Souls/Borne games are notorious for their boss encounters. You spend the majority your time traversing the various areas of each game learning different routes, patterns and overcoming all odds and what is your reward? Often it’s an enemy that’s visual design immediately intimidates or throws off one expectation only to subvert it moments later that more often than not will send you back to your last bonfire at least once. Dark Souls 3 is no different and here are 8 of my favourites, this is not taking difficulty into account just purely my favourite encounters. There will be some spoilers so you have been warned!

8. Yhorm the Giant

Let’s start things off with one of the more gimmick based encounters there is to be found within Dark Souls 3 and that is Yhorm the Giant. You know the one; he’s the massive fellow in the launch trailer that you just knew would one day wreck you when you met him. That’s at least the expectation you would have based on the information at hand however once you get down to it, Yhorm can be dealt with in a mere five hits from any player at any level. This ties in to one of the points in my love and hate article of the game as in the boss room you can discover The Storm Ruler, which is a weapon that can be found in Demons Souls. It’s a little strange to find the weapon in Dark Souls 3 four games removed and in a separate franchise but it’s a lovely moment for players on discovery. Add into this that the weapon’s special ability has the same effect and absolutely destroys Yhorm and it’s just a great nod to the previous entry by From Software.

7. Abyss Watchers

The introduction cut scene for the Abyss Watchers lets you know in no uncertain terms that you’re in for a fight. A fight that by all accounts appears to be part of a last man standing competition as the previously named enemies have lost their minds to the very threat they were deigned to watch over. The reason I love this encounter is the nature of the battle, you begin fighting the last man standing and then without warning more rise from the dead and join the skirmish. Interestingly they do not necessarily target the player but fight amongst themselves, as I said it’s a last man standing battle and they hold very true to that notion. After defeating the main Watcher and his former allies you believe the battle to be over only for phase 2 to kick in. It’s here that the souls of the fallen Abyss Watchers converge into one. One who is faster, more aggressive and fights harder than those before him. It’s a great way to cap off Farron Keep and once they all finally fall for good you can’t help but feel that sweet satisfaction.