Bosses (DLC)
The Dark Souls III DLCs, Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, introduce some of the game's most challenging and memorable boss encounters. Prepare for these battles by optimizing your build, understanding their attack patterns, and utilizing the environment to your advantage.
Sister Friede and Father Ariandel
Found in the depths of the Painted World of Ariandel, this fight is a three-phase gauntlet that tests your endurance and adaptability.
- Location: Ariandel Chapel, after defeating the Gravetender and his Greatwolf.
- Recommended Level: 80-100
- Key Strategies:
- Phase 1 (Sister Friede): She is fast and relies on invisibility and frost attacks. Listen for her footsteps when she disappears and roll towards the sound. Backstabs are highly effective when she reappears.
- Phase 2 (Father Ariandel and Sister Friede): Focus your attacks on Father Ariandel. He is slow and vulnerable to heavy hits. Friede will attempt to heal him; interrupt this if possible. Keep an eye on Friede's frost attacks while engaging Ariandel.
- Phase 3 (Blackflame Friede): This is the most aggressive phase. Friede gains powerful Darkflame attacks and new combos. Her scythe attacks have wide arcs; dodge *into* her attacks rather than away to get behind her for counter-attacks. Consider using a weapon with high Frostbite or Bleed buildup, as she is susceptible. The Wolf Knight's Greatsword or Farron Greatsword can be effective for their Artorias-themed movesets.
- Rewards: Soul of Sister Friede, Titanite Slab.
Demon Prince
This dual-demon boss battle in The Ringed City is a test of fire resistance and patience.
- Location: Earthen Peak Ruins, after dropping down the large chasm.
- Recommended Level: 90-110
- Key Strategies:
- Phase 1 (Demons from Below): You face two demons simultaneously: the Demon in Pain and the Demon from Below. The Demon in Pain is aggressive and uses fire attacks, while the Demon from Below is more passive but can inflict toxic. Focus on one demon at a time. If you defeat the Demon in Pain first, the Demon Prince will gain a powerful ranged laser attack in Phase 2. If you defeat the Demon from Below first, the Demon Prince will gain a more aggressive melee moveset with a flaming meteor attack. Many players prefer to defeat the Demon in Pain first to avoid the more dangerous melee phase.
- Phase 2 (Demon Prince): The surviving demon transforms. If the Demon in Pain was defeated first, the Demon Prince will use a devastating laser attack from a distance. Stay close and attack its legs, rolling through its stomps and fire breath. If the Demon from Below was defeated first, the Demon Prince will be highly aggressive with flaming melee combos and a meteor shower. Maintain distance during the meteor shower and punish its recovery.
- Item Tip: Equip the Flame Stoneplate Ring and consider fire-resistant armor like the Lapp's Set. The Black Knight Shield offers excellent fire absorption.
- Rewards: Soul of the Demon Prince, Titanite Slab.
Darkeater Midir
A colossal dragon and one of the most imposing bosses in the entire game, Midir requires precise dodging and consistent damage.
- Location: The Ringed City, accessed by striking an illusory wall after the Shared Grave bonfire, then dropping down a series of ledges.
- Recommended Level: 100-120+
- Key Strategies:
- Stay in Front: The safest place to be is directly in front of Midir's head. His tail and leg attacks are harder to predict and punish. Always try to bait his head attacks.
- Target the Head: Midir takes significantly more damage when struck in the head. This is crucial for shortening the fight.
- Attack Patterns: Learn to recognize his various fire breaths (sweeping, ground AoE, vertical dive) and claw swipes. Roll *into* his attacks to get under his head. When he rears up for a slam, roll backwards.
- Phase 2 (Dark Beam): At roughly 50% health, Midir will unleash a devastating dark beam attack. When he charges this, run directly away from him until the beam dissipates, then immediately close the distance.
- Patience is Key: Do not get greedy. Get one or two hits on his head after an attack, then be ready to dodge. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Item Tip: Equip the Dark Stoneplate Ring and Ring of Steel Protection. The Pestilent Mist sorcery can be surprisingly effective due to Midir's massive health pool, as it deals percentage-based damage.
- Rewards: Soul of Darkeater Midir, Spear of the Church (if you defeat him as a summoned phantom for the next boss).
Slave Knight Gael
The final boss of Dark Souls III, Gael is a relentless and aggressive humanoid opponent with three distinct phases.
- Location: Filianore's Rest, at the very end of The Ringed City DLC.
- Recommended Level: 100-120+
- Key Strategies:
- Phase 1 (Slave Knight Gael): Gael uses a Greatsword and Crossbow. His attacks are slow but hit hard. Dodge through his swings and punish his recovery. The crossbow can be dodged by rolling sideways.
- Phase 2 (Red Hood Gael): Gael gains a cape that acts as an additional weapon, and his attacks become faster and more erratic. He also incorporates Dark magic. The cape attacks have deceptive hitboxes; practice rolling through them. Stay aggressive but cautious.
- Phase 3 (Red Hood Gael, Dark Soul of Man): Gael becomes infused with the Dark Soul, gaining lightning attacks and a more aggressive moveset. He will summon red skulls that track you; roll through these. When he jumps into the air, be prepared for a lightning strike. The arena's scattered gravestones can provide temporary cover from some attacks.
- Weapon Tip: Gael is susceptible to Bleed and Frostbite. Weapons like the Friede's Great Scythe or a Warden Twinblades with a Blood Gem infusion can be very effective.
- PVP Experience Helps: Gael fights much like an aggressive player character, so any experience with PVP duels can be beneficial in predicting his movements.
- Rewards: Soul of Slave Knight Gael, Blood of the Dark Soul.