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One ofFromSoftware’s most renowned strengths is its vast array of excellent boss fights.FromSoftware’s best bossesdon’t just offer striking visual designs, but intricate, complex gameplay mechanics as well, resulting in an encounter that’s intense, challenging, and memorable.
While all boss fights should ideally have an impressive blend of distinct mechanical and visual design, it’s especially important when it comes to a game’s final boss. A final boss should be the climactic culmination of everything that’s come before it, offering the ultimate test of skill and leaving players satisfied with the entire experience.FromSoftwarehas delivered more than its fair share of excellent final boss fights.
This tier list contains both the final bosses from FromSoftware’s base games as well as those in any post-launch DLCs or expansions.
S-Tier: The Ultimate Culmination of What’s Come Before It
The Burnt Ivory King wasthe final boss ofDark Souls 2’s final DLC, and he left quite a lasting impression. This fight sees players face off against the greatsword-wielding king and his never-ending waves of loyal Loyce Knights who step out of fiery portals in the round arena. What makes this fight so special is the ability to call in previously rescued uncorrupted Loyce Knights who battle alongside the player, turning the encounter into an epic war.
At the time of its release,Dark Souls 3’s Soul of Cinderwas the final boss in theDark Soulstrilogy, and he was the perfect celebration of the series. Along with the unique ability to switch movesets mid-fight, the Soul of Cinder’s encounter is accompanied by a goosebump-inducing score that ties the entire trilogy together with just a few simple piano keys.
With the release of its two DLCs,Dark Souls 3(andthe entireDark Soulstrilogy) found a new final boss. Arguably, Slave Knight Gael is an even better boss fight than the Soul of Cinder. Though his moveset and score aren’t quite as nostalgic, the intensity of Slave Knight Gael’s feral attacks lead to an incredibly memorable duel.
ThoughSekiro: Shadows Die Twicehas some tough boss fights, there’s a significant ramp-up for the game’s final encounter. Isshin is a true test of skill, requiring near-perfect parries and dodges, encouraging the use of a variety of Prosthetic Tools, and even testing the player’s ability to deflect lightning.Sekiro’s Isshinis exactly the type of challenge that a final boss should offer.
Bloodbornehas no shortage of phenomenal boss fights, and Gehrman is widely considered to be one of the best. Much likeSekiro’s Isshin, Gehrman is the perfect foil to the player, delivering a final challenge that feels like a perfect culmination of the game’s mechanics and narrative themes.
A-Tier: A Thrilling and Challenging Final Fight
Though Old King Allant is technically thepenultimate boss ofDemon’s Souls, his “True” version doesn’t really put up much of a fight, making the Old King the de facto final boss of the game. And he’s a great one at that, delivering powerful, fast blows that can easily catch the player off-guard. Allant’s visual design is also simple but effective, concealing his power behind a facade of regality.
Fume Knight and Sinh may not have the same cinematic quality as their Burnt Ivory King sibling, but they’re still great boss fights in their own right, being excellent final challenges for their respectiveDark Souls 2DLCs. Similarly, though Sister Friede’s boss fight isn’t quite as climactic as Slave Knight Gael’s, it still offers one of the best duo fights in FromSoft history, which is no small feat.
Bloodborne’s DLC ends with the infamously difficult fight against the Orphan of Kos, and while it’s an incredibly memorable fight, it’s not quite as satisfying as the one-on-one duel with Gehrman.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Promised Consort Radahnis another infamously challenging final boss fight that features some fascinating lore, but the sting of the fight is taken away by Radahn’s appearance inElden Ring’s base game. Though the Promised Consort version features a different moveset, it’s still a little too similar to justify a spot in the S-tier.
B-Tier: A Solid Test of Strength
The Kiln of the First Flame is one of the most atmospheric locations in FromSoftware history, and the lore behind it is still some of FromSoft’s story work, but the fight against Gwyn itself is far from perfect, with the boss being infamously easy to parry. The final boss ofDark Souls' DLC, Manus, also resides in an atmospheric arena and also has some fascinating lore behind him, but he has the unfortunate job of coming afterKalameet and Artorias, two of the most beloved bosses in FromSoft history.
As an optional final boss,Bloodborne’s Moon Presence offers a visually-stunning fight that’s worth the extra effort to unlock, but much like with Manus, Gehrman is an incredibly tough act to follow, and Moon Presence seems oddly weak and underwhelming by comparison.
Elden Ring’s Radagon/Elden Beast fightis another similar tale. Though its accompanying score is impactful and the arena is suitably epic, the Radagon/Elden Beast fight just doesn’t hold a candle to the likes of Maliketh, Dragonlord Placidusax, Radahn, and Malenia.
C-Tier: A Fine But Forgettable Fight
Dark Souls 2is home to plenty of underrated bosses, but unfortunately, its last two fights aren’t its strongest. Nashandra has a striking visual design, but her curse-afflicting attacks are tedious to deal with, and once players know they need to destroy the black orbs she summons, her fight becomes much easier. Aldia, the optional final boss fromDark Souls 2’s Scholar of the First Sin edition, can evoke a chilling atmosphere but its moveset is extremely limited, leaving an underwhelming final impression.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
