As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I must say that the challenging boss battles in FromSoftware games have always been a part of my gaming journey. But among all those encounters, some stand out as particularly memorable – not because they were easy to beat, but because they pushed me to my limits and made me grow as a player.
One such encounter was with Malenia, Blade of Miquella, in Elden Ring. Now, let me tell you, I’ve faced some tough bosses in my time – Isshin the Sword Saint, Demon of Hatred, even Radagon and the Elden Beast – but none quite like Malenia.
This quick-as-a-whip, hit-like-a-truck sorceress with her healing abilities and unpredictable attacks made me question my gaming skills more than once. I’ve spent countless hours trying to master her patterns, to learn when to dodge, when to attack, and when to run for the hills. And you know what? It was exhausting, infuriating, and absolutely exhilarating!
It took me dozens of attempts, but eventually, I managed to claim victory over Malenia. But let’s be honest, it wasn’t because I got better at the game – it was because she fell off a cliff three times during our little dance!
So there you have it, folks. If you want to test your skills, your patience, and your sanity, give Malenia a try. Just make sure you have plenty of healing items on hand, because trust me – you’re going to need them!
Oh, and remember: if all else fails, just push her off a cliff a few times – it worked for me!
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but acknowledge that FromSoftware’s gaming universe is renowned for its intricate challenge levels, and perhaps nothing encapsulates this more than the legendary boss battles they craft.
In these games, the Soulsborne formula emphasizes challenging interactions that capture the most engaging aspects of gameplay and storytelling from each title.
Contrary to common assumption, its challenge level doesn’t continuously increase as you progress, since the final battles aren’t necessarily the hardest.
In various instances, some mid-level or optional enemies prove to be tougher than the final opponent you’ve faced. Let’s honor these challenging adversaries with a list showcasing the 10 Soulsborne bosses that outmatch the difficulty of the final boss.
In our compilation, we exclude DLC (Downloadable Content) bosses because they’re inherently tougher than those found in the main games. This is due to the fact that the DLC must significantly increase the challenge level to maintain excitement for fans of the Souls series.
10. Velstadt, The Royal Aegis
An Endurance Test
Game | Dark Souls 2 |
Location | Undead Crypt |
Given that Dark Souls 2’s final boss is considered one of the easiest in the entire Soulsborne series, it’s not hard to envision a number of possible contenders for this list.
Although many sequels are recognized for their relatively simple boss battles, Velstadt, the Royal Aegis stands out as one of the rare exceptions that presents a significant test of skill.
Despite not quite reaching the level of FromSoftware’s typical quality, the game manages to surprise players with its toughness. Players, who often defeat bosses quickly, find themselves struggling against this one due to its tenacity.
Since Nashandra is direct, Velstadt’s endurance trial seems all the more challenging. This is particularly true as any error might result in being sent back to the bonfire.
9. Four Kings
A Problem With a Single Solution
Game | Dark Souls |
Location | Abyss |
Ever since I started playing Dark Souls, the Four Kings have consistently given me trouble. Regardless of how many times I’ve tried, I find it difficult to adapt to their fighting style, which may seem straightforward on paper, but proves challenging in practice.
Because there are numerous combatants and a complex viewpoint from the camera, it can be challenging to determine when and where to evade or strike.
Up until now, I’ve found success against them primarily by donning the complete Havel Armor and absorbing each attack; it may not be impressive, but it gets the job done effectively.
Without that strategy, I probably wouldn’t have managed to conquer the Four Kings, in stark contrast to my encounters with Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, who I’ve successfully defeated using multiple builds without too many difficulties.
8. Looking Glass Knight
An Impenetrable Threat
Game | Dark Souls 2 |
Location | King’s Passage |
Similar to Velstadt, the Mirror Knight from Dark Souls 2 is one of the toughest and hardest opponents to defeat, boasting an indomitable shield that allows him to withstand many attacks.
The battle atop Drangleic Castle is prolonged because it boasts a considerable amount of health, and this extends even further when he calls upon a Non-Player Character for assistance during the fight.
In addition, if the summoned entity is another player, the interaction can become troublesome and draining, often leading to mistakes that ultimately result in your demise.
As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I find that this opponent has a deceptively simple set of movements. However, his erratic lightning bolt hitboxes and the pesky phantoms assisting him make him more challenging than he appears to be. It’s like facing an old-school boss from my childhood, where you have to memorize patterns and timing to succeed. The difficulty lies not in mastering complex combos or strategies, but rather in anticipating and reacting quickly to the unpredictable nature of his abilities. I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia as I grit my teeth and press on, determined to conquer this formidable foe.
7. Darklurker
The Most Demanding Dual Fight
Game | Dark Souls 2 |
Location | Dark Chasm of Old |
In the game Dark Souls 2, it’s noticed that battles involving several enemies often lack depth or are excessively challenging.
As a seasoned Dark Souls veteran with countless hours spent traversing the treacherous landscapes of Lordran and exploring the haunting catacombs beneath New Londo, I can confidently assert that Darklurker is a testament to Dark Souls 2’s peak moments. Its meticulously crafted moveset offers a formidable challenge, yet remains fair and approachable, making it an exhilarating encounter for even the most hardened souls like myself. The seamless transition into its second phase adds another layer of complexity, ensuring that every battle with this fearsome creature is a memorable one.
The most bothersome aspect lies in reaching it, since its journey to the boss is one of the most frustrating and intricate in all Soulsborne games. It’s so aggravating that, despite it being among my favorite bosses within the game, I’ve managed to confront it just once.
Regardless, it’s worth mentioning that Darklurker in the game “Dark Souls 2” is one of the hardest bosses to defeat. Compared to the unpredictable Nashandra, Darklurker exceeds in terms of difficulty and quality.
Or:
Darklurker from “Dark Souls 2” stands out as one of the toughest opponents you’ll encounter, surpassing even the elusive Nashandra in terms of challenge level and overall quality.
6. Morgott, The Omen King
A Glass Cannon Build
Game | Elden Ring |
Location | Leyndell, Royal Capital |
Morgott, known as the Omen King, encapsulates my primary issue with Elden Ring’s expansive landscape, where defeating a boss can range from an effortless stroll to a harrowing descent into the underworld, based on your character’s level at the time of encounter.
The first occasion I met Leyndell’s ruler, I ended the battle too swiftly that I didn’t get a chance to appreciate him. On the contrary, during our subsequent encounters, he dealt me such heavy defeats in numerous tries that I seriously pondered needing to advance my character level just to overcome him.
In my gaming journey, I can’t help but marvel at the intricate dance of combat with Morgott, a foe whose attack patterns are among the most cunning and layered in all Soulsborne games – and that includes heavyweights like Maliketh and Malenia from Elden Ring.
Morgott stands out with his dazzling acrobatics, diverse array of techniques, and unforeseeable shifts in fighting styles. However, he may not rank as the top threat due to his reliance on the strength of the opponent to determine his difficulty level.
5. Ornstein & Smough
The Icons of Terror
Game | Dark Souls |
Location | Anor Londo |
After numerous episodes, it’s become challenging not to notice that the bosses in Dark Souls seem easier to conquer than usual. However, expressing that Ornstein and Smough aren’t a walk in the park is an understatement.
I must admit, after playing so many installments of Dark Souls, I find most bosses less challenging compared to before. Yet, when it comes to Ornstein and Smough, I still struggle and find them quite formidable opponents.
In a more straightforward manner, the iconic team from this franchise is often respected for their challenge, and although I currently find them manageable, I always keep in mind their potential to humble me again.
In my initial attempt at the game, Gwyn defeated me a total of three times more than he did. This left me doubting whether I possessed the necessary skills to conquer the game. Summoning Solaire of Astora didn’t make a difference, so I was forced to persist until I finally managed to succeed.
Each time I step into their arena, the memory of Ornstein swooping down at me as Smough readies his charge feels incredibly vivid and exhilarating, causing my pulse to quicken.
4. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos
Yharnam’s True Nightmare
Game | Bloodborne |
Location | Upper Cathedral Ward |
In summary, the main bosses in Bloodborne don’t pose much challenge. By utilizing trick weapons and parrying effectively, you can usually defeat them without much difficulty.
The exception to this rule is Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos, who provokes an inexpressible anxiety within me due to her ominous appearance and particularly challenging combat.
As a thrilled fan, I have to say that while the initial stage is straightforward, the latter part transforms into an overpowering ordeal with blinding lights, endless headbutts, and aerial attacks. At any moment, it could whisk me back to the Hunter’s Dream in the blink of an eye.
Unlike Gehrman, The First Hunter, whose toughness can be overcome with timely parries, when facing Ebrietas, your best strategy is to evade and hope her enormous celestial form doesn’t squash you during the encounter.
3. Nameless King
Thank God It’s An Optional Boss
Game | Dark Souls 3 |
Location | Archdragon Peak |
I’ve consistently maintained that Dark Souls 3 boasts the highest average boss difficulty among all the Soulsborne games, and without a doubt, the Nameless King supports this claim.
I appreciate that it’s up to me whether to tackle it or not, since it was undeniably my boss who required the most practice and victories. With its two stages, immense damage potential, and diverse skill set, it’s as changeable as it is lethal.
In simpler terms, Soul of Cinder is an incredibly challenging final boss across all three games, yet some of its stages can be managed easily. In contrast, Gwyn’s lost son presents a challenge throughout without any easy stages.
As a seasoned gamer who has battled through countless digital realms, I must confess that while Dark Souls 3 is challenging, it doesn’t hold the title of the hardest game in my book – not even among the FromSoftware games. That being said, I firmly believe they included optional elements to make the game more accessible for players like me who might struggle with some of the tougher sections. It seems to me that the developers had concerns about a large portion of gamers not making it past certain levels if the difficulty remained unrelenting throughout.
2. Demon of Hatred
A Fight From Another World
Game | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice |
Location | Ashina Castle Gate |
It’s quite predictable yet accurate to think that the “Demon of Hatred” is a boss from the game “Dark Souls,” appearing in “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.” Indeed, it appears almost alien in origin.
This creature challenges all your familiar gaming strategies, compelling you to adapt to a discomforting playstyle that clashes with the instinctive techniques you’ve already mastered.
Unlike Isshin, the Sword Saint who challenges my skills to their absolute limit by mastering every technique taught in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the Demon of Hatred proves even more demanding as I navigate through our duel without any clear guidance or hints from the game itself.
To put it straightforwardly, I managed to defeat him by employing a popular strategy – tripping him and utilizing a whistle that can momentarily incapacitate him for up to three times during each bout. Without this trick, I would likely have kept steering clear of him.
1. Malenia, Blade of Miquella
A Sekiro Boss Sneaked Into Elden Ring
Game | Elden Ring |
Location | Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree |
While I haven’t encountered significant issues with Malenia, Blade of Miquella, it’s important to note that there is a vast gulf in difficulty level when comparing her to Radagon and the Elden Beast.
In other words, defeating Malenia in Elden Ring requires an unprecedented understanding and skill of the game’s mechanics that is quite demanding compared to other FromSoftware titles.
Her exceptional trait doesn’t catch me off guard, either. Such a test overpowers even the most seasoned of them in this series.
She’s incredibly swift, packs quite the punch, recovers rapidly, and boasts some maneuvers that seem almost untouchable.
If you consider the region she inhabits, her capacity for causing scarlet blight, and her erratic behavior, it becomes clear that many individuals require numerous tries before successfully overcoming her initially.
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2025-01-03 20:10