Top 20 BRUTALLY Hard Souls Game Bosses | Articles on WatchMojo.com (2025)

Top 20 Hardest Souls Bosses

Welcome to WatchMojo, and grab your biggest sword and pray to whichever god you believe in, because today we are looking at the 20 Hardest Souls Bosses. You might have breezed through some of these, but try to refrain from mentioning it in the comments, because I’m not impressed, and neither are you parents... Let’s go!

“Bloodborne” (2015)
Laurence begins our list of possibly divisive Bloodborne bosses, as some see him as just another challenge, while others see him as the biggest ballache that humanity has ever created. What makes this particular boss an absolute nightmare, is his fire attacks, and the absolute relentless nature in which they are thrown at the player. Found in the Hunter’s Nightmare cathedral where Vicar Amelia was fought, Laurence is a giant pain whose third phase is especially punishing. He spews lava, turning the area into a deadly minefield that companions rarely survive. Love him or hate him, Laurence earns his spot on this list by creating many many tears.

“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” (2019)
The Guardian Ape is another infamous boss from an already punishing game, catching us off guard and racking up more deaths than I’d personally care to admit. There’s something inherently bizarre about battling a massive monkey with a sword lodged in its neck, that also continuously farts on you and throws its poop, but the real challenge begins when the fight enters its second phase. After being downed, the ape gruesomely tears off its own head, transforming into an undead nightmare wielding its severed head and an enormous sword. There’s also a secret rematch which puts you up against two of these monstrosities, but you know what? Even without that it’d still end up on this list.

“Dark Souls II” (2014)
Meet Lud and Zallen, a pair of bosses that’ll have you tearing out what little hair you’ve got left after Dark Souls 1. These optional tiger bosses reside in the Frigid Outskirts, part of the Crown of the Ivory King DLC, and they’re an exercise in pure frustration. The real challenge isn’t even the fight, it’s the agonizing journey to their arena, and although this stretches the rules of the list a bit, I’m mentioning it because I wanna, and it’s my list, and go away. If you survive the trek, your reward is a grueling fight against two incredibly irritating tigers. And frankly, they’re not worth the effort.

“Bloodborne” (2015)
Before Sekiro, many seasoned FromSoftware fans considered Bloodborne the pinnacle of Souls challenge. Among the myriad of terribly painful bosses, is Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower. Fights against other hunters are often the most intense in Bloodborne, and Maria is no exception. She’s relentless in her aggression, unleashing lightning-fast attacks and devastating combos that push players to prioritize offense over defense. Don't even bother holding back, hit her till she stops. Her agility and ferocity make her one of the most brutal challenges in the genre.

“Dark Souls” (2011)
The final boss of the Dark Souls expansion gave us a glimpse of the series’ future. Manus, a twisted monstrosity lurking in the deepest depths of the cursed city, is unlike anything else encountered in the rest of the game. He’s fast, powerful, hard to dodge, and barely telegraphs his moves, especially his magic. Some of his moves can strike you from behind, forcing you to sense their timing while keeping your focus on Manus himself. I mean, if that isn’t just straight up gamer abuse, I don’t know what is.

“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” (2019)
The Owl Father encounter in Sekiro is one of the rare boss fights locked behind completing a special quest, and it’s arguably among the most patience-testing battles to exist in video games. He unleashes a relentless barrage of attacks and combos that can quickly end a fight if you’re caught off guard. And, let’s not forget, a good amount of his moves are one shot kills. Whose goddamn idea was that? What truly sets this fight apart is the second phase, where the Owl Father introduces his owl summon. The summon flies around the arena, unleashing massive AoE explosions and even casting brief invisibility on both itself and the Owl Father, truly this should be made illegal.

“Elden Ring” (2022)
Elden Ring features two massive dragon bosses, and while both deserve recognition, we’re focusing on Bayle. Like other dragons, Bayle’s head is his weak point, but his relentless attacks make it nearly impossible to land melee strikes. This is where Igon shines, drawing Bayle’s attention so you can land critical hits. If you’ve unlocked Messmer’s Spear from his Remembrance orb, this fight becomes significantly easier. Still, Bayle’s second phase ups the stakes, his wings magically regenerate, boosting his agility and unleashing devastating flame attacks that are difficult to dodge without assistance. This is one of the fights on the list, like I discussed earlier, that I actually had a relatively easy time with, BUT, the internet has expressed their hatred, and I am a man of the people.

“Dark Souls” (2011)
Many fights in the Soulslike genre have tried to replicate the brutal challenge of Ornstein and Smough, but none quite match the intensity of this iconic battle. The hallmark of this fight is the "little and large" duo dynamic. Think about how many of those were in Elden Ring. Both opponents attack simultaneously, forcing you to constantly adapt, all while battling in a limited arena that leaves no room to maneuver. To make matters worse, this boss fight appears relatively early in the game, when players lack high-level gear or stats, or skills, or patience, or confidence, or sleeping pills. It’s a steep challenge that often becomes a stopping point for less-dedicated players, like me.

“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” (2019)
In terms of sheer challenge, Sekiro might be the toughest game in the entire Soulsborne series due to how much it demands from the player. Progress isn’t possible unless you master the gameplay, which has more freedom and style than traditional souls games. Just when you think you’ve got deflecting mastered, the game throws the Demon of Hatred at you. This optional late-game boss is infamous for forcing players to abandon Sekiro’s usual combat style and instead take on what feels like a Dark Souls boss, without shields, heavy armor, or magic to make things easier. For those looking for a shortcut, climbing the walls and tricking the Demon into falling off the ledge is not only effective but far more satisfying than enduring a grueling forty-minute battle with this raging, fire-filled nightmare.

“Dark Souls II” (2014)
This boss fight in Dark Souls II is a true test of skill, demanding precise dodges to navigate its relentless attacks, which boast impressive range. The intensity ramps up even further in the second phase, where the Fume Knight ignites their greatsword with flames, turning an already tough battle into a tough battle, but his f***ing sword is on fire. If your stamina or HP isn’t up to par, even a single mistake can lead to instant defeat. Fume Knight is arguably the toughest boss in Dark Souls 2.

“Elden Ring” (2022)
In Elden Ring, Maliketh, the Black Blade, delivers one of the game’s most cinematic and challenging boss battles. But, even if it’s pretty, it doesn’t change how much I want to slam my PS5 into a wall. Maliketh is blisteringly fast, effortlessly covering ground across the arena. He combines devastating ranged attacks with relentless physical combo strings. This fight is as visually stunning as it is demanding, making it one of the many standouts across the long campaign.

“Elden Ring” (2022)
Messmer the Impaler is the first major skill check of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Divine Beast Dancing Lion was the first boss battle that required a bit of skill, but once accomplished, we assumed this was the standard... Wrong. Messmer isn’t just a boss, he’s practically the mascot of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, as his cruelty defines the DLC’s grim tone. His primary weapon is ancient flame magic, which he wields alongside the eerie presence of an abyssal snake hovering ominously above him… That goddamn snake. Guess what? Messmer comes with two phases, and the fight truly escalates in his second form. Shedding his skin, he transforms into a man-serpent hybrid, ramping up both speed and chaos. In this form, he unleashes waves of fire, summons colossal serpent heads to attack independently, and zips across the battlefield in a relentless assault. It’s simply TOO MUCH, and when I finally beat him, I bought myself a steak dinner.

“Dark Souls III” (2016)
The Ringed City not only provided a fitting conclusion to the series’ dark-fantasy narrative but also introduced one of its most punishing optional bosses. Darkeater Midir raises the stakes for even the most seasoned players. In any Soulsborne game, avoiding damage is crucial, but against Midir, even the thought of tanking hits becomes a death sentence. With a staggering health pool and an arsenal of devastating area-of-effect attacks, Midir is a relentless test of patience, precision, and careful strategy. I’ll have you know, this is one of those few bosses that I’ve just straight up given up on. I don’t want to finish him, and I don’t need to, goodnight.

“Dark Souls III” (2016)
While some final Souls bosses have failed to live up to expectations, the Nameless King is absolutely worthy of closing out the Dark Souls trilogy. The battle begins with the King of the Storm, and landing a hit can be difficult, as you need to get close to his steed’s head to inflict any real damage. In the meantime, he’ll swoop around the arena, launching devastating lightning and physical attacks. Guess what the warm up is? The first phase... Shocker! The Nameless King’s attacks are slow and heavy, but they come at you relentlessly, requiring precise timing for dodging. It’s the kind of fight where a single mistake could spell the end.

“Dark Souls III” (2016)
With a series of epic battles, Sister Friede stands out as one of the most nightmarish encounters in Dark Souls III. Sister Friede takes the Bloodborne influence to a whole new level with a brutal three-phase battle that likely caught many players off guard at release. She delivers massive damage in each phase, inflicts status effects, and uses her manipulated Father of Ariandel to unleash devastating area-of-effect attacks. Those damn area-of-effect attacks.

“Elden Ring” (2022)
While Elden Ring may be more accessible than other Souls games due to its open-world design, its toughest battles are not any easier than other Souls games. Malenia, Blade of Miquella, challenges players with a lightning-fast, powerful moveset, and every hit inflicts Scarlet Rot buildup… You’ll be taking damage even when you aren’t taking damage, it’s a joke. On its own, this would already make for a tough fight, but her infamous Waterfowl Dance skill takes things to another level. Malenia’s ability to heal herself with every successful strike can prolong the battle indefinitely, forcing players to be nearly flawless in their execution.

“Bloodborne” (2015)
The Orphan of Kos, the climactic encounter in The Old Hunters DLC, is a boss fight that’s as unforgettable as it is hemorrhoid inducing. Embodying Bloodborne’s core themes of gothic despair, the Orphan of Kos is an unnerving presence. Overcoming the sheer intimidation of this grotesque being is a feat in itself, because it looks disgusting. The Orphan is wildly agile, ferociously strong, and lethal both at a distance and up close. Also, he wields his mother’s placenta as a grotesque weapon, which is way up there on the list of most disgusting weapons. NOT THAT A MOTHER’S PLACENTA IS DISGUSTING... Just this one PARTICULAR Mother.

“Elden Ring” (2022)
Radahn is one of the rare bosses you’ll face twice, first as a corrupted brute in the base game of Elden ring, and next at the end of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in his fully-human form. Radahn flies around the arena with blinding speed, unleashing relentless attack combos that leave little time to recover. And as always, the real nightmare begins once you bring him down to 50% health. At this point, Miquella joins the battle. The duo’s cooperation is devastating, Miquella’s attacks rain from above while Radahn relentlessly pressures you on the ground. And then of course there’s the devastating combined one shot kill ability, if it wasn’t already annoying enough.