Dark Souls’ Gwyn is a Mixed Bag Compared to His Game’s Notorious Legacy

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As a seasoned veteran of the Dark Souls franchise, I’ve faced my fair share of formidable foes, but none have left me more conflicted than Lord Gwyn, the First Flame. On one hand, he embodies the soul-crushing difficulty that Dark Souls is renowned for, with his aggressive moveset and unforgiving timing. The initial encounter is a testament to FromSoftware’s ability to craft challenging encounters that push players to their limits.

In the gaming world, Dark Souls is renowned for its tough challenges. However, the game’s final boss, Gwyn, has been criticized by the FromSoftware fanbase as somewhat anticlimactic. Despite the fact that Gwyn’s moveset lives up to the expectations of a final challenge in Dark Souls, the inclusion of one particular mechanic can make the boss much easier than other encounters, which isn’t typical for this game.

Mastering Gwyn, one of Dark Souls’ most formidable challenges, into an effortless stride toward the credits hinges on a unique aspect: Gwyn is the sole boss in the game susceptible to parrying. This strategic move, part of the player’s arsenal, shines particularly brightly during the climactic battle. However, its immense power and consistency make it clear why parries were never intended for other bosses, as this single fight underscores.

Gwyn is Potentially the Best Challenge of Dark Souls

Gwyn Initially Fulfills Every Promise Made by the Difficulty of Dark Souls

In contrast to the perception that Gwyn can be easily underestimated, it’s important to acknowledge that this isn’t typically the case for players encountering him for the first time during their initial playthrough. Instead, they often find Gwyn to be a remarkably challenging boss, boasting one of the most aggressive and powerful move sets among all the bosses in the game. In fact, as a solitary opponent, he frequently applies more pressure on the player than the infamous Ornstein and Smough duel from Dark Souls.

As a passionate admirer, I’d like to share my thoughts on Gwyn’s combat style. His arsenal of sword strikes, ranging from leisurely to lightning-fast, keeps me constantly on my toes. Some attacks give just enough time for a reaction, while others seem to appear out of nowhere, punishing players who overextend or dodge recklessly.

For beginners, Gwyn’s combat style leans towards the recognizable, deviating only slightly from the traditional “large sword wielder” mold while maintaining a distinct character of its own, making it a unique boss fight. It presents a solemn test, accompanied by an exquisite song and set within the understanding that even one of the strongest Lords has succumbed to hollowing and isn’t fighting at full capacity. However, as players progress and uncover that Dark Souls’ parry mechanic is almost essential for avoiding this battle on subsequent playthroughs, much of the subtlety employed to make Gwyn stand out among other bosses and enemies becomes less noticeable.

A Parry Shield and Estus Flask Can Destroy Gwyn in Little Effort

As a die-hard fan of FromSoftware’s Souls series, I’m no stranger to employing “cheese tactics” – clever strategies that can make even the toughest bosses seem manageable by exploiting AI quirks or damage vulnerabilities, or even forcing them out of bounds. In the face of Gwyn, one such tactic involves a well-timed parry on his initial jump attack, swiftly followed by a drink from my Estus Flask. This works because Gwyn has an unusual input-reading system when players try to use items; he’ll prepare for a slow, two-handed swing in response, which can then be effortlessly parried again and again.

In simpler terms, mastering the Estus Flask’s parry move in Dark Souls can make defeating Gwyn easier than other strategies, once you grasp the timing of the parries. However, it should be noted that this might not be a traditional method of using the Estus Flask, but it does leverage all the player’s tools effectively. Unfortunately, for many players returning to the game, the parry strategy can transform Gwyn from a challenging boss fight into a routine task, regardless of whether or not you bait his two-handed attack.

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2024-10-29 13:03