Summary
While difficulty is often the defining feature of titles likeDark Souls 3and their bosses, the encounters and traps within these games can’t all be created equal. It may be true that most bosses will likely take multiple attempts to conquer, some ofDark Souls 3’s brutally difficult fightsgo above and beyond being the “next challenge” and rise to the heights of the “make or break” wall that must be toppled before proceeding.
In the originalDark Souls, this encounter came in the form of Ornstein and Smough, a legendary battle against two of the toughest bosses in the game that have to be challenged at the same time. However, inDark Souls 3, developer FromSoftware turns some of the original fight’s challenges on its head in order to introduce the game’s toughest test of skill, Pontiff Sulyvahn.
Pontiff Sulyvahn as Dark Souls 3’s Mid-Game Wall
Pontiff Sulyvahn’s Overwhelming Moveset Explained
Beyond the damage output of his attacks, or even the boss' own defenses, the determining factor for Pontiff Sulyvahn’s difficulty comes from his expansive moveset. Wielding two massive swords, Pontiff Sulyvahn is able to string out a number of massive combos that can often last long enough to either catch an agile player as they attempt to roll out of danger or overwhelmDark Souls 3’s tank buildsby eating through their stamina. However, the boss isn’t limited to only dishing out melee combos with his weapons, but is also capable of firing off magic from a distance that can catch players nearly across the arena.
To add insult to the injury that Pontiff Sulyvahn is sure to inflict on players, this is also one of few bosses who are capable of attacking with multiple damage types. This means that gearing up in eitherDark Souls 3’s most unique armorto withstand one attack might leave a gap in a player’s defenses against a different type of damage that could be leveraged at any time. So, regardless of whether players prioritize defending against magic or physical damage, the boss can simply land the kill with a fire-infused attack. It is a deadly combination that always leaves players vulnerable one way or another.
Pontiff Sulyvahn’s Second Phase Reverses the Ornstein and Smough Dynamic
One aspect that heightened the difficulty ofOrnstein and Smough in the originalDark Soulswas the fact that the two enemies were fought at the same time in the first phase. The result is often that the first phase is the hardest, as the two bosses' AI doesn’t necessarily take turns for when they’re going to strike, causing some attacks to overlap in disastrous ways. While Pontiff Sulyvahn is alone at first, that doesn’t mean the boss can’t turn the table into a 2-vs-1 fight in the second phase.
In a stark reversal of the Ornstein and Smough double fight, Pontiff Sulyvahn doesn’t call for backup until the second phase of the fight, where he summons a shadow of himself. The two attack together, with their identical strikes coming out in quick succession. So, it isn’t exactly the difficulty of the two unique bosses' AI acting independently of each other, but the second version is still capable of catching unsuspecting players mid-dodge.
The Key to Sulyvahn is Patience and Parries
The addition of Pontiff Sulyvahn’s shadow clone can often feel like the start of an impossible march against the boss, although two tricks can make even a boss this difficult crumble under pressure. Watching the clone patiently is a great first step, as it will always telegraph what attack Pontiff Sulyvahn himself will also be performing, and the boss becomes slightly more passive while its clone is out. The second is that players can bypass some of the most difficult aspects of the fight by mastering parries, as Pontiff Sulyvahn is one of theeasiestDark Soulsbossesto get stuck in a riposte loop until he goes down.
Dark Souls 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Winner of Gamescom 2015 ‘Best RPG” and over 35 E3 2015 Awards and Nominations, DARK SOULS™ III continues to push the boundaries with the latest, ambitious chapter in the critically-acclaimed and genre-defining series.As fires fade and the world falls into ruin, journey into a universe filled with more colossal enemies and environments. Players will be immersed into a world of epic atmosphere and darkness through faster gameplay and amplified combat intensity. Fans and newcomers alike will get lost in the game hallmark rewarding gameplay and immersive graphics.Now only embers remain… Prepare yourself once more and Embrace The Darkness!
