In this article we will discuss their individual difficulty, stats, immunities, weaknesses or strengths, and share a few lore tidbits about the most interesting Dark Souls 3 encounters. 

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Dark Souls 3 game. If you haven’t completed the game yet, you might want to postpone reading this article. 

1. Iudex Gundyr

Difficulty: Easy when you get used to his rotations

Location: Cemetery of Ash

• Health on NG: 1,037
• Health on NG+: 3,561
• Weakness: fire and frost
• Resistances: dark and bleed
• Immunities: poison

In classic Dark Souls fashion, the player is plunged into an unforgiving world and forced to fight the first boss, Iudex Gundyr, within 60 minutes of starting the game. Iudex is the latin word for “judge,” a fitting name considering that Gundyr’s purpose is to protect the coiled sword until the Chosen Ash rises to claim it.

According to Dark Souls lore, Iudex Gundyr was once a champion that returned to Firelink Shrine only to find its flame extinguished. Despite his duty, the champion was eventually corrupted by the Pus of Man, which can be seen seeping through his back, and eventually consumes him in the second phase of the fight. 

Drops: Coiled sword + 3,000 souls (NG), 15,000 souls (NG+1)

2. Vordt of the Boreal Valley

Difficulty: Super easy if you stick close to his phat butt

Location: High Wall of Lothric

• Health on NG: 1,328
• Health on NG+: 4,146
• Weakness: fire and dark 
• Resistances: physical
• Immunities: frost, bleed, poison

According to an in-game description, “Vordt served as an outrider knight, never far from the fleeting dancer.” This man-turned-beast is the second boss encounter in Dark Souls 3 and can be found on the High Wall of Lothric, in the huge building opposite the church. Vordt’s lore is as fascinating as it is sad. He is connected to Pontiff Sulyvahn, one of the game’s most challenging late stage Dark Souls 3 bosses. 

Former warrior of Irithyll, together with the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, he was granted one of the Pontiff’s eyes, a magical object that bestows visions of endless combat on the wearer and eventually breaks their sanity.

During their adventures players will encounter a couple of minibosses (Boreal Outrider Knights) with behaviour similar to that of Vordt. As servants of Sulyvahn, the Dancer, Vordt, and Outrider Knights protect important access points or objects. 

Drops: 3,000 souls 

3. Curse-rotted Greatwood

**OPTIONAL BOSS**

Difficulty: Probably the first difficult boss in the game. Just… hit it in the potato sack.

Location: Undead Settlement

• Health on NG: 5,400
• Health on NG+: 15,000+
• Weakness: physical, fire
• Resistances: N/A
• Immunities: poison, bleed, frost

Goddamn, this is one ugly boss. I remember fighting it for the first time. Went straight for the ballsack. Although there’s nothing pretty about the Curse-rotted Greatwood, it played an important role in the Undead Settlement, protecting it and its inhabitants.

The Greatwood was initially a spirit tree that sealed away all manner of curses before being consumed. There are many theories as to who, or WHAT, lies within the tree. During the second stage of the boss fight you can see a creepy white hand coming out of his belly, eerily similar to that of the Clawed Curses in the Grand Archives. 

The Curse-rotted Greatwood may be an optional boss, but it drops an invaluable item: the Transposing Kiln, which can be offered to Ludleth, one of the Lords of Cinder, at the Firelink Shrine to forge weapons from boss souls If you can’t beat the Greatwood during your first encounter, you can always come back to it.  

Tip: If you are trying to join the Mound-makers covenant I suggest you do so before killing the Curse-rotted Greatwood. During the second phase of the boss fight the floor collapses, killing the NPC responsible for inducting the player into this Dark Souls 3 covenant. 

Drops: Transposing Kiln, Soul of the Rotted Greatwood, 7,000 souls (NG), 35,000 (NG+). 

4. Crystal Sage

Difficulty: Difficult if you can’t time your rolls or are running around naked

Location: Road of Sacrifices

• Health on NG: 2,723
• Health on NG+: 6,413
• Weakness: physical, lightning, poison, frost
• Resistances: magic
• Immunities: N/A

There are two Crystal Sages in the game. One appears as a Dark Souls 3 boss, while the other is simply a mini-boss that can be found in the Grand Archives. Heavily reminiscent of “Big Hat” Logan, the sages wear flowing robes and huge wizard hats that obscure most of their body. They also wield a rapier and orb that serves as a catalyst for their spells. The first Crystal Sage can be found in an exterior court of a ruined keep on the Road of Sacrifices. 

What makes the Crystal Sage more difficult than other boss fights in Dark Souls 3 is the fact that it spawns clones that are capable of casting spells during the fight. So, if you’re running around naked or with no magical protection, this boss encounter will be difficult. The good news is that the Crystal Sage is very weak to melee damage and can be bested easily, provided you are quick on your feet. 

Under the direction of the Crystal Sages, the scholars of the Grand Archives accumulated a dangerous store of knowledge. The Undead Legion of Farron had an unknown accord with the Crystal sages, who taught them practical and fast spells that required a very special talent. 

Drops: Soul of a Crystal Sage,  8,000 souls (NG), 40,000 (NG+)

5. Deacons of the Deep

Difficulty: I’d say they’re pathetic but they might push me into a corner and poke me with their shticks. 

Location: Cathedral of the Deep

• Health on NG: 4,099 (292 per deacon)
• Health on NG+: 13,000
• Weakness: physical, frost
• Resistances: magic, dark, bleed, poison
• Immunities: N/A

The fourth mandatory boss in Dark Souls 3 is actually a group boss, consisting of multiple Deacons, led by Archdeacon Royce. This group of fanatical priests can be found in the innermost chamber of the Cathedral of the Deep, next to Aldrich’s tomb. 

“After Aldrich left for the Boreal Valley, Archdeacon Royce remained in the cathedral with the high priests, to keep eternal watch over their master’s coffin.” 

Source: In-game description

The Deacons of the Deep are among the weakest bosses in Dark Souls 3. As a matter of fact, many members of the Souls community have expressed their disappointment with how easy the fight is. The mechanics of this boss are pretty simple: during the various phases of the fight, Deacons will spawn to attack the player.

To do damage to the boss, players must constantly attack the Deacon with the red light. The light dissipates after a target’s death and finds another host. After five red-eyed deacons die, the Archdeacon himself will make an appearance, flanked by two large blue-robed Deacons and four heavyset Deacons. 

Drops: Souls of the Deacons of the Deep & Small doll, 13,000 souls (NG), 52,000 souls  (NG+) 

6. Abyss Watchers

Difficulty: Very hard. The first real Fight in Dark Souls 3 

Location: Farron Keep

• Health on NG: 1,548 per phase
• Health on NG+: 3,250 per phase
• Weakness: frost, lightning
• Resistances: fire, dark, bleed
• Immunities: poison

Excuse my fangirl moment, but the Abyss Watchers are one of my favorite Dark Souls 3 bosses. So much so that I have dedicated over 200 hours of my life creating my very own Watcher cosplay. Those moves, that huge-ass sword, pointy helmet, and blood-red cloak just ooze sexyness. Of course, that’s not the reason I like them. It’s obviously the lore, that memorable soundtrack, and adrenaline pumping through my veins as I attempt to land my next backstab.

The Abyss Watchers is actually a collective boss and the first Lord of Cinder that players will encounter in their playthrough. This radical group of warriors was once the main component of the Undead Legion of Farron. Inspired by the Abyss Walker, Artorias, and strengthened by the wolf blood, the watchers utilize a lightning fast and unpredictable fighting style, characterized by flipping maneuvers and constant offense. 

Recommended Read: Abyss Watchers Lore & Strategy Guide

Lore-wise, the Abyss Watchers were tasked with ridding the land of the taint of the abyss. At even the faintest whiff of corruption they would raze an entire kingdom to the ground. At some point, the Watchers linked the fire collectively and became Lords of Cinder. Upon returning to their ruined home, in Farron Keep, with nothing left to live for, they went mad or fell to the Abyss. Or maybe both. Now they are locked in endless combat with each other, cursed to rise over and over again. 

Drops: 18,000 souls (NG), 72,000 souls (NG+)

7. High Lord Wolnir

Difficulty: Relatively easy 

Location: Catacombs of Carthus

• Health on NG: 15,041
• Health on NG+: 27,752
• Weakness: strike, blessed weapons, bracelets
• Resistances: poison, dark, toxic
• Immunities: bleed, frost

Upon defeating the Abyss Watchers players will gain access to the Catacombs of Carthus, a gruesome dungeon that holds within it an unspeakable horror: High Lord Wolnir. At the end of the catacombs players will come across a grim chalice. Interacting with it will transport the player to the Abyss, where he must face the one High Lord. According to the lore, a long time ago, the lords of Carthus received their crowns judiciously.

Wolnir conquered these kingdoms and took the crown for himself. Keen to outlive everyone through any means necessary, Wolnir eventually succumbed to the Abyss. He is now trapped on the precipice between the abyss and Carthus, with only a holy sword and three armlets as comfort. 

This Dark Souls 3 boss fight may not be very difficult, but it had an emotional impact on me. Seeing a high lord desperate to escape his grim destiny was touching, and reminded me of the Abyss-touched bosses of Dark Souls 1 (yes, I am talking about Artorias).

Unlike other boss fights, where the player has to down the opponent’s HP to 0, here players must destroy the boss’s bracelets and dispatch him to the Abyss. Lying on the ground, next to the boss, players will also find the Grave Warden Pyromancy tome. 

Drops: Soul of High Lord Wolnir, 22,000 souls (NG), 88,000 souls (NG+)

8. Old Demon King

**OPTIONAL BOSS**

Difficulty: moderately difficult romp with fireworks at the end

Location: Smouldering Lake

• Health on NG: 5,301
• Health on NG+: 7,745
• Weakness: fire and frost
• Resistances: dark and bleed
• Immunities: poison

The Smouldering Lake is a living testament to the Chaos of Izalith. As is the Old Demon King, an optional boss that will pummel your face in like it’s nobody’s business. This Dark Souls 3 boss was born from the Chaos Flame and is among the last of its dying kind. Going into the boss room you will notice a staggering amount of corpses of Capra, Stray, and Centipede demons. You can notice right away that, while still powerful, with the Chaos flame extinguished, the Old Demon King is slowly withering again. 

Without going too much into the details of the fight I will say that the Old Demon King is a bit of a challenge, especially since it is scripted to feign a powerful AOE attack at the end that lures most of the players to their death. 

Drops: Soul of the Old Demon King and 25,000 souls (NG), 56,250 souls (NG+) 

9. Pontiff Sulyvahn

Difficulty: Rage-inducingly hard until you nail down his moveset

Location: Irithyll of the Boreal Valley

• Health on NG: 5,106
• Health on NG+: 7,777
• Weakness: fire and frost
• Resistances: dark and bleed
• Immunities: poison

I have a bit of a history with Pontiff Sulyvahn. Many years ago I decided to do a drunk stream while fighting him. You know, just to calm the nerves. It was my first drunk stream, which also unceremoniously ended with me trying to beat him barefisted and with eyes closed. Even fully equipped and wide-awake, Pontiff Sulyvahn was one of the hardest, most magnificent bosses for me in Dark Souls 3.

Dual-wielding the profaned ultra greatsword and the greatsword of judgement, the Pontiff will come at the player like a swarm of enraged paparazzi. The fight feels more like a duel, with Pontiff attacking in relentless, graceful swings. Parrying is incredibly hard due to his fast movements, but equally satisfying. 

Although it is uncertain, it is believed that Sulyvahn was born in the Painted World of Ariandel, but never experienced the same loss and despair as its inhabitants. In the end he left the painting and arrived at the Profaned Capital, from which he retrieved the greatsword. The young frost sorcerer then set out to claim Irithyll, which he controlled with the help of his Pontiff Knights. But even this did not satiate his ambition, so he dispatched Outrider Knights to conquer new lands.   

Drops: Soul of Pontiff Sulyvahn and 28,000 souls (NG), 63,000 souls (NG+) 

10. Aldrich, Devourer of Gods

Difficulty: *Insert Vietnam flashbacks gif*

Location: Anor Londo

• Health on NG: 4,727
• Health on NG+: 6,100+
• Weakness: fire and lightning
• Resistances: magic, bleed, dark, frost 
• Immunities: poison

Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, Lord of Cinder, and Saint of the Deep, is Dark Souls 3’s very own TRAP. In the cinematic he appears as a disgusting sludge of dregs and rotten flesh, writhing with the remains of those he consumed. By the time the player finds him on his journey he takes on the image of a deformed Gwyndolin, no doubt having consumed the god. For veterans of the series, the way to Aldrich is a walk past memory lane. The Aldrich boss fight actually takes place in the same hall as the Ornstein and Smough fight, which, coincidentally, was MY MOST DIFFICULT encounter in Dark Souls 1.  

According to an in-game description,

“”When Aldrich ruminated on the fading of the fire, it inspired visions of a coming age of the deep sea. He knew the path would be arduous, but he had no fear. He would devour the gods himself.”

Source: In-game description

Through his visions Aldrich discovered a darkness far stronger than that known to man. He named it THE DEEP. He soon founded the Church of the Deep, through which he sought to bring about the stagnation of souls. Protected by Archdeacons Royce and McDonnel, Aldrich received a steady stream of human sacrifices, of which he partook happily. Unlike his other followers, who fell to madness, Aldrich managed to retain his sanity. It is still unknown why Aldrich chose to link the flame, but he was likely forced by others. 

Drops: Cinders of a Lord, Soul of Aldrich, 50,000 souls (NG), 150,000 souls (NG+)

11. Yhorm the Giant

Difficulty: Very easy if you use the right weapon and are able to fight the tears

Location: Profaned Capital

• Health on NG: 27,882
• Health on NG+: 41,149
• Weakness: lightning
• Resistances: slash damage, thrust damage
• Immunities: fire, bleed, poison, frost

I remember seeing Yhorm for the first time in the trailer of Dark Souls 3. He is, without a doubt, the most impressive figure of the trailer, and oddly enough, a tragic character that I couldn’t help but like. The third Lord of Cinder once served as the weighty blade and stone-hard shield of a kingdom conquered by his own predecessors (possibly Wolnir).

A truly heroic figure, he fought as a one man vanguard and even gave his people the means to defeat him (his first Storm Ruler). Tragedy befell him first, as he lost a loved one, and later as the hellish Profaned flame was unleashed on the Capital and wiped out any trace of humanity from it. 

Yhorm linked the first flame and became of Lord of Cinder, hoping to put the profaned flame to rest. Unfortunately he failed, and now he rules the Profaned Capital alone, with nothing but the burnt corpses of his non-believers as comfort. Oh, and the flame. So, basically, his sacrifice was in vain. 

If you want to learn more about Yhorm’s tragic story, I strongly recommend checking out VaatiVidya’s lore breakthrough. 

Drops: 36,000 souls (NG), 108,000 (NG+) 

12. Dancer of the Boreal Valley

Difficulty: Her dancing is a lot like mine at a nightclub: ungainly and likely to kill anyone nearby

Location: High Wall of Lothric

• Health on NG: 5,111
• Health on NG+: 6,625
• Weakness: strike damage, lightning, and dark
• Resistances: N/A
• Immunities: poison, frost

Up next in our list of Dark Souls 3 bosses is the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, which could have been placed closer to the beginning for players that have a tendency to attack helpless old ladies. The Dancer is a mandatory boss, which must be killed to gain access to Lothric Castle. In terms of design, this is among my favorite bosses. The Dancer, with her nimble form and unusual gait, closely resembles her master, Pontiff Sulyvahn. 

Under normal circumstances, the dancer reveals herself after the player has defeated three lords of Cinder. Masochists can also summon her prematurely by attacking Emma, the High Priestess of Lothric Castle. The Dancer is believed to have been a royal inhabitant of Irithyll, before it was conquered by Sulyvahn. She was eventually forced to become an Outrider Knight and bestowed blades of power similar to those of the Pontiff. There is a truly fascinating detail in Irithyll that reminds us of Vordt and the Dancer: two uniquely shaped ghosts, that fit their description, are seen departing the cathedral. 

Drops: Soul of the Dancer, 60,000 souls (NG), 180,000 (NG+)

13. Oceiros the Consumed King

**OPTIONAL BOSS**

Difficulty: Easy if you turn off the horrible sounds

Location: The Consumed King’s Gardens

• Health on NG: 8,000
• Health on NG+: 9,600
• Weakness: lightning, frost
• Resistances: bleed, magic
• Immunities: poison

Oceiros, the Consumed King, is another optional boss in Dark Souls 3 that can be found guarding a shrine in the gardens below Lothric Castle. Oceiros is a truly disturbing experience that I somehow managed to completely miss during my first playthrough.

His appearance is that of a sickly, decaying dragon with translucent skin, and no scales, similar to Seath. Like many bosses in Dark Souls 3, Oceiros is also mad. He was actually driven insane by the Plaedrake’s writings. Oceiros also has (or thinks he has) a child called Ocelotte, which he keeps calling out to during the fight. 

The cries of a child can be heard during the fight, but the source remains unknown. Maybe Ocelotte can turn invisible, like the Crossbreed Priscilla. Maybe his father killed him. Or maybe it is all a delusion. During the fight Oceiros is driven to the edge and he enters a state of utter frenzy, smashing everything around him, possibly also his child. 

Drops: 58,000 souls 

14. Champion Gundyr

**OPTIONAL BOSS**

Difficulty: Difficult and a great testament at how far you will come as a player.

Location: Cemetery of Ash

• Health on NG: 4,950
• Health on NG+: 6,250
• Weakness: lightning and frost
• Resistances: dark, poison, and bleed
• Immunities: N/A

No, this is not a mistake. Gundyr appears as a boss two times in Dark Souls 3. In the second encounter, which is completely optional, players will have to defeat a faster, buffed up version of the original boss. Champion Gundyr is the same as Iudex Gundyr. He simply exists in a different time, possibly before the Pus of Man corrupted him. 

Hint: parry is bae

Drops: 60,000 souls

15. Dragonslayer Armour 

Difficulty: Difficult and unpredictable

Location: Lothric Castle

• Health on NG: 4,581
• Health on NG+: 3,561
• Weakness: fire and frost
• Resistances: dark and bleed
• Immunities: poison

This Dark Souls 3 boss is quite unusual. As the name suggests, during this encounter you will be fighting a suit of armor that once belonged to a powerful dragon slayer and is now controlled by the Pilgrim Butterflies above Lothric Castle. Players must defeat the armour to gain access to the Grand Archives.

This was one of the harder boss fights for me, due to the opponent’s powerful blows and tendency to throw me off the bridge. Before any trolls decide to leave a comment telling me to git gud, I would like to remind everyone that boss difficulty differs from player to player. Regardless, the Dragon Slayer Armour is a fun and memorable experience in the Souls series. 

Drops: Soul of the Dragonslayer Armour, 64,000 souls (NG), 105,600 (NG+)

16. Lorian, Elder Prince & Lothric, Younger Prince

Difficulty: Super hard and punishing encounter

Location: Grand Archives

• Health on NG: 7,730 (4,200+ in the first phase and 3,400+ in the second phase),
• Weakness: lightning, magic, frost
• Resistances: Dark
• Immunities: poison

What made so many Lords of Cinder abandon their duty? We will probably never know. according to an in-game description “the two princes rejected their duty to become Lords of Cinder, and settled down far, far away to watch the fire fade from a distance.” The game also tells us that the two princes, along with Ocelotte, are the sons of the queen of Lothric and King Oceiros.  

The Twin Princes, Lorian and Lothric, are the final of the five Lords of Cinder and the 16th boss of Dark Souls 3 (optional bosses included). Physically, the brothers are very much alike. They have long silver hair, pale skin, and nimble frames. Lorian, the elder prince, is crippled and mute.

Long ago, he defeated the Prince of Demons in combat, thus earning the power of fire. Now, he is unable to stand on his feet for more than one second, while Lothric remained strong of mind and able to wield high level sorceries. 

Drops: Cinders of a Lord, Soul of the Twin Princes, 85,000 souls

17. Ancient Wyvern

**OPTIONAL BOSS**

Difficulty: A poor excuse for a boss

Location: Archdragon Peak

• Health on NG: 7,873
• Health on NG+: 70,000
• Weakness: lightning, frost
• Resistances: thrust attacks, bleed, poison
• Immunities: N/A

Probably one of the strangest fights in Dark Souls 3, the Ancient Wyvern requires players to perform a unique set of actions to destroy it. Although I rated it as a poor excuse for a boss, mainly because you can one-shot it with a plunge attack, it should be noted that the Man Serpents you have to fight along the way can be difficult to overcome. 

Furthermore, if they really want a challenge, players can attempt to defeat the Ancient Wyvern through conventional means, by chipping away at its HP. Were it not for the plunge attack option and weak AI, the Ancient Wyvern could have been one of the most challenging bosses in Dark Souls 3.

Drops: Dragon Head Stone, 70,000 souls (NG), 140,000 souls (NG+) 

18. Nameless King

**OPTIONAL BOSS**

Difficulty: Soul crushingly hard. You might need therapy after this encounter.

Location: Cemetery of Ash

• Health on NG: 4,577 in the first phase and 7,100 in the second phase
• Health on NG+: 4,582 in the first phase and 7,108 in the second phase

Thank God the Nameless King is an optional boss, because he is soul crushingly difficult. It took me three days of attempts to best him, and apparently I am not the only one. Almost 6,000 people voted this hulking, lightning-imbued badass as the hardest boss in Dark Souls 3. I think it’s worth mentioning that I NEVER used summons during my first playthrough of Dark Souls 3. The reason why the King of Storm is so difficult is partly due to the wonky camera in the first phase combined with his relentless one-hit attacks in the second phase. 

Enough with the QQ, let’s discuss the lore of the Nameless King. Little is known about him, apart from the fact that he used to be a dragon-slaying god of war, until he allied himself with the dragons and tamed a Stormdrake that he now uses as his mount. Although it was never confirmed, it is believed that the Nameless King was Gwyn’s first born, and the figure that the Warriors of Sunlight worship. 

All in all, despite being an optional boss, The Nameless King is one of the most memorable and brutal bosses of the Dark Souls 3 universe. 

Drops: Soul of the Nameless King, 80,000 souls (NG), 160,000 souls (NG+) 

19. Soul of Cinder, Kiln of the First Flame

Difficulty: Ridiculous, especially since he has four completely different phases

Location: Kiln of the First Flame 

• Health on NG: 6,557 in the first phase, 4,209 in the second phase
• Health on NG+: almost the same as NG
• Weakness: magic, lightning, dark, frost
• Resistances: bleed and fire
• Immunities: poison

Congratulations, you’ve almost made it to the end… of the MAIN game’s bosses! The last obstacle you have to face is the Soul of Cinder, the embodiment of all the Lords of Cinder and Chosen Undeads that came before, and one of the most unique encounters in the entire series. What makes this fight so cool is the fact that the boss uses an amalgamation of weapon techniques, abilities, and magic. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I believe the developers wanted to thank the Dark Soul 3 community in their own way, but creating a boss that showcases the most popular fighting styles used by players. 

Drops: 100,000 souls

This concludes our guide to all Dark Souls 3 bosses. For more detailed info on how to beat them make sure to read our individual guides or head over to Fextralife or Fandom.

Image Sources: Iudex Gundyr, Vordt, Curse Rotted Greatwood, Crystal Sage, Deacons of the Deep, Wolnir, Old Demon King, Pontiff Sulyvahn, Aldrich, Yhorm, Dancer, Oceiros, Champion Gundyr, Dragonslayer Armour, Ancient Wyvern, Nameless King, Soul of Cinder.

The post All Dark Souls 3 Bosses in Order & Ranked by Difficulty appeared first on Game Covered.

There are two loyalty thresholds for each covenant and players can redeem interesting rewards by reaching them. In this article we will share a few lore tidbits for every Dark Souls 3 covenant, tell you how to join them, and what you can earn from each of them.

As a general rule, you can join any covenant by equipping the covenant’s item from your inventory. The diamond-shaped box next to the equipment and rings is the covenant slot.  

1. Way of Blue

This CO-OP covenant is recommended to players who are afraid of being invaded, or simply require assistance against invaders. Equipping the covenant’s sigil will automatically summon Blue Sentinels and Blades of the Darkmoon into the player’s world. 

Pale blue sheepskin parchment detailing the moon of an ancient accord. Equip to pledge oneself to the Way of Blue. Members of the Way of Blue are the beneficiaries of an ancient accord. When a dark spirit threatens them, a blue spirit will grant them assistance, and help root out the invader. Summoning takes place automatically while this is equipped.

Source: Way of Blue Insignia in-game description

IMPORTANT: Please note that the summons don’t happen instantly and the helper might require some time to make his way to the summoner. 

Rewards:

Way of Blue covenant members do not receive any rewards, since they are the ones being helped. The covenant was formed to protect new players from being invaded. 

How to Join:

Very early in the game, players can join the Way of Blue covenant. Venture to the High Wall of Lothric. On the other side of Vordt’s boss chamber there is a towering sanctuary with a gorgeous rosette window. The building is flanked by two knights. Kill them or run past them and go inside. Here you will find Emma, the Priestess in the High Wall of Lothric.

Speak to her in the chapel and she will give you the Lothric Banner. Speak again and she will also give you the Way of Blue Insignia, which can be equipped from your inventory. 

Lore: there’s not much to say in terms of lore. The Way of Blue is a covenant for the weak. 

2. Blue Sentinels 

When someone invades the world of a Way of Blue member, a Blue Sentinel is automatically summoned in to protect them. Blue Sentinels will automatically be summoned in if they have the “Blue Sentinels” insignia equipped.

Rewards:

Blue Sentinels are rewarded with a Proof of a Concord Kept, when they successfully vanquish an invader of a Way of Blue covenant member. You can exchange these in Anor Londo:

• Turn in 10 Proof of a Concord Kept to receive the Darkmoon Ring. 
• Turn in 30 Proof of a Concord Kept to receive the Darkmoon Blade. 

Lore:

The Blue Sentinels is a defensive covenant that was created to protect members of the Way of Blue. It is not clear yet why the Way of Blue and Blades of Darkmoon are so similar in function, but there are a few theories. 

(THEORY) The Blades of the Darkmoon were created by Gwyndolin to punish the guilty. Over time, they may have realized they could not continue operating like this so they formed the Blue Sentinels, a more benevolent order. The Blades of the Darkmoon continued punishing sinners, while the Blue Sentinels protected innocents from them. When Gwyndolin was captured by Aldrich, Yorshka took over, but was not aware of Gwyndolin’s secondary role for the covenant. A description of the Darkmoon Blade miracle reads: 

Miracles of the Darkmoon are tales of revenge, but Captain Yorshka recites only for the sake of remembering her brother, without knowledge of its meaning. 

Source: Darkmoon Blade Miracle item Description

How to Join:

Joining the Blue Sentinels is easy. On the Road of Sacrifices, in the Halfway Fortress, you will encounter Anri of Astora and Horace. While the latter is less talkative, he is the one who will reward you with the Blue Sentinel Insignia. 

3. Warriors of Sunlight

One of my favorite Dark Souls 3 covenants, probably due to its connection to Dark Souls 1 and Solaire, is the Warriors of Sunlight. Members of this covenant are rewarded for helping others in their conquests.

A Warrior of Sunlight can leave his summoning sign and be summoned into another player’s world. If he/she helps the host defeat a critical boss or complete an area, a Sunlight Medal will be awarded. Warriors of Sunlight can also invade other players using the Red Eye Orb and will be awarded a Sunlight Medal for each successful kill. 

An ancient talisman depicting a holy symbol bestowed upon the Warriors of Sunlight. Equip to pledge oneself to the Warrior of Sunlight Covenant. Warriors of Sunlight are brilliantly beaming co-operators who place their golden signatures to help those in need, for it is their duty to deliver a great conquest to their summoner. 

Source: Warriors of Sunlight Insignia in-game description

Don’t forget to blast the infamous “Take on Me” tune before you engage in jolly cooperation! 

Rewards:

Players can exchange medals for rewards later in the game. The exchange alter can be found in the sun-kissed room of Lothric Castle, next to the Dragonslayer armour boss gate. 

• Turn in 10 Sunlight Medals to receive the Sacred Oath miracle.
• Turn in 30 Sunlight Medals to receive the Lightning Spear miracle.

Lore:

(THEORY) Why do the Warriors of Sunlight pray to a broken statue? Many believe that the statue is a depiction of the Nameless King. It is also clear that the members of this covenant are followers of Gwyn’s firstborn. If you check the SoulsLore Wiki, you will notice that there are many theories supporting that Nameless King is Gwyn’s firstborn. 

From item descriptions, it is clear that the Nameless King was present in the age of gods and that he was a god of war that hunted dragons. His choice of weapon is a swordspear is imbued with lightning, of which he was the heir.

Source: Wikidot

Warriors of Sunlight are also rewarded with lightning spells, which are perfect for killing dragons. As to why the Nameless King betrayed his father and sided with the dragons, but the Warriors of Sunlight still worship him, that might be a mystery that will never be solved. 

How to Join:

The Warrior of Sunlight Insignia can be found in the Undead Settlement. Players must travel from the Undead Settlement bonfire, past a tree surrounded by enemies, into a run-down house, and open a door. There is a hole in the floor that players must fall through. Here they will find the Insignia and an Estus Soup. Equip the covenant’s insignia to show proof of allegiance. 

4. Blade of Darkmoon 

The Blade of Darkmoon faction is functionally identical to the Blue Sentinels. However, they have an additional rivalry with the Aldrich Faithful. The Blades of the Darkmoon were initially led by Dark Sun Gwyndolin, in Dark Souls 1. 

A silver pendant depicting the Darkmoon and a sword, the crest of the Darkmoon Knights, the original Blue Sentinels. Equip to pledge oneself to the Blade of the Darkmoon covenant. When a member of the Way of Blue faces a dark spirit, the Blades of Darkmoon, by an ancient accord, help to rout out the invader. 

Source: Blade of Darkmoon Insignia in-game description

Rewards:

Blades of Darkmoon covenant members receive one Proof of a Concord Kept every time they save their host from an invader. The rewards are exactly the same as those of the Blue Sentinels: 

• Turn in 10 Proof of a Concord Kept to receive the Darkmoon Ring. 
• Turn in 30 Proof of a Concord Kept to receive the Darkmoon Blade. 

Lore:

I already shared my theory regarding the function of the Blades of Darkmoon in Dark Souls 3. But let’s take a closer look at their role in Dark Souls 1, and possible connections with the current game. In DS1, The Darkmoon Covenant shared ties with Velka, the Goddess of Sin and her Pardoners. According to the Book of the Guilty

The Goddess of Sin Velka oversees this list of the guilty, who have disrespected the Gods or their covenants, and shall one day face the wrath of the Blades of the Darkmoon.

Source: Fextralife

Thanks to the in-game description of the Blue Eye Orb, it is also known that the Blades of the Darkmoon serve the Dark Sun Gwyndolin, and their mission is to dish out vengeance in the name of the Gods. 

(THEORY) The two game descriptions may hint towards a change in the purpose of the covenant. Maybe Gwyndolin was trying to undo Velka’s work. This is hinted at in the Painted World of Ariamis, when the half human – half crow hybrids drop their Souvenirs of Reprisals:

(…) the knights called the Blades of the Darkmoon punish the guilt-soaked offenders of the Gods and take this as proof of their conquest. The earless corpses of the guilty will be left behind as a warning to others, inspiring both fear and respect for the Gods. Such is the eternal mandate of the Dark Sun.” 

Source: Souvenirs of Reprisal in-game description

So, maybe, somewhere during the timeline of Dark Souls 3, Gwyndolin sought to legitimize the covenant further, giving it a less vengeful function, while continuing its punishments quietly.

How to Join:

Players must equip the “Blades of the Darkmoon” Insignia to join the covenant. It can be found in Anor Londo, by moving the rotating staircase and accessing the pathway that leads to the tower from the lower level of the staircase.

Players can only obtain the Insignia if they have previously obtained the Darkmoon Loyalty gesture from Sirris of the Sunless Realms. The gesture must be performed before Company Captain Yorshka, after speaking to her in the Prison Tower. 

5. Watchdogs of Farron 

One of my favorite Dark Souls 3 covenants in terms of lore, the Watchdogs of Farron, are a group of protectors that will make a player’s journey through the poisonous swamps of Farron Keep even more gruesome. Members of this covenant will be automatically summoned into a player’s world. Bound to the Abyss Watchers, their sole purpose is to defeat the host that attempts to traverse the marshes. 

Ancient medallion depicting the crest of a wolf. Symbolizes the pact with the Old Wolf of Farron. Equip to pledge oneself to the Watchdogs of Farron. The Watchdogs ensure that the warriors sleep in serenity, by taking the form of loyal spirits and hunting down those who would trespass the woods of Farron.” 

Source: Watchdogs of Farron Isignia in-game description

Rewards:

The Watchdogs of Farron will receive one Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass for every player they invade in defeat in the swamps. You can offer 10 swordgrasses to receive the Old Wolf Curved Sword, or 30 to receive the Wolf Ring and Wolf Knight’s Greatshield.

• Turn in 10 Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass to receive the Old Wolf Curved Sword.
• Turn in 30 Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass to receive the Wolf Ring and Wolf Knight’s Greatshield.

Lore:

The Watchdogs of Farron only exist in the Farron Keep. Little is known about the Covenant, apart from what we are told through in-game descriptions. The Old Wolf of Farron, which might be a nod at Sif and Artorias from Dark Souls 1, assembled to protect those resting in Farron Keep from being disturbed.

How to Join:

To join this Dark Souls 3 covenant players must pray to the Old Wolf of Farron. The only difficult part is to find him. Head down the stone path, from the Road of Sacrifices, towards the flame activated stone door. Look to your right for a ladder guarded by sludges.

Kill them and make your way up the ladder and into the tower. Outside the towers, there is also an invisible wall. Clear it to obtain the Dreamchaser’s Ashes. 

6. Aldrich Faithful

One of the hardest Dark Souls 3 covenants to join, Aldrich Faithful is equally rewarding, due to the fact that it opens the player to a hotbed of PVP action. Like the Watchdogs of Farron, Aldrich Faithful is also a covenant bound to a location.

Rewards: 

Aldrich Faithfuls receive one Human Dreg for each host they kill. Give 10 Human Dregs to Archdeacon McDonnell to receive the Great Deep Souls Spell and 30 Human Dregs to receive the Archdeacon’s Great Staff. This staff scales well with Faith. 

• Turn in 10 Human Dregs to receive the Great Deep Souls spell. 
• Turn in 30 Human Dregs to receive the Archdeacon’s Great Staff. 

Lore:

From the Aldrich Faithful Insignia: “The holy symbol of the Cathedral of the Deep, and crest of those who see beyond fire to the age of deep waters.” The covenant was founded by Aldrich, the Devourer of Gods and Saint of the Deep. Its main function was to provide Aldrich with a steady stream of sacrifices. Now, followers of the covenant patiently await the God’s return.  

How to Join:

I’ve honestly never found the Archdeacon during my first playthroughs, mostly because I could never be arsed to kill the scary lizards. Here’s how you can reach the Archdeacon and join his covenant: 

• Teleport to Pontiff Sulyvahn’s bonfire and make your way past the courtyard with sleeping giants. 
• Enter the stone building and head left through the underpass. You will have to take out a few priests and two warriors. 
• Enter the next building and walk under the staircase, to the left. There’s an illusory wall here. Roll through it or hit it to reveal a ladder that takes you down to a sewer protected by two scary lizard beasts 
• Once the beasts have been dispatched, head to the far corner of the room and pray to the corpse of Archdeacon McDonnell to receive the Aldrich Faithful Insignia.

7. Mound-Makers

Similar to the Blood-addled summoning mechanic in Bloodborne, Mound-Makers will be summoned into another’s world as hostile purple phantoms. If they are summoned through the white Soapstone, they must kill the host or any other phantom in that world.

A malformed vertebra found by the mad, with a queer symbol on its inside, proof of the shackles of the Gods. Equip to pledge oneself to the Mound-makers covenant. The mound-makers wish only to add to their mounds, becoming mad spirits whether summoned as co-operators or invaders. They are blithe to those around them, for in their minds, any kill might lead to another shackle. 

Source: Mound-makers Insignia in-game description

Rewards:

• Turn in 10 Vertebra Shackles to receive the Obscuring Ring.
• Turn in 30 Vertebra Shackles receive the Man-Grub’s Staff. 

Killing a host or phantom will reward a Mound-maker with Vertebra Shackles. Ten shackles can be exchanged at the altar for the Bloodlust katana and 30 shackles can be exchanged for the Warmth Pyromancy. Players can find the altar under the Curse-rotted Greatwood. 

Lore: 

Mound-makers are… quite mad. Their only goal is to add to their mounds. They believe that a certain vertebrae that can be found in a victim’s body is a sign of the gods. There is only one such vertebrae shackle in a body, so they keep on killing.

In their mind, every new kill might lead to another connection. Another shackle. If you really want to learn more about this insane covenant, check out Wikidot’s lore on it. 

How to Join: 

The Mound-makers is a tricky covenant to join if you have defeated the Greatwood. Please keep in mind that it’s impossible to join this Dark Souls 3 Covenant if you have already obtained Rosaria’s Fingers. 

How to join the covenant if you have NOT defeated the Curse-rotted Greatwood:

It’s easy to join the Mound-makers before killing the Curse-rotted Greatwood. 

• Run from the Undead Settlement bonfire through the house, across the bonfire with fanatics (where you found Loretta’s bone). 
• Cross the bridge and break through a bunch of crates and barrels. There will probably be a sign on the ground. 
• Walk along the outside of the stable building and, behind a house, you will find a cage spider NPC who will give you a hint regarding the covenant. 
• Run around, climb up the ladder of the small house, then drop off where you can see a huge NPC with a cage on his back. Don’t attack him. Simply approach it and use your interaction to climb in.
• There will be a short cut-scene and you will be teleported to the area below the Greatwood, where Hodrick will give you access to the covenant. 
• You can only exit the area with a homeward bone. If you don’t have one, interact with Hodrick three times and he will provide one.

How to join the covenant if you have defeated the Curse-rotted Greatwood: 

Joining the Mound-makers under these circumstances requires a lot of effort. You must also have access to late-game areas. Are you ready?

 *Inhales*

• If you have already killed the Greatwood, the floor over the large cavern will have collapsed, killing the holy knight, Hodrick. You will need to ask Sirris of the Sunless Realms’ for help in joining the covenant. She appears in Firelink Shrine after speaking to Anri of Astora and Horace on the Road of Sacrifices. 
• Speak to Sirris and head back to the Old Wolf of Farron. Run around the chamber’s perimeter, on the right side. There is an illusory wall there, hiding the Dreamchasher’s Ashes. Hand the ashes to the Shrine Handmaid. 
• Travel to a random new location, then back to Firelink Shrine. Sirris will appear again. Speak to hear then head to Irithyll and defeat the lizard on the bridge. Rest at the bonfire and head back across the bridge. Sirris’s sign should appear on the ground, beckoning you to cooperate. 
• You will be teleported to defeat Creighton the Wanderer in the Pit of Hollows. Head back to Firelink Shrine and talk to Sirris. She will give you the Silvercat Ring and the Blessed Mail Breaker. 
• Before you can advance this storyline you must defeat Aldrich, Devourer of Gods. Head back to the Curse-rotted Greatwood’s boss chamber and you will find the Sirris summon sign again. 
• Accept her summon to defeat Holy Knight Hodrick and, if you are successful, finally gain access to the covenant. 

8. Rosaria’s Fingers 

Rosaria’s covenant is perfect for aggressive players who want to invade innocent souls and make their life hell. Although each kill gives the covenant member a reward, the true benefit of siding with Rosaria lies in the ability to reset your abilities up to five times during a playthrough. 

Rewards: 

Invade other worlds and kill the host to receive a Pale Tongue. One tongue is needed to perform a character reset and redistribute abilities. Killing a Blade of the Darkmoon or Blue Sentinel rewards the invader with a Forked Pale Tongue, which offers double the points.

• Turn in 10 Pale Tongues to receive the Obscuring Ring.
• Turn in 30 Pale Tongues to receive the Man-Grub’s Staff. 

Lore:

Rosaria’s Fingers are dedicated completely to killing or hunting players for their Embers. The leader of the covenant is Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth. It is believed that she has ties with Gwynevere, from Dark Souls 1.

If you trade her soul to Ludleth, you will receive the Bontiful Sunlight miracle, a spell that belonged to Gwynevere. Furthermore, Leonhard will bring her soul to where Gwynevere could be found in Darksouls 1. Given their shared “mother” title, it can be deducted that Rosaria is Gwynevere.

The grub people located at the entrance to her chamber are members of her covenant that reallocated their stats too many times. If players reallocate their abilities the maximum amount of times, they receive a warning that the next “rebirth” will transform them into grub men. 

How to Join:

This is another tricky Dark Souls 3 covenant to join, mostly due to the fact that it is well hidden within the Cathedral of the Deep. You must open a shortcut to the Cleansing Chapel bonfire and make your way through a literal maze. Here’s a useful video that you can check out to find the pathway to Rosaria’s chambers. Speak to her to receive the Rosaria’s Fingers Insignia.

This concludes our guide to all Dark Souls 3 covenants. Hopefully, this will help demystify them and make it easier for you to join and claim your rewards. If you haven’t yet, make sure you also check out our guide to all Dark Souls 3 bosses.

The post Dark Souls 3 Covenants Guide & How to Join Them appeared first on Game Covered.

General Info about the Abyss Watchers 

The Abyss Watcher is a mandatory group boss in Dark Souls 3 and the first Lord of Cinder that players will encounter during their playthrough. 

Equipped with The Farron Greatsword, dagger, and a memorable scarlet cloak, the Watchers will attack with vicious invent, utilizing flipping maneuvers and wide sword-sweep combos to annihilate opponents… and each other. 

In this guide we will cover the lore of the Abyss Watchers, a strategy guide to help you defeat it, as well as some fascinating trivia & unconfirmed theories. 

Boss Card:

• Weaknesses: Lightning, Staggering , Backstabs and ripostes
• Resistance: Dark, Bleed
• Immunities: Poison, Toxic

Abyss Watchers Lore 

The Abyss Watchers were the main component of The Undead Legion of Farron, a group formed after the time of Artorias, the Abysswalker. Their singular purpose was to root out all traces of the abyssal corruption and prevent it from spreading. Although the cause was noble, the Watchers went to insane lengths to contain the abyss, often raising entire cities to the ground.

The Undead Legion of Farron is a caravan of Undead, sworn by wolf’s blood to contain the abyss. The legion will bury a kingdom at the first sign of the exposure.  

Source: Hawkwood, Deserter of the Undead Legion

The Watchers took inspiration from Artorias, and partook of the Wolf’s Blood to enhance their bodies and essence. The blood linked them to the soul of Artorias and distributed this essence between multiple bodies. Eventually, the Legion was corrupted by the very Abyss they sought to contain and fell. One of the most telling signs of this was the number of Farron Followers that were tasked with removing corrupted members. 

In the end, the Abyss Watchers linked the fire and become Lords of Cinder. It is unknown whether they did this collectively, or if it was done by a singular member. After the linking of the fire, the Old Wolf of Farron, which can be found in the swamp, formed the Watchdogs of Farron, one of the covenants of Dark Souls 3, to protect Farron Keep from defilement. 

Why Didn’t the Abyss Watchers Take up their Throne?

It is still unclear why the Watchers chose to abandon their throne. 

[Theory 1] Maybe they didn’t want their home to decay further. Under Farron Keep, the ruins of Carthus are brewing with the taint of the Abyss. Although Wolnir was contained, his corruption is evident in the Cathedral of the Deep and the Smouldering Lake. With no more followers, the Watchers may be the last line of defence, but this would imply that they still have their sanity.

[Theory 2] Another theory would be that the Watchers were driven mad by the corruption of the Abyss. With their followers devolved to mindless beasts or fleeing to the Painted World of Ariandel, they were left alone in the rotting bog. Sensing the abyss in each other, and unable to die, they are locked in eternal combat. 

What is the Connection Between the Watchers and Artorias? 

The connection between the Watchers and Walker is very clear. Artorias was a knight of Gwyn, who took it upon himself to fight against the abyss that erupted in the Ancient Land of Oolecile. The Watchers share the same purpose. According to the description of the Wolf Knight Helm, the Undead Legion of Farron was created to bear Artorias’s torch. 

The Undead Legion is the only mention of Undead in Dark Souls 3 that is able to fight for a greater cause, instead of being collectively hated. 

It is also implied that Farron is connected to Oolecile. According to a Youtuber’s theory, Farron is actually Oolecile. There are very few coincidences in the Dark Souls universe, so the common elements between Farron and Oolecile cannot be random. Here are a few signs that support this theory: 

• You can find dead Oolecile mushrooms while travelling through the swamp. If you venture forward, you can also find a small cave with a single corpse. On the corpse, you will find a Golden Scroll which reads: “In the lost land of Oolacile, the sorceries orchestrated light, and were said to shine in golden hues.” 
• The corpse is protected by a mushroom that looks exactly like Elizabeth from Dark Souls 1’s Oolecile. 
• You can also find Dusk’s set and the Crown of Dusk, which states: “Feathered crown bestowed upon the princess of Oolecile, land of ancient golden sorceries.” 

There are a few other hints worth mentioning, but I’ll let you check out the video. 

Why do the Abyss Watchers Attack Each Other? 

The first thought would be that they fight for practice, since they can rise from the dead. But this doesn’t make a lot of sense. Why fight each other while facing the Chosen Ash/Unkindled? 

Another theory could be that they have gone completely mad and can sense the abyss in each other so they are fighting endlessly.

The sword and the dagger are reminiscent of how the knight and the wolf would have fought. 

For more information about the Abyss Watchers lore, please check out this excellent video by VaatiVidya. 

Abyss Watchers Strategy: How to Beat this Boss

Boss Moves Explained:

Phase 1: 

The first phase of the battle feels like your run-of-the mill encounter with a strong knight. However, after a few slashes, a new Abyss Watcher will raise from the ground. And then another, this time with red eyes. The fight can become very chaotic, very fast. 

Phase 2:

After you best the real watcher and survive the clones, you will enter phase two of the battle. In the second phase the Abyss Watcher essences will coalesce into one badass watcher, wielding a flaming sword. A few new moves are added but his attack patterns remain largely unchanged. 

Strategy: 

Phase #1:

• One of the three Abyss Watchers that spawns will attack the other two. You can use this to your advantage. Let two Watchers fight amongst each other until one is defeated, and lure away the third one. 
• Don’t rush into combat and attack all three Watchers at once. They will aggro on you and destroy you.  
• The Watchers will do three and four-hit combo attacks. As soon as the combo ends, there is a window of opportunity to get some hits in. Don’t overextend. 

Phase #2: 

• The Watcher will attack continuously during the second phase. Even if you manage to dodge his attacks, you might get caught by the line of fire left behind it. You can use the Red Bug Pellet consumable at the start of the phase to increase your fire defense. 
• I know this has become kind of a meme at this point, but try dodging more. Don’t panic roll. Instead try remaining in close range and positioning yourself for a parry. Only block for emergencies and if you are using a shield with high fire resistance. 
• Tip for mages: this fight might be easier as a caster (except for pyromancers). Simply keep a safe distance and utilize your spells between combos. The Watcher will try to close the distance quickly, so don’t get caught off-guard. 

Available Summons:

• Black Hand Gotthard is the standard summon for the Abyss Watchers boss. His summon sign is located at the top of the staircase before the boss room.
• Yellowfinger Heysel can be summoned if you have defeated her in the Crucifixion Woods and deepened your devotion for Rosaria’s covenant (in the Cathedral of the Deep).
• Londor Pale Shade can be summoned if you have completed Yoel of Londor’s quest-line and met Yuria of Londor. 
• Sirris of the Sunless Realms can be summoned if you have offered the Dreamchaser’s Ashes to the Shrine Handmaid and exhausted Sirris’s dialog. 

Upon defeating the Watchers, you will receive the Cinders of a Lord and the Soul of the Blood of the Wolf. You can also access a new area: The Catacombs of Carthus. 

Abyss Watchers Trivia 

• If you go back to Firelink Shrine, you will find Eygon, Knight of Carim sitting next to the Firekeeper. Speak to him to advance his story. 
• Harkwood deserted the Undead Legion before things started to go awry. His fighting style is completely different from that of the Watchers. He uses a shield, proving that he is unfit to be a member of the Legion. Harkwood will give you the Farron Ring after defeating the Watchers. 
• The description on the Soul of the Blood of the Wolf suggests that the Abyss Watchers are a reincarnation of Artorias himself, a theory supported by the many reincarnations in the Souls Universe.

The post Dark Souls 3 Abyss Watchers Lore & Strategy Guide appeared first on Game Covered.

Each weapon will be discussed in more detail in separate articles for those who wish to specialize in a particular one, but this guide should give you an understanding of each weapon’s strengths, weaknesses, traits, and overall value. 

Before we get into it, let’s discuss some basic combat mechanics in the game. 

What do all of the colors mean? 

While attacking Dauntless behemoths you will notice a bunch of numbers appearing on the screen. Some of them are white, while others are blue or yellow. Here’s what they all mean:

• YELLOW: PART DAMAGE – Damage applied to certain parts (e.g. leg, lead) of a behemoth. Parts that take enough damage will fall off and provide extra materials, affects the beast’s moveset or leave it vulnerable.
• WHITE: BASIC DAMAGE – The only damage that is applied directly to the Behemoth’s HP. 
• BLUE: STAGGER DAMAGE – This damage is applied to the legs or head. When enough of it accumulates the behemoth will be knocked down. 
• RED: WOUND DAMAGE – Like part damage, wound damage is applied to the parts. Enough wound damage will cause a part to become fully wounded and take extra damage when the slayer strikes in the same spot. 

Elemental Damage

• Blaze – good vs. frost behemoths
• Frost – good vs. blaze behemoths
• Shock – good vs. terra behemoths
• Terra – good vs shock behemoths
• Radiant – good vs. umbral behemoths
• Umbral – good vs. radiant behemoths

1. Hammer – Best Weapon for Staggering & Heavy Attacks

Damage Type: Blunt, extra stagger damage

Weapon Mods:

• Weighted crown (Hammer Mastery 6) – Stagger damage penalty on legs is halved 
• Impulse Crown (Hammer Mastery 10) – Aerial Strike grants Slayers extra damage for ten seconds. The bonus is double if the Slayer struck a behemoth’s head.
• Extended clip (Hammer Mastery 16) – two extra ammo slots (six in total). 

Special Abilities: 

• Concussive salvo – Slayers can load ammo into the hammer and release it to interrupt or boop behemoths. 
• Mighty Landbreaker (HM8) – Slayers can load ammo into the hammer before releasing and create an aether vent to buff players. 
• Molten Edict (exotic) – Explosive ammo transforms into fireball attacks. 

I love smashing stuff, so the hammer is, unsurprisingly, my favorite weapon in Dauntless. There’s something incredibly satisfying about the impact created after a successful hit. This weapon has it all. It can break parts, boop behemoths, do crazy damage, and even give slayers enough mobility to get in and out of combat. If I were to write the article as a “best Dauntless weapons”, the hammer would undoubtedly be number one.

The only true drawback of the hammer is the high-skill-ceiling. The hamer takes some time to get used to it, mostly because it has incredibly slow recoveries. Another reason is because, as a hammer user, it’s your responsibility to dish out as much stagger damage as possible. To do this, you must time your attacks perfectly and land as many as you can on a behemoths head or legs. 

Weighty attacks aside, the hammer becomes addictive once you find your rhythm. A successful combo almost always concludes with the epic Aetherslam and stagger or knockdown. Provided that you are using the right mods, a knockdown gives ample room for more combos, followed by more knockdowns. This weapon is incorrigible. With at least one other hammer user on your team, some behemoth encounters feel light outright abuse. 

The concussive salvo is also worth mentioning. You can load up to four ammo slots into the hammer and a successful Aetherslam will automatically reload charged rounds. Timed right, these shots can be used to boop behemoths during key attacks. 

Pro Tip: If you notice your constantly getting hit, I recommend a tanky build with lifesteal and extra attack speed at low HP to survive difficult encounters. 

2. Sword – Best Weapon for Beginners or Solo Gameplay

Damage Type: Slashing, bonus part damage, bonus damage vs wounded parts

Weapon Mods:

• Adhesive hilt (Sword Mastery 6) – The Slayer becomes unstaggerable while in special. 
• Ardent Cyclone (Sword Mastery 8) – The Slayer will always land a critical strike after dodging an attack. 
• Perpetual Bladecore (Sword Mastery 16) – The Slayer can recharge the special meter while dealing damage in the special. 

Special Abilities: 

• Valiant Overdrive – Slayers can activate this ability when the special meter is full. This sends them into an overdrive state that increases attack speed and creates aetheric waves that deal AOE damage. 
• Aether Dash (can only be used during overdrive) – The slayer can dash a significant distance. This ability has a short cooldown. 
• Ardent Cyclone (SM8) – Activate this ability to spin and damage any nearby enemies. Reactivate the ability to slash in a direction. 
• Feast (exotic) – A vampiric ability that grants slayers lifesteal and attack speed at the expense of their own life force. Slayers will take damage over time while in this form, but will also be granted aetheric waves with every slash. 

After playing around with all the weapons in Dauntless, I found the sword to be the easiest one to master, especially as a beginner. The combos are super easy to memorize too. You have two combos for light attacks (quad cross and triple elements), two for heavy attacks (repeating elements and rising elements), and intuitive specials. 

I guess the sword also comes with the hearty recommendation of the developers, since it’s the first weapon the slayer is supplied with when enlisting. That being said, the sword is in no way challenging or interesting. It’s a reliable companion with balanced abilities, but landing a combo doesn’t feel very satisfying, and I can’t think of a single thing that it excels at. 

In Dauntless, breaking parts is a huge aspect of the game. The better you get at it, the more materials you will be able to bring back after a successful hunt. Be warned: the sword isn’t very good at breaking parts. It’s simply going to make it easier to take down a behemoth and get in and out of tight spots. 

3. Chain Blades – Best for Mobility & Aerial Attacks

Damage Type:  Slashing, extra part damage, extra damage vs wounded parts

Weapon Mods:

• Lightweight Chain (Chain Blades Mastery 6) – Slayers can reduce the stamina cost of dashing towards a behemoth by 50%. 
• Hurricane Blades (Chain Blades Mastery 10) – Blade spin grants stacking on-next hit damage. This damage is consumed when the combo breaks. 
• Serrated Blades (Chain Blades Mastery 16) – Slayers get a chance to critical hit when swinging the blades. 

Special Abilities: 

• Reapers Dance – Push off a behemoth close range and deal damage or use from afar to pull closer to a behemoth. 
• Cruel Rifstrike (Chain Blades Mastery 6) – Teleport forward and damage enemies in your path or teleport through behemoths. 

The chain blades are incredibly satisfying weapons that will make you look like a total boss. They are the fastest weapon in Dauntless, my second favorite choice in the game, and a great change of pace from the hammer. The chain blades will make you master of the sky in no time, due mostly in part to the moveset that is easy to learn, and the special abilities that are designed to keep you in the air as much as possible. Particularly effective against flying or ad spawning behemoths, the chain blades can switch instantly between normal close-range attacks, chain throws, and blade spin combos. 

You can dish out crazy damage with the blade spin combo as long as you aren’t interrupted. You can also get out of combat incredibly fast with the teleport ability. What’s more, after teleporting out of danger, slayers can immediately dive back in, while flying, with a critical attack. The only real downfall of the chain blades is that they aren’t as good as other weapons late game. Difficult behemoths like the Shrowd or Rezakiri warrant a big damage output that the chain blades simply cannot provide. That being said, with the right armor set and cells, experienced slayers can deal constant damage unscathed and look fabulous doing while doing it. 

4. Ostian Repeaters – Best for Long Range Combat 

Damage Type: Slashing, extra part damage, extra damage versus wounded parts 

Weapon Mods:

• Capacitative magazine (Repeaters Mastery 6) – Slayers that use an ability will have their magazine reloaded with 4 ammo. 
• Scoped Sights (Repeaters Mastery 10) – Increased damage falloff range by 25%. 
• Lucky Magazine (Repeaters Mastery 16) – Extra 2% critical strike chance for each round missing from the magazine. 

Quest Mods: 

• Lightweight Frame – 20% extra movespeed when ammo is six or less. 
• Precision Sights – five increased damage on consecutive attacks on the same part. Can stack up to 8 times. 
• Extraction Catalyst – Reduce ability cooldowns by two seconds when dodging attacks. 

I’m gonna’ be honest here: I only used the repeaters a few times and didn’t like them. I never play games with range weapons, so the repeaters were a NO for me. The excuse is generally that I hate playing mid or long range, but you’d be surprise to find out that the repeaters perform best at close range. I’ve seen plenty of slayers master this type of weapon.

For some unknown reason, the Ostian repeaters are classed as a slashing weapon. There’s no slashing involved. Phoenix Labs, what were you thinking?!? Regardless, the repeaters are, by far, the most unusual weapon choice in Dauntless. The full power of these little monster reveals itself at close-quarters. 

If you’re new to this type of weapon, keep your eyes on the reticule. White means that you are too far away and your damage is lower than it should be, while red means that your using the weapon at its maximum potential.

The repeaters have plenty of special abilities that we will discuss in a separate article, but even their base damage is nothing to joke about. What I truly liked about this weapon is the fact that you can customize skillshots, mines, and use empowered reloads to boost your damage. Oh, and also that it scales really well late game. 

5. Axe – Best Weapon for Damage Output and Breaking Parts 

Damage Type:  slashing, extra part damage, extra damage versus wounded parts 

Weapon Mods:

• Volatile Axecore (Axe Mastery 6) – charged attacks deal AOE damage at each charge level. 
• Lightweight Haft (Axe Mastery 10) – Charging horizontal attacks increases movespeed and costs 50% less stamina. 
• Overcharged Cylinder (Axe Mastery 16) – Determination stacks up to four times. 

Special Abilities: 

• Flight of Ruin – Throw your axe a great distance, dealing damage to behemoths before returning. Movespeed is increased while the axe is thrown. Slayers can also recall the axe and perform a powerful overhead slam. 
• Grim Onslaught (Axe Mastery 8) – Throw axe forward damaging everything in your path before landing a distance away. Behemoths hit by the axe can generate resolve and bounce the axe back to the slayer. 

Another hard-hitting weapon is the axe. Its slashing damage output can only be rivaled by the sword, but its moveset is much more interesting than the latter, making it a favorite among slayers. The axe is one of the best weapons for breaking behemoth parts. It is also strangely reminiscent of Kratos’s axe, with its throwing ability. What makes the axe such a great weapon is its resolve and determination mechanic.

Charging vertical attacks three times will grant the slayer Resolve, which negates stagger damage for a short while. Any type of charged attacks (horizontal or vertical) will grant determination, which increases damage output and can be stacked three times. This makes the axe a fantastic weapon with decent defensive abilities. 

I am a huge fan of the throw ability, particularly when dealing with high mobility behemoths. Timing this ability just right should culminate with a devastating overhead slam. Pro tip: you can even dodge right before the axe returns to your hands and line up your next attack perfectly. All in all, the axe is a great choice for heavy hitters who are also looking for some variety in their combo list. 

6. War Pike – Best for Wound Damage 

Damage Type:  Piercing

Weapon Mods:

• Munitions Amplifier (War Pike Mastery 6) – Stored ammo quality increase over time. 
• Lightweight Shaft (War Pike Mastery 10) – Pike Charge stamina cost reduced to 0 and always results in critical strike.
• Balanced Spearhead (War Pike Mastery 16) – Increases damage dealt when alternating between Harvesting and Piercing attacks by 3% each time. Resets when the combo ends.

Special Abilities: 

• Concussive Payload – Convert special meter into ammo. Hold to spend ammo and blast a missile that can boop and damage behemoths.
• Savage Wellspring (War Pike Mastery 8) – Slayers can convert meter into ammo. Hold to spend ammo and create an aura that buffs nearby allies. Also gives a critical strike chance.
• Godhand (exotic ability) – Convert special meter into ammo. Hold to spend and channel a beam that damages behemoths the more it is focused on them.

Last, and honestly least (in my opinion), we have the War Pike. This is the only weapon in Dauntless that features piercing damage. Although it has an interesting moveset, even after 20 hours of playing with it, the pike still didn’t grow on me. Objectively, the War Pike is a well-rounded weapon with a steep learning curve and tons of satisfying combos. I believe it shines when it is synchronized with weapons such as a sword or axe, because it can provide the maximum amount of materials in record time. 

This weapon left a sour taste in my mouth because of its game-breaking bug from a few months back. Successful piercing and  harvesting attacks will fill a charge meter that can be used to shoot pike blasts at enemies. Pike blasts can also boop a monster. The only problem is that slayers used to abuse this ability to shoot an infinite beam of damage at the behemoths, effectively cheesing the entire fight and ruining the experience for other players. The bug has been fixed in the meantime, but my desire to play with the weapon never returned. 

What you need to remember with the War Pike is that the meter generated from successive attacks must be transformed into a projectile. Storing the projectile over time will increase its power, and loading it when the meter is almost full will ensure maximum damage output. If you get hit before charging the projectile, you will lose progress on the meter. Also worth mentioning is the fact that dodging while aiming the Pike Blast will allow you to reuse the projectile later. 

This concludes our brief introduction and Dauntless weapons guide. Hopefully this will give you a better idea about the weapon that you want to invest in, before you actually use all of your hard earned materials.

The post Dauntless Weapons Guide: All Weapons & Damage Types Explained appeared first on Game Covered.

There are 8 types of Dauntless Behemoths, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. We will discuss all of them in our Slayer’s Guide to Dauntless Behemoths and, hopefully, give you the tools you need to defeat them.

• Neutral Behemoths
• Blaze Behemoths
• Frost Behemoths
• Shock Behemoths
• Terra Behemoths
• Radiant Behemoths
• Umbral Behemoths

Neutral Dauntless Behemoths

1. Gnasher

The Gnasher is the first behemoth encounter in Dauntless. You may be tempted to call it weak or pathetic. Don’t get too cocky. Its higher difficulty variants will flatten you in a moment’s notice. 

This aether-feeding mix between a mammal and reptilian uses powerful tail attacks to destroy its enemies and its huge teeth to bite into unlucky slayers. At the highest difficulty, the Gnasher also causes tremors while furiously slamming its tail to the ground. 

Drops:

• Gnasher: Gnasher Hide, Ragetooth (break head), Gnasher Shinplate (break leg), Sharpened Slapper (sever tail),
• Ragetail Gnasher: Gnasher Hide, Sharpened Slapper (sever tail), Gnasher Shinplate (break leg), Ragetooth (break head), Grievance Dye (heroic variant), Furious Ragescale, and Ragesoul Shard.

Gnasher Behemoth Variants:

2. Shrike

Like most monsters in the Dauntless universe, the Shrike is a hybrid between a buffed up eagle and an owl. Despite common misconceptions, the Shrike doesn’t actually hoot. 

Dauntless’s favorite winged behemoth owl skulks the island and creates localized vortexes to scare its enemies. It also uses its huge wings and razor-sharp talons to dive towards its prey from above, crushing anything that dares stand in its way. 

The Shrike is one of the most challenging behemoths in Dauntless, due mostly in part to its incredible speed, erratic movement patterns, and unnatural strength. 

On a positive note, the Shrike can easily be booped when it glides towards a slayer. Striking the Shrike’s underbelly as it dives will cause it to stumble and become dazed for a few precious seconds. 

The behemoth’s most popular variants include the Rogue Shrike, which has no unique strengths or elements and wanders around the Sheltered Frontier, the regular Shrike, which is a medium-difficulty encounter that can be found around the Yonder Keys and the Monstrous Verge, and the Moonreaver Shrike, which is the hardest of the three and can be found in The Maelstrom.

Drops: 

• Shrike: Torn Shrikefeather, Razor beak (break head), Shrike Tailfeather (sever tail), Shrikedown (break leg), Shrike Bladefeather (break wing).
• Moonreaver Shrike: Torn hrikefeather, Pristine Moonfeather, Windsoul Shard, Shrike Tailfeather (sever tail), Shrikedown (break leg), Shrike Bladefeather (break wing), Razor Beak (break head), and Plume Dye for the heroic variant. 

Players can also obtain exotic reagents by completing challenges such as Neutral Skullgems, Clawgems, Tailgems, Furytooth, Furyplate, or Furytail by killing the behemoth while enraged or under two minutes. 

Shrike Behemoth Variants:

3. Quillshot

The Quillshot is basically a porcupine that has been fed steroids all its life. According to Dauntless lore, it metabolizes raw ether and transforms it into spikes. 

The behemoth uses its beefy arms and huge tail to crush its enemies. It will also periodically shoot its spikes at the slayers, pinning them down if they stay in one spot for too long. During a Quillshot encounter it’s vital to keep moving at all times. The monster shoots its quills into the air, which will come down in a hail of shards faster than a mob of angry customers on Black Friday. 

“What I could see of the creature was like an enormous cat, covered in leathery hide with a spiked frill and a single huge horn on its snout. It slipped back into the trees with a roar that shook the air itself and disoriented us all. The behemoth seemed to be everywhere and nowhere all at once.”

Source: In-game description, “Death from the Shadows”

Depending on your build or weapon of choice, you can tackle the Quillshot from melee range, while looking for the stun, or shoot from afar while dogging the spikes. The Behemoth’s spikes can be easily broken to prevent it from using them later in the fight. 

Breaking the spikes will also leave it in a vulnerable state. The behemoths has two variants: the regular Quillshot can be found wandering around The Yonder Keys and Monstrous Verge, while the scary Deadeye Quillshot skulls around The Shattered Isles and the Maelstrom.

Drops:

• Quillshot: Quillshot Hide, Jagged Tailspike (sever tail), Dewspine (break leg), Quillshot Tusk (break head), Quillshard (break quills). 
• Deadeye Quillshot: Vicious dye (slay heroic variant), Impaler Shard, Deadeye Spinehide, and all the previous drops. 

Blaze Dauntless Behemoths

4. Embermane

Embermane is the first encounter with a blaze behemoth in Dauntless. It is also responsible for the destruction of many woodlands within the Shattered Isles. This monster is yet another hybrid between a puppy and a rhino. 

Thanks to it’s slender build, the Embermane is fast, agile, and almost impossible to pin down. The only way to stagger the Embermane is by booping it during its charge attack. This behemoth is always moving, scurrying back and forth while trying to launch the slayer into the air with its horns. 

To survive an encounter with an Embermane at lower levels slayers must time their boops and dodges perfectly.

At later stages of the game the Embermane becomes incredibly easy to take down. Honestly, downing the Embermane feels like abusing a puppy, especially when it lets out cries of pain. 

Any part of the Embermane’s body is breakable, but we advise caution when fighting melee because the behemoth will often perform a spinning attack using its tail. 

The Embermane has three variants. The Rogue Embermane wanders the Sheltered Frontier, the regular Embermane can be found in The Yonder Keys, and the Bloodfire Embermane lurks the Maelstrom zone. 

Drops: 

• Embermane: Embermane Hide, Burning Tailspike (sever tail), Smoked Dewclaw (break leg), Savage Hooktooth (break head), Emberhorn (break horn). 
• Bloodfire Embermane: Smoldering Bloodhide, Bloodsoul shard, Bloodfire dye (heroic variant), and all previous drops.

5. Charrogg

Number two on our list of blaze behemoths is the Charrog, or what I like to call: “the walking furnace.” The Charrog looks a lot like a turtle that ate too much lava and is not spewing it from every bodily orifice. 

This formidable foe feeds on blaze energy and then uses it to launch cruel jets of flame in all directions. Like all blaze behemoths, the Charrog is weak to frost weapons. 

Despite the fact that the Charrog is slow, it will constantly spin in circular motions while ejecting fire in all directions. It’s therefore critical for slayers to attack its underbelly. If possible, I also recommend aiming for the head to increase the chances of staggering it or dealing some extra damage. 

This behemoth has two notable variants: the normal Charrogg has a red glowing underbelly and brown color and can be found around The Yonder Keys, while the Firebrand Charrog skulks The Maelstrom for its next meal.

Drops:

• Charrog: Charrog Scale, Smouldering Tailspike (sever tail), Scorched Rockhide (break leg), Burned Gillhide (break firesac), Smoldering Horn (break head),
• Firebrand Charrog: Charrog Scale, Smoldering Firebrand Scale, Lumbering Flamesoul Shard, all previous rewards, and Smoulder Dye (heroic variant).

6. Hellion

Hellion is the largest of the blaze behemoths and, in my opinion, one of the most difficult encounters in Dauntless. Similar to the Pangar in terms of design, the Hellion activates small pools of magma on the battlefield, making it super hard to dodge its attacks. 

As if this wasn’t enough, it also loves rolling and catapulting itself in the air to crush unprepared targets. Apart from using weapons with frost elements, slayers can also equip mods that spawn fire immunity buffs. 

This buff is invaluable for surviving the lava pools. Slicing the Hellion’s tail will also drop small orange orbs that slayers can pick up for a short spell immunity buff. 

Drops:

• Hellion: Hellhide, Charred Tailplate (sever tail), Burned Hindscale (break leg), Charred Browplate (break head).
• Scorchstone Hellion: Scorchscale, Hellstone Shard, all previous rewards, and Wildfire Dye (heroic variant).

Frost Dauntless Behemoths

Congratulations, you’ve made it halfway through our Dauntless behemoths list. Next up we have frost behemoths. All frost behemoths are weak to blaze weapons. Slayers will also get better protection from their attacks by equipping frost armor. 

7. Boreous

The mighty Boreus is, probably, one of the most annoying behemoths in Dauntless. It comes in 4 variants: Lesser Boreus, Boreus, Dreadfrost Boreus, and Heroic Dreadfrost Boreus. Even in its weakest form it can dominate minions with its psionic force.

The Boreous surrounds himself in a shield of frost that makes him almost impenetrable to attacks. 

During this phase he also spawns a pack of beastly minions (winged dragon welps) that can manipulate frost aether to attack the slayer. 

You must kill these minions in order to receive a charged attack that can go through Boreus’s frost armor. At higher levels (Dreadfrost Boreous and up), the minions become like an extension of the boss, drawing their master’s strength and launching relentless attacks on the slayers. 

Drops: 

• Boreus: Boreous Hide, Icy Hindscale (tail break), Hoof Chip (leg break), Horn Fragment (head break),
• Dreadfrost Boreus: Psionic Scale, Dreadfrost Shard, all previous rewards, and Dominion Dye.

8. Skraev

Initially, the Skraev looked a lot like the Shrike. This particular behemoth was redesigned by the developers, and although it is in many ways similar to its original form, there are a few notable differences. 

The Skraev can be found in the wintery plains of The Yonder Keys. This beast uses frost attacks, summons ice-cold tornadoes, creates deadly ice-spike paths, and activates ice forts to protect itself from attacks. It also has a particularly annoying defense mechanism where it summons an ice-storm with reduced visibility. 

For Slayers who have experience in killing the Shrike, the Skraev won’t be a very difficult challenge. Aim for the underbelly or strike at the tail to break pieces and stagger the beast. There are two main variants for this behemoth: the normal Skraev and the Winterhorn Skraev. 

Drops:

• Skraev: Skraev Feather, Skraev Tailfeather (sever tail), Chillclaw (break leg), Frostwing Shardfeather (break wing), Shattered Frostbeak (break head).
• Winterhorn Skraev: Frostmantle, Iceshatter Shard, all previous rewards, and Sagacity Dye.

9. Pangar

The last frost behemoth on our list is the Pangar. This heavy hitter loves stomping enemies that come too close. 

Staying too far won’t do slayers any good either, as the Pangar will curl into a ball and launch itself at unsuspecting slayers. Slayers shouldn’t get too comfortable with the Pangar, because it will periodically spice up its attack patterns. 

There are two variants of the Pangar: the regular Pangar that has a blue-ish purple body and can be located in The Uncharted Reaches, and the Frostback Pangar, the larger variant, which skulks The Shattered Isles and The Maelstrom. 

Drops:  

• Panger: Pangar Scale, Frosted Tailplate (sever tail), Frozen Hindplate (break leg), Icy Browplate (break head).
• Frostback Pangar: Icy Shard, Icy Frostback Scale, all previous rewards, and Subzero Dye.

Shock Dauntless Behemoths

10. Drask

The gnarly Drask is the first shock behemoth that slayers will encounter in their adventure through The Shattered Isles. The Drask uses its long tail and violent movements to crush enemies. There’s not much to say about the Drask. It’s a low level behemoth whose purpose is to ease new slayers into the mechanics of shock behemoths. 

The Drask is easy to kill with any type of weapon, but a good strategy is to focus on its legs until they break. Although the Drask is naturally weak to terra weapons, it also shows an unusual weakness to fire elements. 

Drops:  

• Lesser Drask: Drask Hide, Electroscale (break tail), Jagged Sparkscale (break leg), Fractal Eyetooth (break head),
• Drask: Thundering Scale, Thundersoul Shard, all previous rewards.

11. Nayzaga

The Nayzaga is a shock behemoth that can be found in The Uncharted Reaches of Dauntless. I find shock behemoths very annoying in general, but this Quillshit wannabe takes the cake. This buffed-up mofo uses slicing close-range attacks and tail swipes to weaken its opponents. 

Its heavy attacks are also bolstered by the shock elemental spikes that latch into the ground and periodically conduct electric bolts, which target the player. 

Each electric spike will generate one bolt and we advise slayers to clear the spikes from the battlefield, unless they have a passion for getting zapped. 

On the plus side, the bolts can also be maneuvered to hit the Nayzaga itself. This will stun it for a while making it vulnerable to attacks. 

The Nayzaga has two variants: the regular Nayzaga which has a blue body and yellow spikes, and the Shockjaw Nayzaga, with its red body and greenish spikes. The latter can be found in The Maelstrom. 

Drops: 

• Nayzaga: Nayzaga Chitin, Sparkspine (sever tail), Sparkclaw (break limbs), Shocktooth (break head). 
• Shockjaw Nayzaga: Conductive Shockspine, Shockheart Shard, Rockstar Dye (heroic variant), and all the previous drops. 

12. Stormclaw

Without wanting to bash Dauntless, I have to say that many of its behemoths are similar to one another. The Nayzaga looks similar to the Quillshot, the Skraev looks almost the same as the Shrike, and the Stormclaw is strangely similar to the Embermane. Like its blaze “brother,” the Stormclaw is also quick on its feet. 

In an encounter, this behemoth will run around the battlefield and lay down electrified traps and follow with a spinning tail attack or claw swipe. 

Fun fact: the Stormclaw is the only behemoth that doesn’t have a stagger animation. This, coupled with the fact that the Stormclaw is incredibly restless, makes every hit very difficult. 

It’s also worth mentioning that the Stormclaw will periodically launch bolts of lightning at the players. Timing a hit on the bolt will send it back from whence it came and if the bolt hits the Stormclaw, it will get damaged. 

Drops:  

• Stormclaw & Tempestborne Stormclaw: Stormclaw Hide, Voltscale, Stormheart Shard, Capacitail (break tail), Volthoof (break limbs), Glinttooth (break head), Conductive Antler (break antlers).

Terra Dauntless Behemoths

13. Skarn

Skarn is the first Terra behemoth encounter in Dauntless. For some reason, it’s also one of my favorite fights in the game. The Skarn is a huge beast that controls rock chunks as armor or offensive weapons. 

The behemoth will periodically curp up into a ball, and use gravity to rotate the rocks around its body. This creates a powerful vortex that will suck slayers in and deal huge damage upon impact. 

The vortex may be the Skarn’s scariest attack, but it is also one that can be easily booped. Time your stagger as you are getting sucked in to topple the beast for a few precious seconds. 

The Skarn will also shed its rocky armor from time to time, making it vulnerable to attacks. Take advantage of this opportunity to fire up your lantern and land some powerful hits on its head or legs. The best weapons for this fight are the hammer because it’s stupidly easy to land the book with it, and the chain blades because they provide great mobility. 

Drops:  

• Skarn: Rockscale, Stone Fragments (break armor), Stony Hide (break limbs), Browscale (break head),
• Rockfall Skarn: Adamantine Scale, Stoneheart Shard, all previous rewards, and Unbreakable Dye (heroic variant).

14. Kharabak

The Kharabak is an agile beast that prefers aerial over land attacks. It will often slam slayers into the ground and slice them up with its blades before they have time to recover. 

The Kharabak can also turn completely invisible and surprise its enemies at close range. Slightly unrelated, but worth mentioning, is that this fight in particular is almost impossible for colorblind players. 

Like many behemoths, the Kharabak can be booped during its long-ranged aerial attack. Simply slice upwards towards the behemoth’s face as it starts to charge with its claws through the ground. 

The Kharabak has two variants, which are weak to shock and blaze damage. The regular Kharabak has turquoise snippers attached to an orange body and can be found in the Underworld region of The Uncharted Reaches. The stronger variant, Razorwing Kharabak, has a longer tail and purple body and can be found in The Maelstrom. 

Drops:  

• Kharabak: Kharabak Chitin, Deadly Ovipositor (break tail), Claw Shell Fragment (break limbs), Deadly Incisor (break head),
• Razorwing Kharabak: Sleek Razorwing Chitin, Assassin Soul Shard, all previous rewards, and Progenitor Dye (heroic variant).

15. Koshai

The last and most memorable Terra behemoth is the Koshai. I really liked this encounter because it is fairly unique compared to the others. The Koshai uses fascinating plant-based attacks to protect itself from slayers, including a hail of thorns that he can command from afar, and vines that it can crawl into for defence. 

Drops:  Aether Thorn, Vital Thorn, Thornsoul Shard, Splintered Antler (break antlers), Vinetooth (break head), Bramblespur (break limb), Caudal Thorn (sever tail), Sovereign Dye (heroic variant).

Radiant Dauntless Behemoths

16. Valomyr

I never thought I’d say that an overgrown beetle can be beautiful, but the first time I saw the Valomyr in the game, that is exactly what came to mind. Dauntless’s art style lends itself very well to magical encounters and, despite Valomyr’s clumsy physique, the entire fight is a treat for the eyes. That’s because the behemoth summons dozens of colorful lights and creates mirrors to protect itself from slayers. It feels like fighting inside a rainbow. 

Anyway, getting back to the actual game: Valomyr isn’t a difficult hunt. The behemoth is quite slow. It fires beams of light from his body and constantly teleports away from the slayer. 

The most difficult part of the fight is running left to right, just to get back to Valomyr. As a radiant behemoth, Valomyr is weak against umbral weapons. I recommend using high-mobility weapons, like the chain blades, to quickly dodge through the light beams and break its shields. 

Drops:  Valomyr Hide, Fractal Hide, Galactic Shard, Unstable Tailspike (sever tail), Radiant Dewclaw (break legs), Protean Fang (break head), Apocalypse Horn (break horns), Opalescence dye (heroic variant).

17. Rezakiri

In typical Dauntless fashion, the Kharabak has a nearly identical counterpart, and its name is Rezakiri. This dragonfly-esque monster projects colorful beams of light to damage slayers. Like the Valomyr, it is weak to umbral damage. The encounter is challenging because the Rezakiri levitates most of the time. Slayers must attack its tail furiously to stagger it and make it fall to the ground. 

Although the instinct is to dodge away from its light beams, I recommend running towards them. This will quickly get you into position for your next hits. 

The Rezakiri only has one variant, which can be found in the proximity of The Shattered Isles and The Maelstrom. 

Drops:  Rezakiri Chitin, Luminescent Chitin, Cataclysm Shard, Cracked Biocrystal (head), Radiant Biocrystal (head), Radiant Aethergem (tailgem), Lustrous Taiplate (tail), Supernova Dye (heroic variant).

Umbral Dauntless Behemoths

18. Riftstalker

Third to last on our list of Dauntless behemoths is the stealthy Riftstalker. This behemoth is a hybrid between a bat and a cat. Umbral behemoths are generally harder than any other Dauntless class and the Rifstalker can prove to be a real challenge even to the most experienced slayer. 

The Rifstalker uses portals to quickly move between locations and will often wind-up lightning speed charge attacks. It also has an interesting mechanic that teleports slayers into a bubble of darkness, dotted with portals, from which it will randomly pounce. The Riftstalker is weak to radiant damage. 

Make sure you know what you’re getting into before challenging this behemoth by equipping your best in slot armor, preferably umbral. 

Drops:  Rifthide, Unstable Nullhide, Riftsoul Shard, Nightbringer Riftspike (sever tail), Rending Voidclaw (break leg), Apex Riftfang (break head), Riftborn (heroic variant).

19. Shrowd

One of the biggest and baddest Dauntless beasts, and the strongest behemoth in the Umbral roster is the Shrowd. This juggernaut should only be approached at the later stages of the game by extremely experienced slayers. 

Stock up on health tonics and buffs, because Shrowd will engulf you in cocoons of darkness and separate you from the team. Also make sure you stay alert throughout the fight if you want to survive. 

Whenever the Shrowd charges, try dodging between its legs and attacking immediately after. The Shrowd only has one known variant, at threat level 17, which can be found in The Maelstrom area. 

Drops:

• Shrowd Feather, Corrupted Voidfeather, Nightmare Shard, Dark Tailfeather (break tail), Twisted Shadowspur (break leg), Dark Bladefeather (break wings), Darkbeak Fragment (break head), Eclipse dye (heroic variant).

20. Malkarion

The last behemoth on our list, Malkarion, was added to the game less than 24 hours ago. All we know about it so far is that it’s a quick-striking sky serpent that uses lightning to level its foes. 

“We have all heard the legends of the First Slayer and their battle against the “storm dragon” known as the Malkarion. An impossible beast, we believed: an exaggerated description of an ancient Behemoth, but not something that ever truly existed (…) It was inevitable we would learn that the Malkarion, like so many of the recent Behemoth discoveries, was no myth. And while broken island chains riddled with archonite lodestones may be what lured the species out of  the Maelstrom’s heart, once it spreads its wings there will be no place safe from its power. Yes, the Malkarion are very real – and an existential threat to the Shattered Isles.” 

All Dauntless behemoths drop materials that can be used to forge gear with unique properties. Malkarion’s gear ability is to teleport the slayer to a behemoth and deal instant shock damage. This spell can only be performed once. 

Drops: Voltaic Scale, Peerless Stormplate, Shard of the Eternal Storm, Electric Tailspear (sever tail), Malkarion Clawhide (break limbs), Jagged Shocktooth (break head).

Conclusion:

This concludes our guide to all Dauntless behemoths. Hopefully the tips we shared will help you master your next hunt and harvest the parts that you need! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

The post The Slayer’s Guide to All Dauntless Behemoths appeared first on Game Covered.