Can You Fight Manus After Gwyn? A Dark Souls Deep Dive
The short, sharp, and utterly definitive answer is no, you cannot fight Manus after defeating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, in Dark Souls. Once you vanquish Gwyn, you are immediately thrust into New Game Plus (NG+). This means your current playthrough concludes, the credits roll, and a fresh cycle begins, resetting the world and its bosses. Manus, being a boss within the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, will be unavailable until you progress through NG+ to the point where you can access the DLC area again. To encounter Manus, you must tackle the DLC before confronting Gwyn.
Understanding the Dark Souls Endgame
Dark Souls doesn’t hold your hand. It’s notorious for its unforgiving nature, and the abrupt transition into NG+ after Gwyn’s defeat is a prime example. Understanding this mechanic is crucial for planning your endgame activities.
The game provides no explicit warning about the point of no return. Many players, eager to see what lies beyond Gwyn, inadvertently trigger the NG+ cycle, often realizing too late that they missed crucial content, like the DLC or certain optional bosses and item collections.
Therefore, thorough exploration and completion of all desired activities are vital before entering the Kiln of the First Flame to face Gwyn. This includes:
- Completing the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
- Defeating all optional bosses (e.g., Gwyndolin, Priscilla the Crossbreed).
- Joining and ranking up in covenants.
- Gathering all desired weapons, armor, and upgrade materials.
- Exploring every corner of the world, uncovering secrets and hidden areas.
Planning Your Dark Souls Journey
Essentially, treat the fight with Gwyn as the final exam. Are you truly ready to move on? Have you squeezed every last drop of gameplay from your current playthrough? If the answer is no, then hold off.
Furthermore, consider the implications of NG+. While you retain your character level, equipment, and most items, the difficulty of enemies is increased. Therefore, ensuring you are adequately prepared and have acquired all the necessary tools and knowledge is paramount before embarking on a new cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here’s a compilation of frequently asked questions, providing further clarity on the relationship between Gwyn, Manus, and the endgame of Dark Souls.
1. Does killing Gwyn automatically start NG+?
Yes, killing Gwyn triggers the ending sequence, followed immediately by the start of New Game Plus (NG+). There is no option to postpone the transition.
2. Can I explore after killing Gwyn?
No, you cannot. As soon as you kill Gwyn, the credits roll, and NG+ begins. There is no post-Gwyn exploration.
3. What happens if I kill myself after beating Gwyn?
Killing yourself after defeating Gwyn changes nothing. You will still be thrust into NG+. The outcome remains the same regardless of your actions after Gwyn’s death, but before the credits roll.
4. Can I access the DLC after killing Gwyn?
You cannot access the DLC in your current playthrough after killing Gwyn. You will need to progress through NG+ to the point where you can access the DLC area (Oolacile) again.
5. Is it better to do the DLC before or after Gwyn?
It is highly recommended to complete the DLC before fighting Gwyn. This ensures you experience all the content in your current playthrough and avoid having to replay a significant portion of the game to access the DLC in NG+.
6. What level should I be to fight Manus?
A recommended level for tackling Manus is typically between SL 60-80, though this can vary based on your build and skill level. Having upgraded weapons and suitable armor is equally important.
7. Is Manus harder than Gwyn?
Many players consider Manus to be a significantly harder boss than Gwyn. Manus’ unpredictable attacks, large health pool, and resistance to certain damage types make him a formidable challenge. Gwyn, conversely, can be parried relatively easily, making him a more manageable fight for experienced players.
8. What are Manus’s weaknesses?
Manus is generally weak to thrusting attacks, and his dark magic attacks can be blocked with the Silver Pendant, obtained in the DLC. He’s fairly resistant to bleed.
9. What is the easiest way to defeat Gwyn?
The easiest way to defeat Gwyn is often considered to be parrying his attacks. With proper timing, you can stagger him and deliver critical hits, making the fight much quicker and safer. Another tactic is using heavy armor and a high stability shield to tank his attacks while dealing damage.
10. What ending should I choose in Dark Souls?
The choice of ending is entirely up to you and depends on your interpretation of the lore and your desired outcome for the world of Dark Souls. You can either link the fire to prolong the Age of Fire or become the Dark Lord and usher in the Age of Dark. Both endings are considered canonical. Learning more about the lore through sites like the Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org can help inform this decision.
11. Does NG+ have different content?
NG+ does not introduce new areas or bosses. The main difference is an increase in enemy difficulty and the availability of higher-tier upgrade materials. It’s a chance to re-experience the game with a stronger character and potentially pursue different builds or choices.
12. How many times can I play NG+?
You can continue playing New Game Plus (NG+) indefinitely. Each cycle increases the difficulty of enemies, up to a certain point (NG+7).
13. What items carry over to NG+?
Most items carry over to NG+, including:
- Weapons
- Armor
- Upgrade materials
- Consumables
- Keys (except those that unlock specific story progression areas)
- Covenant progress
14. What items don’t carry over to NG+?
The following items do not carry over to NG+:
- Keys that unlock progression
- Covenant-specific items needed to join a covenant (e.g., the Maiden Set for joining the Princess Guard)
- Lord Souls
15. Does difficulty keep increasing after NG+7?
No, the difficulty of enemies plateaus after NG+7. Each subsequent cycle remains at the same difficulty level.