Dark Souls 3 boss guide - how to defeat every top tier enemy

The Dark Souls series is known for many things, and one of them is an array terrifying, towering bosses. From magic-casting mages to ice-breathing beasts, you'll encounter a variety of big baddies across Dark Souls 3, and if you charge in unprepared then you're likely to get obliterated before you've even had chance to assess your surroundings. If you want to take down those pesky Dark Souls 3 bosses, you're going to need to know their weaknesses and a solid strategy for how to use them to your advantage.

That's where we come in, as your proverbial knights in shining armor. We've put in the time to study each Dark Souls 3 boss, learning their moves and, yes, dying more than a few times in the process, in order to bring you this complete strategy guide. Follow our instructions, and you'll be able to defeat the toughest of foes while hopefully keeping your humanity intact. To get started, choose the Dark Souls 3 boss you're having trouble with from the list below, and let us enlighten you in the ways of victory.

Table of Contents:

Iudex Gundyr
Vordt of the Boreal Valley
Curse-Rotted Greatwood (Optional)
Crystal Sage
Abyss Watchers
Deacons of the Deep
High Lord Wolnir
Old Demon King (Optional)
Pontiff Sulyvahn
Yhorm the Giant
Aldrich, Devourer of Gods
Dancer of the Boreal Valley
Oceiros, the Consumed King (Optional)
Champion Gundyr (Optional)
Dragonslayer Armour
Lothric, Younger Prince
Ancient Wyvern (Optional)
Nameless King (Optional)
Soul of Cinder

Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 500 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.