Annoying Boss Runs In Soulsborne Games

Highlights

• Boss runs in Souls games can sometimes be tougher than the bosses themselves, testing your patience and skill.
• Areas like Crumbling Farum Azula in Elden Ring or the Bed of Chaos in Dark Souls can be frustrating to navigate.
• From facing Dragonlord Placidusax to Lud and Zallen, these boss runs can be time-consuming and full of challenges.

As a seasoned Soulsborne veteran with countless hours spent navigating treacherous landscapes and battling unforgiving enemies, I must say that some boss runs in these games have left me more vexed than others. Among them, two Dark Souls 2 boss runs stand out as the most aggravating – Darklurker and Lud and Zallen.

Souls series is renowned for its challenging boss battles, which often leave players swearing and throwing controllers in exasperation. While it’s true that these tough encounters are what make the games notorious, there are certain sections within each title that can be downright perilous. At times, the design of these dangerous areas can prove more challenging than the boss fights themselves, making the journey to face the enemy a test in itself.

As a seasoned Souls gamer, it seems almost absurd that a pesky mob or treacherous terrain could prove more challenging than the final boss looming ahead, but trust me, after countless hours of dying in the same spots time and again, I can attest that this is a recurring predicament we players often encounter.

Well, as a seasoned veteran of the Soulsborne series, having spent countless hours battling my way through its dark and treacherous lands, I feel it’s time to share some of my most frustrating encounters with bosses in these games. I’ll list ten particularly annoying battles from each Soulsborne game, along with a few Souls-likes for good measure.

10 Dragonlord Placidusax – Elden Ring

A Time-consuming Trek For The Tarnished

I’m thrilled to start by acknowledging Elden Ring, as my personal experience suggests that after Dark Souls 3, the numerous checkpoints and shortcuts make it challenging to truly test your mettle against a tough boss fight. With the addition of the Stakes of Marika, this trend seems to hold even truer for Elden Ring.

However, there is one boss within the that is an annoying one to trek back to. Not because there’s any inherent danger, but more because this run has no respect for your time.

As a passionate fan, I found myself traversing an extensive platforming stretch within Crumbling Farum Azula without my trusted companion, Torrent. The anticipation built as I made my way through, and when I finally arrived at my destination, I had to quickly bypass a cutscene to dive right into the action. This unexpected twist only served to heighten the intensity of the experience.

The upside here is that the boss in question is well worth making the trek, as Placidusax is easily in the top five best bosses in Elden Ring. But a Stake of Marika near the door would have been very much appreciated here.

9 Bed of Chaos – Dark Souls

If You Can’t Stand The Heat, Rage Quit

Discussing unnecessary Boss Runs that consume your time, it’s worth mentioning that the original Dark Souls was filled with these, primarily because of the limited warping options within the game. Among the most frustrating runs is the one where you’re required to journey through Lost Izalith to confront the Bed of Chaos.

Just as Dragonlord Placidusax, this path ahead doesn’t have many hazards, but beware, there’s lava you’ll need to navigate through. To make it safely, you might want to use an Estus Flask or find yourself at a disadvantage when facing the Bed of Chaos.

However, the main issue lies in the fact that the run lasts approximately 90 seconds when moving quickly, yet it lacks any notable or engaging aspects, which renders this regular trek to the boss rather meaningless.

For veterans who served in DS1, the Bed of Chaos is infamous for being a poorly designed boss that can swiftly end your life without any error on your part, leading to yet another tedious and unremarkable journey back. The Lost Izalith zone in DS1, in many ways, feels underdeveloped and hastily put together, and this repetitive trek exemplifies why it’s not an area we reminisce about fondly.

8 Four Kings – Dark Souls

Not Exactly A Stairway To Heaven

In the past, Dark Souls was known for being sparing with its Bonfire locations, resulting in long trips between areas without convenient warp points. One particularly frustrating absence of a Bonfire was within New Londo, as players looking to battle the Four Kings had to either travel all the way from the Firelink Shrine or navigate through the Valley of the Drakes via Darkroot Basin every time they wanted to fight them.

The trip starting at Firelink Shrine is the safest of the two, but there are so many factors that make it a pain. There’s the long elevator ride down to New Londo, there’s the fact that you need a Cursed Weapon or Transient Curse active to harm ghost enemies, and there’s the fact that there are loads of Darkwraith Knights on the lower level leading to the boss.

If you reach the staircase that leads nowhere without the Astorias Ring from the Covenant, you won’t be able to escape, resulting in a fatal fall. This experience is frustratingly repetitive and hopefully something you only encounter once during your gameplay.

7 Gravelord Nito – Dark Souls

You, My Friend, Are In Grave Danger

In our continued journey with DS1, we encounter another character possessing one of the essential Soul Lords required to finish the game. Your journey to Gravelord Nito initiates directly within the Tomb of the Giants, implying that if you lack the Skull Lantern, you’re in for a challenging experience given how dark this area is most of the time. Even with the Skull Lantern, you’ll still face numerous threats lurking in the shadows, making this journey difficult.

As I delve deeper into this maze-like descent, I’ve got to keep my eyes peeled for those hulking Skeleton foes. A wrong step could send me plummeting through hidden pits, so I’ve gotta remember where the safe spots are to avoid taking unnecessary damage.

After leaving the shadows behind, be mindful as you encounter Skeletal Worms, Skeleton Archers, Pinwheels, and a host of other formidable foes.

Upon venturing through the murky fog into Gravelord Nito’s realm, I can’t help but feel like an unlucky soul about to be served a poisoned chalice. A single misstep could cost me nearly one-third of my health points, unless I’ve got the Silvercat Ring on me. It’s agony from the outset, and even if I make it to the showdown with Gravelord Nito, I’m often at a significant disadvantage due to the grueling journey that preceded it.

6 Old Hero – Demon’s Souls

Don’t Fear The Reaper

Shifting gears from Dark Souls, we delve into the original Souls game, Demon’s Souls. At this point, they were figuring out the blueprint for the Souls series, which led to some frustrating boss runs, and one that particularly stands out is the journey to the Old Hero boss fight in The Ritual Path (4-2).

Here, you frequently encounter swarms of airborne monsters resembling storm beasts, perched on the cliffs above. These creatures hurl fiery missiles at you, and with such foes lurking nearby, it’s highly probable that Skeleton adversaries en route will shred you apart.

In addition, you’ll encounter more than just these challenges. You’ll need to move through zones teeming with lethal Reaper enemies accompanied by their Shadowlurker troops. Furthermore, you’ll face certain Shadowlurkers that can fire green laser beams, which are extremely hard to dodge.

As a seasoned gamer with years of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the boss run I recently encountered was quite the ordeal. It was long, tough, and at times infuriating, but fret not! The old hero we were facing turned out to be an easy mark for cheese tactics. If you manage to pull off this run successfully once, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have to face this trial again in the future. Trust me; I speak from experience.

5 Old Monk – Demon’s Souls

Is This What Phantom Pains Feel Like?

We transition from the Old Hero to the Elder Monk, the final adversary in World Three, nestled within The Ivory Tower. This opponent’s level of challenge can change based on whether PvP tricks are activated during your journey. However, one unchanging aspect of encountering this boss is the arduous trek required to reach them.

In my journey, I incorporate climbing the spiral staircase leading to level 3-3, which is home to a pesky Black Phantom. This narrow and twisted stairway has earned my disdain over time due to its tricky nature; it’s tough to bypass these foes without getting stun-locked or falling off the edge. Overcoming them is a relief, but more challenges await as you ascend the Ivory Tower towards The Old Monk.

On your journey ahead, you’ll encounter two additional Black Phantoms. To avoid a fatal confrontation, it’s advisable to lure them down the stairs, then wait for them to tire out before delivering a sneak attack from behind. Repeating this strategy can be quite tedious and frustrating, making this one of the lengthiest and most annoying boss battles in Souls series history.

4 Old King Allant – Demon’s Souls

A Painfully Tough Final Gauntlet

In Demon’s Souls, battling The Old King Allant is a challenging ordeal. Unlike The Old Monk, who can be managed with caution, this final enemy gauntlet doesn’t show mercy. Players first encounter three formidable Black Phantoms, fortunately, they won’t respawn once defeated. Then, you’ll navigate through the so-called ‘gank zone’, a term used to describe an area where enemies attack in large numbers.

Beyond this point lies a densely populated zone by Red Eye Knights and Imperial Spies, yet this serves as merely a prelude to the climax. In the main event, players will find themselves in a challenging situation, needing to either confront or circumvent the relentless barrage of fiery assaults from the Blue Dragon. Mastering the right moment can save you from its powerful breath, but achieving this requires considerable practice and a fair dose of luck.

After what you believe is the final confrontation, another Black Phantom appears before your long journey on an elevator that seems endless. This journey is challenging and time-consuming, and at its end lies one of the toughest bosses in the game, Old King Allant. This grueling run still haunts my dreams.

3 Blue Smelter Demon- Dark Souls 2

Git Gud, Or Get Ganked

The early games Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls had challenging boss battles that needed to be repeated often, but since their levels were well-designed, the repetition wasn’t too bothersome. However, Dark Souls 2, which was developed without Miyazaki’s involvement, suffered from the same issue of tough boss replaying, but it didn’t have the impressive level design to compensate for it. This made battles like the Blue Smelter Demon extremely frustrating.

Passing through Iron Gateway is quite compact, leading to a swift journey if you aim for speed. Yet, the challenge lies in the overwhelming number of adversaries within this space. You’ll encounter towering Possessed Armor foes, nimble Ashen Warriors, and long-range Fume Sorcerers, all crammed into this tight area.

This usually means that if you get clipped even once, you’ll be stun-locked into oblivion.

In the game Dark Souls 2, there are numerous areas notorious for ambushes, and the zone known as the Blue Smelter Demon’s lair is particularly infamous due to its tendency to leave players wounded and weakened before they even spot the boss enemy.

2 Darklurker – Dark Souls 2

Kill Them All If You Want To Get through

Our second-place competitor is a boss with three distinct runs, but since only one has an easily accessible bonfire, we’ll be discussing the path from Dark Chasm of Old to Darklurker. To initiate this boss fight, you’ll have to expend one Human Effigy to access the area using the Old Man NPC. This could mean farming for the item if you don’t have enough.

Once you enter that section, you’ll find yourself engaged in a battle against a succession of human-like adversaries. While they aren’t particularly difficult to defeat, there’s an important caveat: you can’t progress further until all the enemy mobs in the area have been eliminated. This means that each attempt at reaching the boss takes roughly three minutes due to the requirement for a complete clearance of the area first.

With most other boss runs, with precise movement, skillful play, or memorizing the route, you can lower the time taken to get through with practice. However, this run ensures that players engage with every enemy every time, making this a boring, tedious, and unwelcome boss run.

1 Lud and Zallen – Dark Souls 2

There’s Snow Easy Way Through This Area

While I agree that all the previous bad boss runs were indeed frustrating, let me clarify that none have matched the level of annoyance I experienced during the Lud and Zallen boss run from the Crown of the Sunken King DLC.

In this journey, you’ll traverse the troublesome region referred to as the Frosty Periphery, a place that was once a challenge for characters in Elden Ring to easily navigate.

In this region, visibility is extremely poor, making it challenging to chart a suitable path to your superior. Moreover, the poor visibility allows those pesky Reindeer adversaries to emerge from the mist and deplete your health with their lethal charge attacks. To make matters worse, even if you’ve diligently memorized and plotted out your route, completing this journey will still take more than three minutes.

As a seasoned Soulsborne player with countless hours spent slaying beasts and vanquishing lords across various realms, I can confidently say that the Lud and Zallen boss run in Dark Souls II is the most exasperating ordeal in the entire series. It’s not just that the fight itself is frustrating; it’s the fact that this particular battle feels like a cheap rehash of an enemy you’ve likely already defeated in a previous game, making it a bitter pill to swallow.

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2024-08-09 19:10