Dark Souls 1: The Optimal Order for Conquering Lord Souls
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The order in which you tackle the Lord Souls in Dark Souls 1 significantly impacts your journey’s difficulty and efficiency. There’s no single “best” order, as it depends on your build, playstyle, and comfort level. However, a generally recommended order is Nito, The Four Kings, Seath the Scaleless, and finally, The Bed of Chaos. This sequence balances difficulty progression, item acquisition, and overall strategic advantage. Let’s delve into why this order works, and explore other viable options.
Why This Order?
The reasoning behind this order is multifaceted. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Nito in the Tomb of the Giants
Nito is often considered the easiest of the four Lord bosses, especially for melee builds. The Tomb of the Giants can be challenging due to its darkness and enemy placement, but with a Skull Lantern or the Cast Light spell, it becomes manageable. Nito’s fight itself is relatively straightforward. You can use a divine weapon to prevent the skeletons he summons from reanimating, making the fight even easier. This early victory provides a boost in confidence and a valuable Lord Soul.
2. The Four Kings in New Londo Ruins
After Nito, venturing into the New Londo Ruins to face the Four Kings presents a moderate increase in difficulty. The key here is proper preparation. You’ll need to drain the water in New Londo using the key from Ingward and equip the Covenant of Artorias ring, acquired by defeating Sif, to access the Abyss where the Four Kings reside.
The Four Kings fight requires high damage output. Staying close and dealing consistent damage is crucial, as is wearing armor with high poise to withstand their attacks. Having a fully upgraded weapon, like a Lightning Spear or a Chaos Blade, is highly recommended. Success here yields another Lord Soul and access to the Darkwraith Covenant.
3. Seath the Scaleless in the Duke’s Archives
Next up is Seath the Scaleless in the Duke’s Archives. This area introduces a unique mechanic: crystal enemies and the need to break a Primordial Crystal before facing Seath in the Crystal Cave. The archives themselves are filled with powerful enemies and tricky traps.
The fight with Seath involves breaking the crystal at the back of the arena to make him vulnerable. Focus your attacks on his tails, especially the Moonlight Butterfly Horn which requires you to sever his tail. For melee builds, sticking close to Seath’s rightmost tail and constantly attacking can effectively cheese the fight, as the original article mentioned. Defeating Seath grants the final essential Lord Soul for sorcerers, the Moonlight Greatsword.
4. The Bed of Chaos in Lost Izalith
Finally, the Bed of Chaos in Lost Izalith is often saved for last due to its infamously frustrating design. This boss fight isn’t about combat prowess but about navigating a treacherous environment and destroying the boss’s weak points.
The Bed of Chaos is more of a puzzle than a fight. You need to destroy two orbs on either side of the arena before dropping into the center to deliver the final blow. Patience, careful observation, and a bit of luck are key to conquering this challenging encounter. Many consider this the worst fight in Dark Souls. Completing this area rewards you with the final Lord Soul required to progress.
Alternative Orders and Considerations
While the above order is a solid foundation, adapting to your specific build and circumstances is crucial. For example:
- Magic Builds: Players focusing on magic might prioritize Seath the Scaleless earlier to acquire the Moonlight Greatsword or other sorceries found in the Duke’s Archives.
- Faith Builds: A faith-based character might still prefer the original order, as the early bosses do not offer particular faith items.
- Item Dependency: If you desperately need a specific item from one of the areas, such as a particular weapon or piece of armor, adjusting the order to acquire that item sooner is a valid strategy.
The ultimate goal is to find an order that aligns with your character’s strengths and weaknesses, making the overall journey more enjoyable and manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many Lord Souls do I need to progress in Dark Souls 1?
You need four Lord Souls to unlock the path to the final area of the game, the Kiln of the First Flame. These souls are obtained by defeating Nito, The Four Kings, Seath the Scaleless, and The Bed of Chaos.
2. What do I do with the Lord Souls after acquiring them?
Once you have all four Lord Souls, you must place them in the Lordvessel located beneath Firelink Shrine. This will open the path to the Kiln of the First Flame, where the final boss awaits.
3. Is the Bed of Chaos really as bad as everyone says?
Yes, the Bed of Chaos is widely considered one of the worst boss fights in Dark Souls 1 due to its frustrating design, reliance on trial and error, and unpredictable attacks. It is less about skill and more about memorizing a specific sequence of actions.
4. Can I change the order of the Lord Souls based on my build?
Absolutely. As mentioned earlier, tailoring the order to your build and playstyle is essential. Magic builds might prioritize Seath, while melee builds might stick with the Nito-first approach.
5. Do I need to kill every boss in Dark Souls 1 to finish the game?
No, you only need to defeat the required main bosses, including the four Lords and Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, to complete the main storyline. Optional bosses, such as Black Dragon Kalameet and Artorias of the Abyss, provide additional challenges and valuable rewards but are not necessary for completion.
6. Where do I get the Covenant of Artorias ring?
The Covenant of Artorias ring is obtained by defeating the Great Grey Wolf Sif in Darkroot Garden. This ring is essential for accessing the Abyss and fighting the Four Kings.
7. What’s the best way to deal with the darkness in the Tomb of the Giants?
Use either the Skull Lantern (dropped by necromancers in the Catacombs) or the Cast Light spell to illuminate the Tomb of the Giants. The Skull Lantern is easier to obtain early on.
8. What is the hardest boss in Dark Souls 1?
Many players consider Black Dragon Kalameet, a DLC boss, to be the hardest due to his high damage output, unpredictable attacks, and the difficulty of severing his tail. Others find Ornstein & Smough or Manus, Father of the Abyss, particularly challenging.
9. What happens if I die while fighting a Lord boss?
You will respawn at the last bonfire you rested at and have to make your way back to the boss arena. Any progress made in the fight will be reset.
10. Can I summon help for the Lord boss fights?
Yes, you can summon other players or NPCs for assistance in the Lord boss fights, provided you are human and have the necessary humanity. This can significantly ease the difficulty, especially for challenging encounters like the Four Kings.
11. What are some good weapons to use against the Lord bosses?
For Nito, a divine weapon is highly effective. For the Four Kings, weapons with high damage output, such as a Lightning Spear or Chaos Blade, are recommended. For Seath, weapons that can quickly break his crystal and damage his tails are ideal. For the Bed of Chaos, a ranged weapon like a bow or pyromancy can be useful for hitting the weak points.
12. What is the Kiln of the First Flame?
The Kiln of the First Flame is the final area of Dark Souls 1, accessible after placing the Lord Souls in the Lordvessel. It is where you face the final boss, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder.
13. What are the Fire Keeper Souls for?
Fire Keeper Souls can be given to Fire Keepers (such as Anastacia of Astora, Quelaan, or the Fire Keeper in Anor Londo) to upgrade your Estus Flask, increasing the amount of health it restores.
14. Is there any lore significance to the order I fight the Lord bosses?
Not explicitly. The game doesn’t dictate a specific lore-based order. However, some players argue that certain orders create a more narratively coherent experience based on the lore surrounding each boss and their respective areas. This is largely subjective.
15. What are some resources to learn more about Dark Souls 1 strategy?
Besides countless online guides and videos, exploring the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) can offer valuable insights into game mechanics and strategies.
Mastering the order in which you acquire the Lord Souls in Dark Souls 1 is a key element of navigating this challenging and rewarding game. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each boss and adapting your approach accordingly, you can conquer Lordran and emerge victorious. Remember to explore, experiment, and most importantly, praise the sun!