Unlocking Power: A Comprehensive Guide to Boss Souls in Soulsborne Games
So, you’ve just felled a mighty beast, a towering demon, or a god-like entity in a Soulsborne game, and you’re now the proud owner of a Boss Soul. Congratulations, Ashen One! But now comes the crucial question: what do you do with it? The short, honest answer is this: almost always, you should keep your Boss Souls to transpose them into unique and powerful weapons, spells, or items. Only after you’ve acquired the items you need, should you consider consuming a Boss Soul for souls. Consuming them for a quick soul boost is generally considered a waste by veteran players. These Souls hold power far beyond a simple infusion of experience points, offering access to exclusive gear that can dramatically alter your build and playstyle.
The Temptation of Souls vs. the Power of Transposition
The immediate appeal of consuming a Boss Soul is understandable. Early on, the amount of souls they provide can seem like a fortune, enough to level up several times or purchase crucial equipment. However, the long-term benefits of using Boss Souls for transposition far outweigh the short-term gain of extra souls. These are, in many cases, unique items, that can only be acquired once per playthrough and are often essential for certain builds or achievements.
Understanding Transposition
Transposition is the process of trading a Boss Soul to a specific NPC in exchange for a unique weapon, spell, or item. The specific requirements and methods vary from game to game, but the core principle remains the same.
- Dark Souls 1: You’ll need to find a Blacksmith who can work with Boss Souls, provide them with the correct Ember and the materials as well as the necessary base weapon at the right upgrade level.
- Demon’s Souls: You need to find Blacksmith Ed to exchange your Boss Souls.
- Dark Souls 3: Ludleth of Courland in Firelink Shrine can transpose Boss Souls.
- Elden Ring: You will trade your Remembrances at the Roundtable Hold to Enia.
Evaluating Your Options
Before rushing to transpose, take the time to research what options each Boss Soul provides. Most Boss Souls offer a choice between multiple items, forcing you to make a strategic decision based on your character build and desired playstyle. Look up stat requirements, scaling, and special abilities to determine which item best suits your needs. Websites like Fextralife are indispensable resources for this.
Considerations Beyond Transposition
While transposition is almost always the preferred route, there are a few niche situations where consuming a Boss Soul might be justifiable:
- Extreme Soul Poverty: If you are genuinely struggling to progress due to a lack of souls, consuming a redundant Boss Soul (one you’ve already transposed) can provide a much-needed boost. However, this should be considered a last resort.
- Completionist Runs: In subsequent playthroughs, if you’ve already acquired all the unique items from a Boss Soul, consuming it for extra souls is perfectly acceptable.
- Specific Challenges: Some players might choose to consume all Boss Souls as part of a self-imposed challenge run.
FAQs About Boss Souls
Q1: Can I duplicate Remembrances (Boss Souls in Elden Ring)?
Unfortunately, no. Each Walking Mausoleum can only be used once, and there are fewer mausoleums than Remembrances. This means you’ll need to choose wisely which Remembrances to duplicate.
Q2: Should I save Major Demon souls?
Yes! Save your Major Demon souls in Demon’s Souls. They can be used later in the game to learn unique spells and miracles, or forge unique weapons. It’s generally not worth consuming them for the soul payoff alone.
Q3: Does killing a boss in soul form increase world tendency?
Yes, in Demon’s Souls, killing a boss in either body or soul form will increase world tendency towards white. This is crucial for unlocking certain events and items.
Q4: What happens if I accidentally consume a Boss Soul?
Don’t panic! While it’s not ideal, it’s not the end of the world. In most Soulsborne games, you can acquire the Boss Soul again in New Game Plus (NG+). The progress you make is just as important as the goal. The educational benefits of gaming are significant, you can learn more at Games Learning Society or at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Q5: Which boss soul weapons are best in Dark Souls 1?
Some of the best Boss Soul weapons in Dark Souls 1 include the Chaos Blade (from the Soul of Quelaag), the Lifehunt Scythe (from the Soul of Priscilla), and Quelaag’s Furysword (also from the Soul of Quelaag).
Q6: Does killing the boss stop coop on Elden Ring?
Beating a boss typically prevents co-op in the immediate area of the boss arena. However, it doesn’t restrict summoning for other areas or bosses.
Q7: Is it worth using remembrance in Elden Ring?
Yes! It’s definitely worth using Remembrances in Elden Ring to acquire unique weapons and spells. Consuming them for runes is generally a waste unless you already have everything you want from them.
Q8: What is the most overpowered weapon in Elden Ring?
The Dark Moon Greatsword is often considered one of the most overpowered weapons in Elden Ring due to its powerful Moonlight Greatsword skill and frost buildup.
Q9: Which Demon’s Souls should I keep?
Always keep your Major Demon Souls. These are crucial for acquiring unique weapons, spells, and miracles.
Q10: How do you turn Boss Souls into weapons?
You turn Boss Souls into weapons through Soul Transposition. Find the appropriate NPC (Ludleth in DS3, Blacksmith Ed in Demon’s Souls, etc.) and trade the Boss Soul for the desired item.
Q11: Should I use Boss Souls for weapons or souls?
Almost always, you should use Boss Souls for weapons, spells, or items. The unique gear is far more valuable than the souls they provide.
Q12: Which is the hardest souls game boss?
Many consider Ornstein & Smough from Dark Souls 1 to be among the hardest bosses in Souls-like history due to their combination of speed, power, and synergistic attacks.
Q13: What is the best boss killing Weapon in Elden Ring?
The Blasphemous Blade is widely considered a fantastic boss-killing weapon in Elden Ring due to its strong Faith scaling, unique skill, and healing properties.
Q14: What is the most useless weapon in Elden Ring?
The Eclipse Shotel is often cited as one of the most useless legendary weapons in Elden Ring due to its ineffective Death Flare weapon art.
Q15: What weapon has the most blood loss in Elden Ring?
The Rivers of Blood katana is renowned for its exceptional blood loss buildup, making it a popular choice for bleed-focused builds.
Mastering the Soul
In conclusion, Boss Souls are a precious resource in Soulsborne games. While the temptation to consume them for quick souls might be strong, the long-term benefits of transposing them into unique weapons, spells, and items far outweigh the immediate gratification. Research your options, plan your build, and wield the power of fallen gods! Good luck, and may the flames guide thee.