All-Time Hardest Bosses in Elden Souls History

There's a lot of talk about Shadows of The Erdtree's difficulty and complaints that it is mountains more difficult than the Elden Ring base game.

As a hollowed/tarnished who has enjoyed the series since Dark Souls 1 released in 2011, I welcome the fresh challenge, and question why many people are complaining about the difficulty of… a difficult game?

Then it dawned on me, Elden Ring brought about many new players who do not share the scars of my past... There is a lost appreciation in that Soul's DLCs have always presented new overwhelming foes to give the base game a fresh challenge typically requiring some additional thought/skill. This difference was most noticeable in Dark Souls 2; considered the easiest by many, however its DLCs contain some of the series' most unique and challenging content (snow horse hell).

In light of this realization, to those of you Elden Ring players who are new to the Souls Series, I wanted to put up a bounty, so to speak. A list of the most difficult bosses since Dark Souls 1 that have served as a badge of accomplishment amongst long-time souls enthusiasts so that you may endure the same suffering as the rest of the veterans. I challenge you to take a trip to the past, where complaining will bring about no patches, and accomplishment can only be earned through grueling pain.

Here is a list of the most challenging bosses from Dark Souls 1,2,3 and Elden Ring in no particular order:

  1. The Ancient Dragon (Dark Souls 2), the largest fire AoE in history and a one shot in any of the later play throughs
  2. Elden Beast (Elden Ring)
  3. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)
  4. Lud and Zallen (Dark Souls 2 - Crown of the Ivory King DLC), horrible path to the boss, horrible boss duo, and invisibility.... good luck
  5. Slave Knight Gael (Dark Souls 3 - The Ringed City DLC)
  6. Smough & Ornstein (Dark Souls 1), definitely the most challenging boss in a DS1 lvl1 playthrough
  7. Manus, Father of the Abyss (Dark Souls 1 - Artorias of the Abyss DLC)
  8. Darklurker (Dark Souls 2)
  9. Black Dragon Kalameet (Dark Souls 1 - Artorias of the Abyss DLC)
  10. Messmer the Impaler (Elden Ring - Shadows of the Erdtree DLC)
  11. Radahn, Promised Consort (Elden Ring - Shadows of the Erdtree DLC)
  12. Darkeater Midir (Dark Souls 3 - The Ringed City DLC), an absolute juggernaut only made easy due to pestilence

Honourable Mention:

  • Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3 - Ashes of Ariandel DLC) - It was a tough call between this and the Nameless King, more in the comments below!
  • Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)
  • Bone Wheel Skeletons (Dark Souls 1) - They make the Red Albinaurics (spiked rolling things in front of Mohg) child's play... you just have to experience it.
  • Bed of Chaos (Dark Souls 1) ...easy for many, a test of patience for most
  • Sir Alonne (Dark Souls 2 - Crown of the Old Iron King DLC)
  • That one Silver Knight in Anor Londo with the bow... (Dark Souls 1), If you know you know
  • Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)
  • Every other boss from Shadows of the Erdtree... with all of this being said, yes this DLC is exceptionally hard (and I love it)

How does this list compare to your own? Did I miss anyone?

DISCLAIMER: All bosses listed are considering a fair fight, some of the aforementioned boss fights can lean in your favor if you are overpowered in your first playthrough or by exploiting certain weaknesses through spells, abilities or damage types. I have completed 7+ new games on each souls title including Dark Souls 1 remastered, completed a number of lvl1 playthroughs, and considered opinions from a variety of articles and reddit posts.
This list discludes Sekiro and Bloodborne, as the mechanics are just too different to compare 1:1