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The 25 Best FromSoftware Bosses

Author : Carter Update : Feb 28,2025

FromSoftware: A Pantheon of Epic Boss Battles – Ranking the 25 Greatest

FromSoftware has redefined action RPGs, crafting unforgettable journeys through dark and wondrous realms. While their level and lore design are unparalleled, their enduring legacy rests on their bosses: brutally challenging, often terrifying adversaries that test your skills to the limit. This isn't a list of the hardest bosses, but rather the greatest, judged on challenge, music, setting, mechanics, lore, and overall impact. We've considered battles from across their "Soulsborne" catalog: Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Demon's Souls, and the Dark Souls trilogy.

Old Monk (Demon's Souls)

The Old Monk ingeniously blends PvP and PvE. Controlled by another player, the challenge varies, but it's a unique reminder of the ever-present threat of online invasions, even during boss fights.

Old Hero (Demon's Souls)

Demon's Souls' puzzle-like encounters are fascinating, and Old Hero epitomizes this. Blind but powerful, he relies on sound, turning the fight into a stealth-like experience. While not difficult, its originality paved the way for unique bosses in later titles.

Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King)

Dragons are frequently challenging, but Sinh represents a turning point. This epic battle in a poisonous cavern, with its stirring music, sets the standard for future dragon encounters.

Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Bloodborne)

Ebrietas embodies Bloodborne's Lovecraftian horror. A central figure in the game's lore, her attacks, including cosmic energy blasts and Frenzy-inducing blood, perfectly capture the game's thematic depth.

Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2)

Arguably Dark Souls 2's hardest fight, the Fume Knight's speed and power, utilizing dual weapons culminating in a fiery greatsword, create a thrilling and challenging duel.

Bayle the Dread (Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree)

Bayle the Dread is incredibly challenging, but the inclusion of the NPC ally, Igon, and his intense hatred for the dragon, elevates the fight to an unforgettable experience.

Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

A crucial early-game encounter, Father Gascoigne teaches essential skills: environmental awareness, measured aggression, and gun parrying. Mastering these is vital for survival in Bloodborne.

Starscourge Radahn (Elden Ring)

Radahn's battle is a spectacle of scale and inventiveness. Summoning numerous NPCs adds to the epic feel, culminating in a truly earth-shattering moment.

Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)

Sif's fight is emotionally resonant, guarding Artorias' grave. The atmosphere and story create a memorable and poignant encounter.

Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)

Maliketh is relentlessly aggressive, even in his bestial form. His second phase is brutal, with long, punishing combos that demand precise memorization of attack patterns.

Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3)

Visually stunning and mechanically unique, the Dancer uses erratic movements and unusually timed attacks to keep players constantly on edge.

Genichiro Ashina (Sekiro)

Genichiro's fight, particularly the rematch atop Ashina Castle, is an epic duel that tests mastery of Sekiro's parrying and deflecting mechanics.

Owl (Father) (Sekiro)

A brutal and emotionally charged encounter, Owl (Father) is one of Sekiro's most aggressive and challenging bosses, utilizing a diverse arsenal of attacks and teleporting abilities.

Honorable Mention: Armored Core 6

AA P07 Balteus, IA-02: Ice Worm, and IB-01: CEL 240 showcase FromSoftware's continued excellence in boss design, pushing the boundaries of the mecha genre.

Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)

The Soul of Cinder represents the essence of Dark Souls, fighting with a diverse array of styles reminiscent of past Lords of Cinder, culminating in a haunting reflection of the original game's final boss.

Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel)

A grueling three-phase fight, Sister Friede is relentlessly aggressive, demanding incredible endurance and precision, especially during the second phase with Father Ariandel.

Orphan of Kos (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)

Orphan of Kos is terrifyingly fast and unpredictable, with long combos and organic projectile attacks, making it a truly nightmarish encounter.

Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)

Malenia's notoriety is undeniable. Her two phases, featuring her deadly Waterfowl Dance and devastating Scarlet Rot attacks, present a challenging but visually spectacular fight.

Guardian Ape (Sekiro)

The Guardian Ape is comically grotesque, using farts and feces as attacks. Its second phase, after a seemingly victorious decapitation, is a shocking and memorable twist.

Knight Artorias (Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss)

Artorias' tragic backstory and challenging fight make him a rite of passage for Dark Souls players. His speed and tricky combos demand skill and persistence.

Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)

A perfect example of a Dark Souls boss: challenging but fair, with two distinct phases – a dragon mount duel and a ground-based fight – and an unforgettable musical score.

Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough (Dark Souls)

Ornstein and Smough established the iconic two-on-one boss fight, a template used in many subsequent games. Their unique mechanics and escalating difficulty make them unforgettable.

Ludwig, The Accursed/Holy Blade (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)

Ludwig is incredibly complex, evolving throughout the fight with a vast array of attacks. His speed and power demand aggressive play and precise timing.

Slave Knight Gael (Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City)

Gael's fight is mythical in scale and impact. His two phases, from a bestial crawl to a powerful, angelic stance, showcase a stunning array of abilities, culminating in a momentous final battle.

Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)

Lady Maria is a technically brilliant duel, demanding precise parrying and dodging. Her blood-infused attacks add intensity to this elegant and deadly dance.

Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro)

Isshin, the Sword Saint, is the pinnacle of Sekiro's combat, a four-phase battle that showcases the game's refined parry and deflect mechanics. His diverse arsenal and elegant fighting style create an unforgettable and rewarding final encounter.