The Absolute Easiest Way to Conquer Old King Allant in Demon’s Souls

The easiest way to defeat Old King Allant in Demon’s Souls, especially for those struggling with his aggressive attacks and level-draining ability, involves a combination of stealth, poison, and patience. Equip the Thief Ring and the Poison Cloud spell. Slowly approach Allant at the top of the stairs in his arena, casting Poison Cloud repeatedly. The Thief Ring will keep you hidden enough that he won’t actively pursue you while the poison slowly eats away at his substantial health bar. This method allows you to bypass his challenging melee attacks and safely chip away at his health from a distance.

Understanding the Threat: Old King Allant’s Arsenal

Old King Allant is arguably one of the most formidable bosses in Demon’s Souls, renowned for his relentless aggression and devastating attacks. His speed and diverse move-set make him a challenge for even the most experienced players. Key threats include:

• Fast Melee Attacks: Allant is incredibly quick, able to chain attacks together rapidly, making it difficult to find openings.
• Powerful AOE: His area-of-effect attacks can punish players who try to keep their distance.
• Soul Suck: This dreaded grab attack steals a level, permanently reducing your stats.
• Ranged Magic: Allant can launch projectiles, catching players off-guard who try to heal or maintain distance.

Given these challenges, the Poison Cloud strategy offers a reliable and relatively safe method of victory.

The Poison Cloud Strategy: A Step-by-Step Guide

This method emphasizes avoiding direct combat and exploiting Allant’s AI.

1. Preparation:

   • Acquire the Thief Ring: Found early in World 1-1, this ring significantly reduces enemy detection range, making stealth tactics viable.
   • Learn Poison Cloud: This spell can be learned from Sage Freke after rescuing him in the Tower of Latria (World 3-1).
   • Equip a Talisman: Any talisman capable of casting miracles will work.

2. Entering the Arena: As you enter the fog gate, Allant will typically start walking towards the stairs. Equip the Thief Ring before entering.

3. Stealth and Positioning: Slowly move up the stairs. The key is to stay out of Allant’s direct line of sight while remaining close enough to cast Poison Cloud. He will eventually turn around.

4. Casting Poison Cloud: Once Allant has turned his back, approach him cautiously. Cast Poison Cloud, ensuring the cloud engulfs him.

5. Rinse and Repeat: Back away to a safe distance (the top of the stairs is ideal). Wait for the poison effect to wear off (you can tell by the disappearing green cloud). Repeat the process of approaching, casting Poison Cloud, and retreating.

6. Patience is Key: This method takes time. Monitor Allant’s health bar and continue casting Poison Cloud until he is defeated.

7. Dealing with Aggression: If Allant does manage to spot you and approach, roll away and reset your position at the top of the stairs. Re-apply the Thief Ring’s effects by moving further away.

Alternative Strategies and Considerations

While the Poison Cloud method is often considered the easiest, other approaches can be effective.

• Warding: As the article mentions, the spell Warding reduces physical damage by 70%. Recasting every 40 seconds is crucial. This strategy requires a more aggressive approach, relying on close combat.
• Hyper Mode Firestorm: This strategy relies on dealing massive damage in a single burst. It requires being at low health (under 30%) with the Morion Blade and Clever Rat’s Ring equipped. Wait for Allant to turn his back, then unleash Firestorm.
• Light Weapon: If you want to fight him head on, with a weapon, then light weapon should still do a lot of damage.
• Ignite: This magic can deal heavy damage.

General Tips for Fighting Old King Allant

Regardless of your chosen strategy, these tips can improve your chances of success:

• Learn His Attack Patterns: Practice dodging and recognizing Allant’s various attacks.
• Manage Your Stamina: Avoid depleting your stamina completely, as you’ll need it to dodge and roll.
• Be Patient: Do not get greedy with your attacks. Wait for clear openings.
• Utilize Buffs: Spells like Protect and Steel Skin can increase your defense.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What level should I be to fight Old King Allant?

A level range of 60-80 is generally considered appropriate for tackling Old King Allant. However, character builds and player skill can significantly impact the difficulty.

2. Is Old King Allant weak to any particular damage type?

Old King Allant does not have a significant weakness to any specific damage type. He is resistant to most forms of attack, so consistent damage output is more important than exploiting a particular vulnerability.

3. Can Old King Allant steal my levels permanently?

Yes. The Soul Suck attack permanently reduces your highest stat by one level. You can recover these lost levels by leveling up that stat again using souls.

4. Does the Thief Ring completely negate Allant’s detection?

The Thief Ring significantly reduces Allant’s detection range, but it does not make you completely invisible. You still need to move cautiously and avoid being directly in his line of sight.

5. What happens if I get grabbed by Allant’s Soul Suck attack?

If Allant successfully grabs you with the Soul Suck attack, you will lose one level from your highest stat. You’ll see a visual animation of your soul being drained.

6. Can I level up after defeating Old King Allant?

You can not level up once you’ve defeated the False King Allant as this stops you from talking with Maiden in Black to level up.

7. What is the best armor to wear when fighting Old King Allant?

Armor choice depends on your playstyle. Lighter armor allows for faster movement and easier dodging, while heavier armor provides greater protection but reduces agility. A balance between protection and mobility is ideal.

8. Is it possible to parry Old King Allant?

Yes, it is possible to parry some of Old King Allant’s attacks. However, the timing is very strict, and it’s a risky strategy for most players.

9. What is the Soulbrandt weapon I receive after defeating Allant?

Soulbrandt is a unique sword obtained after defeating Old King Allant. It has scaling based on character tendency, making it a powerful weapon for those who maintain a pure white or pure black character tendency.

10. Does Poison Cloud work on other bosses in Demon’s Souls?

Yes, Poison Cloud can be effective against several bosses in Demon’s Souls, particularly those who are slow-moving or have limited range.

11. Can I use ranged attacks other than Poison Cloud to beat Old King Allant?

Yes, other ranged attacks like arrows and spells can be used, but Allant’s speed and agility make it challenging to land consistent hits. Poison Cloud is favored for its consistent damage over time.

12. What is the highest possible Soul Level in Demon’s Souls?

The highest possible Soul Level in Demon’s Souls is 712, achieved when all stats are at 99.

13. What are character tendencies and how do they affect the game?

Character Tendency, explained by the Games Learning Society, is a hidden mechanic that shifts towards White or Black based on your actions (e.g., defeating bosses moves it toward White, dying in human form moves it toward Black). It affects various aspects of the game, including enemy difficulty and item drops. Understanding these systems in games is a great example of how game literacy helps us understand complex systems. For more information, please visit GamesLearningSociety.org.

14. Can I respec my character in Demon’s Souls?

Unfortunately, Demon’s Souls does not allow you to respec your character. Therefore, planning your build carefully is essential.

15. Is Old King Allant the hardest boss in Demon’s Souls?

While difficulty is subjective, Old King Allant is often considered one of the most challenging bosses in Demon’s Souls due to his speed, power, and level-draining ability. However, bosses like Flamelurker and the Maneaters also pose significant challenges.

Conquering Old King Allant requires patience, strategy, and a willingness to adapt. The Poison Cloud method offers a safe and reliable way to defeat him, but exploring other strategies and mastering his attack patterns can also lead to victory. Good luck, and may your journey through Boletaria be successful!