Who is the Strongest FromSoftware Protagonist? A Definitive Ranking

The debate rages on among fans of FromSoftware’s notoriously challenging action RPGs: which protagonist reigns supreme? While each embodies incredible skill, resilience, and the capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, the title of strongest protagonist ultimately belongs to the Tarnished from Elden Ring. This conclusion is based not solely on raw power, but on the cumulative feats, lore implications, and the sheer scale of their accomplishments.

Understanding the Contenders

Before diving deeper, let’s briefly review the primary contenders. These are the player-controlled characters who have carved their names into the history of Soulsborne games:

• Chosen Undead (Dark Souls): The protagonist of the game that started it all, tasked with linking the First Flame or ushering in the Age of Dark.
• Bearer of the Curse (Dark Souls 2): Destined to break the cycle of the Undead Curse and reclaim a kingdom fallen into ruin.
• Ashen One (Dark Souls 3): An Unkindled tasked with returning the Lords of Cinder to their thrones and rekindling the First Flame.
• Hunter (Bloodborne): A seeker of Paleblood in the gothic nightmare of Yharnam, battling cosmic horrors.
• Sekiro (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice): A shinobi sworn to protect his lord, engaged in a brutal fight against fate and the divine.
• Tarnished (Elden Ring): A resurrected exile tasked with becoming the Elden Lord and restoring the shattered Elden Ring.

Why the Tarnished Takes the Crown

The Tarnished’s claim to the strongest title rests on several pillars:

• Feats of Power: The Tarnished faces a staggering array of adversaries, including demigods wielding vast power, ancient dragons capable of reshaping landscapes, and cosmic entities with reality-bending abilities. They defeat all of them, often wielding the very powers they had once only faced. These feats surpass even the impressive accomplishments of the other protagonists.
• Scale of the World: The sheer size and scope of the Elden Ring’s world, the Lands Between, dwarfs that of any previous FromSoftware title. This suggests that the Tarnished had to overcome a greater density and variety of challenges than their predecessors.
• Lore Significance: The Tarnished’s journey is not merely one of personal struggle, but a quest to reshape the very fabric of their world. They become Elden Lord, directly influencing the cosmological order in a way that no other protagonist manages.
• Endgame Power: The Tarnished’s power by the end of Elden Ring is simply unmatched. They have access to a vast arsenal of weapons, magic, and incantations, often drawing on the strength of the very entities they’ve defeated. The Tarnished can even wield powers from the Outer Gods. This level of power at its peak is not reached by other protagonists.
• The Ability to Bend Reality: At the end, some endings allow the Tarnished to reshape the very nature of the world, including the removal of the influence of outer gods. This level of agency is unprecedented.

While characters like the Hunter and the Ashen One demonstrate incredible might, the scale of the Tarnished’s journey and the transformative nature of their ultimate actions solidify their place as the strongest. The other protagonists all dealt with world-altering threats, but the Tarnished actually ends up changing their world based on the player’s choices in a way that is never seen elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

H2 Frequently Asked Questions

H3 1. Is the Hunter more powerful than the Chosen Undead?

The Hunter from Bloodborne is immensely powerful and agile, capable of slaying nightmarish cosmic entities. However, the Chosen Undead’s feats in Dark Souls, such as defeating powerful gods and linking the First Flame, demonstrates a different kind of strength, and while they may not have the same speed as the Hunter, their accomplishments are monumental. Comparing the two across different game mechanics is challenging, but overall, they stand on similar power levels when comparing total accomplishments, leaning towards the Chosen Undead in pure power.

H3 2. How does the Ashen One compare to the Tarnished?

The Ashen One of Dark Souls 3 is a force to be reckoned with, capable of defeating the Lords of Cinder, who are themselves embodiments of great power. However, the Tarnished in Elden Ring faces a much more diverse and powerful array of foes, including demigods and powerful beings tied to Outer Gods, and ultimately has greater world-altering power. This places the Tarnished at a higher overall power level.

H3 3. Could Sekiro defeat the other protagonists?

Sekiro’s prowess as a shinobi is undeniable. His mobility and combat techniques are extremely lethal. However, compared to the protagonists of the Souls series, Sekiro’s power is more grounded, relying on a singular fighting style and less on supernatural strength. Sekiro could potentially defeat some protagonists one-on-one, but would have difficultly facing enemies that have access to magic or the powers of gods. He is strong, but does not match the raw power of characters who’ve faced gods directly.

H3 4. Is the Chosen Undead’s fate canon?

The most widely accepted canon ending for the Chosen Undead is linking the Fire. However, the games are designed with the intent that the player’s choices define their unique journey, and all endings hold validity within the context of the game universe.

H3 5. Does the Ashen One go hollow?

The Ashen One, unlike earlier undead characters, does not hollow in the same way. They can acquire Dark Sigils, which give some indication of hollowing, but do not affect their abilities and appearance in the same way.

H3 6. Is the Tarnished immortal?

The Tarnished is indeed cursed with a form of immortality, being resurrected repeatedly as they pursue the quest to become Elden Lord. This is a driving force behind their actions and a key aspect of their narrative.

H3 7. Who does the Tarnished marry?

In one of the possible endings, the Tarnished becomes Ranni’s consort and rules alongside her. However, the ‘marriage’ is more of a cosmic partnership and not a traditional marriage.

H3 8. Is the Tarnished a good guy?

The morality of the Tarnished is highly ambiguous. While they strive to fulfill their destiny, many of the endings of Elden Ring are not necessarily “good” outcomes. The Tarnished’s journey is more about restoring order than acting heroically.

H3 9. What is the hardest boss in the Souls games?

The difficulty of a boss is subjective, but many players often cite Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough from Dark Souls as one of the most challenging boss fights across all Souls-like games. Their synergy and unique attacks pose a significant challenge. Other notable difficult bosses include Malenia, Blade of Miquella from Elden Ring.

H3 10. Who is the most powerful entity in Dark Souls?

Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, is given credit for linking the First Flame. However, his weakened state when the Chosen Undead faces him does not place him in the absolute top tier of power. The true most powerful entities in Dark Souls are potentially Manus (who created the Abyss) and the pygmies who had access to the dark soul.

H3 11. Who is the true villain in Dark Souls?

While not definitively a single villain, Gwyn’s actions, out of fear for the Age of Dark, set off the events of the Dark Souls series, making him arguably the main antagonist. His fear of the fading flame and his attempt to prevent the coming age of humanity is the driving catalyst for the events of the game.

H3 12. Is linking the fire the canon ending?

While it is widely accepted as a potential canon outcome for Dark Souls, the games intentionally leave room for multiple interpretations. However, the lore strongly suggests that linking the fire is the expected outcome for the story.

H3 13. What is more powerful than a lich?

A Dracolich is generally considered more powerful than a regular lich. A Dracolich that further evolves into a Demilich would be among the most fearsome undead imaginable. They possess enhanced physical abilities alongside their mastery of necromancy.

H3 14. Is raising undead evil?

Generally, raising the undead is considered an evil act within most fantasy settings. It involves desecrating the natural cycle of life and often implies a disregard for the sanctity of life and the souls that inhabit bodies.

H3 15. Who is the freakiest boss in Dark Souls?

The Orphan of Kos from Bloodborne is often cited as one of the creepiest and most horrifying bosses due to its disturbing design, haunting sounds, and frantic attacks. Its grotesque appearance and erratic behavior make it deeply unsettling for many players.

Conclusion

The debate over who the strongest FromSoftware protagonist is will likely continue, but considering the sheer scope of their accomplishments, the challenges they face, and their ultimate ability to reshape the world, the Tarnished from Elden Ring stands as the most powerful. They overcome gods, demigods, and cosmic horrors, making their journey the most significant in the FromSoftware pantheon. While other protagonists displayed incredible strength and will, the scale of the Tarnished’s achievements place them at the top.