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FromSoftware has ascended to the forefront of action RPG development, crafting unforgettable journeys through grim, dark worlds brimming with both terror and wonder. While their unparalleled level and lore design are noteworthy, their enduring legacy will likely always be their bosses: incredibly challenging, often horrifying adversaries that test your skills to their absolute limits.
For their latest game, Elden Ring: Nightreign, FromSoftware is doubling down on boss encounters. This roguelike-inspired co-op game is purely combat-focused, with each playthrough presenting players with an increasingly difficult series of bosses. As the first trailer revealed, some familiar faces from the *Dark Souls* series, including the majestic Nameless King, are making a return.
This isn't a list of the *hardest* bosses. This is a list of the greatest FromSoftware bosses ever created.
We considered battles across FromSoftware's "Soulsborne" titles – *Elden Ring*, *Bloodborne*, *Sekiro*, *Demon's Souls*, and the *Dark Souls* trilogy. Our assessment wasn't solely based on difficulty, but on every facet of the encounter: music, setting, mechanical complexity, lore significance, and more. The following are our 25 favorites, judged by these criteria.
This isn't a list of the most difficult bosses. This is a list of the *greatest* bosses in FromSoftware history.
25. Old Monk (Demon's Souls)
Conceptually, Demon's Souls' Old Monk is a brilliant example of FromSoftware's approach to PvP invasions. Instead of a standard AI-controlled boss, the Old Monk can be controlled by another player. The challenge varies depending on the player's skill, but the encounter effectively reminds you that enemy players can appear at any time, even during a boss fight.
24. Old Hero (Demon's Souls)
While many of Demon's Souls' bosses have been surpassed by later, more refined designs, its puzzle-like encounters remain captivating. The Old Hero is the prime example: a tall, glowing, hard-hitting ancient warrior who is blind. His attacks are indiscriminate, making evasion surprisingly easy. However, his hearing is acute, transforming the fight into a stealth-like experience. It's not difficult, following a pattern of flanking, striking, and waiting for him to reset. Despite its simplicity, Old Hero is unique, laying the groundwork for enigmatic bosses like Elden Ring's Rennala and Sekiro's Folding Screen Monkeys.
23. Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King)
Dragons are often formidable FromSoftware bosses, but early dragon encounters in *Dark Souls* and *Demon's Souls* felt more like prototypes. Dark Souls 2's Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon, marked a turning point. This incredibly difficult fight, set within a poisonous cavern and accompanied by powerful music, established the template for epic and terrifying dragon encounters in subsequent FromSoftware games.
22. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Bloodborne)
Bloodborne features numerous Lovecraftian creatures, but none embody the game's cosmic horror themes quite like Ebrietas. A mass of tentacles, growths, and wings, she's central to the Healing Church's worship and the origin of Blood Ministration. While not as terrifying as her lore suggests, her fight is thematically rich. Her devastating attacks involve ripping open the cosmos and unleashing arcane energy, while her blood inflicts Frenzy, a status effect that slowly drives you mad. It's pure Lovecraftian horror.
21. Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2)
Arguably *Dark Souls 2's* hardest boss, the Fume Knight combines speed and power. He dual-wields weapons: a longsword for quick attacks and a massive greatsword for heavy damage. He later combines them into a giant flamesword. While his difficulty is notable, he's also incredibly fun to fight. FromSoftware's duels typically pit you against either a fast or heavy opponent, but the Fume Knight masterfully blends both styles.
20. Bayle the Dread (Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree)
Bayle the Dread is memorable in itself, being one of the toughest bosses in a DLC already known for its difficulty. However, what truly elevates it is the inclusion of the NPC ally, Igon. His intense hatred for Bayle, both before and during the fight, adds another layer to the already exciting encounter with the monstrous dragon.
19. Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)
Every FromSoftware game has an early "proving ground" boss. These fights test your understanding of the game's mechanics, and failure often means game over. Bloodborne's Father Gascoigne is arguably the best example. Mindless attacks are punished, requiring players to utilize the environment, manage aggression, and ideally, parry his attacks—crucial skills for later encounters.
18. Starscourge Radahn (Elden Ring)
Elden Ring is full of spectacle, but few encounters match the scale of Starscourge Radahn and his massive battlefield. While his appearance might seem comical, the fight is anything but. The ability to summon numerous NPC companions adds to the epic feel, turning it into a truly memorable and inventive encounter.
17. Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)
FromSoftware's games are often melancholic, but few moments are as emotionally resonant as facing Great Grey Wolf Sif. Artorias' loyal companion guards his grave, wielding his greatsword. While not the most challenging fight, the atmosphere and story implications leave a lasting impact, showcasing the morally grey nature of FromSoftware's worlds.
16. Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)
Maliketh is arguably one of the most aggressively relentless bosses in Soulslike history. Even in his first phase, he relentlessly attacks, dodging and throwing rocks. His second phase, revealing his true form, is even more intense. The fight is incredibly high-intensity from start to finish, making it incredibly memorable.
15. Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3)
The Dancer of the Boreal Valley is visually stunning and mechanically unique. Her erratic fighting style and unusually timed animations keep players constantly guessing, making her a challenging and memorable opponent.
14. Genichiro Ashina (Sekiro)
The first encounter with Genichiro Ashina, set in a moonlit reed field, is brief but memorable. The rematch atop Ashina Castle is an epic duel, requiring mastery of Sekiro's parrying and deflecting mechanics. It serves as a crucial test of the player's understanding of the game's core concepts.
13. Owl (Father) (Sekiro)
Facing Wolf's father, Owl, is both emotionally and physically challenging. Owl is one of the game's most aggressive and hard-hitting bosses, utilizing a variety of lethal gadgets and attacks. His second phase, involving teleportation, adds another layer of difficulty to this intense and memorable encounter.
Honorable Mention: Armored Core 6
While this list focuses on FromSoftware's "Soulsborne" games, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon deserves recognition. Three bosses stand out: AA P07 Balteus (a challenging gatekeeper), IA-02: Ice Worm (a cinematic battle utilizing allied NPCs), and IB-01: CEL 240 (a dramatic fight with a rapid-fire second phase).
12. Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)
The Soul of Cinder embodies the essence of *Dark Souls*. As the final boss, this amalgamation of past Lords of Cinder fights with an unpredictable array of styles, culminating in a second phase that recreates the moves of Gwyn, the final boss of the original *Dark Souls*. It's a fitting and haunting conclusion to the trilogy.
11. Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel)
Sister Friede is a brutal three-phase endurance test, arguably the most punishing boss fight in the *Dark Souls* series. Her relentless aggression makes dealing damage a challenge in itself. The second phase introduces Father Ariandel, creating a challenging dual-boss encounter.
10. Orphan of Kos (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)
Orphan of Kos is *Bloodborne's* most infamous foe, a terrifyingly fast and aggressive boss with unpredictable combos. His grotesque appearance and use of his own placenta as a weapon add to his nightmarish quality.
9. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)
Malenia became a cultural phenomenon, known for her challenging two-stage fight. Her first phase features her deadly Waterfowl Dance, while the second utilizes her rot abilities. Her visual spectacle and deep connection to the game's lore make her a truly memorable boss.
8. Guardian Ape (Sekiro)
The Guardian Ape is comedically grotesque, utilizing farts and feces as attacks. However, its second phase, after seemingly being defeated, is a shocking and effective twist, making it a truly memorable and unique encounter.
7. Knight Artorias (Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss)
Artorias is a tragic figure in *Dark Souls'* lore, and his fight is as challenging as his story is compelling. His rapid attacks and tricky combos make him a difficult but rewarding boss to defeat, feeling like a true rite of passage for players.
6. Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)
The Nameless King is a perfect example of a *Dark Souls* boss. Challenging but fair, his two-phase fight, featuring a mounted dragon phase and a grounded duel, is visually stunning and accompanied by an iconic musical score.
5. Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough (Dark Souls)
Ornstein and Smough established the template for dual-boss fights, a staple in FromSoftware games since. Their two-phase fight, where defeating one empowers the other, is unforgettable and highly influential.
4. Ludwig, The Accursed/Holy Blade (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)
Ludwig is arguably *Bloodborne's* most complex boss, constantly evolving throughout the fight. His numerous attacks and relentless aggression require mastery of *Bloodborne's* fast-paced combat. His tragic backstory adds depth to the encounter.
3. Slave Knight Gael (Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City)
Gael's fight is mythic in scale, serving as a fitting conclusion to the *Dark Souls 3* trilogy. His two-phase fight, transitioning from a brutal melee encounter to a ranged onslaught, is visually spectacular and deeply connected to the game's overall narrative.
2. Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)
Lady Maria is a technically masterful duelist, her fight escalating in intensity as she unleashes her blood powers. The encounter is a breathtaking display of skill and precision, concluding in a memorable and satisfying showdown.
1. Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro)
Isshin, the Sword Saint, embodies *Sekiro's* focused combat system. His four-phase fight is a relentless test of skill, requiring mastery of parrying, deflecting, and utilizing various combat techniques. The fight's precision and elegance, coupled with its challenging nature, make it FromSoftware's finest boss battle.
Our ranking of the top 25 FromSoftware bosses is complete. Let us know your favorites!
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