Demon’s Souls Bosses Order: All Mandatory And Optional Bosses

Like all other Souls games, the Demon’s Souls bosses are renowned for their difficulty. While there aren’t as many bosses in Demon’s Souls when compared to the Dark Souls games or Sekiro, the Demon’s Souls bosses are still incredibly challenging and fun to beat, and provide you with a huge sense of accomplishment once beaten. If you want to learn more about the Demon’s Souls bosses, what the best order is to take them on, and which are mandatory and optional, keep on reading our guide below.

What Is The Best Suggested Demon’s Souls Bosses Order?

The Demon’s Souls bosses order will greatly depend on your skills and build, and which attributes you’ve levelled. Below, you’ll find a list of our suggested Demon’s Souls bosses order.

• Tutorial: Vanguard
• Gates Of Boletaria (1-1): Phalanx
• The Lord’s Path (1-2): Tower Knight
• Smithing Grounds (2-1): Armour Spider
• Prison Of Hope (3-1): Fool’s Idol
• Island’s Edge (4-1): Adjudicator, Vanguard
• The Ritual Path (4-2): Old Hero
• Upper Latria (3-2): Maneater
• The Tunnel City (2-2): Flamelurker
• Underground Temple (2-3): Dragon God
• Altar Of Storms (4-3): Storm King
• Depraved Chasm (5-1): Leechmonger
• Swamp Of Sorrow (5-2): Dirty Colossus
• The Ivory Tower (3-3): Old Monk
• Inner Ward (1-3): Penetrator
• Rotting Haven (5-3): Maiden Astraea, Garl Vinland
• The King’s Tower (1-4): Old King Allant
• End Game

We took on the Demon’s Souls bosses in the above order, which is what we found easiest. There is no definitive order of bosses, but we suggest you try following our guide but feel completely free to take on the bosses in the order that best works for you.

Are There Any Demon’s Souls Optional Bosses?

Like with most other Souls-like games, Demon’s Souls has several optional bosses. You can take these Demon’s Souls optional bosses on to earn additional rewards, but don’t expect to immediately be able to defeat them, particularly early on in the game. If you encounter them, it may be better to level your character up and return later on when you’re stronger. Some of the Demon’s Souls optional bosses, where you can find them, and their reward include:

• The Lord’s Path (1-2): Red Dragon for a Small Scaled Flame Demon Soul
• Inner Ward (1-3): Primeval Demon for a Colourless Demon Soul
• The King’s Tower (1-4): Blue Dragon for a Large Scaled Flame Demon Soul
• Smithing Grounds (2-1): Primeval Demon for a Colourless Demon Soul
• Upper Latria (3-2): Primeval Demon for a Colourless Demon Soul
• Island’s Edge (4-1): Vanguard Demon for a Grey Demon Soul
• The Ritual Path (4-2): Primeval Demon for a Colourless Demon Soul
• Swamp Of Sorrow (5-2): Primeval Demon for a Colourless Demon Soul

The Colourless Demon Soul can be used to purchase the Recovery miracle, to obtain 5,000 Souls or to upgrade several weapons and shields once you’ve given Blacksmith Ed Flamelurker’s Red Hot Demon Soul. The Small Scaled Flame Demon Soul, meanwhile, can be consumed for 10,000 Souls and the Large Scaled Flame Demon Soul can be consumed for 30,000 Souls.

Demon’s Souls Bosses In Detail

Tutorial

Beginning Of Game: Vanguard

The tutorial of Demon’s Souls teaches you the basics of the game and will see you explore a relatively short area before coming face-to-face with your first boss; Vanguard, a demon with grey skin and spikes, a pair of small wings, and a giant axe. You’ll likely die quickly while trying to fight him as the game intends, but if you happen to defeat the boss, you’ll claim a reward and can continue exploring the area until your eventual death.

Archstone Of The Small King: Boletarian Palace

Gates Of Boletaria (1-1): Phalanx

Phalanx is the first boss you’ll face in Demon’s Souls and was an enemy that appeared in Dark Souls. The boss is accessed after unlocking the giant entrance gate of Boletarian Palace by cutting down a chain and pulling a lever. The boss is a strange blob that is surrounded by dozens of smaller, similar enemies possessing shields that block you from attacking Phalanx. To access and defeat the boss, you’ll need to get through the guarding enemies, all of which are weak to fire, including Phalanx itself.

The Lord’s Path (1-2): Tower Knight

The Tower Knight is the second boss of the Boletarian Palace world and, as suggested by its name, is a large knight. The boss wields a lance and heavy shield, and above it on the battlement are several bowmen that fire arrows at you. It’s generally a good idea to take out the bowmen and then concentrate on defeating the Tower Knight. The boss can easily be defeated by attacking his shins or using magic from a distance if possible.

Inner Ward (1-3): Penetrator

Penetrator is the third boss of the Boletarian Palace world and is a boss you’ll face later in the game. The boss is another knight, but possesses the Penetrating Sword that can unleash dangerous attacks. Fighting Penetrator can be difficult, but the pillars within the boss arena can be used as cover. If you’ve found and saved Biorr, he can help you in taking out Penetrator quickly.

The King’s Tower (1-4): King Allant

Old King Allant or simply King Allant is the final boss of the Boletarian Palace world. King Allant, known as the False King because the boss is a demon made in King Allant’s image, serves as the penultimate or ultimate boss of the game depending on your actions, and is arguably one of the most difficult bosses to defeat. King Allant possesses the Demonbrandt and can perform a series of devastating melee attacks. He can also perform a Soul-sucking attack that drains an entire soul level from you.

Archstone Of The Burrow King: Stonefang Tunnel

Smithing Grounds (2-1): Armour Spider

Armour Spider is the first boss of the Stonefang Tunnel area. As hinted at by its name, the Armour Spider is a gigantic spider covered in armour. The boss is resistant to fire, can shoot fireballs and lava, and it can shoot webs that slow you down and leave you susceptible to attacks. Many players have issues with Armour Spider due to the tight boss arena and dangerous, persistent attacks. The fight can be particularly difficult if you lack fire defence but can be made easier if you’re able to attack from a distance with spells or arrows.

The Tunnel City (2-2): Flamelurker

Flamelurker is a fire demon located directly past Armour Spider and deep into a pit past several centipede-like enemies. The demon is resistant to fire and magic, meaning the fight heavily relies on melee attacks, which can prove difficult for anyone who’s working with alternative builds, particularly magic. However, there are several pillars that can be used for brief cover. You’ll need plenty of fire resistance – try equipping the Flame Resistance ring for this – as well as quick reflexes to block or dodge Flamelurker’s attacks.

Underground Temple (2-3): Dragon God

The Dragon God boss is the final boss of the Stonefang Tunnel area and can be accessed immediately after defeating Flamelurker. Dragon God is the creature that appears in the opening cutscene of Demon’s Souls and can actually be encountered after defeating the Vanguard boss in the tutorial, although it will always kill you. The Dragon God boss is less of a fight and more of a puzzle, as it requires you to stealthily move around the boss arena, sneaking between pillars and destroying rubble to access two ballistae, which are used to greatly injure the boss before providing you with a chance to perform a killing blow.

Archstone Of The Tower Queen: Tower Of Latria

Prison Of Hope (3-1): Fool’s Idol

The Fool’s Idol is the first main boss of the Tower Of Latria world and, similarly to the Dragon God, is more of a puzzle. The Fool’s Idol is a witch-like boss that shoots spells, leaves symbols that stun you on the ground, and creates one-hit clones of herself, easily identified as locking onto the clones will reveal a health bar, while locking onto the original boss does not. The boss can be defeated easily if you’re patient, but cannot be killed until you’ve defeated the Prisoner that continually revives her. You can find the prisoner above the boss arena. Once you’ve killed him, you’ll need to defeat the Fool’s Idol to complete the boss.

Upper Latria (3-2): Maneater

Maneater is the second boss of the Tower Of Latria world, found at the top of a spiral staircase. The Maneater boss fight requires you to take on two human-animal hybrid beasts, with the second appearing once you’ve chipped away enough of the first creature’s health. This boss fight is notable for its difficulty, mostly due to the small boss arena that you can easily fall from when trying to dodge Maneaters’ attacks. We suggest you concentrate on defeating the first Maneater boss as quickly as possible, rather than swapping between the two and dragging out the fight. Don’t be afraid to run around the platform, it’s useful for separating them and avoiding some of their attacks.

The Ivory Tower (3-3): Old Monk

The Old Monk is the final boss of the Tower Of Latria world, and the fight is an unusual one. To access the fight, you’ll need to climb a series of stairs beside the Ivory Tower archstone once the Maneater bosses have been defeated. Once you reach the top, a cutscene will play in which the Old Monk summons either another player if playing online or an AI-generated enemy. The fight simply requires you to take out the phantom and once defeated, the Old Monk will automatically be killed.

Archstone Of The Shadowmen: Shrine Of Storms

Island’s Edge (4-1): Adjudicator

The Adjudicator is the first boss of the Shrine Of Storms world. The Adjudicator is an obese demon with a long tongue and a bird perched atop his head. The only way to damage the Adjudicator is by attacking the bird, which is easier for ranged players. For melee players, patience is required to attack the Adjudicator at precise moments as the boss can easily damage you.

The Ritual Path (4-2): Old Hero

The Old Hero boss can be found past several dangerous Storm Beasts, Skeletons, Reapers, and reviving Shadowlurkers. Like a majority of the other Demon’s Souls bosses, the Old Hero boss fight incorporates puzzle elements. Old Hero is a legendary hero that has been brought to life but is now blind, which means he’ll struggle to find you unless you make noise by walking, attacking, running, dodging, or stepping over any of the smashed pots littered around the arena. There are several ways to make the fight easier for you; using silencing spells, miracles, and rings, or simply taking off your characters’ shoes to silence their movement. From there, you’ll just need to attack, dodge his attacks, and then back-off to reset the boss. Rinse and repeat to kill him.

Altar Of Storms (4-3): Storm King

Storm King is the final boss of the Shrine Of Storms world. Accessible immediately from the Old Hero boss archstone, the Storm King boss fight requires you to find and use a unique weapon found only within the arena; the Storm Ruler. You’ll need to dodge deadly attacks to reach the weapon – thankfully you’ll only have to do this once – and will need to charge the weapon by holding R2 to perform an attack on the Storm King and the smaller enemies. The Storm Beasts all respawn whenever you return to the area after defeating the Storm King, and the boss arena is one of Demon’s Souls’ best farming spots if you need to level up or purchase some items.

Archstone Of The Chieftain: Valley Of Defilement

Depraved Chasm (5-1): Leechmonger

Leechmonger is the nauseating first boss of the dreaded Valley Of Defilement world. The fight begins once you’ve made your way through the Depraved Chasm and its rickety wooden platforms. The fight takes place in a basin filled with poisoned water. Leechmonger attacks with leeches, slamming them into you when close and shooting balls of leeches when you’re far or above him in the ramparts. He’s weak to fire damage, so you’ll want to use fire-based spells or weapons to make quick work of the boss.

Swamp Of Sorrow (5-2): Dirty Colossus

Dirty Colossus is the second boss of the Valley of Defilement and is accessed by making your way through the Swamp Of Sorrow, which is filled with tough Depraved enemies and knee-high poisoned water. A demon comprised of filth, Dirty Colossus can quickly be defeated with magic, fire or melee attacks, as long as you’re able to avoid his attacks and flies, which continually chip away at your health and do a lot of damage.   

Rotting Haven (5-3): Maiden Astraea

Maiden Astraea is the final boss of the Valley Of Defilement. Maiden Astraea helps the sickened inhabitants of the Valley and is guarded by Garl Vinland. Defeating Maiden Astraea requires you to either kill her via ranged attacks from a cliff or by defeating her bodyguard first and then climb down towards Astraea to defeat her. Vinland can be defeated with magic and magic-infused weapons like the Crescent Falchion or by baiting his attacks and striking whenever there are openings. Once Garl Vinland has been defeated (Drops 16,750 Souls, the Crest of Vinland, and Bramd), you’re free to take on Maiden Astraea, just be aware of her God’s Wrath miracle attack and the poisonous water you’ll need to wade through to get to her.

End Game

Game Ending: King Allant

King Allant is the Demon’s Souls final boss. Once you’ve been transported to the Nexus and have entered the Old One, you’ll be required to kill a deformed King Allant, which can be done quickly with a few quick spells or melee attacks. Once done, you’ll have the option to trigger the game’s good or bad ending, done by either exiting the Nexus (Good ending) or killing the Maiden in Black (Bad ending). Each ending will provide you with different rewards, as we’ve highlighted in the two tables above.

If you enjoyed the challenges of Demon’s Souls and want to check out other FromSoftware titles, take a look at our boss order guides for Dark Souls 3, Bloodborne, and Limgrave in Elden Ring.