Two Dark Souls bosses are famous for stopping players: Ornstein and Smough in the first game, and the Nameless King in Dark Souls III. This guide gives you the phases, the weaknesses and a plan for each. The numbers and tips come from community wikis, checked on October 10, 2026. Details can differ between versions, so treat them as a guide.
Key takeaways
- Ornstein and Smough is a two-boss fight. Pick which one to kill first and stick to it.
- Pillars help against Smough's charge. Ornstein is weak to fire.
- The Nameless King has two phases. Killing the wyvern starts the second.
- The Nameless King is weak to dark and fire and resists lightning.
Images are provided by Steam and belong to their publishers.
Ornstein and Smough (Dark Souls, Anor Londo)
They guard the way forward in the Anor Londo cathedral. In phase one both fight at once. When one dies, the other absorbs the corpse, returns to full health and grows into a larger "Super" form. Choose which boss to kill first before you enter the fog gate. The reward is 50,000 souls on the first playthrough and 150,000 in NG+.
| Boss | Attacks to know | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Ornstein | Swing combo, spear slam, lightning bolt, gliding stab | Fire. Resists spears. |
| Smough | Hammer smashes and sweeps, trample charge, jump and crash | Lightning in phase one, fire in Super form |
Plan
- Use pillars. Smough's charge runs in a straight line, so a pillar between you and him can stop it and separate him from Ornstein.
- Pick one target. Many players kill Ornstein first because he is quicker and harder to read, but you can choose either.
- Stagger with fast hits or a spell such as soul spear to interrupt their patterns.
- Heal safely before the fog gate and again after the first boss dies.
- Be careful with summons. Allies may attack the one you did not pick.
Nameless King (Dark Souls III, Archdragon Peak)
This optional boss is at Archdragon Peak. Ring the large bell near the Great Belfry to make him available. NPC summons are not available for this fight. Phase one is the King of the Storm riding a blue wyvern, and killing the wyvern starts phase two, where he fights on foot with his swordspear.
| Phase | Attacks | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| King of the Storm | Aerial and ground fire breath, air wave, dive, spear combos | Lightning and frostbite. Hit the head, neck and wings. |
| Nameless King | Shockwaves, leaping spear strikes, lightning strike, falling bolts | Dark and fire. Resists lightning and bleed. |
Plan
- Do not stand under the dragon. Strike the head, then move away.
- If the wyvern breaks your lock-on, unlock and reposition.
- In phase two, roll through his lightning strike, which is easy to see coming. His stabs can break through shields, so roll rather than block when you can.
- Use lightning-resistant gear. Save most of your Estus for phase two.
General tips for Souls fights
- Learn the first two attacks of a boss, then add one more each try.
- Stamina is your real health bar. Never spend it all.
- Check resistances before you pick a weapon or spell.
Build and gear advice
You do not need a perfect build for either fight, but a few choices make life easier. For Ornstein and Smough, bring a weapon that can be buffed with fire, or learn a ranged spell for the moments when both bosses are close. Keep your equipment load light enough to roll, because the lightning bolts and hammer sweeps are much easier to avoid with a quick roll. For the Nameless King, check your lightning resistance first. A shield with high lightning absorption cuts the damage of his spear strikes and the lightning explosion, but remember his stabs can still break through, so use it for the weaker hits only.
It also helps to run the path to the boss again and again until it is easy. A long run to the fog gate is a source of frustration. Learn the shortcuts and the safe spots, so you arrive calm with all your flasks. If you can, sit at the bonfire and take a short break after three or four bad attempts. Players who stay calm often win on the next try, because the boss patterns are the same every time. Tips from streams can show you the real timing of each attack, which is hard to explain in text. Open a live stream of the game from the hub and watch how experienced players move.
Live now: Dark Souls
See all →
LIVE
Twitch
383
⚔️MULTIWORLD RANDOMIZER SPEEDRUN (ER + DS3 + SEKIRO)⚔️
YoJosherinoen
LIVE
Twitch
79
This wasn't meant to be fists only, but if the Archipelago wills it...I guess I'll punch a god...
GhostQueenKayeen
LIVE
Twitch
66
OH, YOU THINK DARKNESS IS YOUR ALLY⁉️DS3 - FIRST PLAYTHROUGH: DAY 6‼️STR BUILD‼️ALL BOSSES‼️GET IN HERE‼️🎵 COPACETIC VIBES 🎵
CalmCaleben
LIVE
Twitch
28
Dark Souls III - First Time Playthrough - RIP Servers
mosasaurzenNext steps: read our guide to beating any hard boss, visit the Dark Souls hub, or see Elden Ring's hardest bosses.
