The 25 Best FromSoftware Bosses

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

FromSoftware has mastered the art of the challenging boss fight, crafting unforgettable encounters that test skill and resilience. Their "Soulsborne" games – Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Demon's Souls, and the Dark Souls trilogy – are filled with memorable adversaries. This isn't a difficulty ranking, but rather a celebration of the greatest boss fights, considering factors like music, setting, mechanics, lore, and overall impact.

25. Old Monk (Demon’s Souls)

The Old Monk cleverly integrates PvP into the single-player experience. While the difficulty varies depending on the summoned player, the unpredictable nature of the encounter highlights the ever-present threat of online invasions.

24. Old Hero (Demon’s Souls)

Demon’s Souls' puzzle-like bosses are fascinating, and Old Hero exemplifies this. His blindness transforms the fight into a stealth-based challenge, requiring players to exploit his auditory limitations. This unique approach foreshadows later boss designs.

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

Sinh represents a pivotal moment in FromSoftware's dragon encounters. Set within a poisonous cavern and accompanied by powerful music, this challenging fight establishes a new standard for epic dragon battles.

22. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Bloodborne)

Ebrietas embodies Bloodborne's Lovecraftian horror. Her attacks, including cosmic energy blasts and Frenzy-inducing blood, are thematically resonant and visually stunning, reflecting her importance to the game's narrative.

21. Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2)

Arguably Dark Souls 2's hardest boss, the Fume Knight is a thrilling challenge. His dual-wielding style, combining speed and power, and his devastating flame attacks create a memorable and demanding fight.

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

Bayle the Dread's difficulty is amplified by the presence of the NPC ally, Igon. His intense hatred for Bayle adds a powerful emotional layer to the already challenging encounter, making it truly unforgettable.

19. Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

Father Gascoigne serves as Bloodborne's early-game trial by fire. He forces players to master key mechanics like environmental awareness, measured aggression, and gun parrying, setting the stage for the game's later challenges.

18. Starscourge Radahn (Elden Ring)

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

17. Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)

Sif's fight is emotionally resonant, highlighting the game's morally grey characters and world. The melancholic atmosphere and the story surrounding Artorias create a lasting impact.

16. Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)

Maliketh is relentlessly aggressive, presenting a high-intensity challenge from start to finish. His brutal combos and unpredictable attacks make for a memorable, if difficult, encounter.

15. Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3)

The Dancer's unique fighting style, utilizing erratic movements and unusually timed animations, creates a visually stunning and technically challenging fight.

14. Genichiro Ashina (Sekiro)

Genichiro's fight, especially the rematch, is a memorable duel that tests mastery of Sekiro's core mechanics. Deflecting lightning adds a dramatic and satisfying element.

13. Owl (Father) (Sekiro)

Owl's fight is both emotionally charged and intensely difficult. His aggressive attacks, combined with the use of gadgets and a spectral owl, make for a thrilling and memorable encounter.

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 outside the "Soulsborne" formula.

12. Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)

The Soul of Cinder embodies the essence of Dark Souls. His unpredictable fighting style, drawing upon the movesets of previous Lords of Cinder, creates a fitting and emotionally resonant final encounter.

11. Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel)

Sister Friede's three-phase fight is a brutal endurance test. Her relentless aggression and the addition of Father Ariandel in the second phase create a truly punishing but rewarding challenge.

10. Orphan of Kos (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)

Orphan of Kos is terrifyingly fast and aggressive. His unpredictable combos and grotesque appearance make for a truly nightmarish encounter.

9. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)

Malenia's notoriety speaks for itself. Her challenging two-phase fight, featuring the iconic Waterfowl Dance, is a visually impressive and demanding encounter.

8. Guardian Ape (Sekiro)

The Guardian Ape is both comedic and brutally challenging. The unexpected second phase, after what seems like a victory, is a memorable and darkly humorous twist.

7. Knight Artorias (Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss)

Artorias' fight is a challenging yet fair duel that represents his tragic story. His speed and skill make for a rewarding encounter.

6. Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)

The Nameless King provides a perfect example of a challenging yet fair Dark Souls boss. The two-phase fight, featuring a dragon mount and a grounded duel, is both difficult and visually stunning.

5. Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough (Dark Souls)

Ornstein and Smough established the iconic two-on-one boss fight template. Their unique abilities and the second phase power-up make for a memorable and influential encounter.

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

Ludwig's fight is incredibly complex, with a large moveset that evolves throughout the encounter. His speed and power make for a demanding but rewarding challenge.

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

Gael's fight is a mythical and epic conclusion to the Dark Souls trilogy. His powerful attacks and his connection to the overarching narrative make for a truly memorable final boss.

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

Lady Maria is a technically brilliant and emotionally resonant duel. Her skill and the intensity of the fight make for a truly unforgettable encounter.

1. Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro)

Isshin, the Sword Saint, embodies Sekiro's refined combat. The four-phase fight is a test of mastery, requiring players to utilize every skill learned throughout the game. His relentless yet elegant attacks make for the ultimate FromSoftware boss battle.

This ranking is subjective, and many other bosses deserve recognition. What are your favorite FromSoftware boss fights?