FromSoftware's Epic Boss Battles: Unveiled

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

FromSoftware's action RPGs are renowned for their challenging gameplay and richly detailed lore, but their enduring legacy is undoubtedly their unforgettable bosses. For their latest title, Elden Ring Nightreign, a roguelike co-op experience, FromSoftware doubles down on boss encounters, offering increasingly difficult challenges with returning favorites like the Nameless King. This isn't a difficulty ranking, but rather a celebration of the greatest FromSoftware boss fights across the "Soulsborne" series (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Demon's Souls, and Dark Souls). We considered challenge, music, setting, mechanics, lore, and more.

This isn't a list of the hardest bosses. This is a list of the greatest bosses in FromSoftware history.

25. Old Monk (Demon's Souls)

The Old Monk cleverly integrates PvP into the core boss experience. Controlled by another player, the challenge varies, but the unexpected invasion during a boss fight is a memorable twist.

24. Old Hero (Demon's Souls)

Demon's Souls' puzzle-like bosses are fascinating. The Old Hero, a blind warrior, relies on sound, turning the fight into a stealth-like encounter. His unique design foreshadows later bosses like Rennala (Elden Ring) and the Folding Screen Monkeys (Sekiro).

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

Sinh elevates the typical dragon boss fight. Set in a poisonous cavern with dramatic music, this challenging encounter sets the standard for epic dragon battles in later FromSoftware games.

22. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Bloodborne)

Ebrietas embodies Bloodborne's Lovecraftian horror. A central figure in the Healing Church's lore, her attacks, including cosmic energy blasts and Frenzy-inducing blood, are thematically rich and terrifying.

21. Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2)

Arguably Dark Souls 2's hardest boss, the Fume Knight is a thrilling challenge. His combination of speed and raw power, utilizing dual weapons and a fiery greatsword, makes for a dynamic and memorable fight.

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

Bayle the Dread is a challenging boss in a challenging DLC, but the addition of the NPC ally, Igon, and his intense hatred for the dragon, elevates the encounter to a truly unforgettable experience.

19. Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

Father Gascoigne serves as Bloodborne's early-game gauntlet. Mastering gun parries, environmental awareness, and strategic aggression are crucial for survival, teaching players essential skills for the rest of the game.

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 moment.

17. Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)

Sif's fight is emotionally resonant. Facing Artorias' loyal companion, guarding his grave, is a poignant moment that highlights the moral ambiguity of FromSoftware's worlds.

16. Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)

Maliketh is relentlessly aggressive. His brutal attacks and incredibly difficult second phase, where he reveals his true form, make this one of Elden Ring's most memorable and high-intensity encounters.

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

The Dancer's unique fighting style, with unusually timed animations and unpredictable attacks, makes for a visually stunning and technically challenging fight.

14. Genichiro Ashina (Sekiro)

Genichiro's duel, especially the second encounter atop Ashina Castle, is an epic showdown. Mastering parrying and deflecting, particularly his lightning attacks, is key to victory.

13. Owl (Father) (Sekiro)

Fighting Owl, Wolf's father, is emotionally charged and intensely difficult. His aggressive attacks, gadgets, and spectral owl teleport add layers of challenge to this memorable encounter.

Honorable Mention: Armored Core 6

While outside the "Soulsborne" scope, Armored Core 6 deserves recognition for its challenging and cinematic boss fights, particularly AA P07 Balteus, IA-02: Ice Worm, and IB-01: CEL 240.

12. Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)

The Soul of Cinder embodies Dark Souls' essence. This final boss, a manifestation of past Lords, utilizes a diverse range of fighting styles, culminating in a nostalgic recreation of Gwyn's fight from the original Dark Souls.

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

Sister Friede's three-phase battle is relentlessly punishing. Her aggression and the addition of Father Ariandel in the second phase create a truly grueling but rewarding encounter.

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

Orphan of Kos is terrifyingly fast and unpredictable. His grotesque appearance and brutal attacks make him one of Bloodborne's most infamous and challenging bosses.

9. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)

Malenia's iconic status is undeniable. Her challenging two-phase fight, featuring her deadly Waterfowl Dance and devastating Scarlet Rot, cemented her place in gaming culture.

8. Guardian Ape (Sekiro)

The Guardian Ape is comically brutal. Its primal attacks and shocking second phase, after seemingly being defeated, make for a memorable and darkly humorous encounter.

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

Artorias is a tragic figure and a challenging boss. His difficult but fair fight, alongside his compelling backstory, makes defeating him a significant accomplishment.

6. Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)

The Nameless King is a near-perfect Dark Souls boss. His two-phase fight, featuring a dragon mount and a grounded duel, is challenging, visually stunning, and memorably soundtracked.

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

Ornstein and Smough established the iconic two-on-one boss fight. Their unique mechanics, where the surviving boss absorbs the other's power, make this a truly unforgettable and influential encounter.

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

Ludwig is a complex and challenging boss. His constantly evolving moveset and brutal attacks demand mastery of Bloodborne's fast-paced combat.

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

Gael's fight is mythical in scale and difficulty. His two phases, culminating in a powerful and lore-rich final confrontation, make this a truly epic and memorable encounter.

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

Lady Maria is a technically brilliant and emotionally resonant duel. Her elegant yet deadly moveset, combined with her tragic backstory, makes this a truly unforgettable fight.

1. Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro)

Isshin, the Sword Saint, is the pinnacle of Sekiro's combat design. His four-phase fight, demanding mastery of parrying, deflecting, and precise attacks, is a thrilling and rewarding culmination of the game's mechanics.

This concludes our ranking of the top 25 FromSoftware bosses. What are your favorites?