Does Summoning Make Bosses Harder in Dark Souls?

The short answer is: it’s complicated. Summoning in Dark Souls can make bosses both easier and harder, depending on a multitude of factors. While the general consensus leans towards summoning making fights easier for most players, some specific boss encounters, player skill levels, and even the number of phantoms summoned can drastically alter the difficulty curve. Understanding why this is the case is crucial for any Dark Souls player considering utilizing the summon mechanic.

The Double-Edged Sword of Cooperation

Dark Souls’ summoning system is a unique and often misunderstood aspect of the game. It allows players to call upon the aid of other online players (or NPCs) to tackle challenging areas and bosses. However, this comes with a price: bosses receive a significant health and damage boost for each phantom summoned. This scaling is intended to balance the increased firepower and survivability of the player party.

Here’s a breakdown of the factors influencing whether summoning makes a boss easier or harder:

• Boss Design: Some bosses, like Ornstein & Smough, are notoriously difficult to solo due to their aggressive AI and overlapping attack patterns. Summoning allows for a more manageable division of aggro, making the fight significantly easier. Conversely, bosses like Artorias the Abysswalker become more unpredictable and difficult to stagger with multiple players, potentially making the fight harder.
• Player Skill: A skilled player might find that the increased boss health outweighs the benefits of having less experienced phantoms. A well-coordinated solo fight can be quicker and more controlled than a chaotic group encounter. However, less experienced players often benefit greatly from the extra damage output and distraction provided by summons.
• Phantom Quality: Let’s be honest, not all summons are created equal. A phantom who constantly dies or fails to contribute significantly to damage output will only serve to inflate the boss’s health pool, making the fight harder for everyone. On the other hand, a skilled and knowledgeable phantom can be invaluable.
• Number of Summons: While more summons might seem like a good idea, the boss’s health scaling increases dramatically. Summoning two phantoms, while providing a significant damage boost, also makes the boss far more resilient. Often, summoning only one phantom is the sweet spot, providing a noticeable advantage without drastically increasing the boss’s health.
• Build Synergy: A well-coordinated group with complementary builds can exploit boss weaknesses and stagger them more effectively. However, a group with redundant builds or poor equipment choices might struggle to make a significant impact, leading to a prolonged and difficult fight.
• Aggro Management: A key element of success when summoning is effective aggro management. Players must coordinate to ensure the boss’s attention is strategically divided, allowing for openings and preventing the boss from focusing its attacks on a single, vulnerable target. Poor aggro management can lead to chaos and increased difficulty.

Summoning and the Dark Souls Experience

Ultimately, whether summoning makes a boss harder or easier is a matter of perspective and circumstance. There is no right or wrong way to play Dark Souls. The game is designed to be challenging and rewarding, and summoning is just one of the many tools available to players.

Some purists argue that summoning trivializes the experience and robs players of the satisfaction of overcoming challenges solo. Others embrace summoning as a legitimate strategy and a way to experience the game with friends. Both perspectives are valid.

The key is to understand the trade-offs involved and to make informed decisions about when and how to utilize the summon mechanic. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Embrace the unique experiences Dark Souls offers. Maybe summoning helps you overcome an obstacle. Or maybe you relish the challenge of facing the bosses alone. There is no wrong way to approach this epic game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate the complexities of summoning in Dark Souls:

1. Do summons make bosses stronger?

Yes, summoning other players (or NPCs) significantly increases the boss’s health and damage output. This scaling is intended to balance the increased firepower of the player party.

2. Does summoning phantoms always make bosses harder?

No, it depends on the boss, the skill of the phantoms, and the overall strategy. Some bosses are easier to manage with multiple players, while others become more unpredictable and difficult.

3. Does summoning increase boss health in Dark Souls 1?

Yes, for every summoned phantom, the boss’s health bar increases. The increased health remains even if the phantom dies or hasn’t fully entered the boss arena.

4. Is it bad to use summons in Dark Souls?

Not at all! Summoning is an intended mechanic and a perfectly valid way to play the game. It’s a tool to be used as needed.

5. How much does summoning increase boss health?

The exact scaling varies slightly across the Dark Souls games, but generally, one summon increases boss health by around 60% and resistances by 50%. Adding more phantoms further increases these stats.

6. Does the number of summons affect the difficulty?

Yes, the more players you summon, the more health the boss gets. It’s often more effective to summon one skilled player than two less experienced ones.

7. What are some bosses that are harder with summons?

Bosses like Artorias the Abysswalker and Manus, Father of the Abyss, are often considered more challenging with summons due to their aggressive and unpredictable attack patterns. These fights often require precise timing and spacing, which can be disrupted by multiple players.

8. What are some bosses that are easier with summons?

Bosses like Ornstein & Smough and the Four Kings are generally considered easier with summons. Summons provide a much needed distraction and divide the boss’s attention, making these fights far more manageable.

9. Can summons revive each other?

No, summons cannot revive each other in Dark Souls. If a phantom dies, they are gone for good (at least for that attempt).

10. Can NPCs be summoned?

Yes, Dark Souls features NPC summons for certain boss fights. These NPCs can be helpful, but they are generally less skilled than player summons.

11. How do I summon other players?

To summon other players, you need to be in human form (in Dark Souls 1) or use an Ember (in Dark Souls 3). Look for summon signs on the ground near bonfires or boss fog gates.

12. What happens if I die as a phantom?

If you die as a phantom, you are sent back to your own world. You do not lose any souls or humanity/ember (unless you were already hollow/un-embered).

13. What is the White Soapstone?

The White Soapstone is an item that allows you to leave your summon sign on the ground for other players to summon you. It’s a key item for cooperative play.

14. How does summoning affect invasions?

Summoning coop increases the likelihood of being invaded by other players. This is part of the risk/reward system associated with cooperative play.

15. Where can I learn more about the intricacies of Dark Souls?

There are many online resources available. A great starting point is the Games Learning Society, where researchers explore the educational and cognitive aspects of gaming. You can check them out at GamesLearningSociety.org.

In conclusion, the impact of summoning on boss difficulty in Dark Souls is nuanced and multifaceted. While it can certainly make some encounters easier, it can also make others harder, depending on various factors. Understanding these factors and making informed decisions about when and how to utilize the summon mechanic is crucial for any Dark Souls player seeking to conquer its challenges.