FromSoftwaregames feature some of the best boss fights in gaming and are known for giving unforgettable (and typically very challenging) experiences with each fight. Sometimes, they mix it up, pitting you against two boss foes in one battle. It can feel twice as rewarding to vanquish your foes in such a duo battle, but the prospect of them is often twice as daunting too.
The duo boss fights in Soulsborne games (and FromSoftware’s wider output) have always sparked online debates on whether they’re fun or needlessly difficult, but there’s no doubt that they feel fresh and new compared to other bosses. Sometimes they eclipse the normal boss fights and give you an enjoyable experience that stays with you even after the game ends.
10Maneater – Demon’s Souls
A Demon’s Souls Classic, And An Extremely Imposing Creature
Of all the bosses inDemon’s Souls, the Maneater duo has perhaps one of the most restricting boss arenas in the game. That makes it especially hard when you have to fight two of them at once.
Though the fight isn’t too hard, the strategy is to quickly damage the first Maneater as much as possible by taking advantage of the pauses during its relentless charging. Once the second one spawns, the window you get for attacking is greatly lessened and the fight becomes much more difficult. The challenge of fighting two Maneaters would’ve been much more fun if you had more room and freedom of movement, but it’s still a fun fight regardless.
9Godskin Duo – Elden Ring
An Infuriating Duo That Gives No Opportunity To Heal
The Godskin Duois one of the hardest boss fights inElden Ringand a lot of people hate the fight for being so needlessly challenging. After encountering both the Godskin Noble and the Godskin Apostle separately, you fight them both together in a small arena in the Crumbling Farum Azula.
They synergize their attacks perfectly and if you manage to take out one of them, they can be resurrected by the other. They will do this many times right up until you deplete their shared health bar. It’s a difficult boss fight and requires you to constantly dodge and take cover from their input-reading attacks every time you reach for your healing flask.
8Guardian Ape Duo – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Parent And Child Fight Together, Making You Look Like The Villain
The only duo boss inSekirois when you run into the headless ape in the Ashina Depths after facing the Guardian Ape in Sunken Valley. If you thought the Guardian Ape was difficult, then this duo will probably make you feel all kinds of frustrations when the second ape spawns out of nowhere.
It’s a fun cinematic boss fight and the mechanics of the headless ape are uniquecompared to other bosses in Sekiro, but the easiest strategy of defeating it is to quickly get rid of the second ape as soon as possible. Using the firecrackers on your shinobi prosthetic is ideal and will make your life a lot easier.
7Bell Gargoyles – Dark Souls Remastered
The Original Duo Boss Of The Souls Series
The Bell Gargoyles are infamous for being the first big challenge that hampers your progression in the first Dark Souls. They are the very first duo boss fight you run into in the Souls games and are more difficult than they look.
The first Bell Gargoyle is already challenging, but a little while after the fight starts, a second Bell Gargoyle spawns at half HP. Fighting them both at once can be a bit overwhelming. Upgrading your weapon with all the resources available prior to this fight can invalidate it though, but they still go down as one of the most iconic bosses in the Souls series.
6Darklurker – Dark Souls 2
A Hidden Boss Fight That’s Well Worth The Effort To Reach
One of the few duo boss fights inDark Souls 2that FromSoftware got right is the fight withDarklurker, a secret boss that you’re able to fight after completingthe questline for the Pilgrims of the Dark covenant. The design for this boss is already striking and fighting it is a treat because of how fair the fight feels. That is, until the Darklurker summons a clone of itself to shoot ranged attacks at you.
The second one only shows up briefly before disappearing and forces you to adapt to the fight. The Dark Lurker can be easily taken out by lightning though, and is its main weakness, so any lightning-infused weapons will make this fight a breeze.
5Lothric And Lorian – Dark Souls 3
Brothers Fighting To End The Cycle As The World Fades
Lothric and Lorian are the final Lords of Cinder to take outafter your long journey of trying to link the fire. After a cutscene, you start off fighting a crippled Lorian who still fights by his brother’s side in one of the most emotional fights in the game.
When you beat Lorian, Lothric revives him after a cutscene, and the fight continues till you manage to kill Prince Lothric. Everything about this fight, from the music to the dialogue to the cathartic end of the two brothers is peak FromSoftware duo boss fights that stick with you long after the credits roll.
4Demon Prince – Dark Souls 3
Two Demons Fuse Into One
An explosive introduction to the Ringed City DLC inDark Souls 3, the Demon Princes areone of the most fun and difficult bosses in the game. You start off fighting two demons, the Demon from Below and the Demon in Pain, and depending on which you kill first, they fuse together into a variation of the Demon Prince.
Both variations of the Demon Prince are equally difficult, but you can prioritize which one to kill first if you find one of the variations easier. It’s an extremely cinematic, painstakingly long fight that represents the best of Dark Souls battles.
3Crucible Knight And Misbegotten Warrior – Elden Ring
Reminds You Of The Black Knights From Dark Souls
As you journey through Caelid, you’re bound to enter Redmane Castle and findthese two waiting for you as a test of strength before you face what lies ahead. Before the Radahn Festival commences, you have to fight both these bosses at the same time, but one of them is much easier to beat than the other.
The Misbegotten Warrior can be dealt with heavy weapons, since they can stagger him with ease. But as soon as theCrucible Knightshows up, the real fight begins. You’ll be tested on everything you’ve learned, from delayed dodging to picking and choosing your moment to heal, but it’s great practice for when you face Radahn right after.
2Ornstein And Smough – Dark Souls Remastered
FromSoftware’s OG Duo Boss Fight
The boss duo that started it all, Ornstein and Smough have cemented their place in the boss fight hall of fame because of how Dark Souls built up to this climax for half the game. This fight delivers satisfying and unique mechanics that you haveto strategize for to come out on top properly.
In the second phase, you face an amped version of either Ornstein or Smough, depending on who you kill first. The arena, the music, and the location all make you feel like a proper knight fighting against these two champions who stand between you and your duty.
1Sister Friede And Father Ariandel – Dark Souls 3
Cathartic End Of One Of The Best Soul’s DLCs
The final boss thatthe Ashes of Ariandel DLC built up tois another Ashen warrior just like you, whom you fight in a three-phase battle in the painted world. Sister Friede is Dark Soul’s version of Lady Maria and each time you think you’ve defeated her, she gets back up.
In the second phase, Father Ariandel joins Frieda and burns the entire arena while Sister Friede chases you with her scythe. It’s a thrilling boss fight and after defeating both of them, you have to fight Friede a third time in her final form, Blackflame Friede. The entire fight is a masterpiece and makes the short and sweet DLC worth the money because of how much effort FromSoftware put into this one boss fight.
