Prepare to die... a lot! Join us as we count down the most punishing and rage-inducing bosses across the Souls series. These nightmarish encounters have broken controllers, crushed spirits, and tested even the most dedicated players to their limits. From relentless combos to devastating one-shot kills, these bosses represent the pinnacle of FromSoftware's sadistic design.
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00:00Welcome to Watchmojo and grab your biggest sword and pray to whichever god you believe
00:19in because today we are looking at the 20 Hardest Souls Bosses.
00:24Now sure you might have breezed through some of these but just try to refrain from mentioning
00:27it in the comments because I'm not impressed and neither are your parents that's so mean.
00:33Let's go!
00:34Lawrence the First Vicar Bloodborne
00:47Lawrence begins our list of possibly divisive Bloodborne bosses as some see him as just
00:52another challenge while others see him as the biggest ball ache that humanity has ever
00:56created.
00:57His particular boss and absolute nightmare is his fire attacks and the absolute relentless
01:01nature in which they are thrown at the player.
01:04Found in the Hunter's Nightmare Cathedral where Vicar Amelia was fought, Lawrence is
01:08a giant pain whose third phase is especially punishing.
01:12He spews lava, turning the area into a deadly minefield that companions rarely survive.
01:18Having more hate him, Lawrence earns his spot on this list by creating many, many tears.
01:29Guardian Ape Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
01:37Guardian Ape is another infamous boss from an already punishing game, catching us off
01:40guard and racking up more deaths than I'd personally care to admit.
01:43There's something inherently bizarre about battling a massive monkey with a sword lodged
01:47in its neck that also continually farts on you and throws its poop, but the real challenge
01:51begins when the fight enters its second phase, transforming it to an undead nightmare wielding
01:55its severed head and enormous sword.
01:58There's also a secret rematch which puts you up against two of these monstrosities, but
02:02you know what, even without that it'd still end up on this list.
02:17Ludd and Zalan Dark Souls 2
02:23Beat Ludd and Zalan, a pair of bosses that'll have you tearing out what little hair you've
02:32got left after Dark Souls 1.
02:34These optional tiger bosses reside in the Frigid Outskirts, part of the Crown of the
02:38Ivory King DLC, and they're an exercise in pure frustration.
02:42The real challenge isn't even the fight, it's the agonizing journey to the arena, and although
02:46this stretches the rules of the list a bit, I'm mentioning it because I wanna.
02:53If you survive the trek, your reward is a grueling fight against two incredibly irritating
02:56tigers, and frankly, they're not worth the effort.
03:05Lady Maria Bloodborne
03:18Before Sekiro, many seasoned FromSoftware fans considered Bloodborne the pinnacle of
03:22Souls' challenge.
03:23Among the myriad of terribly painful bosses is Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower.
03:28Fights against other hunters are often the most intense in Bloodborne, and Maria is no
03:32exception.
03:33She's relentless in her aggression, unleashing lightning-fast attacks and devastating combos
03:37that push players to prioritize offense over defense.
03:40Don't even bother holding back, hit her till she stops.
03:43Her agility and ferocity make her one of the most brutal challengers in the genre.
03:56Manus, Father of the Abyss, Dark Souls
04:15The final boss of the Dark Souls expansion gave us a glimpse of the series' future.
04:19Manus, a twisted monstrosity lurking in the deepest depths of the Cursed City, is unlike
04:24anything else encountered in the rest of the game.
04:26He's fast, powerful, hard to dodge, and rarely telegraphs his moves, especially his magic.
04:32Some of his moves can strike you from behind, forcing you to sense their timing while keeping
04:35your focus on Manus himself.
04:37I mean, if that just isn't straight-up gamer abuse, I don't know what is.
04:58Owl, Sekiro, Shadows Die Twice
05:09The encounter with Owl in Sekiro is one of the rare boss fights locked behind completing
05:13a special quest, and it's arguably among the most patience-testing battles to exist in
05:17video games.
05:18He unleashes a relentless barrage of attacks and combos that can quickly end a fight if
05:22you're caught off guard, and let's not forget a good amount of his moves are one-shot kills.
05:26Whose goddamn idea was that?
05:28What truly sets this fight apart is the second phase, where Owl introduces his Owl Summon.
05:32The summon flies around the arena, unleashing massive area-of-effect explosions, and even
05:37casting brief invisibility on both itself and Owl.
05:40Clearly this should be made illegal.
05:59Bale the Dread, Elden Ring
06:12Elden Ring features two massive dragon bosses, and while both deserve recognition, we're
06:16focusing on Bale.
06:17Like other dragons, Bale's head is his weak point, but his relentless attacks make it
06:21nearly impossible to land a melee strike.
06:24This is where Igon shines, drawing Bale's attention so you can land critical hits.
06:28If you've unlocked Mesmer's Spear from his Remembrance Orb, this fight becomes significantly
06:32easier.
06:33Still, Bale's second phase ups the stakes.
06:35His wings magically regenerate, boosting his agility and unleashing devastating flame attacks
06:40that are difficult to dodge without assistance.
06:42This is one of the fights on the list, like I discussed earlier, that I actually had a
06:46relatively easy time with, but the internet has expressed their hatred, and I am a man
06:51of the people.
07:00Ornstein & Smaug Dark Souls
07:18Many fights in the Souls-like genre have tried to replicate the brutal challenge of Ornstein
07:22and Smaug, but none quite match the intensity of this iconic battle.
07:26The hallmark of this fight is the little and large duo dynamic.
07:30Think about how many of those were in Elden Ring.
07:32Both opponents attack simultaneously, forcing you to constantly adapt, all while battling
07:36in a limited arena that leaves no room to maneuver.
07:39To make matters worse, this boss fight appears relatively early in the game, when players
07:42like high-level gear, or stats, or skills, or patience, or confidence, or sleeping pills.
07:47It's a steep challenge that often becomes a stopping point for the less dedicated players,
07:52like me.
08:06Demon of Hatred Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
08:16In terms of sheer challenge, Sekiro might be the toughest game in the entire Soulsborne
08:20series due to how much it demands from the player.
08:23Progress isn't possible unless you master the gameplay, which has more freedom and style
08:27than traditional Souls games.
08:29Just when you think you've got deflecting mastered, the game throws the Demon of Hatred
08:33at you.
08:34This optional late-game boss is infamous for forcing players to abandon Sekiro's usual
08:38combat style, and instead take on what feels like a Dark Souls boss, without shields, heavy
08:43armor, or magic to make things easier.
08:45For those looking for a shortcut, climbing the walls and tricking the Demon into falling
08:49off the ledge is not only effective, but far more satisfying than enduring a grueling 40
08:54minute battle with this raging, fire-filled nightmare.
09:08Fume Knight Dark Souls 2
09:17This boss fight in Dark Souls 2 is a true test of skill, demanding precise dodges to
09:21navigate its relentless attacks, which boasts impressive range.
09:25The intensity ramps up even further in the second phase, where the Fume Knight ignites
09:29their greatsword with flames, turning an already tough battle into a tough battle but his sword
09:34is on fire.
09:35If your stamina or HP isn't up to par, even a single mistake can lead to instant death.
09:40Fume Knight is arguably the toughest boss in Dark Souls 2.
09:59Malekith The Black Blade Elden Ring
10:01In Elden Ring, Malekith the Black Blade delivers one of the game's most cinematic boss battles,
10:16but even if it's pretty, it doesn't change how much I want to slam my PS5 into a wall.
10:20Malekith is blisteringly fast, effortlessly covering ground across the arena.
10:24He combines devastating ranged attacks with relentless physical combo strings.
10:28This fight is as visually stunning as it is demanding, making it one of the many standouts
10:33across the long campaign.
10:56Ludwig the Accursed and Holy Blade Bloodborne
11:08Ludwig the Accursed and Holy Blade is a name covered in dread throughout the ominous texts
11:12of Bloodborne, and his fight in the Old Hunters DLC fully delivers on that build up.
11:16I don't really read in video games because I've got ADHD, so when he showed up, I didn't
11:20know d***.
11:21A grotesque abomination perfectly suited to the game's bleak gothic fantasy, Ludwig's
11:26combat style is as horrifying as his appearance.
11:29Ludwig fights with unrelenting ferocity, unleashing unpredictable attack patterns that keep players
11:33constantly on edge.
11:34The battle becomes even more intense in his second phase, where he wields the iconic Moonlight
11:40Greatsword, introducing new attacks designed to disorient and challenge anyone who's stupid
11:45enough to try this DLC.
11:58Mesmer the Impaler Elden Ring
12:13Mesmer the Impaler is the first major skill check of the Shadow of the Earth Tree DLC.
12:18Divine Beast's Dancing Lion was the first boss battle that requires a bit of skill,
12:22but once accomplished, we assumed this was the standard WRONG.
12:26Mesmer isn't just a boss, he's practically the mascot of the Shadow of the Earth Tree
12:30expansion, as his cruelty defines the DLC's grim tone.
12:33His primary weapon is ancient flame magic, which he wields alongside the eerie presence
12:38of an abyssal snake hovering ominously above him.
12:41That goddamn snake.
12:43Guess what?
12:44Mesmer comes with two phases, and the fight truly escalates in his second form.
12:48Shedding his skin, he transforms into a manned serpent hybrid, ramping up both speed and
12:53chaos.
12:54In this form, he unleashes waves of fire, summons colossal serpent heads to attack independently,
12:59and zips across the battlefield in a relentless assault.
13:02It's simply too much, and when I finally beat him, I bought myself a steak dinner.
13:07Dark Eater Medea, Dark Souls 3
13:24The Ringed City not only provided a fitting conclusion to the series' dark fantasy narrative,
13:27but also introduced one of its most punishing optional bosses.
13:31Dark Eater Medea raises the stakes for even the most seasoned players.
13:35In any soulsborne game, avoiding damage is crucial, but against Medea, even the thought
13:40of tanking hits becomes a death sentence.
13:42With a staggering health pool and an arsenal of devastating area of effect attacks, Medea
13:47is a relentless test of patience, precision, and careful strategy.
13:51I'll have you know, this is one of those few bosses that I've just straight up given up
13:54on.
13:55I don't want to finish him, and I don't need to.
13:57Good night.
14:05Nameless King, Dark Souls 3
14:19While some Souls bosses fail to live up to expectation, the Nameless King encapsulates
14:23everything that's brilliant about the final entry in the Dark Souls trilogy.
14:27The battle begins with the King of the Storm, and landing a hit can be difficult as you
14:31need to get close to his steed's head to inflict any real damage.
14:35In the meantime, he'll swoop around the arena, launching devastating lightning and physical
14:39attacks.
14:40Guess what the warm-up is?
14:41The first phase.
14:42Shocker.
14:43The Nameless King's attacks are slow and heavy, but they come at you relentlessly, requiring
14:48precise timing for dodging.
14:50It's the kind of fight where a single mistake could spell the end.
15:05Sister Frieda, Dark Souls 3
15:27With a series of epic battles, Sister Frieda stands out as one of the most nightmarish
15:30encounters in Dark Souls 3.
15:33Sister Frieda takes the Bloodborne influence to a whole new level with a brutal three-phase
15:36boss battle that likely caught many players off guard at release.
15:40She delivers massive damage in each phase, inflicts status effects, and uses her manipulated
15:45father of Ariandel to unleash devastating area of effect attacks.
15:49Millenia, Blade of Michala, Elden Ring
16:15While Elden Ring may be more accessible than other Souls games due to its open-world design,
16:20its toughest battles are not any easier than other Souls games.
16:23Millenia challenges players with a lightning-fast, powerful moveset, and most of her hits inflict
16:28scarlet rot buildup.
16:29You'll be taking damage even when you aren't taking damage.
16:32On its own, this would already make for a tough fight, but her infamous Waterfowl dance
16:36skill takes things to another level.
16:38Millenia's ability to heal herself with every successful strike can prolong the battle indefinitely,
16:44forcing players to be nearly flawless in their execution.
16:59Orphan of Kos, Bloodborne
17:18The Orphan of Kos, the climactic encounter in the Old Hunters DLC, is a boss fight that's
17:22as unforgettable as it is hemorrhoid-inducing.
17:24Embodying Bloodborne's core themes of gothic despair, the Orphan of Kos is an unnerving
17:29presence.
17:30Overcoming the sheer intimidation of this grotesque being is a feat in itself, because
17:34it looks disgusting.
17:36The Orphan is wildly agile, ferociously strong, and lethal both at a distance and up close.
17:42Also, he wields his mother's placenta as a grotesque weapon, which is way up there on
17:47the list of the most disgusting weapons.
17:49Not that her mother's placenta is disgusting, it's just this one particular mother.
18:01Radahn, Consult of Mikkola, Elden Ring
18:22Radahn is one of the rare bosses you'll face twice.
18:25First as a corrupted brute in the base game of Elden Ring, and next at the end of the
18:29Shadow of Ertreet DLC in his fully human form.
18:32Radahn flies around the arena with blinding speed, unleashing relentless attack combos
18:36that leave little time to recover.
18:38And as always, the real nightmare begins once you bring him down to 50% health.
18:42At this point, Mikkola joins the battle.
18:44The duo's cooperation is devastating.
18:46Mikkola's attacks rain from above, while Radahn relentlessly pressures you on the ground.
18:51And then of course, there's the devastating combined one-shot kill ability, if it wasn't
18:55already annoying enough.
19:19Sword Saint Isshin, Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
19:32Sword Saint Isshin takes a turn that is unmatched in any other Souls game.
19:36The fight starts deceptively simple, with a manageable first phase, but things escalate
19:41rapidly from there.
19:42In the second phase, Isshin unleashes a vast arsenal of devastating attacks, chaining them
19:47together unpredictably and at basically an unmanageable pace.
19:51Evading and parrying these moves becomes a true test of reflexes and composure.
19:56And if you think retreating to regroup is an option, Isshin quickly reminds you otherwise
20:00by drawing a gun and ensuring there's no respite.
20:04Uh oh, third phase.
20:05This phase introduces even more chaos.
20:08The sheer intensity and variety of Isshin's attacks make this battle Sekiro's ultimate
20:12challenge and cement it as one of the hardest fights in the entire Souls genre.