YOU WON’T BELIEVE The Final Boss Tier List for FromSoftware Games

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As a dedicated fan, I’d like to highlight one standout aspect of FromSoftware‘s gaming universe: their extraordinary boss fights. Unlike ordinary encounters, these epic battles showcase not only stunning visual aesthetics but also intricate, brain-teasing gameplay mechanics that elevate the experience into something intense, challenging, and unforgettable.

In a perfect world, every boss battle in a game would showcase an engaging mix of unique mechanics and stunning visuals. However, this is especially crucial for the final boss encounter. A final boss should serve as the grand finale, encompassing all that has preceded it, providing a supreme test of skill, and ensuring players feel fulfilled with their overall gaming experience. FromSoftware has consistently provided exceptional final boss battles.

This ranking includes the final bosses that appear in the original FromSoftware games, along with those encountered in any additional content such as downloadable content (DLC) or expansions released after the game’s initial launch.

S-Tier: The Ultimate Culmination of What’s Come Before It

  • Burnt Ivory King (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Ivory King)
  • Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)
  • Slave Knight Gael (Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City)
  • Isshin, The Sword Saint (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
  • Gehrman, The First Hunter (Bloodborne)

In the final DLC of Dark Souls 2, The Charred Ivory King served as the ultimate boss. This battle was memorable as it pitted players against a king armed with a greatsword and legions of loyal Loyce Knights who emerged from flaming doorways in the circular arena. What sets this fight apart is the option to summon uncorrupted Loyce Knights that you’ve previously saved, joining you in the fray. This transforms the battle into an epic war spectacle.

When Dark Souls 3 was initially launched, the final boss, the Soul of Cinder, served as a fitting tribute to the Dark Souls series. His distinct capacity to change move sets during combat added an extra layer of challenge. Furthermore, his encounter is enhanced by a haunting score that seamlessly connects the entire trilogy using only a few piano notes that send shivers down your spine.

Upon the unveiling of its two DLCs, Dark Souls 3 (as well as the entire Dark Souls series) encountered a fresh final adversary. Many believe that Slave Knight Gael is a more thrilling boss battle compared to the Soul of Cinder. While his repertoire and rating might not evoke such a strong sense of nostalgia, the frenzied attacks of Slave Knight Gael make for an incredibly impactful showdown.

Despite the challenging boss battles in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, its climactic encounter with Isshin significantly ramps up the difficulty. Isshin serves as an exceptional test of player skill, demanding near-flawless parries and evasions, and urging the use of multiple Prosthetic Tools. Additionally, he puts players’ ability to deflect lightning to the test. Indeed, Sekiro’s Isshin embodies the type of formidable challenge that a final boss ought to present.

In Bloodborne, there’s no scarcity of outstanding boss battles, and Gehrman is often praised as one of the finest. Similar to Isshin from Sekiro, Gehrman serves as an ideal adversary for the player, offering a final test that seems like a fitting climax of the game’s mechanics and storyline elements.

A-Tier: A Thrilling and Challenging Final Fight

  • Old King Allant (Demon’s Souls)
  • Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Old Iron King)
  • Sinh, The Slumbering Dragon (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King)
  • Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel)
  • Orphan of Kos (Bloodborne)
  • Promised Consort Radahn (Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree)

In essence, while Old King Allant is considered the second-to-last boss in Demon’s Souls, his “True” form isn’t particularly challenging. Consequently, Old King Allant effectively becomes the game’s final boss. He’s an impressive adversary, capable of delivering strong, swift attacks that can take players by surprise. His design is relatively straightforward yet impactful, as it hides his immense power beneath a veil of regal appearance.

Although Fume Knight and Sinh may not match the grandeur of their Burnt Ivory King sibling in terms of cinematic flair, they make for impressive boss battles on their own, serving as challenging final encounters within the Dark Souls 2 DLCs. Similarly, while Sister Friede’s fight isn’t as climactic as Slave Knight Gael’s, it provides one of the finest duo battles in FromSoftware history – a notable achievement indeed.

As a dedicated fan, I can attest that Bloodborne’s DLC concludes with the challenging confrontation against the Orphan of Kos, a battle that will undoubtedly be etched in my memory. However, the sheer satisfaction derived from the one-on-one duel with Gehrman is unparalleled.

In the game Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the notoriously tough final boss fight against Promised Consort Radahn offers intriguing backstory, but the thrill is diminished because Radahn also appears in the main version of Elden Ring. Although the Promised Consort version has a distinct set of moves, it’s still quite similar to its counterpart in the base game, making it debatable for inclusion in the S-tier.

B-Tier: A Solid Test of Strength

  • Gwyn Lord of Cinder (Dark Souls)
  • Manus (Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss)
  • Moon Presence (Bloodborne)
  • Radagon/Elden Beast (Elden Ring)

Among the most captivating locales in FromSoftware’s chronicles is The Kiln of the First Flame, a place that continues to intrigue with its lore, even though the battle against Gwyn, while atmospheric, doesn’t quite live up to the perfection many have come to expect from this series, being notoriously easy to predict and parry. Similarly, Manus, the final boss of Dark Souls‘ DLC, inhabits an equally enchanting arena and possesses a captivating backstory, yet he follows in the footsteps of Kalameet and Artorias, two iconic bosses cherished by FromSoft fans.

The Kiln of the First Flame is one of FromSoftware’s most atmospheric spots, but the fight against Gwyn isn’t perfect (it’s easy to predict his moves and parry him). Manus, from Dark Souls‘ DLC, has an intriguing backstory, but he’s not as beloved as Kalameet and Artorias because they are the final bosses that come before him.

In my gaming journey, taking on Bloodborne’s Moon Presence as an optional final boss was a spectacle to behold, a fight worth the additional grind to access it. However, much like Manus from earlier, Gehrman set such a high standard that Moon Presence felt surprisingly feeble in comparison. It was almost as if the grandeur and intensity of the previous boss battle had left me yearning for something more from this final encounter.

In a different phrasing, the battle against Radagon/Elden Beast in Elden Ring is comparable to other tales, but it doesn’t quite match up to fights like those with Maliketh, Dragonlord Placidusax, Radahn, or Malenia. Despite an impressive score and an epic arena, this fight falls short of the mark set by these memorable encounters.

C-Tier: A Fine But Forgettable Fight

  • Nashandra (Dark Souls 2)
  • Aldia (Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin)

As a gamer, I’ve got to say that while Dark Souls 2 is packed with some truly undervalued bosses, it’s a pity that its last two battles don’t quite hit the mark. Nashandra, with her captivating design, can be a real challenge due to her curse-inducing attacks, which can get rather tedious. However, once you figure out that you need to destroy the black orbs she summons, the fight becomes less daunting.

On the other hand, Aldia from the Scholar of the First Sin edition is an optional final boss for Dark Souls 2. This guy can definitely create a chilling atmosphere, but his move set is quite limited, leaving me with a feeling of underwhelm in the end.

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2025-02-02 00:56