Who is the Final Boss in the Ringed City?
The final boss of The Ringed City DLC for Dark Souls 3 is Slave Knight Gael. This encounter concludes the DLC’s narrative and serves as a climactic battle, making him arguably the final antagonist of the entire Dark Souls series. Gael’s transformation and the weight of his story make this fight an unforgettable experience for players.
Slave Knight Gael: More Than Just a Final Boss
A Twisted Journey
Gael’s journey is a tragic one. He is first encountered in Ashes of Ariandel DLC as a seemingly benevolent figure, guiding the player towards the Painted World. However, his motivations take a dark turn in The Ringed City. Driven by desperation to find the Dark Soul needed for the Painter’s world, Gael descends into madness. He travels to the Ringed City to harvest the blood of the Pygmy Lords. In his desperation to find the pigment, he consumes the Dark Soul, which warps him into a powerful, chaotic being. This transformation makes him the main antagonist in The Ringed City and the ultimate test of a player’s skills. He represents the culmination of the series’ themes about the consequences of ambition and the corrupting nature of power.
The Battle
The fight with Slave Knight Gael is a grueling three-phase encounter. Each phase presents a different set of challenges, demanding adaptation and mastery of the combat mechanics.
- Phase 1: Gael is a formidable, agile warrior utilizing sweeping sword attacks and crossbow fire. This phase requires the player to be patient and aware of his movements.
- Phase 2: After losing a significant amount of health, Gael unleashes a chaotic display of the power he has absorbed. His attacks become more erratic, with bursts of dark magic and erratic movements. He also becomes more resistant to Dark Damage in this phase.
- Phase 3: Gael’s final phase sees him at the peak of his corrupted power, wielding the Dark Soul’s full might. The arena is now engulfed in lightning and his attacks become even more unpredictable and devastating. In this phase, he is still resistant to Dark Damage. He unleashes several AoE attacks requiring precise timing and dodging. This is where players will need to combine everything they have learned about the game’s combat mechanics.
Why Gael is Considered a “Final” Boss
While Soul of Cinder is the final boss required to complete the base game, Gael’s place as the final antagonist of the series comes from the narrative and gameplay significance within the context of The Ringed City DLC. He embodies the themes of the entire series – cyclical nature of fate, the price of ambition and the corrupting influence of power. Defeating him is not just a challenge of skill, but a conclusion to a thematic and narrative arc. Furthermore, he is one of the most difficult and complex bosses in the entire game. The challenge, coupled with his lore and significance to the overall story, has cemented his status as the true final boss for many players.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bosses are in the Ringed City DLC?
There are three main bosses in The Ringed City DLC: Demon Prince (shared boss fight), Darkeater Midir, and Slave Knight Gael. These encounters are known for their difficulty and complex mechanics, making The Ringed City one of the most challenging areas in Dark Souls 3.
Is Slave Knight Gael a bad guy?
While Gael starts as a deuteragonist, helping the player in the Ashes of Ariandel, he becomes the main antagonist in The Ringed City. Driven by desperation, he sacrifices himself to consume the Dark Soul, transforming him into a corrupted being. So, yes, he becomes a bad guy in the context of the DLC’s narrative.
What are Gael’s weaknesses?
During his boss fight, Gael is weak to Strike Damage, Frostbite, and Poison/Toxic. He is resistant to Bleed and Slash Damage. Furthermore, during the second and third phases, he is also resistant to Dark Damage.
Is Gael harder than Midir?
Whether Gael is harder than Midir is a matter of debate. Many find Midir harder in early playthroughs due to his massive health and damage output. However, around NG+3, Gael’s increased health and damage make him a formidable opponent, with many players finding him to be more difficult. Ultimately, it varies from player to player.
What is the saddest boss fight in Dark Souls 3?
Many of the boss fights in Dark Souls 3 have tragic lore behind them, but Slave Knight Gael is often cited as one of the saddest. His descent into madness and the desperation of his quest to save the Painted World make his boss fight a heart-wrenching encounter. Other contenders include The Nameless King, Iudex Gundyr, and The Twin Princes Lothric & Lorian.
Who is the most badass boss in Dark Souls 3?
The title of “most badass” is subjective but, bosses such as Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, Slave Knight Gael, and Soul of Cinder are considered top contenders. Their impressive designs, challenging fights and lore contribute to their ‘badass’ status.
Who is the hardest boss in Dark Souls 3?
The Nameless King is often cited as the hardest boss in the base game, known for his fast attacks and challenging two-phase fight. Within the DLCs however, Darkeater Midir and Slave Knight Gael also earn high spots in difficulty rankings.
Is the Ringed City the hardest area in Dark Souls 3?
The Ringed City is widely regarded as the hardest area in Dark Souls 3. It features challenging enemies, difficult platforming and complex boss fights, pushing the player’s skills to their limits.
What is Sister Friede weak to?
Sister Friede is primarily weak to Strike damage. She is also vulnerable to the bleed status effect.
What are Demon Princes weak to?
The Demon Prince boss fight is actually two demons initially. Both demons are weak to slash damage to the head. They are also susceptible to critical hits when staggered.
Why did Gael become evil?
Gael did not become evil in a traditional sense. His actions were driven by a desperate attempt to find the Dark Soul needed to save the Painted World of Ariandel. He becomes increasingly desperate and ultimately corrupted by the Dark Soul. This process led to the warped and violent state he presents in the final boss fight.
Did Gael sacrifice himself?
Yes, Gael sacrifices himself to consume the Dark Soul. His intention was not a heroic act for the world as a whole, but rather to obtain the pigment necessary for the Painter of the Painted World. This consumption is what led to his transformation into the final boss of the Ringed City.
Is Gael stronger than the Nameless King?
It’s a difficult question. Both bosses are considered top-tier opponents within the Dark Souls universe. Gael, who comes from a later point in the lore timeline, is arguably comparable in power to the likes of Soul of Cinder and Nameless King.
Who is the freakiest boss in Dark Souls?
Many bosses within the Souls series are creepy, but in Dark Souls 3, Darkeater Midir and Oceiros, The Consumed King are often cited as the most disturbing due to their unsettling designs and unpredictable attacks.
What is the hardest Dark Souls boss ever?
This varies based on individual preference, but bosses like Black Dragon Kalameet from Dark Souls 1, Manus, Father of the Abyss, and Dragon Slayer Ornstein & Executioner Smough are frequent contenders in the ‘hardest’ category. From a general perspective, bosses like Black Dragon Kalameet, who is optional and a hidden boss in Dark Souls, are usually more difficult than the mandatory bosses.