Should I Use the Soul of a Giant? A Comprehensive Guide
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The question of whether to use a Soul of a Giant in Dark Souls II is a common one, steeped in both the game’s mechanics and its narrative. The short answer? Absolutely not, unless you are purely seeking a few souls. The true value of these unique items lies in their ability to weaken one of the game’s most formidable optional bosses: King Vendrick. Consuming them for a mere 6,000 souls per Giant Soul is a waste of their potential, particularly considering their strategic importance. Let’s delve into why you should hoard those Giant Souls and explore the nuances surrounding their use.
The Power of the Giant Souls
Vendrick’s Resilience
King Vendrick is no ordinary boss. He is an optional, but extremely difficult encounter located in the Undead Crypt. This fallen king is a shadow of his former self, a shell of a man wandering aimlessly. However, engaging him will reveal an incredibly durable foe with incredibly high damage reduction. The key to significantly diminishing this protection lies in the Giant Souls. Each Giant Soul you possess in your inventory at the time of the fight will reduce Vendrick’s damage reduction. Without any Giant Souls, your attacks will barely scratch him, making the fight nearly impossible. This is why it is crucial not to use them for their soul value.
How Many Giant Souls Are Needed?
While it’s commonly believed that possessing all five Giant Souls is necessary for a manageable fight against Vendrick, that’s not entirely true. Having at least four Giant Souls in your inventory will make the encounter significantly more feasible. With four, you will deal reasonable damage. The fifth soul further weakens Vendrick’s defenses, but the decrease in difficulty is not as dramatic as the jump from having one to four. However, achieving the maximum damage to Vendrick is essential for the “true” ending, especially if you want to face the secret final boss, Aldia.
Acquiring Giant Souls
There are five Giant Souls available in Dark Souls II:
- The Soul of the Last Giant: Earned by defeating the Last Giant, the first boss of the game. This soul is also required to craft the Giant Stone Axe, which is not as important as using it for the Vendrick fight.
- The Soul of the Giant Lord: Obtained after vanquishing the Giant Lord. This is a more difficult encounter and requires that you acquire a special item to enter the Giant Memory to fight him.
- Giant Souls from Giant Memories: Three more Giant Souls can be found in the memories of Giants. These are accessed from the Forest of Fallen Giants, requiring you to first defeat the Giant Lord to gain the key.
It’s vital to avoid using these souls for their soul currency to ensure you have them for the Vendrick encounter.
Strategy and Significance
The Vendrick Fight
Fighting Vendrick without Giant Souls is an exercise in frustration, as you will inflict minimal damage, and his attacks are very potent, capable of one-shotting your character. With four or five Giant Souls, the fight becomes far more manageable. Employ strategies like staying close to his feet and using a weapon with high counter damage such as a katana or greatsword. Bleed serum can also be effective, as it can occasionally inflict extra damage. However, you will still need to be wary of his attacks.
Beyond Vendrick
Defeating Vendrick is crucial if you want to progress to additional optional content, especially the secret final boss, Aldia. Defeating Aldia will change the ending of the game. Also, after defeating Vendrick, the Throne Watcher and Throne Defender boss fight will become available. You also gain access to Vendrick’s armor, and the Soul of the King at the Shrine of Amana, near the second bonfire.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Soul of the Last Giant useful?
Yes, but not for its soul value. The Soul of the Last Giant is essential for crafting the Giant Stone Axe, though this is not as important as having the soul for the fight against Vendrick. The soul can also be used for 6,000 souls, which is not a recommended use.
2. What is the Giant Lord Soul used for?
The Giant Lord Soul is primarily used to weaken King Vendrick. Like other Giant Souls, it can be consumed for 6,000 souls, which should be avoided.
3. Do I have to have Giant Souls to beat Vendrick?
Technically, no. However, fighting Vendrick without any Giant Souls will be incredibly difficult. Having at least four Giant Souls is highly recommended to make the fight manageable. Five Giant Souls will weaken Vendrick even further.
4. Is King Vendrick an optional boss?
Yes, King Vendrick is an optional boss found in the Undead Crypt. He will not aggro until he is hit repeatedly.
5. Does killing King Vendrick end the game?
No, defeating King Vendrick does not end the game. You can continue playing until you choose to start New Game Plus.
6. What is the point of killing Vendrick?
Defeating Vendrick is necessary to unlock other content, including the chance to fight the secret final boss, Aldia, as well as getting access to Vendrick’s equipment and the Soul of the King.
7. What souls make Vendrick weaker?
The Giant Souls are what weaken Vendrick. Each Giant Soul in your inventory reduces his damage reduction, making him more susceptible to your attacks.
8. Should I fight Vendrick before the DLC?
While it’s not necessary to fight Vendrick before entering the DLC, doing so does unlock additional content. If you want to encounter Aldia you need to fight him first. Also, collecting the crowns in the DLC will change Vendrick’s dialogue and grant a permanent blessing upon them.
9. Is Vendrick the final boss?
No, Vendrick is not the final boss. The final boss is Nashandra, located in the Throne of Want. Aldia is the secret final boss, but only if you meet certain requirements.
10. What do I do after killing Vendrick?
After defeating Vendrick, go to the Shrine of Amana and look for a door behind some vines near the second bonfire. Inside the room is the Soul of the King and Vendrick’s armor.
11. What do I do after beating the Giant Lord?
Once the Giant Lord is defeated, you can explore the Memory of Vammar, located near the Cardinal Tower bonfire. This memory contains another Giant Soul.
12. What do I do after killing the Last Giant?
After defeating the Last Giant, you can use the key that you obtain to unlock a door nearby that will lead to a subsequent area and boss fight.
13. Can I summon help for Vendrick?
No, you cannot summon other players to help you fight Vendrick. You must face him alone.
14. Can you use bleeding serum to do extra damage to Vendrick?
Yes, using a weapon imbued with a bleeding effect can sometimes add extra damage, though this will not have as much effect as the Giant Souls.
15. How many Giant souls do I need to do normal damage to Vendrick?
Five Giant Souls are required to do maximum damage to Vendrick. However, four giant souls are enough to make the fight manageable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, do not use Giant Souls for their soul value. Their primary purpose is to weaken King Vendrick, making one of the most challenging optional encounters in Dark Souls II far more manageable. By holding onto these powerful souls, you can access further game content and deepen your Dark Souls II experience. Prepare wisely, collect the Giant Souls, and conquer the fallen King!