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How to Reach and Conquer King Vendrick in Dark Souls 2: A Comprehensive Guide

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So, you’re looking to face off against the reclusive King Vendrick in Dark Souls 2? Good choice, Ashen One. This optional boss offers a unique challenge and is crucial for unlocking the full lore and a certain alternate ending in Scholar of the First Sin edition. Reaching him is straightforward, but preparing for the fight? That’s where things get interesting.

The path to Vendrick leads through the Undead Crypt. He is located at the bottom of the crypt. However, Velstadt, the Royal Aegis stands guard at the entrance to Vendrick’s chamber and must be defeated first. Once you have defeated Velstadt, you are free to proceed to the depths of the Undead Crypt and battle King Vendrick. Remember that Vendrick will not engage you unless you damage him.

Now, let’s dive deeper into how to get there, what you need, and how to survive the encounter.

Navigating the Undead Crypt

Before you can even think about Vendrick, you need to navigate the Undead Crypt.

Accessing the Crypt: The Undead Crypt is located in Drangleic Castle. To reach Drangleic Castle, you’ll need to acquire the King’s Ring from the Shrine of Amana after defeating the Demon of Song.
Proceed Through Drangleic Castle: Once inside the castle, explore the area thoroughly. You’ll eventually find the entrance to the Undead Crypt.
Undead Crypt Exploration: The Crypt is filled with aggressive enemies that can inflict curse. Be cautious and consider bringing items that increase your curse resistance. Lighting torches in the crypt has an interesting side effect; it will darken the area further!
Velstadt, the Royal Aegis: At the end of the Crypt, you’ll encounter Velstadt, who guards Vendrick’s chamber. Defeating him is mandatory to proceed. Velstadt is vulnerable to dark damage and is resistant to lightning.
Vendrick’s Chamber: After defeating Velstadt, proceed into the next area where you will encounter the towering form of King Vendrick. He will not attack until provoked.

Preparing for the Vendrick Encounter

Vendrick is no ordinary boss. He boasts incredibly high defense that makes him nearly invulnerable unless you have Giant Souls in your inventory.

The Importance of Giant Souls

Each Giant Soul you possess drastically reduces Vendrick’s defense. Here’s the key:

Vendrick’s Default Defense: Ridiculously high. You’ll do minimal damage.
Giant Souls Impact: Each Giant Soul halves his defense.
Optimal Number: Five Giant Souls are ideal. With all five, the fight becomes manageable. Four are a must.

Obtaining Giant Souls

There are multiple ways to obtain Giant Souls:

Giant Lord Memory (Memory of the Giant Lord): This is the most crucial one. Accessed through the Pursuer’s boss arena in the Forest of Fallen Giants, it grants you the Giant Lord Soul.
Ancient Dragon: Killing the Ancient Dragon in Dragon Aerie grants you a Giant Soul. However, many players find this fight challenging and frustrating. It can be skipped if you obtain four from the memories.
Memories of Vammar, Orro, and Jeigh: Located in the Forest of Fallen Giants, accessible after using the Ashen Mist Heart (obtained from the Dragon Shrine). These memories contain the souls of fallen giants.

Recommended Gear and Strategy

Weapon: A fast weapon with high counter damage, such as a katana or a thrusting sword.
Armor: Armor with good physical defense.
Rings: Ring of Steel Protection, Ring of Binding (to reduce the effect of hollowing), Chloranthy Ring.
Strategy: Stay close to Vendrick’s legs and attack when he finishes his swings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about King Vendrick

Here are some frequently asked questions to provide even more clarity:

What souls do I need to fight Vendrick? You do not spend souls to initiate the fight with King Vendrick. However, you need to acquire and keep Giant Souls in your inventory to weaken his defense. The more you have, the less damage reduction Vendrick has.
Is Vendrick the final boss? No, Vendrick is an optional boss. The final boss is Nashandra (and Aldia if you meet certain conditions).
Who is the true final boss Dark Souls 2? The “true” final boss depends on your actions. Normally, it’s Nashandra. However, if you’ve spoken to Aldia three times and defeated Vendrick, Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin, will appear after Nashandra and serve as the final encounter.
Can you talk to Vendrick after killing him? Yes. After obtaining the Ashen Mist Heart (from the Ancient Dragon) and defeating the Giant Lord, return to where you found the King’s Ring (where Vendrick’s clothes are). Examining his armor will transport you to a memory where you can speak to him.
How do I start fighting with King Vendrick? Enter his chamber in the Undead Crypt after defeating Velstadt. He will be walking around and will not attack you until you deal enough damage to provoke him.
How do you get Vendrick to bless all crowns? Obtain all three DLC crowns (Sunken King, Old Iron King, Ivory King) and the King’s Crown. Then, interact with Vendrick’s clothing in the Undead Crypt to enter his memory and speak with him. This will “bless” the crowns, negating the hollowing effect when wearing them.
What is the point of killing Vendrick? Killing Vendrick is essential for unlocking the fight with Aldia (the true final boss in Scholar of the First Sin). It also grants you Vendrick’s Soul, which can be used to craft powerful items.
Does killing Vendrick end the game? No, defeating Vendrick does not end the game. You can continue playing and explore other areas.
Why isn’t King Vendrick attacking me? Vendrick won’t attack until you damage him enough to provoke him.
Can you fight Vendrick without giant souls? Yes, it’s possible, but extremely difficult. You’ll deal very little damage, making the fight incredibly long and tedious. It’s highly recommended to obtain at least four Giant Souls.
What is the best weapon for Vendrick? Any fast weapon with high counter damage is effective. Katanas and thrusting swords are popular choices. Focus on staying close to his legs and attacking during his recovery frames.
Can you skip Vendrick? Yes, you can skip Vendrick if you only want to beat the main game. However, skipping him means missing out on the lore, the Aldia fight, and Vendrick’s Soul.
Can you fight Vendrick after Velstadt? Yes, after defeating Velstadt, you can enter the chamber where Vendrick resides and engage him in combat. Velstadt guards the entrance to Vendrick. There was once a bug where Vendrick was weakened without obtaining any giant souls if you fought him immediately after Velstadt, but this has long been patched out.
What do you do after killing Vendrick Dark Souls 2? After defeating Vendrick, you can retrieve his soul. Also, revisit the Shrine of Amana, second bonfire. There are some vines that you can chop down. Behind the vines is a door, and you must be human to open it. Inside the door is the throne chair with the Soul of the King on it and also Vendrick’s armor.
Can you summon help for Vendrick? No, you cannot summon other players to assist you in the fight against King Vendrick. This is a solo encounter. Kings must fight one another, after all!

Final Thoughts

King Vendrick is more than just a boss; he’s a pivotal figure in the lore of Dark Souls 2. Defeating him requires preparation, strategy, and a good understanding of the game mechanics. By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to face the crazed king and claim victory. Don’t give up, Ashen One!

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