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How to Fight King Vendrick in Dark Souls 2: A Comprehensive Guide

Fighting King Vendrick in Dark Souls 2 is a unique and challenging experience that requires careful preparation and a solid understanding of the mechanics involved. Unlike many boss encounters in the game, Vendrick doesn’t immediately engage in combat. Instead, he silently patrols the area, only becoming aggressive once a certain amount of damage is inflicted upon him. Here’s a breakdown of how to initiate the fight and succeed:

How to Initiate the Fight

To initiate the fight with King Vendrick, you must first locate him. You’ll find him in the Undead Crypt, specifically at the bottom of the area. Here’s how to get to him:

Start at the Undead Crypt bonfire.
Leave the bonfire room and head through the graves to the right.
Turn right again and exit the graveyard.
Turn right once more and enter the large door in the distance.
You’ll find Vendrick walking around in this area.

Once you locate Vendrick, he won’t immediately attack you. To initiate the fight, you need to strike him repeatedly with your weapon. However, the amount of damage you inflict is crucial. Fighting Vendrick without the necessary preparation will result in him taking minimal damage and not properly engaging in combat. This leads to him simply walking around without reacting much to your attacks.

The Importance of Giant Souls

The key to effectively fighting King Vendrick lies in the Giant Souls. These souls have a unique effect on your damage output against Vendrick. Each Giant Soul you possess halves his defense, allowing you to deal significantly more damage. Here’s a breakdown of how this works:

Zero Giant Souls: You will deal very minimal damage to Vendrick. He might not even become properly aggressive.
One Giant Soul: You’ll deal roughly twice the damage as you would with zero.
Two Giant Souls: You’ll deal roughly four times the damage as you would with zero.
Three Giant Souls: You’ll deal roughly eight times the damage as you would with zero.
Four Giant Souls: You’ll deal roughly sixteen times the damage as you would with zero.
Five Giant Souls: You’ll be able to inflict normal damage to him.

You can acquire up to four Giant Souls without needing to defeat the Ancient Dragon. The fifth Giant Soul requires you to obtain the Ashen Mist Heart from the Ancient Dragon in order to delve into memories to collect the last of the Giant Souls. It is highly recommended that you have at least four Giant Souls before attempting to fight Vendrick, as fighting him with fewer can make the encounter extremely lengthy and difficult. Having all five giant souls is recommended for normal damage and to avoid making the fight unnecessarily drawn out.

Battle Strategy

Once the fight begins, Vendrick’s attacks are slow but powerful, and he can one-shot you if you are not careful. However, his moveset is fairly predictable and mainly frontal. Here’s a basic strategy to follow:

Circling: Constantly circle towards his left arm (your right). This positioning will keep you behind him.
Backstabs: You can easily backstab King Vendrick in this method.
Staying Behind: All of his attacks are frontal, so staying behind him for the majority of the time will allow you to avoid damage, making the fight very simple.
Weapons: Any katana will do. Almost all of them have higher counter damage that the rapiers and they’re slashing swords, which gives them wider hitboxes. Stay at his feet and counter attack when he swings.

Post-Fight

After defeating King Vendrick, you are rewarded with his soul. To claim the Soul of the King and Vendrick’s armor, you need to complete a short task. Here’s how:

Go to the second bonfire in Shrine of Amana.
Near the bonfire, there are vines you can chop down.
Behind the vines is a door. You must be human to open this door.
Inside the door, you’ll find a throne chair with the Soul of the King and Vendrick’s armor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you fight Vendrick without Giant Souls?

Yes, it is possible to fight Vendrick without Giant Souls, however, it’s not recommended. Without souls, you will deal extremely low damage and may struggle to even get him to engage properly in combat. It will be an incredibly long and frustrating encounter. It’s best to have at least four souls before attempting this fight. You can use lightning weapons if you choose to fight him without souls, although this method will likely still take a very long time.

2. How many Giant Souls do you need to fight Vendrick effectively?

Ideally, you should have all five Giant Souls to deal normal damage. However, having at least four makes the fight much more manageable than without any. The more souls you have, the less time the fight will take.

3. Is King Vendrick the final boss?

No, King Vendrick is not the final boss. He is an optional boss encounter. The final boss is Nashandra, who you fight in the Throne of Want.

4. Does killing King Vendrick end the game?

No, defeating Vendrick does not end the game. You are free to continue playing and explore the world even after defeating him. You can choose when to advance to New Game Plus at the Majula bonfire.

5. Why isn’t King Vendrick attacking me?

If Vendrick isn’t attacking you, it’s likely because you are not dealing enough damage. This is why Giant Souls are critical for the fight. He won’t fully aggro if you don’t inflict a certain amount of damage on him.

6. What is the point of killing Vendrick?

Killing Vendrick unlocks another path. If you haven’t killed the Throne Watcher or Throne Defender before killing the Giant Lord, you are in for three boss fights in a row. It is also required if you want to fight Aldia.

7. What is the best weapon to use against Vendrick?

Any katana works well, because they generally have higher counter damage and wider hitboxes, allowing you to exploit his slow attacks. Also, you can exploit his moveset with backstabs if you stay behind him.

8. Should I fight Vendrick before accessing the DLC?

It doesn’t matter when you fight Vendrick unless you want to fight Aldia. If you do wish to fight Aldia you need to defeat Vendrick first. The crowns only give Vendrick more dialogue and his blessing when you have collected them all.

9. How do I access the DLC content?

You can access the DLC by going to Black Gulch and defeating The Rotten, if you have not already done so. The entrance to the DLC is located there.

10. How many DLCs are there for Dark Souls 2?

There are three major DLC additions for Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King.

11. Can I summon help for the Vendrick fight?

No, you cannot summon other players to help you fight King Vendrick. You must face him alone.

12. Is it true that if you fight Vendrick immediately after Velstadt that he’ll be weakened?

No, this is not true for Dark Souls 2 on its own. However, in Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin this was a feature; Vendrick would be weakened as if you had 5 Giant Souls for the first encounter immediately after Velstadt. However, this has been removed from the newest iteration of the game.

13. Who is the hardest boss in Dark Souls 2?

Many consider the Fume Knight to be the hardest boss in Dark Souls 2, especially due to his odd timings and difficult second phase.

14. What are the main bosses needed to enter Drangleic Castle?

To access Drangleic Castle, you need to defeat four bosses and acquire their Great Souls: the Old Iron King, The Rotten, The Lost Sinner, and the Duke’s Dear Freja.

15. How many endings are there in Dark Souls 2?

There are two endings in Dark Souls 2, although one was added post-launch.

By following this guide and understanding the mechanics behind the King Vendrick fight, you’ll be well-prepared to face this formidable foe. Good luck, and may the flames guide thee!

How do you fight King Vendrick in Dark Souls 2?