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

For their latest game, Elden Ring: Nightreign, FromSoftware is doubling down on boss encounters. This roguelike-inspired co-op 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 making a return, 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 the "Soulsborne" series—Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Demon's Souls, and the Dark Souls trilogy—we assessed not only the challenge but also the music, setting, mechanical complexity, lore significance, and more. What follows are our 25 favorites, judged by 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)

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Conceptually, Demon's Souls' Old Monk represents a unique approach to PvP multiplayer invasions. Instead of a traditional AI-controlled boss, the Old Monk can be controlled by another player. While the challenge varies depending on the player's skill, this unusual encounter serves as a potent reminder that enemy players can appear at any time, even during a boss fight.

24. Old Hero (Demon’s Souls)

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While many Demon's Souls bosses have been surpassed by later, more refined designs, the game's 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 inability to visually track you makes evasion relatively easy. However, he can hear you, transforming the fight into a stealth-like experience. It's not a difficult fight, relying on a pattern of flanking, striking, and waiting for him to reset. Despite its simplicity, Old Hero is unique, foreshadowing later esoteric bosses like Rennala in Elden Ring and the Folding Screen Monkeys in Sekiro.

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

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Dragons are often formidable bosses in FromSoftware games, but early dragon encounters in Dark Souls and Demon's Souls felt more like prototypes. Dark Souls 2's Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon, marked a turning point. This monstrously difficult fight, set within a poisonous cavern and accompanied by powerful music, established the epic scale and terrifying grandeur of later dragon encounters.

22. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Bloodborne)

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Bloodborne features numerous Lovecraftian creatures, but Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos, best embodies the game's cosmic horror themes. A monstrous being of tentacles and wings, she is central to the Healing Church's worship and the origins of Blood Ministration, making her a key figure in the game's narrative. While not as challenging as her lore suggests, her thematic resonance is strong. Her devastating attacks, including cosmic energy blasts and Frenzy-inducing blood, perfectly capture the unsettling atmosphere of Lovecraftian horror.

21. Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2)

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Arguably Dark Souls 2's most difficult boss, the Fume Knight combines speed and raw power. Dual-wielding weapons—a longsword for quick attacks and a greatsword for heavy damage—he later combines them into a massive flaming sword. While his difficulty is notable, he's also incredibly engaging. FromSoftware's duels often pit players against either fast or heavy opponents, but the Fume Knight masterfully blends both styles into one fiery challenge.

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

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Bayle the Dread is memorable for being one of the toughest bosses in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. What truly elevates the fight is the presence of the NPC ally, Igon. His intense hatred for Bayle, expressed both before and during the battle, adds a powerful emotional layer to an already challenging encounter with a fearsome dragon.

19. Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

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Every FromSoftware game features an early "proving ground" boss. Father Gascoigne in Bloodborne is arguably the best example. Simply attacking him recklessly will result in devastating counterattacks. Successfully facing Gascoigne requires mastering environmental awareness, strategic offense, and parrying—essential skills for later encounters.

18. Starscourge Radahn (Elden Ring)

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Elden Ring is full of spectacular encounters, but few match the scale of Starscourge Radahn and his massive battlefield. This gravity-manipulating boss might appear comical at first, but his meteor-like attacks are anything but. The ability to summon numerous NPC companions adds to the epic feel, making it a truly memorable and inventive boss fight.

17. Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)

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FromSoftware's games are often melancholic, but few moments are as emotionally resonant as facing Great Grey Wolf Sif. Artorias' loyal companion, Sif guards her master's grave, wielding his greatsword. While not the most challenging fight, its atmosphere and narrative significance create a lasting impact, highlighting the moral ambiguity of FromSoftware's worlds.

16. Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)

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Maliketh is arguably one of the most aggressively relentless bosses in the Soulslike genre. Even in his first phase, he attacks with furious speed and unpredictable combos. His second phase, revealing his true form, is even more challenging, making for a high-intensity, memorable battle.

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

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The Dancer of the Boreal Valley is visually striking and mechanically unique. Her erratic fighting style, utilizing long limbs and unusually timed animations, keeps players constantly guessing. The eerie figure and dance-like movements add to the fight's memorable quality.

14. Genichiro Ashina (Sekiro)

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The first encounter with Genichiro Ashina, set in a moonlit reed field, is brief but memorable. The rematch atop Ashina Castle is an epic duel that tests players' mastery of parrying and deflecting, serving as a crucial test of Sekiro's core mechanics.

13. Owl (Father) (Sekiro)

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Owl, the imposing and treacherous father figure, is one of Sekiro's most aggressive and challenging bosses. His arsenal includes shuriken, smoke bombs, and a spectral owl for teleportation, creating a thrilling and emotionally charged encounter.

### Honorable Mention: Armored Core 6

While this list focuses on the "Soulsborne" series, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon deserves recognition. Three bosses stand out: AA P07 Balteus, a fast and challenging gatekeeper; IA-02: Ice Worm, a cinematic encounter utilizing allied NPCs; and IB-01: CEL 240, with its dramatic and fast-paced second phase.

12. Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)

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The Soul of Cinder, Dark Souls 3's final boss, embodies the essence of the series. This amalgamation of past Lords of Cinder fights with unpredictable styles, shifting between weapons and techniques, culminating in a second phase that recreates the moves of Gwyn, the final boss of the original Dark Souls.

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

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Sister Friede, a brutal three-phase encounter, is arguably the most punishing boss in the Dark Souls series. Her relentless aggression and the addition of Father Ariandel in the second phase create a truly challenging and memorable fight.

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

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Orphan of Kos is Bloodborne's most infamous foe, a terrifyingly fast and aggressive boss with unpredictable combos. His grotesque appearance and use of his own placenta as a weapon add to the fight's unsettling atmosphere.

9. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)

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Malenia, Blade of Miquella, has become a cultural phenomenon. This incredibly challenging two-phase boss fight, known for its demanding waterfowl dance and devastating rot attacks, has become one of the most memorable and discussed encounters in recent gaming history.

8. Guardian Ape (Sekiro)

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The Guardian Ape is a comedic yet brutal boss. His attacks are punctuated by humorous elements, such as farting poison gas and throwing feces. However, the fight's unexpected second phase, after seemingly defeating him, is a shocking and memorable twist.

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

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Artorias, a tragic figure in Dark Souls' lore, is also an exhilarating boss fight. His rapid attacks and challenging combos make the encounter a true test of skill, resulting in a deeply satisfying victory.

6. Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)

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The Nameless King is a near-perfect example of a Dark Souls boss. His challenging yet fair fight, split into two distinct phases—a dragon mount phase and a ground-based duel—is unforgettable, particularly due to its stunning setting and powerful musical score.

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

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Ornstein and Smough established the two-on-one boss fight template, a common feature in later FromSoftware games. Their unique mechanic, where one absorbs the other's power upon death, and their overall difficulty have cemented their place as legendary encounters.

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

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Ludwig is arguably Bloodborne's most complex boss, constantly evolving throughout the fight. His numerous attacks and relentless aggression demand precise timing and mastery of Bloodborne's fast-paced combat.

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

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The final boss of The Ringed City DLC, Slave Knight Gael, is a truly epic encounter. His two phases, shifting from a brutal melee fighter to a powerful wielder of dark magic and weaponry, provide a challenging and deeply satisfying conclusion to the Dark Souls trilogy.

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

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Lady Maria is one of Bloodborne's most technically demanding boss fights. Her swift attacks, use of twin blades and a pistol, and powerful blood magic create an intense and unforgettable duel.

1. Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro)

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Isshin, the Sword Saint, embodies Sekiro's refined combat system. This four-phase battle, a culmination of all the skills learned throughout the game, is a breathtaking and ultimately rewarding experience, making it the best boss fight FromSoftware has ever created.

Victory achieved. Prey slaughtered. Enemy felled. Our ranking of the top 25 FromSoftware bosses is complete. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know!

### Top 25 FromSoftware Bosses

### Top 25 FromSoftware Bosses