Top 8 Most Unusual Dark Souls Bosses You Won’t Believe

Summary

  • Some of the weirdest and most unusual boss fights in the Dark Souls trilogy can surprise players and deviate from the norm.
  • Bosses like Moonlight Butterfly and Curse-Rotted Greatwood offer unique encounters that may not meet player expectations.
  • Unique fight mechanics like chasing a disappearing boss or attacking a giant tree’s weak spots add variety to the typically epic battles.

Dark Souls is renowned as one of the most outstanding gaming trilogies ever made, propelling FromSoftware and Miyazaki into unprecedented levels of fame. The initial game paved the way for the “Soulslike” genre’s dominance in gaming, and the company has continued to thrive since then without looking back.

One enjoyable aspect that sets each Dark Souls game apart is the challenging boss battles found within each installment. While many deliver the grandeur fans have come to anticipate from the series, some of the less conventional bosses in Dark Souls can become less intimidating over time.

Rankings for bosses will be determined by their level of uniqueness and eccentricity relative to other bosses within the Dark Souls series triology.

8. Deacons Of The Deep

A Weird, Easy Boss Fight Where Players Chase A Red Aura And Attack Enemies With Reckless Abandon

Appears In Dark Souls 3
Health 4,099
Souls 13,000
Location Cathedral of the Deep
Drops Soul of the Deacons of the Deep, Small Doll, Archdeacon Set

In Dark Souls 3, the Deacons of the Deep is undeniably one of the game’s most peculiar boss battles. Players must chase after the spirit of the Archdeacon and diminish it to manageable proportions instead. Compared to other combatants within the arena, they may prove annoying but inflict relatively little damage, making it feasible for players to mostly overlook them during this encounter.

During the second stage, the Archdeacon emerges and is protected by a throng of the unliving. You’ll need to steer clear of them or use area-of-effect (AoE) attacks to get past them. This isn’t a particularly tough boss battle, but it offers a distinct experience that deviates from the intense conflicts players might expect after passing through a fog gate. It’s not the usual epic showdown they’re accustomed to.

7. Curse-Rotted Greatwood

Players Attack Weak Spots On A Massive Boss That Is Too Slow For Its Own Good

Appears In Dark Souls 3
Health 4,099
Souls 13,000
Location Cathedral of the Deep
Drops Soul of the Deacons of the Deep, Small Doll, Archdeacon Set

In a series like Dark Souls, where players typically encounter challenging and tactically complex boss battles, an unusual concept such as fighting against a massive tree with vulnerable bulbous spots might not be what fans usually anticipate. This is what makes the Curse-Rotted Greatwood peculiar; the fight may catch players off guard due to its apparent lack of subtlety.

Despite battling the Curse-Rotted Greatwood in an entirely novel location, with the ground crumbling beneath us, this encounter is rather uneventful. The sluggish, hulking beast makes for a peculiar and unmemorable boss battle that players are likely to leave behind swiftly.

6. Crossbreed Priscilla

Disappears In Combat, Forcing Players To Trace Her Footsteps

Appears In Dark Souls
Health 2,300
Souls 30,000
Location Painted World of Ariamis
Drops Soul of Priscilla, Twin Humanities, Priscilla’s Dagger (when tail is cut off)

As a passionate gamer, I found the confrontation against Crossbreed Priscilla to be surprisingly emotional yet thought-provoking, stirring up a whirlwind of feelings. Initially, the fight appears straightforward, but it’s when she vanishes that the challenge truly begins. The quest to rediscover this elusive boss becomes an intriguing brainteaser that keeps me hooked and engaged.

Fortunately, the snow in the boss region clearly marks the footsteps, allowing observant gamers to dodge an impending attack by this adversary. This subtle yet distinctive feature sets the boss battle apart, transforming the Painted World of Ariamis into a cherished optional area that countless players will eagerly conquer.

5. Moonlight Butterfly

An Odd Flying Boss That’s Pretty Easy To Handle

Appears In Dark Souls
Health 1,506
Souls 10,000
Location Darkroot Garden
Drops Soul of the Moonlight Butterfly, Humanity, Blue Titanite Chunk, Blue Titanite Slab

The Moonlight Butterfly appears ominous, often keeping combatants at bay with its distant presence. This distance makes the battle appear intimidating, as players dodge its enchanting spells and strive to find effective strategies for dealing damage.

Instead, let me rephrase that in a simpler manner: The Moonlight Butterfly helps players by settling on the narrow platform to build up an attack. Since this opponent has very little HP left, it’s clear why players can easily attack this boss and defeat it after it lands twice, leading to a rather anticlimactic finish for this peculiar boss battle.

4. High Lord Wolnir

Players Break The Bangles Of A Skeleton While Avoiding The Darkness

Appears In Dark Souls 3
Health 15,041
Souls 22,000
Location Catacombs of Carthus
Drops Soul of High Lord Wolnir

When players find themselves in a distinctive battlefield for their encounter with High Lord Wolnir, they can expect an exhilarating journey. This colossal skeleton may startle players due to its sudden emergence, but vanquishing it doesn’t require overly complex strategies.

To successfully defeat this boss, players need to break his bracelets and remain within the light at all times. If they venture into the dark, they will sustain damage. Although the battle itself isn’t overly complex, the peculiarities involved may catch many players by surprise.

3. Royal Rat Vanguard

One Of The Worst Boss Fights, Going Against The Impeccable Design Of Dark Souls

Appears In Dark Souls 2
Health 1,410
Souls 11,000
Location Grave of Saints
Drops Rat Vanguard Soul, Rat Tail

One common complaint among gamers about Dark Souls 2 is that it has too many boss fights and doesn’t make each one memorable. The Royal Rat Vanguard battle is often cited as the most forgettable boss encounter in the series.

Instead of pitting players against a seemingly ordinary rat, disguised as the special boss in Dark Souls, it’s disappointing that the fight against the Royal Rat Vanguard lacked the usual level of design effort compared to other well-crafted boss fights, where players engage with groups of regular enemies first. Bloodborne’s innovative approach to this concept in a unique boss encounter underscores how uncommon it is for such a battle to be underdeveloped.

2. Seath The Scaleless

Players Must Die To This Boss The First Time They Fight Him

Appears In Dark Souls
Health 5,525
Souls 60,000
Location The Duke’s Archives & Crystal Cave
Drops Bequeathed Lord Soul Shard, Moonlight Greatsword (if tail is cut)

Many players find that the latter part of the game Dark Souls doesn’t live up to its full potential, likely due to development needing to be completed on time. As a result, some unconventional design choices are made in certain boss battles, and Seath the Scaleless’ initial encounter is often pointed out as an instance of this.

In some instances, players find themselves perishing during their initial battle with Seath, which can be infuriating for those who lose valuable Souls due to circumstances beyond their power. This contradicts the game’s general theme where every death is attributed to the player’s mistakes, even though a rematch offers an opportunity for revenge against this annoying adversary.

1. Vendrick

A Boss Built Up Throughout The Game That Ends Up Being A Shell Of Its Former Self

Appears In Dark Souls 2
Health 11,450
Souls 90,000
Location Undead Crypt
Drops Nothing

Despite some flaws in Dark Souls 2, the anticipation leading up to encountering Vendrick demonstrates the game’s potential when it focuses on quality. The ominous presence of Vendrick is consistently conveyed throughout the game, yet players find a weak and aimless king in the Undead Crypt instead of the powerful Vendrick they were led to believe in. This was intended to be mighty King Vendrick.

Experiencing this enemy in the game is particularly startling, as players find themselves engaged in a grueling boss fight immediately after attacking it without thought. This foe, reminiscent of Vendrick, skillfully enhances the storyline of Dark Souls 2, leaving no doubt as to why this title has garnered such devoted followers.

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2025-03-11 04:35