knights [Best Boss in the Second Game] 1:27:38 Throne Watcher & Throne Defender 1:28:57 Nashandra 1:29:40 Scholar of the First Sin Aldia Dark Souls 3 1:31:53 Intro 1:33:10 Iudex Gundyr 1:34:55 Vordt of the Boreal Valley 1:35:58 Curse-Rotted Greatwood 1:37:04 Crystal Sage 1:38:00 Deacons of the Deep 1:39:16 Abyss Watchers 1:41:17 Old Demon King 1:43:10 High Lord Wolnir 1:44:25 Pontiff Sulyvahn 1:46:19 Aldritch the Devourer of Gods 1:49:08 Yhorm the Giant 1:50:31 Dancer of the Boreal Valley 1:51:57 Oceiros the Consumed King 1:52:51 Dragonslayer Armour & Pilgrim Butterflies 1:55:22 Champion Gundyr [Most Aggressive Boss in the Series] 1:56:57 Ancient Wyvern & Man Serpents 1:58:06 Nameless King 2:00:22 Elder Prince Lorian & Younger Prince Lothric [Best Boss in the Base Game, Best Music in the Third Game] 2:03:53 (DLC 1) Champion's Gravetender & Gravetender Greatwolf 2:05:30 (DLC 1) Sister Friede & Father Ariandel / Blackflame Friede [Fastest Boss in the Series] 2:10:40 (DLC 2) Demon in Pain & Demon from Below / Demon Prince [Best Multi Boss and Demon Boss in the Series] 2:14:12 (DLC 2) Spear of the Church Halflight & Church Guardians 2:16:48 (DLC 2) Darkeater Midir [Best Dragon Boss in the Series] 2:19:20 (DLC 2) Slave Knight Gael [Best Warrior Boss in the Series, Best Boss in the Series] 2:28:24 Soul of Cinder Edit 2 years later: I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this wonderful video. Finally, on June 2024 I bought Dark Souls 3 from a local second-hand market and I’m writing this edit on November 2024. I’d like to add my two cents: Nameless King is the strongest boss in the base game but the big four bosses in the DLC are all harder than him. I rank them in this order: Demon Prince, Slave Knight Gael, Sister Friede and finally Darkeater Midir. I do agree Gael is the best boss by all parameters bar difficulty.

[@rockycuro7737]

Nice

[@plumbus7253]

@@rockycuro7737 nice

[@ShadesMF]

@@plumbus7253 nice

[@I-like-cows]

@@ShadesMF nice

[@cammandveil]

Nice

[@VonBoche]

I think you're selling the taurus demon encounter short. It is largely a re-do of the asylum demon in most ways but the arena is what makes it more interesting. For one the way the archers force your attention on the top of the tower if you haven't noticed that you could access it is a nice bit of design. They start firing before the demon appears so it's unlikely a new player wouldn't be baited into killing them immediately after noticing them. Once up there, it's up to the player to understand that this spot offers some tactical advantage, either the ability to drop attack the demon for massive damage or waiting for the demon there to fight in a wider space. I compltely agree with the lock on, it's one of the reasons that I just don't ever feel like replaying DS1 all that much compared to the other 2.

[@EldritchAugur]

I think it's just one of those bosses that I've done so many times that important first impressions kind of become less valued over time. Honestly very much appreciate the criticism though. I haven't gotten many comments with this amount of thought put into them yet. I am still very new at this and I want good feedback like this so that I can improve.

[@VonBoche]

I also have to disagree on O&S. To me it's such a boring fight, mostly for one reason : the second phase grants the remaining boss full health. It means half of your (already rare) opportunities to deal damage safely are moot, a waste of time. If you see a weakness in the boss you've not much damaged yet, it's pointless. You're better off waiting than capitalizing on that. Which makes the fight sooooooo loooooooong and boring...

[@EldritchAugur]

@@VonBoche That's a fair point but it's one of the reasons why I appreciate it so much. So many of the bosses in DS are over so fast. You can exploit them so heavily and deal so much DPS that you rarely have to learn their movesets and patterns. Ornstein and Smough force you to slow down, they force you to learn proper attack timing and counters. And the 2nd stage, while less challenging than the first I appreciate because it challenges endurance. You have to conserve your estus very carefully because of how many opportunities there are to screw up.

[@VonBoche]

I agree with Seath being rather bad, worse than that tho I think it's a wasted opportunity to do something more interesting with the area and the boss as a whole. The lore behind Seath is indeed pretty neat and I wish it had been put to good use. I wish players had to do some detective work to figure out the secret to Seath's immortality (which would fit in with the archive theme of the level), leading to an active hunt for the crystal that makes him unkillable instead of just stumbling upon it by merely following the path forward to its dead-end.

[@VonBoche]

The worse part about the big trash ratdog in DS2 is that with some simple tweaks, this boss would go from tedious garbage to a less scathing rating : when big ratdog hits the smaller ratdog, they should take a little more damage from the attack itself AND be vulnerable to yours while being stunned (instead of being invincible for no reason... The devs thought about adding friendly fire to these dogs so that it doesn't look like big ratdog's attack goes through them but it actually works AGAINST you since if stunned then YOUR attack go through them, my god is it dumb...). That would make the first part of the fight much more tolerable.

[@cyancyborg1477]

Watching footage of the run back to Seath's boss door reminds me how happy I am that in Elden Ring, the grace (bonfire) is always directly in front of the boss door. Or if not a grace, a stake of Marika you respawn at.

[@NinjaLobsterStudios]

Honestly I never understood why this wasn't done in any of the original Souls games. Would it really have been so bad to put a bonfire in front of the O&S fog door, or next to the drop to Nito? In my most recent playthrough of DS1 I often found myself learning a micro speedrun for every boss because the boss runs are always so uninteresting and can only drain your resources (and sanity). I already proved I can get through those enemies, if I fail to beat the boss I shouldn't be forced to re-do a challenge I already overcame.

[@cristianolaboureur5999]

@@NinjaLobsterStudios completely agree with you

[@shagarumedic]

@@NinjaLobsterStudios I love you DS1, but good lord the run back to Nito gave me stage 4 cancer

[@jooot_6850]

@@NinjaLobsterStudios In DS1, the real boss fight was the run back.

[@Th3BadThing]

@@shagarumedic having just beaten Nito for the first time, that run back sucked so much.

[@scalycoronet5198]

I think the Asylum Demon is a good tutorial boss. He teaches the player that if you can’t best something at first, there’s an alternate path you can take to power up and then come back once you have an advantage. It teaches you that just because an enemy looks intimidating it’s not impossible. It forces you to go the long way, which introduces an NPC that sets up your role in the game, gives you a short demonstration about shortcuts and breakable walls/objects, then introduces you to your first group of multiple enemies. After that there’s a tougher Sword Hollow and a locked door, showing that there’s more to the area you can’t access yet. Then once you walk through the fog wall you have the upper hand. You do a plunge attack that wipes out half his health bar and use your new gear to make quick work of him

[@IJustAteYourGrapesBro]

Yeah, I think the initial 'run away' was lost since it wasn't his first playthrough, or even close. You don't just learn to run away, you go in, try to fight the thing after shitting yourself, die a few times, THEN learn to look for an alternative path, and that's an important lesson the first game teaches you repeatedly, as you'll learn it again once you reach firelink shrine almost certainly.

[@scalycoronet5198]

@@IJustAteYourGrapesBro Exactly, it prepares you for the game really well. The first thing I did was go to the graveyard above the catacombs and die, and said “well there must be another way.” Then I went to New Londo and died, and found another way. I found Blighttown, ran back up to the bonfire and went up to the Burg. Took on the Taurus, Gargoyles, Capra, then Gaping Dragon. Then I went through Blighttown and the Forest. The importance of alternate paths is taught to you immediately, and then comes up as soon as you access the Shrine. You couldn’t make it through even a quarter of the game if you never looked around

[@dickwraith8974]

First time that I played DS1, it was really discouraging that the first boss wasn't possible to beat the first time. He's a boring boss anyway and the only thing he did right was letting us learn from the level design instead, which doesn't make him a good boss at all.

[@Luferah]

@@dickwraith8974 you absolutely can kill the Asylum Demon the first time you meet him Even get a weapon for it

[@anstorner]

@@dickwraith8974 if you want to nuke him, just use the Black Firebombs as Gift and throw 4 at him and he is dead, discovered after second playthrough

[@dirt_dert_durt]

A minor complaint: in Dark Souls 2, I couldn't help but notice that you chose a rapier as your main weapon. Many bosses that would otherwise have been praised for their pacing or design or what-have-you are written off as having health bars that are too small, all as a consequence of happening to be weak to your choice of thrust weapon.

[@astolfoappreciator8562]

Many bosses tend to melt when facing specific weapons and strategies. But, I think the point still stands, It’s a flaw in game design that weapon choice can lessen the impact of bosses to such a large degree.

[@dirt_dert_durt]

@@astolfoappreciator8562 On the contrary, I think it does a lot of good for replayability. Going through the game with different builds lets a player experience a more prolonged challenge when facing bosses with different weaknesses and strengths. Mytha would have been something else had he gone with a strength build using a large club, or even a sorcery build.

[@astolfoappreciator8562]

@@dirt_dert_durt I agree that it adds to replay ability and I DEFINITELY prefer having those features than not but DS2 is a little too Rock Paper Scissors for me.

[@noahweiser551]

@@astolfoappreciator8562 No souls game is rock paper scissors, its rock paper scissors gun but every heavy weapon is the gun

[@astolfoappreciator8562]

@@noahweiser551 Yeah when you are talking about ease of use, but this is more about time. Besides greatswords are where it’s at and they’re more close to medium.

[@ThantosDEATH]

I fully understand his comment about Gael, about hoping this fight never ends. When I finally, the first time, got Gael down to 1, maybe 2 hits left. My brain stopped, and I just sorta stood there and let myself be demolished. This happened a solid dozen times as I realized I was letting myself die, not because I was particularly dumb that day, but because after what felt like a slog through midir, I was having fun. A big grin on my fave every time I died, eager, happy even, to go through it again. Gael will always hold a special place in my heart as the boss I regret beating, instead of just letting our wonderful dance go on forever

[@midastheunwise2423]

Responding to this old comment, just to say I fully agree. Gael is the only boss in all of Soulsborne where I felt not just triumph and relief, but also sadness that I couldn't just go right back in and fight him again. I kind of see Artorias, Alonne and Gael as a trilogy of boss fights, pushing the 1v1 fight with a similarly-sized enemy to perfection within the Dark Souls series.

[@Palkia_Onslaught_Gal]

It’s a shame that you can rematch halflight in the same NG cycle but can’t do that with gael .

[@ChaosWolfRider]

"Finally, we have a nearly perfect dragon fight!" Ah, I see you got the Sinh that doesn't just fly for 20 minutes straight. It's amazing how much opinion changes on Sinh depending on the rng you get from him.

[@reinerzufall978]

totally agree on that. I've beaten ds2 literally 4 days ago for the first time and the sunken king dlc was in general not my most pleasant experience, skipping the trio fight (after 20 or 30 atempts) and watching that damn dragon fly for 10 minutes without a single chance to hit him

[@Lakita2880]

@@reinerzufall978 I litterally just beat him for the first time today and Holy fuck is he annoying. He genuinely spent more time in the air then on the ground. It was infuriating. That and the wonky hitboxes

[@Winasaurus]

Feels like the case with a lot of bosses. I slapped Nameless King first try first playthrough and thought everyone was just making up how hard he was as a joke. But then on playthrough 2 the man would not stop with the lightning strikes and the mixups where some attacks have wind hitboxes that knock you flat if you dodge backwards instead of into them. Both playthroughs had the same armor and weapons at that point, 2h claymore, no shield, but one time he was a tired moron who could barely swing, and the other time he almost juggled me for 5 minutes.

[@Draconianite]

Absolutely, fought him last week with a buddy, first half of the fight was amazing but then for the second half I was stuck running back and forth across the arena as the boss refused to even land in the same postcode as me.

[@marieb73304]

I really am not a fan of the dlcs of ds2 but i guess i got a good rng too, i felt like Sinh was finally a balanced dragon fight! I guess i was just lucky..

[@SapinoPhilimoan]

Dark Souls difficulty drinking game: Take a shot every time he says, "in the series"

[@ra.n9482]

I ran out of bottles .

[@michaelkitchin9665]

Don't do it for 'unique' either. Christ.

[@TheTotallySaneDane]

Or "In seconds"

[@maxastro]

The really unfortunate thing about Covetous Demon is that he has one of the most unique attacks in the entire game. If you get hit by his grab attack he actually *unequips your armor.* Super interesting mechanic and could have been great if the rest of the boss wasn't awful.

[@Hjortur95]

i saw someone shoot the suspended pot to drop a undead for the covetous demon to eat.

[@BaxBoogey22]

You learn something new everyday. Thats really cool. Unfortunately I guess I managed to not get grabbed and never saw this animation. From definitely could have expanded on that mechanic and came up with some really cool ideas.

[@PiccoloNamexio]

The worst part is, he almost never do that grab attack

[@jooot_6850]

aye what that tongue do haha

[@ENCHANTMEN_]

As neat as it sounds I'm honestly glad they never did that again; having to menu in the middle of combat sucks balls. Maybe an attack that disarms you but puts your weapons in the arena so you have to grab them (and auto equipping them) might be better

[@AlfonsoSRT]

Dragonslayer Armor is such an underrated boss. It's one of my favorites, really fun. And has a banger track, thank you for mentioning it.

[@josetomascamposrobledano4618]

I just love how the final bosses of DS3 turn the video into a “this boss is amazing beyond words”. Without question Fromsoft’s main developing team (aka when directed by Miyazaki) are always improving! I wonder how Elden Ring will beat Sekiro considering they will have to balance the bosses beyond 1 weapon.

[@beanie4882]

I mean the community beta is soon and there will prolly be a boss there so we will see. I think they can do it, after all this is the company who made ludwig gherman and maria

[@NightmareBlade10]

@@beanie4882 Definitely. As long as they let their main team work on Elden Ring without having to suddenly scrap everything and redo the entire game as they were forced to do with Dark Souls 2. I genuinely hope the game will be amazing though.

[@beanie4882]

@@NightmareBlade10 i think its pretty obvious that the main team is working on elden ring and not a b team like for ds2

[@NightmareBlade10]

@@beanie4882 How is it obvious? The only thing we've seen of gameplay is leaked 26 second footage of the protagonist almost jumping off of a cliff. Every thing else we've heard of the game has been so astoundingly different compared to what we're used to that it wouldn't be surprising if an entirely different team was working on it. There's far too little info about the game to come to any conclusion about its quality or how well the development cycle coped with Covid and things like that. I have faith in FromSoftware but the past three or so years of video game releases have taught me to temper my expectations.

[@NightmareBlade10]

@@cabbagedemon5944 You say that as if every publisher doesn't claim that every project their making is "their most ambitious project yet", or as if Dark Souls 2 wasn't "their most ambitious project yet" back in 2014.

[@swordmastersam483]

A few fun facts: Smough isn't actually fat. He's actually jacked underneath the armor, he just had the armor made to look like that. The Fume Knight will instantly enter his phase 2 moveset if you equip Veldstat's armor. They were friends and it really pisses him off. Sir Alonne has a special death animation if you beat him without getting hit by him. He commits seppuku.

[@Bingoyamaguchi4]

Sir alonne and fume knight weren’t really friends. They both served vendrick, but when Vendrick started to be manipulated by Nashandra, Raime chose to stay loyal to Drangleic rather than Vendrick himself. Vel and Raime duelled and vel was apparently the victor, and thus Raime was exiled becoming the fume knight.

[@swordmastersam483]

@@Bingoyamaguchi4 I didn't say Alonne and Fume were friends. I said Veldstat and Fume were friends. Y'know, the guy with the giant bell hammer.

[@Sisyphe__]

@@falsnamae3511 I found this on my own while doing the no-hit to get alonne to kill himself on my ng+1 (yeah, I made a backup save in front of the boss to do this)

[@verdanteridium]

@@Sisyphe__ That's fine, you proved you can no hit the boss which is all that's needed.

[@Sisyphe__]

@@verdanteridium I mentionned that because you get another animation when you kill alonne without taking damage (related to previous comment)

[@SilverDragonAcademy]

Found this through the algorithm. I have to say I really appreciate your approach of being honest, clear, passionate, and unapologetic. Too often I find individuals in this community who are haughty and have upturned noses for certain boss fights saying "oh it was easy." "that boss was a joke." and the iconic "git gud". It is heartening to hear someone passionate about the series admit to things being bad or difficult or enjoyable in their own way without making it feel demeaning for others who enjoy it differently. So thank you. Really enjoyed watching this and your perspective, especially the gushing about Slave Knight Gael and the other masterpiece fights of these series.

[@joekeenoy4614]

Every boss seems to have one of the most devistating attacks in the game😭

[@James.Stark.Ben.Edition]

Did... Did you just say The Prowling Magus is a good fight? I mean, you're entitled to your opinions, of course. But it's just a bunch of regular enemies thrown into a room with a aoe attack. That's it. If the enemies didn't have a boss health bar, it wouldn't even be a boss. It'd just be a room with a bunch of random enemies.

[@EldritchAugur]

Mostly just because it's different but I totally understand those who don't enjoy it. Not saying it's great but it's decently fun.

[@James.Stark.Ben.Edition]

@@EldritchAugur that's fine. I would also like to note your descriptions can sometimes get a bit repetitive (most notably in the sanctuary guardians where you describe their moveset as can x you in seconds three times in a row). Just something I noticed.

[@EldritchAugur]

@@James.Stark.Ben.Edition Yep I had a really hard time writing the script for this video. Trying to write a paragraph or two about every boss in the game is extremely tricky and I ended up repeating myself more than I wanted.

[@EldritchAugur]

That boss in particular I just got completely stumped on. I had no idea what to say about it other than "It looks cool." Ultimately if I did this video again I probably wouldn't have structured it the way I did. I thought it would be unique and fun to do but a lot of it ended up being really tedious and repetitive to make. There are still parts of it I'm really proud of and think the structure allowed me to go more in depth on the bosses that really demanded it. But I figured out really quickly how many bosses are just mediocre or not all that interesting which made it a very difficult script to write.

[@Synchro-tq1mo]

The prowling magius imo was thematically great , it shows how relegion can be manipulated for darker purposes

[@Crazed3raser337]

I teared up when Gwyn's theme came up during Soul of Cinder. Easily my favorite track in any game.

[@Teldarin]

For real. The theme starts big and triumphant, only to take a much more somber tone once Gwyn's theme takes the stage. The Soul of Cinder basically being the combination of the entire playerbase is epic in it's own right, but when it also gained access to Gwyn's moveset, it genuinly made me tear up. This fight is a masterpiece, fuck now I need to get a new run going, it's been a while already.

[@jooot_6850]

Plin plin plon..

[@-Minuano-]

Knowing the lore of Dark Souls and looking at the final boss shows to me how hopeless the situation is concerning the world in Dark Souls. It doesn’t make you feel badass for reaching the end because you’re essentially beating up a broken old man. It just brings about sadness and depression, that’s why it’s brilliant!

[@ennbee2051]

Yeah sadness and depression, brilliant!? Smh.

[@-Minuano-]

@@ennbee2051 I don't think you get it, I'm talking about the story, not sadness and depression in general. Don't twist my words.

[@DREADLURKER]

@@ennbee2051 ratio'ed by op

[@LexLutharx]

Kinda like real life

[@apexreactions4231]

@@ennbee2051 L + Ratio + No maidens + Didn't ask + Git gud

[@amuzarill423]

Just a little tip for the Artorias fight: if you use throwing knives (bought for 50 souls from Chester just outside of the arena), you can instantly interrupt his power up AOE attack. Wait for him to crouch down (the aura around him will get more intense) and as long as he is facing you, which he most likely is, your throwing knife will hit him in the head and knock him out of it basically instantly, allowing you to punish. The fight becomes a lot easier when he isn't two shotting you.

[@userb1x1]

sekiro moment lmfao

[@jstar3382]

To this day, the moment that Gwyn's theme begins during the soul of cinder fight gives me chills. I've heard it a hundred times and beaten the boss a dozen, but it will never stop amazing me how so much was shown through a simple 3 notes and a moveset

[@merikijiya13]

I died when I first heard it because I just put down my controller and started crying when I realized this was the end of it all.

[@480pixels]

bro i remember when i got to his phase 2 and saw he was doing gwyns moveset i was flippin out

[@TiddyTwyster]

Makes me tear up every time I do it, knowing it's the end of the Dark Souls series combined with the nostalgia

[@SrWho1234]

Thanks for the video, Gael is my favorite boss. What I remember the most about him is the chock of his condition and the entire scene too, the sound effects and the music give an intense feel that just can't be described.

[@mohandasjung]

It's very cinematic, breathtaking even.

[@lex1ckon]

It’s really sad that he is being staggered every 4 attacks from curved wolf sword. And he gets staggered in all 3 phases.

[@thesnatcher3616]

​@@lex1ckon Here's the thing though. It feels GREAT when you stagger him mid-attack RIGHT when he was about to hit you. I think it balanced out his gargantuan health bar, breathtaking speed, and devastating combos. So even with all that, each attempt took me about five-ten minutes.

[@koreancowboy42]

It's a great, but annoying boss fight in my opinion. I've beaten the boss twice and on my next new game plus. I'm on my 7th run. I almost can't defeat any bosses or some. Darkeater midir just annoying air hits and aoe fire damage. Then nameless just can't die! Im using maxed Twin sellswords with the right equipment and resins Then omg. Gael just doesn't fuk off. He's so aggressive. You can't even play defensive and wittle his hp down you literally have to dodge and attack as much as you can before backing off. Also the fact I can throw so many hits and not get a stagger with twin sellswords is kinda bs. I can get off 4 hit combos. Is it because I need to use something else? Twin sellswords are still kinda good I've defeated bosses really fast now their more of the average weapon 😳

[@thesnatcher3616]

@@koreancowboy42 "you literally have to dodge and attack as much as you can before backing off." Please re-read what you've just said. Please. This is a COMPLAINT? That's literally the gameplay loop of not just Gael or any other Dark Souls boss, BUT EVERY VIDEO GAME BOSS EVER MADE. That's the entire point. Dodge when the boss is attacking and strike when you see an opening. The challenge with Dark Souls fights is learning HOW to dodge said attacks, manage your stamina, and look for opportunities to heal all at the same time. If anything, this should be a testament to how good Gael is as a fight. He gives you opportunities to heal and attack but is never passive to the point of boredom, making for a tense back and forth duel between you and him.

[@SonOfTheNorthe]

Something you didn't mention about the Taurus Demon is that you can, after spawning him, run up the ladder and stay there, and after about ten seconds, he'll jump up after you, and so you can fight him on the same platform you killed the archers. It's a lot easier than fighting him on the bridge.

[@CheesyNoodle134]

Though I just plunge attack, climb the ladder, rinse and repeat

[@Deasty]

You didn't mention that for Sif, having played in the artorias of the abyss DLC will change the cutscene. She'll actually recognize you, will let out a much sadder howl than in the regular cutscene then will reluctantly pick up her sword. It's also speculated that in this case she's not protecting the grave but is actually trying to stop you from meeting the same fate Artorias did

[@noamias4897]

I was seriously sad, almost teary eyed when I realized Gael was the final boss. I didn't do the DLCs until NG+ and by Sister Friede I was too bad to do them myself so I summoned for the first time (didn't know what summons were before my first time watching a guide on Friede) and grew so bizarrely attached to him throughout my insane struggles with Friede and the Demon Prince that realizing what he went through and became made me really sad. I never beat him or Midir, then I bought a new PC and didn't transfer the save files... so now I'm restarting on NG and I can't wait to reach him this time

[@proximity5771]

Did u do it

[@shannonfamily]

I am in the same boat, after ng5 I noticed that bonfire before Cinder and while the mechanics are the same the demons have crazy health and I haven't been able to get them. I went back to pre NG and one shot them easily but NG5 not so much. I can afford many mistakes in the pre NG but NG5 If I get hit 2 or 3 times I will run out of health pots and hes phase 3 (?) at 15% and summons are long dead.

[@noamias4897]

@@proximity5771 Actually I went through the entire game just waiting for the Gael fight, and I was so excited when I reached him after beating Midir. Then I literally killed him first time. On my playthrough where I never beat him I didn’t even reach phase 2, but now I just beat him first try. I was actually so disappointed lol because I had been anticipating trying to beat this boss for hours. Guess after 100+ hours I was bound to “git gud” eventually lol. Midir took 5 attempts, but I never liked dragon fights anyway so that was more of a relief than a disappointment

[@JPCollector]

@@noamias4897 there's definitely something poetic about you coming back and finishing the job in one go years later

[@predatorasap5040]

Use the Abyss watchers great sword for Friede fight it makes the first and third phase a joke

[@thisisnotaustin1]

I suspect the Bell Gargoyles were also designed to encourage players to try out the summoning mechanics. Solaire teaches you about summoning at the beginning of the Undead Parish, and his sign is right outside the boss arena. While not an *easy* fight for newcomers, it's much more manageable when it's a 2 v. 2 instead of you being outnumbered.

[@Draconianite]

Highly likely, especially when you consider its the first boss sunbros encounter after getting their sign and the sunlight altar, so while you can get player help on the taurus demon this area leading up to the boss naturally encourages the other players to be summoned as well.

[@obsolete18]

Hell depending on rng Solaire can literally solo the gargoyles

[@Ironica82]

I am in the agreement with the opinion that everything up to the first bell is actually a tutorial for the rest of the game. Firelink Shrine: Tutorial on how there are different paths around the game but you are not always ready for it First actual enemies: teaches patience (as you can take them one at a time) and how not to just run into battle. First rat: There's beasts in the game as well (also, check all sides when entering a place cause I'm sure it is suppose to surprise you if you don't notice it) First Bonefire: How to deal with archers, bombers, and melee in the same area (as well as to explore more) Towel before the demon: Master key is good but you might not want to run into the room blindly Demon: Use the area to your advantage After demon boss: Some paths open up to circle back to a previous point The dragon bridge: Dragons are scary but you can learn their timings to your advantage Under the dragon bridge: Tales give you weapons. Also, rats give you poison Inside the church: Dealing with strong but slow enemies as well as magic attacks Gargoyles: Summon an ally and dealing with two bosses at once.

[@otdg6787]

One of my favorite sound things with dark souls ,aside from the boss themes, was the music that starts in ds2 when you see Vendrick for the first time. Good ambience

[@hkazu63]

Bc you walk in expecting some sort of confrontation, even if not a fight. You expect to at least speak to him. When you walk in and he’s just a shambling hollow, you’re surprised and confused and the music adequately reflects that. It’s such a great moment of expectations being subverted that the Game of Thrones producers must be watching it and shitting their pants.

[@TheAshHeritor]

Yeah, Bed of Chaos really is just perfect! Also, I mostly have these types of videos on passively, listening not watching. But I watched this all the way through. Very engaging content, so you're getting a sub.

[@Speg73]

I unironically think that conceptually BoC is one of the coolest bosses in the game, but in execution it is by far the worst

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Fingers crossed he makes a return to review Elden Ring's bosses

[@indexaccel]

Margit took me 15 hours of playtime alone

[@S1x233]

@@indexaccel took me 1hr of the most cowardly gameplay in my life to kill him

[@FrickenDuq]

@@indexaccel took two tries for me but I was probably a higher level than most people that fought him. Some just rush right at the story bosses and not take time to explore

[@heyitzdaredevil8305]

Put these foolish ambitions to rest

[@pizzalasagna4048]

One of the worst bosses

[@CaleoGaming]

A review of every dark souls boss, with commentary provided by Chris Griffin. I love it!

[@chernobylcrusty]

Oh shit yea I just realised that now XD

[@TheOtherwise1337]

sounds like chris griffin had a child with the burger king foot lettuce guy

[@georgemichaelis1664]

hahahaa actually fax

[@IanMT56]

I’ve never had so much difficulty and so much fun with a boss than when I fought Gael. I never really got frustrated either. I just kept dying and coming back, slowly perfecting my fighting style against him.

[@venuasaur560]

With my first game being eldenring i am shocked to see this man take hits and not go flying from the most minor bumps

[@eight216]

i genuinely had no idea that wolnir could reach the "end" of the platform, i always thought it was an infinite area similar to gwyndolin. Honestly that sounds like a really cool concept if it had been executed well.

[@fallenchaos4476]

I hate to say it I struggled with Wolnir my first playthrew because I didn't understand the fight and was constantly pushed to the end of the arena its really not that big

[@gandalfdercyanfarbene6216]

gwyndolins boss arena isnt infinite. After doing it for like 30mins youll reach a wall and he/she cant teleport anymore

[@sick_bartender]

@@gandalfdercyanfarbene6216 woah I thought nobody had that much time on their hands. Good to know... It would have been funny if he started teleporting the other way 🤣

[@littlerave86]

@@fallenchaos4476 It's also somewhat based on RNG. On my first try, when I had no clue on what to do, he spawned skeletons very soon that I focused on too much while also spewing his aoe cloud, pushing me away from him. I realized too late that the arena is running out.

[@fallenchaos4476]

@@littlerave86 lol glad I was not the only person to have some trouble first time

[@thorveim1174]

as someone that went on to be the summoned player for the halflight fight.. I can kinda understand the cheeselords. Because the player that get here often summoned a ton of help, fully expecting another player.

[@leme686]

True. It's like everyone has always 3 phantoms with him. I don't get the excitement in that unless its a gimmick team but most are not..

[@jumonjichoo7070]

@@leme686 but WINNING against these 4 man teams is the most satisfying moment ever. Slowly one by one punishing the phantoms' mistakes, until eventually you're left with the host who's probably thinking "i'm fucked"

[@kylelegarvier172]

@@jumonjichoo7070 yeah but most players arent PvP gods so they will easily die in 4v1

[@ariannadravis3934]

@@jumonjichoo7070 No. No it is not. It is so far beyond that i actively avoid all fights that have even a shred of pvp implemented. I would use glitches and cheats to avoid them if i knew how, or had the skill to do so. And that is why i will *NEVER* play Demon Souls, no matter how much i want to, because i remember the Old Monk (or w/e it's called) exists and is not optional, and i go "no im good." I shouldn't have to turn off online in order to have fun, nor should pvp even **exist.** Im very aware im a minority, but i will say to the end of time; Nioh 2 multiplayer is what dark souls, and it's equivalants, should be using.

[@jumonjichoo7070]

@@ariannadravis3934 havent played nioh 2, but nioh 1 multiplayer is ass xD

[@chuckmastacheese]

Damn, I forgot how simultaneously cool and terrible DS2 is. Glad to see Darklurker get some love. Always thought he was an underrated boss.

[@bonkeman4415]

Darklurker remains the only boss in the souls series that I’ve never beaten. But only because I’m so terrible at the abyss arenas with the npcs before the boss so I always end up killing the old wheelchair guy in rage

[@jarunia17]

@@bonkeman4415 I did manage to get through them but yeah, it sucks to have to go through all of that bullshit to fight Darklurker, an awesome boss.

[@lt_johnmcclane]

@@bonkeman4415 I just made a cloud save before the drop into Darklurker. I can’t be bothered to do busy work killing trash mobs when I only wanna fight the boss again. Did the same thing with Alonne. DS2 was the only game that made some of the run backs too tedious to even want to bother with

[@toooydoeur]

@@bonkeman4415 sad!

[@ra.n9482]

The duality of DS2 : Oh I love this game ! [next area] I hate everything about this game. [next area] I wonder why people hated on this game...

[@desudesudesu5326]

I appreciate the variety of Dark Souls 1 bosses, even if they're not all great.

[@twurtle12hd39]

The reason the ds2 bosses are so “broken” isn’t cause of the bosses. It’s cause of adaptability. How do u balance a boss as a game dev when u don’t know how many i frames the player will have

[@saltysweetcakes4011]

adaptability isnt broken disoradvantageous at all. you litterally only need 20 levels in it to have borderline invincible rolling, even better then DSR s, its funny that people bring up this point even though farming levels in the game is the easiest shit in the world considering late game you can kill giant lord for 523k souls per kill which can allow you to max out your ADP rather quickly, even though like i said you only need 20 in it

[@terca8455]

@@saltysweetcakes4011 That isn't really his point though. The point is that different players will have different adaptability investment and therefore different s. This makes coding fair attack frames for bosses difficult. If your solution is that everyone should just farm levels until they have 20 adaptability then I think you can agree that the stat is meaningless. The game works best when s are more consistent across builds.

[@saltysweetcakes4011]

@@terca8455 i disagree fully

[@saltysweetcakes4011]

@@terca8455 you can get 20 levels just by killing 2 begginer bosses in the game too. So its not really that difficult

[@terca8455]

@@saltysweetcakes4011 With all do respect you really are not understanding what we are saying. No one once expressed that leveling up is "difficult". The point is that adaptability as a game mechanic doesn't work well. It was an interesting concept that Fromsoft explored to help further build diversity but was removed for good reason. It doesn't improve PVE or PVP combat.

[@arnoldunterweger4989]

Not sure if you will read this, SInh the slumbering dragon has scales that damage the durability of your weapon more than usual, he only has like 8% more HP than elana if you wouldn't attack the summon.

[@RepresentingRodina]

There can never be enough critical analysis video essays on Dark Souls.

[@EternalGuardian07]

My favorite thing about Sir Alonne is the philosophy of healing. Normally, you'd have to put some distance to get a safe heal. Sir Alonne will always catch if you try it. The trick is to get as close as possible because he will always hop backwards first if you're close enough. Did people not not know the Throne knights could be fought before fighting the Giant King? I see people always say that the final bosses are a gauntlet, but you can fight them as soon as you get the King's Ring and leave Neshandra for later.

[@BigHailFan]

yeah. he made a number of errors for sure on the ds2 bosses. also the iron golem difficult? IN WHAT WORLD?!

[@SondreGrneng]

Dragonslayer armor is probably my second favourite fight in the whole series. Is it the most difficult? Well, it depends on the mood of the player I suppose. One time, I just walked in killed it on my first attempt and it was literally the most satisfying boss fight I have ever done. Everything just fit together perfectly. Another time, I got stuck there for an hour, god knows why, I just did. The best boss in the series, IMO, is dancer. Everything about that fight is spot on. the airy movement of the boss, the eerie (lol) music. The sound of her steps. everything just blends into the perfect boss fight.

[@RattlebonesTheThird]

Don't forget the as- I mean arena

[@shagarumedic]

@@RattlebonesTheThird what as- arena?????????

[@realnito6422]

“This is dark souls 2, where the lock on actually works” *spits drink and cackles uproariously*

[@ambralemon]

Ikr? Like, he was using a rapier. Has he never tried hitting a crystal lizard with that thing?

[@mutt8553]

@@ambralemon Literally this. I don’t think I killed a single crystal lizard on my rapier play through. You just whiff every time

[@DRickAnderson]

I ran into serious issues when locking on with an ultra greatsword. I could be looking directly at an enemy, not move and swing and completely whif the attack. It happened over and over again. It's REALLY bad in this game.

[@shigarumo121]

@@mutt8553 Even with a Halberd it was freaking annoying. Especially if the Game locks on to an enemy in the far top corner of the screen, where you can barely see the enemy or locks on to an enemy behind you, instead of the enemy or Crystal Lizard right in front of you.

[@EldritchAugur]

@@ambralemon This is absolutely true but also not really my point. I could have phrased this differently but my point was that the lock on doesn't break rolling like in DS1.

[@MiaTyrnfae]

22:58 - Fun fact, the Demon Firesage isn't even a different element from the Stray Demon. They have the same exact moveset, down the element on his magic still being, well, Magic. They just copy/pasted one to the other and tweaked the hp/damage.

[@residentwievle4]

He’s also weak to fire which is pretty funny and shows the rushed development of the area.

[@vyor8837]

Firesage even has less HP...

[@toprak3479]

Demon Ruins and Lost Izalith are such garbage

[@mckaygoodman6514]

I mean, Firesage does jump backwards more often? See! Completely justifiable and original boss!

[@brendansieve7994]

This was such a great video but your write-up about Gael was pure poetry. I don’t think there’ll ever be another boss with a story as compelling as his.

[@KaoruMzk]

A few observations about Pinwheel: yes, he is a joke boss, he is based on a Japanese comedy sketch after all, but you can also consider him a breather after a pretty challenging area. Also, he could potentially be a new player’s first boss if they stumble upon the catacombs first so him being on the same difficulty level as the Taurus Demon is justified.

[@namirakira7138]

Can you clarify on how he is based off of a comedy sketch?

[@KaoruMzk]

@@namirakira7138 A popular gag in Japan is "two people in a trenchcoat". You've probably seen this in some animes (Dragon Ball comes to mind when Goten & Trunks try to enter the adults martial arts tournament). Well, Pinwheel's name in Japanese is something along the lines of "three men in a coat" and when you see his concept art in the design works well, you can make the connection.

[@spamalam9274]

Bruh

[@nemtudom5074]

How is a new player going to stumble on pinwheel? The guy is guarded by a lot of skeletons way too powerful for someone who just escaped the asylum, especially if they are new to the game and are not familiar with the mechanics

[@KaoruMzk]

@@nemtudom5074 if you are cleric or deprived, the skeletons aren't such an issue because you start with a strike weapon that stun locks them. It could also be possible for a pyromancer to end up there because the fireball one shots them, although casts might be an issue, still there's 2 bonifres between firelink and pinwheel so an unassuming player could just persevere through it given the game's reputation, thinking that difficulty is just normal.

[@sjeggy6]

What I especially love about Aldrich the devourer is the theme song. It's gwyndolins theme but tainted by slightly disharmonious choir song. Such a fantastic idea!!! Really shows the corruption of a previous character

[@marsayeelliott3247]

Mate when I first started this watching this video I thought it was ganna be a kind of the mill talk about the bosses moves but I really could feel your passion for these games, the story, mechanics, presentation and the emotions that they bring. Your video is great man, sad to hear that you won’t be making videos for the foreseeable future. Just want you to know that your voice isn’t annoying and that you’re really great at this! Essay, over! ✌️

[@CalculatedRisk05]

The Taurus Demon is one of the bosses that Fromsoft didn't design correctly to have their intended fight. If you stay in the area where you can do a plunging attack, the boss will jump up and you can have an actual fight in an arena, which is what I always assumed was the intended way to fight it.

[@runicknight1151]

Something I always enjoy from these lists is hearing what bosses different people struggle with and find easier. Really goes to show how well designed most of the series is.

[@starofaetherius]

Absolutely. The biggest point he makes when addressing subjective difficulty is he seems to point to people's playstyles, which makes a LOT of sense and most people just don't do. A lot of the bosses the greater community find punishing ARE because they're designed to punish some of the most common playstyles (e.g. people that overly rely on shields).

[@krahdan8468]

2:06:07 You can know where Friede jumps if you watch for the direction that the snow particles go after she turns invisible.

[@anamggss]

Yeah, and if you run close enough you can see her jump as she fades for a split second

[@the40inchtaco]

The Soldering Iron debuff also remains visible while she's invisible, but you'd have to use the Soldering Iron so...

[@petergriffin1189]

Man this video gave me some insane appreciation for these games, I really wish I didn't take my first playthroughs for granted.

[@petergriffin1189]

So thank you for that

[@hiphop6116]

literally almost fell to tears after hearing those three notes from the first game in the soul of cinder boss fight

[@flaredesel3425]

It was so heartbreaking that I lost my focus and died. Dark Souls truly is a masterpiece and I will actively keep Soul Of Cinder alive for the soundtrack.

[@Duplicitousthoughtformentity]

Gael single handedly redefined the phrase “going hard in the paint”.

[@nathanbarash]

Dude, thank you for the nostalgia trip. What an incredible watch and added bonus is the built in synopsis and review of the series and its individual games. Your love for these games is clear and bolsters mine.

[@-Zikade-]

2:25:19 Yup, I have had a problem with Gael on my most recent run. I want to fight him and beat him in this glorious battle... but at the same time I don't want the fight to be over because it's so epic and enjoyable D:

[@BlazeStorm]

Yep, the biggest thing missing in DS3 is the ability to simply rebattle bosses. So glad they added that to Sekiro

[@teukufarhan2434]

@@BlazeStorm then they removed it again in elden ring... why?

[@geraltofrivia586]

One thing i am grateful for is the godhome dlc for hollow knighty. All these amazing boss fights for me to do over and over again

[@MattTGM]

Incredible video man. can't imagine the amount of effort that went into this, and it totally paid off. loved the reviews, and the ending was emotional, your commentary was excellent.

[@isimegerekyok746]

Oh boy,I remember the first time I fought with champion gundyr...I was a sorcerer who specced nearly all of his points into int and attunement.I had a weak broadsword and I wore mirah's clothes(fashion souls).The first phase was actually just a cakewalk.But when he began charging me like a madman he literally obliterated me with that attack.Since I was using a wand,I never even knew how to parry,and that left me with just dodging.I already got gud with dodging at that point,but the sheer amount of attacks this guy doing was unbelievable.I sunk 2 hours trying to beat this guy.There were 4 times where I drained all his health to the core,only around 50 hp left...Anyways after that fight,I could dodge literally everything.Then I met Nameless King...

[@bastionunitb7388]

This was a phenomenal video and a great deep dive into not only the dark souls franchise but also the topic of game design, story and art. 11/10 video

[@joshdiedd]

Watched this through, it felt like a movie. This just shows how good the Dark Souls series really is, unique and entertaining. Thanks for making this video Eldrich :)

[@MattDoesLife539]

I saw a comment before for the Gael fight. "Just two nobodies, fighting for nothing at the end of the world."

[@somnius2519]

What would have been absolutely awesome and kind of hilarious is if Champion Gundyr had a third phase where he just lawn-darts his halberd into the ground and starts attacking you exclusively with punches and kicks. Then the ring you can get from his soul could have given you his unarmed moveset, and maybe even being upgradable like a boss weapon and scaling primarily with strength and a healthy bit of dex.

[@LotteLattes]

That would genuinely be awsome and terrifying. Just thinking you beat him then he slowly gets back up sticks his halberd into the ground and gets into a fighting stance before pounding you into dirt with his bare hands. Also that would make unarmed a viable playstyle

[@barkerbarks2537]

@@LotteLattes lol, Champion Andre

[@peternagy6847]

As someone who has never played Dark Souls, I would just like to say: This wasn't a review. This was an experience. Thank you.

[@logman5evr]

Bro, you seriously just spoiled 3 whole games worth of bosses for yourself? Jesus

[@peternagy6847]

@@logman5evr It's not like I didn't see them pop up all over the place before. Dark Souls is a franchise I always knew about but didn't have particular interest in, until fairly recently that is. I might play the games, I might not. Either way I'll still enjoy them. Oh yeah and there's Bloodborne too.

[@thegrayyernaut]

@@logman5evr I would like to explain my own case. I'm what many call a filthy casual. I'm not skilled enough to play Dark Souls. Most of my Dark Souls experience came from VaatiVidya. I treat the series as an audiobook series. Maybe I'll never be good enough to call myself a Dark Souls enjoyer because I have never played the series. But that's okay, because it's a life experience learning about the stories of these games.

[@atb-my9bd]

One of my favorite things about dark souls is how much the builds change things. Some of the bosses he said were hard using a dex build are trivial in a str build and vice versa.

[@Why_Do_I_Need_A_Handle_Name]

Was looking for someone to point this out. It was a sort-of "biased" opinion in his ranking the bosses.

[@makse10]

@@Why_Do_I_Need_A_Handle_Name But, that's sort of the point, isn't it? His judgement is, for example, fairly different from mine, and possibly yours. Everyone has their own standards, and opinions. But, that's what makes the discussion interesting.

[@skilletborne]

@@makse10 Trouble is he used the phrase "critical review" at the beginning of the video That means putting your bias and experience aside, and considering it from as many points of view as possible. I appreciate the effort in the list, but he reviewed a lot of them as an experienced player aware of tried and true strategies and someone who only uses DEX builds

[@makse10]

@@skilletborne I agree that the intent of a critical review is what you described. The issue is that not everyone can be aware of everything. He may be an experienced player, but there are some things we sometimes can't avoid doing/saying when it comes to this stuff. No doubt, that if he *had* put more effort into exploring as many builds he could, this video could possibly be multiple hours longer. To summarize, I agree with what you said, but it's possible that he just didn't consider a few things, or he could have seen that as too much of an undertaking to take on in full. He is human, after all.

[@Hadrazazel]

Overall he describes very well the bosses gameplay-wise and lore-wise. However something that bugs me is that sometimes a boss will get a good or bad review focused on what he personnaly liked or disliked. A few examples that I still have in mind after watching the entire video and from my experience : I have in mind the Mirror Knight and Halflight. Both are similar but they are fundamentaly very different. The first one spawns a player as an optional threat when the boss itself is potentially low-life already. The second is spawning a player as the boss hence not skippable. Both fights will definitely vary in difficulty due to the human factor. The Mirror Knight can still be rated as the better one gameplay-wise since it uses a true unique boss with a dedicated move set and a unique shield that auto blocks any attack that touches it while the Halflight battle stays very similar to a 2 NPCs fight. Ceaseless Discharge got tossed away because of the cool cheese the devs integrated in the game to insta kill it with no difficulty. Fine. But you can legitimately fight it too, and it was not covered at all. NGL, I never tried to face this boss in a "normal" battle and that was something I expected to learn more about. During the Centipede's fight, you can cut the demon in multiple parts. The tail loots the ring that allow the player to walk into lava, removing the big problem of the arena. Most bosses are taken in isolation without taking their environment in consideration. There were no words about the chore it is to get to the Demon of Song through the Amana Shrine but Lud and Zallen can go fuck themselves because the boss run is too long. If it's a matter of distance, then take the Smelter Demon and it's trillion knights aggroing you on the run, making it extra hard to run by. Finally the Smelter Demon in the Fire DLC has an alternate path to it that allows you to deal with the pesky mages that slow you, giving you the choice between a fast path with lots of risk and a slower path that lets you deal with these pesky mages. I didn't do a lot of runs (at least 5 NG and since I platined I rushed up to NG+3 for each). I think the great majority of his work is well done but some bosses were poorly explored which is sad.

[@spicyyy4602]

Idk if anyone has said it but Gwyn's theme is composed in the key of C major which only uses the white keys of the piano which alludes to the fact he is scared of the dark (age of Dark) so the composer doesn't use black keys on the piano, which I think is amazing attention to detail. Also the fact that almost the entire score of dark souls is composed in a minor key makes the fact that this composition is in a major key even more special feeling

[@samc9133]

17:16 I've always disagreed with the idea that Smough 2 is easier because Smough 2 has such an easy time of oneshotting you, and the butt lightning is so much stronger. Ornstein is fast and has a few powerful moves but if you just hug his left leg and roll with him as he backsteps you can pretty easily do it without taking hits.

[@arjunsm5774]

Smough 2 has stupid Ai. You can stand behind a pillar and hit him and retreat over and over again. While ornstien 2 will shoot lightning at you at a distance.

[@poliorice3600]

I found Smough 2 to be easier cause I got the Zweihander early, and every single heavy attack from it will always stagger smough