Annoying Boss Runs In Soulsborne Games

Souls video games are primarily identified for the onerous bosses that punctuate every grueling journey, and rightly so, as they’re undoubtedly the features of those video games that can have you ever most commonly tossing controllers and pulling your hair out in frustration. Nevertheless, there are some particular areas in every of those Souls titles which are treacherous, and typically these space designs make touring to the boss tougher than the precise boss struggle itself.

It sounds ludicrous {that a} explicit mob enemy, or an environmental hazard could possibly be tougher than the boss that awaits you on the finish of the road, however while you’ve spent as a lot time in Souls video games dying in the identical locations time and again as I’ve, you will perceive that this can be a quite common downside that Souls gamers face.

So, as considerably of a PSA, and a glance again in anger for all of us Souls veterans, I will checklist the ten most annoying boss runs in each Soulsborne sport, and I would even throw in some Souls-likes for good measure.

10

Dragonlord Placidusax – Elden Ring

A Time-consuming Trek For The Tarnished

We kick issues off with a token entry for Elden Ring as a result of, in fact, something post-Darkish Souls 3 has so many checkpoints and shortcuts included that you’re going to by no means actually witness a troublesome boss run, and with Elden Ring’s inclusion of the Stakes of Marika, that is much more true.

Nevertheless, there’s one boss inside the

that’s an annoying one to trek again to. Not as a result of there’s any inherent hazard, however extra as a result of this run has no respect to your time.

Gamers might want to navigate an extended platforming part inside the Crumbling Farum Azula with out Torrent to hurry up proceedings, after which while you lastly attain

, you will have to skip a cutscene to get into the motion, which simply provides gasoline to the fireplace.

The upside right here is that the boss in query is properly value making the trek, as Placidusax is definitely within the prime 5 greatest bosses in Elden Ring. However a Stake of Marika close to the door would have been very a lot appreciated right here.

9

Mattress of Chaos – Darkish Souls

If You Cannot Stand The Warmth, Rage Stop

Talking of Boss Runs that waste your time, the unique Darkish Souls had a tonne of them, primarily because of the lack of warping choices current within the sport. Nevertheless, one of many worst runs asks you to journey by Misplaced Izalith to face off in opposition to the Mattress of Chaos.

Very like Dragonlord Placidusax, the run right here is not stuffed with something all that harmful, except for the lava, you will have to run by, guaranteeing you will want to make use of an Estus Flask or begin at an obstacle in opposition to the Mattress of Chaos.

However the greatest sin dedicated right here is that the run is over a minute and a half lengthy if you happen to actually hustle, and there is completely nothing of notice or fascinating alongside the way in which, making it a pointless run to the boss every time.

As DS1 Veterans will know, the Mattress of Chaos is a really designed boss that may kill you thru no fault of your personal in seconds flat, condemning you to a different lengthy and uneventful run again. Misplaced Izalith is a fairly unpolished and rushed space of DS1 basically, and this run again is a chief instance of why it isn’t an space we have now fond recollections of.

8

4 Kings – Darkish Souls

Not Precisely A Stairway To Heaven

As talked about, Darkish Souls was fairly stingy with its Bonfires again within the day, and this led to a whole lot of lengthy journeys to areas with no simply accessible warp zones. Nevertheless, some of the irritating Bonfire omissions was inside New Londo, as gamers who need to face off in opposition to the 4 Kings would want to make the trek down from the Firelink Shrine, or by the Valley of the Drakes by way of Darkroot Basin to get there each time.

The journey beginning at Firelink Shrine is the most secure of the 2, however there are such a lot of components that make it a ache. There’s the lengthy elevator trip all the way down to New Londo, there’s the truth that you want a Cursed Weapon or Transient Curse lively to hurt ghost enemies, and there is the truth that there are a great deal of Darkwraith Knights on the decrease stage resulting in the boss.

Plus, if you happen to get to the staircase to nowhere and haven’t got entry to the Covenant of Astorias Ring, you will be trapped and be compelled to fall to your dying, that means your complete run was a waste of time. It is a runback with layers of irritation and one we hope you solely have to courageous as soon as.

7

Gravelord Nito – Darkish Souls

You, My Pal, Are In Grave Hazard

Sticking with DS1, we have now one other boss that holds one of many obligatory Lord Souls wanted to finish the sport. The run to Gravelord Nito could have you start proper on the coronary heart of the Tomb of the Giants, and which means that if you do not have the Cranium Lantern, you are in for a very powerful time because it’s pitch black all through most of this space. Nevertheless, even if you happen to do have this gentle supply, there’s nonetheless lots lurking at the hours of darkness that makes this run a ache.

Gamers might want to keep away from the massive Skeleton enemies inside this space as they navigate a moderately labyrinthian descent, which requires the participant to memorize the place the holes within the floor and secure drop zones are in the event that they need to keep away from taking injury.

Then, even while you escape the darkness, you will need to keep away from Skeletal Worm enemies, Skeleton Archers, Pinwheel enemies, and rather more.

Then, like a rotten cherry atop this rancid cake, while you traverse the fog to Gravelord Nito’s area, there is a drop that can minimize your HP by a couple of third if you do not have the Silvercat Ring outfitted. It is a ache from begin to end and normally leaves you at an obstacle while you lastly face off in opposition to Gravelord Nito.

6

Previous Hero – Demon’s Souls

Do not Worry The Reaper

We pivot from Darkish Souls to the true first-ever Souls sport, Demon’s Souls. It was a sport that was nonetheless understanding what the Souls blueprint seemed like, and in consequence, this led to various boss runs that have been very annoying, and one which stands out is the run to the Previous Hero boss struggle in The Ritual Path (4-2).

That is an space the place you might be affected by the Storm beasts that float by the cliffs and fireplace projectiles your means, which makes it much more possible that the Skeleton enemies alongside the way in which will minimize you to items.

Nevertheless, that is not all it’s important to take care of right here, as you will have to navigate areas stuffed with lethal Reaper enemies with their military of Shadowlurkers, and you may additionally come up in opposition to explicit Shadowlurkers who can shoot inexperienced laser beams that are near-impossible to keep away from.

It is a boss run that is lengthy, difficult, and annoying. However the saving grace right here is that the Previous Hero is such a straightforward boss to cheese that, so long as you may make this run efficiently as soon as, you in all probability will not need to endure it ever once more.

5

Previous Monk – Demon’s Souls

Is This What Phantom Pains Really feel Like?

We transfer from the Previous Hero to the Previous Monk, the boss that serves because the finale of World Three, situated in The Ivory Tower. The boss can differ in issue relying on whether or not the PvP gimmick kicks in in your means there. Nevertheless, one facet of dealing with this boss, which is a continuing and constant ache, is the run to get to them.

I embody the staircase to succeed in 3-3 on this run, as there’s a Black Phantom on this lengthy, winding, and slim staircase that I nonetheless maintain an excessive amount of contempt for to today, as they’re so onerous to get previous with out being stun-locked or knocked off the sting. It is a blessing to get previous them, however this development continues as you climb the Ivory Tower to The Previous Monk.

You will discover two extra Black Phantoms alongside the way in which, and except you need to die violently, one of the simplest ways to cope with them is by aggro-ing them down the steps, ready for them to surrender, after which backstabbing them. Rinsing and repeating this course of takes an age, making this some of the agitating and long-winded boss runs in Souls historical past.

4

Previous King Allant – Demon’s Souls

A Painfully Robust Remaining Gauntlet

The Previous Monk is a ache, however if you happen to’re cautious, likelihood is you’ll survive every time you try that run. The identical can’t be mentioned of the run to Previous King Allant in Demon’s Souls, as this closing mob enemy gauntlet earlier than the boss pulls no punches. Gamers will initially face off in opposition to three powerful Black Phantoms, which fortunately do not respawn as soon as killed, and can then proceed by to the gank zone.

The realm after that is crawling with Crimson Eye Knights and Imperial Spies, however that is solely a warm-up for the primary occasion, as gamers will likely be compelled to both cope with or keep away from the onslaught of fiery assaults from the Blue Dragon. Exact timing will see you narrowly keep away from their potent breath, but it surely takes various follow, and a few luck to get it proper.

Then while you assume it is over, you will have one other Black Phantom to face earlier than the lengthy elevator trip resulting in Previous King Allant’s throne. It takes ages to run by, it is tough to run by, and you’ve got one of many hardest bosses within the sport ready on the finish of this arduous run, which all culminates in a brutal boss run, which nonetheless offers me nightmares.

3

Blue Smelter Demon- Darkish Souls 2

Git Gud, Or Get Ganked

Demon’s Souls and the unique Darkish Souls had some horrible boss runbacks, however with the vital caveat that the world design was normally so spectacular that you simply did not thoughts an excessive amount of. Effectively, Darkish Souls 2, having been the one sport Miyazaki did not have a hand in creating, had the identical points with out the design chops to cowl them up. Which makes runbacks just like the Blue Smelter Demon an enormous ache.

This space by Iron Passage is fairly small, making the run a fairly fast one if you happen to attempt to blitz by it. Nevertheless, the issue comes from the sheer quantity of enemies inside the space. You might have enormous Possessed Armor enemies, agile Ashen Warriors, and ranged Fume Sorcerers all packed into one small space.

This normally implies that if you happen to get clipped even as soon as, you will be stun-locked into oblivion.

Darkish Souls 2 is rife with gank zones, however this is without doubt one of the worst of all and one that can normally go away you battered and bruised earlier than you even lay eyes on the Blue Smelter Demon.

2

Darklurker – Darkish Souls 2

Kill Them All If You Need To Get by

Our runner-up is a boss that really has three distinctive boss runbacks, however seeing as just one has a handy Bonfire, we will likely be referring to the Darkish Chasm of Previous path to Darklurker. To even start this boss run, you have to to spend one Human Effigy to enter the world by way of the Previous Man NPC, which might probably imply you could farm this merchandise.

Then, when you really get into this space, it’s important to struggle in opposition to a sequence of humanoid enemies, which, admittedly, aren’t all that difficult, however this is the kicker. The realm forward will stay inaccessible till all mob enemies within the space are killed, which makes this boss run round three minutes lengthy each time you try it.

With most different boss runs, with exact motion, skillful play, or memorizing the route, you possibly can decrease the time taken to get by with follow. Nevertheless, this run ensures that gamers interact with each enemy each time, making this a boring, tedious, and unwelcome boss run.

1

Lud and Zallen – Darkish Souls 2

There’s Snow Straightforward Manner By This Space

All of these talked about already have been unhealthy boss runs, do not get me flawed, however in my eyes, nothing fairly compares to the irritation attributable to the Crown of the Sunken King DLC’s Lud and Zallen boss run.

This run sees you journey by the notoriously annoying space often known as the Frigid Outskirts, an space that walked in order that the

in Elden Ring might run.

The visibility on this space is dreadful, making it powerful to map out an optimum path to the boss. To not point out, this lack of imaginative and prescient implies that the dreaded Reindeer enemies can burst from the fog and zap your well being with their lethal cost assaults, and to prime all of it off, even if you happen to’ve memorized and mapped out your route completely, this runback will take you over three minutes to do.

All of this simply to get to a boss battle that could be a shoddy reskin of an current boss you will have possible already fought, which really provides insult to harm. That is simply probably the most annoying and dreaded boss run in all of Soulsborne historical past, so if you happen to’re planning a replay of DS2, possibly give Lud and Zallen a miss.