How Hard Is Pontiff Sulyvahn in Dark Souls 3?
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Pontiff Sulyvahn in Dark Souls 3 is widely considered one of the most challenging bosses in the base game, and for good reason. His difficulty stems from a combination of factors including relentless aggression, long and unpredictable combos, and attacks with quick start-ups that can be difficult to react to. Many players find themselves facing numerous deaths before finally conquering this formidable foe. While skill and strategy play a crucial role, Pontiff Sulyvahn can feel like a significant wall for many players, especially those not yet accustomed to the fast-paced, punishing combat of Dark Souls. Whether he’s the hardest boss is subjective, but his reputation as a major hurdle is certainly well-earned.
Why is Pontiff Sulyvahn So Difficult?
Several elements combine to make Pontiff Sulyvahn a challenging encounter.
Aggression and Relentless Attacks
Pontiff is known for his hyper-aggressive fighting style. He doesn’t give you much breathing room, constantly closing the distance with swift lunges and rapid attack strings. He rarely pauses to give the player an opening, forcing you into a more reactive playstyle.
Long Combos
His attack patterns aren’t limited to single swings; instead, he strings together long and unpredictable combos that can quickly deplete your health bar if you get caught in them. These combos make it hard to find safe openings for counterattacks and punish mistakes severely.
Quick Start-Ups
Some of his attacks come out incredibly fast, making them difficult to see and dodge on reaction. You often need to anticipate his moves before he starts them, requiring a good understanding of his tells.
Second Phase Clone
During the second phase of the fight, Pontiff summons a clone of himself, further complicating the battle. You will now be facing two aggressive Pontiffs, both with similar move sets, making it incredibly difficult to focus and manage the fight effectively. This phase demands exceptional spatial awareness and careful dodging.
No Breathing Room
Unlike some other bosses that give you small breaks, Pontiff’s aggression makes healing quite tricky and often requires very strategic timing. You’re often on the backfoot, reacting to his movements and searching for any small windows to heal.
Strategies for Overcoming Pontiff Sulyvahn
Despite his difficulty, Pontiff Sulyvahn is by no means insurmountable. Here are some strategies to aid in defeating him:
Parrying
One of the most effective strategies against Pontiff is parrying. A few of his attacks are highly predictable, and a successful parry can deal significant damage, often exceeding 1000 damage per riposte. This can drastically shorten the fight if you can get the timing down. Focus on parrying the backswing of his swings after dodging to the left.
Recognizing Attack Patterns
Learning his move sets and identifying the subtle tells before each attack is critical to defeating Pontiff. Knowing when to dodge, block, or attempt a parry will improve your chances significantly. This does take time and practice but makes it more manageable.
Utilizing Weaknesses
Pontiff is weak to Thrust, Lightning, and Fire damage. Weapons and spells that inflict these types of damage will be significantly more effective than others. Experiment with weapons or spells to exploit his vulnerabilities.
Spacing and Patience
Don’t get greedy with attacks. Maintain a safe distance and only move in for attacks when you’re absolutely certain of an opening. Patience is key in this fight as getting overly aggressive will usually result in failure.
Prism Stone Healing Trick
Dropping a Prism Stone can often trigger Pontiff to perform a side step, allowing a brief opportunity to heal right after dropping a stone. This can create small but useful healing windows.
FAQs About Pontiff Sulyvahn
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions to provide further insight into the Pontiff Sulyvahn fight:
1. What is the recommended level to fight Pontiff?
Most players typically fight Pontiff Sulyvahn at level 50-70. If you’ve already tackled Irithyll Dungeon and Yhorm, then reaching level 70 will be more appropriate. Leveling up and upgrading your gear will enhance your survival rate.
2. Is Pontiff Sulyvahn an optional boss?
No, Pontiff Sulyvahn is not optional. You must defeat him to progress through Irithyll and continue the main storyline.
3. What type of damage is Pontiff most vulnerable to?
Pontiff is most vulnerable to Thrust, Lightning, and Fire damage. Equip weapons that deal these types of damage to improve your efficiency in this fight.
4. What is Pontiff resistant to?
Pontiff is resistant to Poison, Toxic, Frost, and Bleed damage. Avoid using weapons or spells that inflict these effects.
5. Does Pontiff summon a clone in the second phase?
Yes, Pontiff summons a clone during his second phase. You will have to face two Pontiffs with the same moveset at the same time.
6. Is Pontiff easy to parry?
While some of his attacks can be difficult to time, Pontiff is very susceptible to parrying. Successful parries can inflict massive amounts of damage, often more than 1000 per riposte, making it a very efficient strategy.
7. Is Pontiff immune to poison?
Yes, as of patch 1.07, Pontiff Sulyvahn is immune to poison. Don’t rely on this tactic to defeat him.
8. How do I heal against Pontiff?
Healing is extremely hard in this fight, so you need to find small opportunities to do so. The prism stone trick can trigger a sidestep allowing a window to use an Estus. Otherwise, create some space and time your heal correctly.
9. Is Aldrich harder than Pontiff Sulyvahn?
This is subjective and depends on the player. Many find Aldrich more difficult than Pontiff, and you’ll often see reports of many more attempts to beat him. Both are challenging bosses.
10. What is the hardest DLC boss in Dark Souls 3?
The consensus is that Slave Knight Gael is the most challenging DLC boss in Dark Souls 3.
11. Who is considered the most badass boss in Dark Souls 3?
Many players consider Aldrich, Devourer of Gods as one of the most badass bosses due to his lore and terrifying nature. However, this is subjective.
12. Was Pontiff originally intended to be the final boss?
Yes, cut content suggests Pontiff Sulyvahn was initially planned as the final boss. His encounter was going to be in an unreleased version of Untended Graves, which gives a very different experience.
13. Is Pontiff Sulyvahn human?
While it’s implied he was born within a painting world, he appears to be an ordinary human being that was gifted powerful sorcery.
14. What is Pontiff Sulyvahn’s motivation?
Pontiff Sulyvahn, driven by his belief in the old painted world, strives to burn the current world away and usher in a new age for the Deep Sea. He aims to set the world on fire in order to achieve this goal.
15. What do you do after beating Pontiff?
After defeating Pontiff, proceed to the catacombs-side of the bridge in Lord of Ember form to continue your journey.
Conclusion
Pontiff Sulyvahn is undoubtedly one of the most challenging bosses in Dark Souls 3, demanding precise timing, patience, and a good understanding of his mechanics. However, with the right strategy, proper level, and a bit of practice, victory is entirely achievable. By utilizing the weaknesses to your advantage and parrying effectively, you can overcome this formidable foe.