10 Dark Souls Bosses We Want To See Added To Elden Ring Nightreign

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Which boss character from the Dark Souls trilogy would you choose to reappear as a boss again? Many might choose Artorias or the Soul of Cinder, but FromSoftware took things in an unexpected direction with Elden Ring Nightreign, and that’s not just about the game genre.

Instead of sticking with traditional adversaries, it opted for battles against foes such as the Smelter Demon and Duke’s Dear Freja. It’s fascinating to witness these less common skirmishes reappear and be enhanced for a fresh game, but there are numerous notable bosses that warrant a similar comeback.

10.

Darklurker

Twice The Pride, Double The Fall

In the game Dark Souls 2, The Darklurker is often underestimated among its battles. You can encounter this optional fight in the depths of the Old Dark Chasms, as part of the questline for The Pilgrims of Dark. They appear as a four-armed, angelic entity veiled in the Abyss, equipped with a variety of powerful spells that can cause great damage. Upon reducing their health sufficiently, they will actually divide into two separate entities.

It’s not unexpected that they are considered among the toughest bosses within the game, given that no aid can be summoned. However, in a collaborative environment such as Nightreign, where two adversaries shooting lasers and casting hexes might be easier to handle, perhaps they would finally receive their due recognition.

9.

Yhorm

Without The Storm Ruler

In Elden Ring: Nightreign, there aren’t many colossal-sized bosses, particularly humanoid ones. Instead, we encounter trolls, fire giants, and golems, which are more like skirmishes rather than major battles. Fortunately, Dark Souls has a good number of imposing adversaries that could be incorporated to enrich this aspect.

Old Iron King could be fun, but like Centipede Demon, I doubt it’d be that hard without the lava.

In Dark Souls 3, Yhorm is often seen as an adversary requiring specific tactics – using the Storm Ruler is necessary to inflict significant damage, similar to Rykard and the Serpent-Hunter. By making some adjustments, his combat could be rebalanced for groups of three players or standard weapons, creating quite a thrilling encounter. Additionally, outfitting Raider with the Catarina armor would add an exciting visual element to this revised fight.

8.

Ornstein And Smough

It’s Obvious, But Come On

It’s fascinating that out of all the bosses from the original Dark Souls, we ended up with the Centipede Demon and Gaping Dragon (Thank goodness it wasn’t Pinwheel!). These fights make for a good starting point since they’re relatively easy to defeat. However, when FromSoftware introduces The Nameless King and Dancer from Dark Souls 3, it seems unbalanced, as if the difficulty levels aren’t evenly matched.

A potential solution could involve reintroducing one of the series’ most recognizable bosses: Ornstein and Smough. Instead of defeating one to empower the other, they could both enter their second phase simultaneously, creating a formidable challenge for teams of three players. This adjustment would align them with some of the more challenging bosses encountered later in the game.

7.

Looking Glass Knight

If Aura Farming Were A Boss

Among the standout characters in Dark Souls 2, the Looking Glass Knight is notable for his unique design, which includes a massive silver mirror used as a shield that allows him to summon invading players as dark phantoms. In terms of boss battles, they are surprisingly straightforward compared to others. Essentially, if you manage to approach them from behind and hold on tight, the fight is mostly won.

It seems they would thrive more as an initial leader. However, it would be intriguing to introduce an invasion system within Nightreign, where a team could be called forth from the Roundtable Hold to aid the Looking Glass Knight in exchange for a rare artifact, known as a Relic.

6.

Slave Knight Gael

Hand It Over. That Thing.

In Nightreign, contrary to expectations, The Nameless King proves simpler than anticipated, despite being one of the toughest bosses in Dark Souls 3. Instead, let’s challenge ourselves and introduce Slave Knight Gael once more. Let’s test the mettle of Elden Ring players with what we battled years ago.

He seems perfectly suited for Nightreign, effortlessly bounding through the arena at astonishing speeds, inflicting massive harm on any unfortunate souls caught in his barrage of attacks. In essence, he’s a miniature version of a Nightlord.

5.

Stray Demon

Where It All Began

At this stage, Asylum Demons and their versions are a mainstay in the Soulsborne series. They can be seen as a spiritual successor to The Vanguard from Demon’s Souls, who played the role of the first tutorial for a Soulslike game. In an unsubtle way, they quickly conveyed to players just how challenging this action RPG would be, much like a large axe to the face – both figuratively and literally.

Because Sony holds the copyright for Demon’s Souls, it’s unlikely that they could reintroduce a character like The Vanguard. However, the Asylum Demon shares similarities, making it a suitable alternative.

In Dark Souls 3, FromSoftware reintroduced the Asylum Demon, while in Elden Ring, Erdtree Avatars serve as a spiritual successor with minor adjustments to their moveset. As Nightreign invites back bosses from various Dark Souls games, FromSoftware now has the chance to resurrect the Stray Demon as it originally was, honoring where the Soulslike genre began.

4.

Sir Alonne

Bring Back The Challenge

In the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC for Dark Souls 2, Sir Alonne emerged as one of the most cherished bosses within the series. Engaging with him is an exhilarating duel that minimizes opportunities for healing, forcing you to stay alert and defensive while searching for the rare openings he grants.

Despite being a boss character from Dark Souls 2, his potential was hindered by its clumsier movement mechanics and emphasis on adaptability. In contrast, a faster and sleeker game like Nightreign would showcase him at unprecedented levels. And imagine the delight for your team to witness the exclusive seppuku animation he performs when you defeat him without taking any damage in mere three minutes!

3.

Throne Watcher And Throne Defender, And Nashandra

Elden Ring Really Is Dark Souls 2, 2

If you wait until the very end of Dark Souls 2 before entering the throne room, you’ll encounter the Throne Watcher and Defender in quick succession. This battle will put your skills to the ultimate test, especially since there are actually three bosses involved if you count Aldia thanks to the additional content from post-launch updates and the Scholar of the First Sin edition.

In the game Nightreign, I’ve encountered only one instance thus far where a second boss unexpectedly appeared during a battle: the hippopotamus and Crucible Knight. Frankly, they don’t seem particularly menacing. A more grandiose comeback like Dark Souls 2’s final showdown would be welcomed, but there are no returning final bosses in Nightreign, so it might just be wishful thinking. However, without Aldia, one could argue that there isn’t truly a final boss at all.

2.

The Abyss Watchers

The Artorias Fan Club Extends All The Way To The Lands Between

To put it simply, Artorias wouldn’t find Nightreign challenging. While he was fast for Dark Souls standards in 2011, the gaming world has evolved since then. With three players attacking him simultaneously, it seems unlikely that he could hold his own.

Instead, the Abyss Watchers could make an ideal setting for multiplayer encounters. These boss battles, particularly those where your collective focus is divided, such as the initial Nightlord, Gladius, would become even more challenging with slightly increased health and damage. Essentially, these Atorias-like opponents would serve perfectly in this role.

1.

Artorias And Sif

Or Just Bring Back The Real Deal

Alright, Artorias may appear straightforward, but I can’t leave him out due to his significance. Merely a hide doesn’t suffice. Given that we’re up against three adversaries, it’s crucial to equip them with an additional element to boost their strength and ensure they stand a fighting chance against such formidable opposition. It seems unfair to reintroduce such an iconic boss only for him to be annihilated in the process.

If not Artorias, then at least Manus.

It would be a wonderful moment if FromSoftware were to resurrect Artorias and his faithful hound, Sif, for us to battle once more. Witnessing the struggle against these two formidable foes simultaneously would be an unforgettable spectacle. Plus, knowing that Sif survives another day after we meet our demise at their hands would make those defeats a little less agonizing.

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2025-06-03 18:05