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

Dancer of the Boreal Valley 

Remember when you fought Vordt back at the High Wall of Lothric? Well now you get to fight another beast from his hometown: the Dancer of the Boreal Valley. (Hopefully you didn’t initiate this fight without a break from Aldrich, like I did!)

The Dancer of the Boreal Valley is quite nimble with a blade, but she’s more deliberate than most of the swordsman you encounter in this game. She’ll leave plenty of opportunity for attack as she tiptoes around (pro tip: poison damage really helps here). But when does attack, watch out: her fire sword does pretty have damage. She may sweep it, slam it, or stab with it, all of which you can avoid by sticking close and rolling to her side or rear. If she squats to place an ember into the ground, back off, as it will quickly explode with fire damage. And if she spins with her blade touching the ground, back off here too; the circle she traces will shoot up with flames as well. Finally, she may lurch forward and try to grab you. This is her deadliest move, so make sure you roll out of her clutches.

Once she’s down to about 75% health, the Dancer will squat and withdraw a magic sword from the ground. During this phase, her attacks do even more damage. She also gains a new attack, where she whirls around the arena swinging both blades. This doesn’t last long, so dodge backward and wait for her to stop spinning. If she squats during this phase, you should keep your distance, as a dark, damaging cloud will emerge from the ground around her.

The Dancer of the Boreal Valley looks pretty fearsome, but she’s thankfully less chaotic with her weapons than some other bosses. Don’t get too greedy with your own attacks, avoid hers, and you’ll knock this dancer down.

Jump to Boss:

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.