FromSoftware’s games are highly known for their difficulty, though their most recognizable challenges have always been their boss fights.
The Soulsborne formula relies heavily on the demanding nature of these special encounters, which convey the best of each game in terms of gameplay and narrative.
However, contrary to what you might expect, its difficulty curve is not permanently upward, asits final bosses are not always the most challenging.
There are many times when a mid-game or optional boss takes more attempts to beat than the last, so let’s admire these arduous combatants with this list of theten Soulsborne bosses harder than the final boss.
We won’t include DLC bosses on the list, as they are, by nature, usually more difficult than those in the base games, as the DLC needs to step up the difficulty tenfold to keep Souls fans on their toes.
10Velstadt, The Royal Aegis
An Endurance Test
Dark Souls 2
Undead Crypt
ConsideringDark Souls 2’s final boss is the easiest in the history of Soulsborne games, it’s effortless to imagine there being multiple candidates for this list.
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Despite the sequel being known for havingeasy bosses,Velstadt, the Royal Aegisis one of the few exceptions that offers a considerable challenge.
While it still doesn’t live up to FromSoftware’s usual standard, its sheer resilience catches players off guard, who are accustomed to defeating most bosses in just a few attacks.
Given that Nashandra is quite straightforward,Velstadt’s endurance test feels even more demanding, especially since any mistake can be punished by being returned to the bonfire.
9Four Kings
A Problem With a Single Solution
Dark Souls
Since I first playedDark Souls, I’ve always had trouble withFour Kings. Despite my numerous attempts, I just can’t get comfortable with their combat, which is simple in concept but not so much in execution.
Due to the presence of multiple entities to fight and an extremely confusing camera perspective, it becomes much harder to know when and where to dodge and attack.
To this day,I’ve only managed to beat them consistently by using the full Havel Armor and tanking every hit; it’s nothing spectacular, but it works perfectly.
If it weren’t for that strategy, I doubt I’d be able to beat Four Kings, unlike my relationship withGwyn, Lord of Cinder, whom I’ve defeated with various builds without much of a headache.
8Looking Glass Knight
An Impenetrable Threat
King’s Passage
Like Velstadt, theLooking Glass Knightis among the best and most challenging enemies inDark Souls 2, as it can endure numerous hits thanks to its impenetrable shield.
The fight at the top of Drangleic Castle is long due to the high number of health points it has,even more so when he summons an NPC to help him in combat.
Along with the fact that said summon could be another player, the encounter turns out to be problematic and exhausting, facilitating slips that culminate in your death.
He has a basic and easy-to-dodge set of movements, but between the weird hitboxes of its lightning bolts and theannoying phantomshelping him, it becomes much more difficult than it should be.
7Darklurker
The Most Demanding Dual Fight
Dark Chasm of Old
Dark Souls 2doesn’t handle bosses with multiple enemies very well, as they’re either bland or unfairly difficult.
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However,Darklurker is the perfect example of how Dark Souls 2’s high points can be outstanding. With its superbly balanced moveset, it has a great transition into its second phase, feeling demanding yet reasonable.
The only tedious part is getting to it, as it has one of the most annoying and complicated boss runs of all the Soulsborne games. It’s so irritating that, despite it being one of my favorite bosses in the game, I’ve only fought it once.
Regardless, Darklurker is among themost difficult bosses inDark Souls 2and well above the irregular Nashandra, which it surpasses in both the challenge it offers and the quality it possesses.
6Morgott, The Omen King
A Glass Cannon Build
Elden Ring
Leyndell, Royal Capital
Morgott, the Omen Kingexemplifies my biggest problem withElden Ring’s open world, which allows a boss to be either a walk in the park or a trip to hell, depending on what level you’re at when facing him.
The first time I encountered Leyndell’s ruler, I had to restart the fight because I defeated him so quickly that I couldn’t even enjoy him. The last time, however,he destroyed me in so many attempts that I genuinely thought I would have to level up to beat him.
As such, I want to stick with that last experience, as Morgott features one of the most complex attack patterns in the history of Soulsborne games, even beyond others inElden Ring,such as Maliketh or even Malenia.
With his flashy acrobatics, a wide arsenal of moves, and unpredictable transitions between patterns, Morgott is a formidable threat.Yet,it isn’t higher on the list only because it depends too much on how strong your character is to be difficult or not.
5Ornstein & Smough
The Icons of Terror
Anor Londo
After so many installments, I can’t help but feelDark Souls' bosses are easy, though I have a hard time saying the same aboutOrnstein and Smough.
The franchise’s most recognizable dynamic duo is popularly feared for their difficulty, and while now I can beat them without trouble,I never underestimate their ability to shut me up.
In my first playthrough,they beat me three times more than Gwyn, making me question whether I really had what it took to beat the game. Even summoning Solaire of Astora didn’t help, so I was left trying countlessly until the magic happened.
Watching Ornstein fly towards me while Smough prepares his charge is an image that’s so etched in my mind that, no matter how many times I defeat them,my heart races every time I enter their arena.
4Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos
Yharnam’s True Nightmare
Bloodborne
Upper Cathedral Ward
Overall,Bloodborne’s base game bosses aren’t very demanding. With the use of trick weapons and parry, most threats can be dispatched with little trouble.
The only exception to this statement isEbrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos, which causes me indescribable tension thanks to her dark design and, even more so, her demanding fight.
Although the first phase is simple, the encounter’s second half becomes an overwhelming experience with beams of light, countless headbutts, and flying assaults,where everything can return you to the Hunter’s Dream in seconds.
Unlike withGehrman, The First Hunter, who is also very difficult but easily succumbs to parry, against Ebrietas, you’re able to only dodge and pray that her colossal cosmic body doesn’t crush you in the process.
3Nameless King
Thank God It’s An Optional Boss
Dark Souls 3
Archdragon Peak
I’ve always saidDark Souls 3has the most challenging average boss difficulty of any Soulsborne game, andNameless Kingdefinitely backs me up.
I’m grateful it’s optional because it was by far the boss that took me the most attempts to master and defeat. With two phases, titanic damage, and a varied move set,it’s as unpredictable as it is deadly.
Sure,Soul of Cinderis extremely arduous, and the hardest of all the final bosses in the trilogy, but several of its phases are easy to handle. Gwyn’s lost son, on the other hand, is tough from start to finish.
I don’t agree with the idea that it’s the hardest inDarkSouls 3, much less any of the FromSoftware games. Yet, I do thinkthey made it optional out of fear that many players wouldn’t be able to beat it and continue with the campaign.
2Demon of Hatred
A Fight From Another World
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Ashina Castle Gate
The idea thatDemon of Hatredis aDark Soulsboss set inSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis as cliché as it is true, as it does indeed seem from another world.
This beast throws everything you know about the game out the window, and forces you to adopt an uncomfortable gameplay style that is not in line with the mechanical memory you’ve already developed.
UnlikeIsshin, the Sword Saint, who is colossally difficult by pushing the limits of whatSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceteaches you, Demon of Hatred is made more difficult and frustrating because nothing in the game guides you through the fight.
If I’m honest,I was only able to beat him thanks to the well-known trick of making him fall and using the whistle that stuns him up to three times in each fight. Otherwise, I would probably continue to avoid him.
1Malenia, Blade of Miquella
A Sekiro Boss Sneaked Into Elden Ring
Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree
I admit I’ve never had that many problems withMalenia, Blade of Miquella, but I can say there are light years of difference between her andRadagon and the Elden Beast.
While these are not exactly easy, Malenia presents a level of challenge and mastery of Elden Ring’s mechanics never seen before in a FromSoftware game.
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Her optional quality does not surprise me, either.A challenge of this kind overwhelms even the most veteran of the series.
She is extremely fast, hits like a truck, heals at high speed, and has a couple of moves that feel impossible to evade.
If you add the area she’s in, her ability to induce scarlet rot, and her unpredictability, it’s easy to understand why it takes most people hundreds of attempts to defeat her the first time.
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