The 25 Best FromSoftware Bosses

FromSoftware has established itself as a leading developer of action RPGs, renowned for crafting unforgettable journeys through grim, dark worlds brimming with both terror and wonder. While their innovative level and lore design are unparalleled, FromSoftware's enduring legacy will likely always be their bosses: incredibly challenging, often terrifying adversaries that push players to their absolute limits.

For their next game, Elden Ring: Nightreign, FromSoftware is doubling down on the boss experience. This roguelike-inspired cooperative game is entirely combat-focused, with each playthrough presenting players with an increasingly difficult series of bosses. As the first trailer revealed, some familiar faces from the Dark Souls series are returning, including the formidable Nameless King.

This isn't a list of the *hardest* bosses. This is a list of the greatest bosses in FromSoftware history. Considering battles across FromSoftware's "Soulsborne" titles—Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Demon's Souls, and the Dark Souls trilogy—we evaluated not just difficulty, but every aspect: music, setting, mechanics, lore significance, and more. The following are our top 25 favorites, judged across these criteria.

This isn't a list of the most difficult bosses. This is a list of the *greatest* bosses in FromSoftware history.

25. Old Monk (Demon's Souls)

Conceptually, Demon's Souls' Old Monk is a brilliant example of FromSoftware's innovative approach to PvP invasions. Instead of a typical AI-controlled boss, the Old Monk can be controlled by another player. The challenge varies based on the player's skill, but the encounter effectively reminds you that enemy players can appear at any time, even during a boss fight.

24. Old Hero (Demon's Souls)

While many Demon's Souls bosses have been surpassed in later games, its puzzle-like boss encounters remain fascinating. Old Hero exemplifies this; a tall, glowing, powerful ancient warrior who is blind. His attacks are indiscriminate, but his blindness makes evasion relatively easy. However, he can hear you, transforming the fight into a stealth-like experience. It's not difficult, involving strategic positioning and attacks, but Old Hero's unique design laid the groundwork for future bosses like Elden Ring's Rennala and Sekiro's Folding Screen Monkeys.

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

Dragons are often formidable FromSoftware bosses, but early dragon encounters felt more like prototypes. Dark Souls 2's Crown of the Sunken King DLC changed that with Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon. This incredibly challenging fight, set within a poisonous cavern and accompanied by powerful music, established a new standard for epic and terrifying dragon encounters in FromSoftware games.

22. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Bloodborne)

Bloodborne features many Lovecraftian creatures, but none embody the game's themes quite like Ebrietas. A horrifying mass of tentacles and wings, she's central to the Healing Church's worship and the origin of Blood Ministration. While not as terrifying as her lore suggests, her fight is thematically rich; her attacks involve cosmic energy and the Frenzy status effect, reflecting the Eldritch Truth's influence.

21. Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2)

Arguably Dark Souls 2's hardest fight, the Fume Knight combines speed and power. Dual-wielding weapons, he seamlessly transitions between rapid attacks and devastating blows. His difficulty is notable, but the fight is also incredibly engaging. Unlike typical FromSoftware duels, he masterfully blends speed and brute force.

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

Bayle the Dread is memorable on its own, being one of the hardest bosses in a DLC already known for its difficulty. However, what elevates it is the presence of the NPC ally, Igon. His intense hatred for Bayle, expressed both before and during the fight, adds a powerful emotional layer to an already thrilling encounter.

19. Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

Every FromSoftware game has an early "proving ground" boss. Father Gascoigne is Bloodborne's prime example. He punishes reckless aggression and demands strategic use of the environment and parrying. Mastering this fight is crucial for success in later encounters.

18. Starscourge Radahn (Elden Ring)

Elden Ring is full of spectacle, but few encounters match the scale of Starscourge Radahn's battle. The fight's epic scale and the ability to summon numerous NPC allies make it one of Miyazaki's most inventive creations, culminating in a truly earth-shattering moment.

17. Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)

Dark Souls is filled with melancholy, and few moments are as emotionally resonant as fighting Great Grey Wolf Sif. Artorias' loyal companion, guarding his grave, this fight is less about challenge and more about atmosphere and storytelling, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

16. Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)

Maliketh is arguably one of the most relentlessly aggressive bosses in the Soulslike genre. Even in his first phase, his attacks are relentless. His second phase is even more intense, with long, complex combos that demand precise memorization and execution. Despite the difficulty, the high-intensity nature of the fight makes it incredibly memorable.

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

The Dancer of the Boreal Valley is visually stunning and mechanically unique. Her erratic attacks and unusually timed animations make her unpredictable and challenging, showcasing FromSoftware's animation prowess.

14. Genichiro Ashina (Sekiro)

The first encounter with Genichiro Ashina is a memorable, relatively short fight that serves as a crucial test of the player's understanding of Sekiro's core mechanics. The rematch atop Ashina Castle is an epic duel that demands mastery of parrying and deflecting.

13. Owl (Father) (Sekiro)

Fighting Owl, Wolf's father, is both emotionally and physically challenging. Owl is incredibly aggressive and utilizes a variety of lethal gadgets and techniques, including teleportation, making him one of the hardest-hitting bosses in the game.

Honorable Mention: Armored Core 6

While this list focuses on FromSoftware's "Soulsborne" games, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon deserves recognition. Three bosses stand out: AA P07 Balteus, a fast and challenging boss that tests mastery of the game's systems; IA-02: Ice Worm, a cinematic battle reminiscent of Radahn's fight; and IB-01: CEL 240, which features a thrilling, high-speed second phase.

12. Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)

The Soul of Cinder perfectly embodies the essence of Dark Souls. As the final boss, this amalgamation of past Lords of Cinder fights with unpredictable styles, culminating in a second phase that echoes the original Dark Souls' final boss, Gwyn.

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

Sister Friede is a brutal three-phase fight, arguably the most punishing in the Dark Souls series. Her relentless aggression and the addition of Father Ariandel in the second phase make for an unforgettable and incredibly challenging encounter.

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

Orphan of Kos is Bloodborne's most infamous boss, a terrifyingly fast and aggressive creature with unpredictable combos. His grotesque appearance and unique attacks make him a truly nightmarish encounter.

9. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)

Malenia's fight defined the cultural zeitgeist surrounding Elden Ring. This incredibly challenging two-phase boss fight, featuring her iconic Waterfowl Dance and devastating rot attacks, is both visually spectacular and deeply rooted in the game's lore.

8. Guardian Ape (Sekiro)

The Guardian Ape is comically grotesque, using farts and feces as attacks. However, its shocking second phase, where it reanimates after being seemingly defeated, makes it a truly memorable and devious encounter.

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

Artorias is a tragic figure in Dark Souls' lore, and his boss fight is equally compelling. His rapid attacks and complex combos make him a challenging but rewarding fight, often seen as a rite of passage for mastering Dark Souls.

6. Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)

The Nameless King is a perfect example of a Dark Souls boss. His challenging but fair fight, split into two distinct phases—a dragon mount phase and a grounded duel—is a visual and auditory spectacle, accompanied by one of the series' best musical themes.

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

Ornstein and Smough established the two-on-one boss fight template, a staple in FromSoftware games since. Their unique mechanics, where one absorbs the other's power after defeat, and their enduring influence on the genre make them truly special.

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

Ludwig is arguably Bloodborne's most complex boss, constantly evolving throughout the fight with a vast array of attacks. His aggression and the fight's complexity demand mastery of Bloodborne's fast-paced combat.

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

Slave Knight Gael's fight is truly mythical. The final boss of The Ringed City DLC, his two-phase fight, culminating in a powerful second phase where he wields the power of the Dark Soul, is a spectacular and emotionally resonant conclusion to the Dark Souls trilogy.

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

Lady Maria is a technically masterful duelist, whose fight gradually intensifies as she unleashes her blood powers. Her elegance and the intensity of the fight make it a truly memorable encounter.

1. Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro)

Isshin, the Sword Saint, embodies Sekiro's unique combat system. This four-phase fight demands mastery of parrying, deflecting, and utilizing every technique learned throughout the game, culminating in an incredibly satisfying and rewarding victory.

Our ranking of the top 25 FromSoftware bosses is complete. Let us know your favorites!

Top 25 FromSoftware Bosses

Top 25 FromSoftware Bosses