The references inDark Souls 3from earlier installments of the series often go a long way to connect the separate worlds of Lordran, Drangleic, and Lothric. However, one reference to the fan-favoriteboss duo Ornstein and Smough fromDark Soulssets up for an intense fight that uses the previous games to subvert the expectations made by the earlier series.
This reference comes from theDark Souls 3boss Dragonslayer Armour, which appears late in the game as the player is exploring through Lothric Castle. It’s a difficult fight fitting of being close to the end of the game, and it sets up another version of the Dragonslayer that has a different relationship to both the dragons and the agile spear combat of Ornstein.
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Dragonslayer Armour is More Smough Than Ornstein
The first thing that quickly stands out about the Dragonslayer Armour against previous uses of the Dragonslayer Ornstein archetype from previous games is that this boss doesn’t wield a spear. Instead, this version of the character uses a giant axe that acts more similarly tophase two Smough’s hammer from the originalDark Soulsthan what Ornstien is normally seen using the last two times the boss had appeared. This translates the fight into something more similar to fighting one of the slower demon type bosses than anything similar to the fast-paced Ornstein players would have been used to.
While this turn toward a slower enemy might seem like it will be easier tobeatDark Souls 3’s Dragonslayer Armourthan the original Ornstein and Smough fight, the new pacing of this game steps it above its originalDark Soulscounterpart. This is because the heavy axe attacks are only slow by the standards ofDark Souls 3, a game where even the slowest attacks can whip out as quickly as a straight sword from the original. So, the speed and pace is on par in several ways with Ornstein, although the enemy’s new weapon does come with even more punishing damage that means failing to dodge even one of these attacks puts the player closer to death.
This all results in a fight that initially surprises longtime fans oftheDark Soulsserieswith what will initially look like a slower version of a familiar fight, while still keeping the speed of previous incarnations of the Dragonslayer Armour. Then the heavy damage can quickly wipe the floor with even the most vigor-heavy build by connecting with only a handful of heavy axe swings. To make matters more difficult, the transition into phase two brings in two trick shots that can easily catch a player off guard when they don’t know what to expect from the boss and the arena.
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Dragonslayer Armour’s Butterfly Empowered Phase Two
Once the Dragonslayer Armour has been dropped down to roughly half health, the boss will fall to one knee and appear to be open for a riposte. However, trying to take advantage of that moment will result in the boss not offering up a heavy vulnerability, and will instead attack with their own slam that is likely to include counter damage. It’s a trick that could easily catch new players unaware and continue to trap players in what appears to beFromSoftware’s classic parry and riposte systemeven after they’ve seen the counter once or more.
In addition to the initial trap of the phase transition, the second phase also sees the decaying butterflies in the distance joining in the fight to protect theDragonslayer Armour in the second phase. SomeDark Souls 3lore notes even imply that these butterflies are the actual boss, as they control the empty Dragonslayer Armour in order to protect Lothric Castle from invaders. Regardless of lore, the result is an even more hectic arena where players are incentivized to push quickly to the end of the fight if they want to survive at all.
Dark Souls 3is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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