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Why Isn’t King Vendrick Attacking Me? A Deep Dive into Dark Souls 2’s Enigmatic King

So, you’ve ventured into the depths of the Undead Crypt, faced the formidable Velstadt, and finally stood before the legendary King Vendrick, only to find him listlessly pacing around his chamber, seemingly indifferent to your presence. Why isn’t King Vendrick attacking you? The answer lies in the unique mechanics governing this pivotal boss encounter in Dark Souls 2.

King Vendrick’s docile behavior is not a glitch or a bug; it’s an intentional design element meant to convey his immense power and the daunting task that lies ahead. Initially, Vendrick possesses a ridiculously high defense, effectively making him nearly invulnerable to conventional attacks. You aren’t dealing enough damage to trigger his aggro. You need to substantially reduce his defense to even begin the fight properly. This is where Giant Souls come into play.

The key to initiating the battle against Vendrick and inflicting significant damage is by acquiring Giant Souls. These souls, obtained from specific locations, drastically lower Vendrick’s defense. Each Giant Soul you possess essentially halves his defense, allowing you to chip away at his massive health pool. Without at least some Giant Souls, your attacks will barely register, leaving Vendrick unresponsive to your presence.

Essentially, Vendrick isn’t “not attacking” you; he is simply shrugging off your pathetic attempts as insignificant. He’s waiting for you to prove yourself worthy of his attention by overcoming the obstacles set before you and gathering the necessary souls to challenge him.

Understanding the Giant Souls Mechanic

The number of Giant Souls you carry directly correlates to the damage you’ll inflict on King Vendrick. The more souls you hold, the more damage you deal. This is not a linear progression, but rather a diminishing returns scenario where each soul provides a significant boost. This system is why you can feel like you’re making zero impact with zero Giant Souls, whereas having 4 to 5 dramatically changes the feel of the fight.

The game subtly hints at this mechanic, emphasizing the importance of exploration and discovery. Players are challenged to engage with the game world beyond simply following the critical path. Finding these Giant Souls is part of the encounter’s puzzle, ensuring a sense of accomplishment when the King finally reacts to your attacks.

Where to Find Giant Souls

Memories of the Giants: Exploring the memories accessible through the Ashen Mist Heart will yield multiple Giant Souls. This means traveling to the Memory of Orro, Memory of Vammar and Memory of Jeigh.
The Ancient Dragon: Defeating the Ancient Dragon in the Dragon Shrine will grant you another Giant Soul. However, this boss battle is optional but provides another soul that significantly impacts the Vendrick fight.

Triggering the Vendrick Fight

Once you have acquired at least 4 Giant Souls (it is possible to do it with less, but a lot harder), your attacks will start to register against Vendrick. You don’t need to reach a specific damage threshold, but rather just do damage to him that is beyond just a miniscule amount. Simply attacking him will now trigger his aggressive behavior, initiating the boss encounter as the King of Drangleic finally takes notice of you as a credible threat. This is where the real challenge begins.

This method of triggering the fight enhances the encounter’s narrative significance. It reinforces the idea that you aren’t just facing another boss, but rather a formidable force that requires preparation and strategic thinking.

King Vendrick: More than Just a Boss Fight

The King Vendrick encounter is a clever representation of his character, emphasizing his immense power and the burden of his past actions. This mechanic encourages players to engage with the game world, explore, and delve deeper into the lore before simply charging in. The intentional design ensures a fulfilling sense of accomplishment once the battle is finally initiated and eventually won.

The struggle against King Vendrick is a microcosm of your entire journey through Drangleic, a testament to the challenge, the reward, and the intricate design choices that make Dark Souls 2 such a memorable and engaging experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about King Vendrick

Here are 15 common questions players often have about King Vendrick:

How many Giant Souls do I need to fight Vendrick effectively? While you can technically fight him with zero Giant Souls, it’s highly recommended to have at least 4 for a manageable fight. Five is ideal, effectively canceling his defense and making the fight proceed as a normal boss encounter.
Do I need a specific item to access King Vendrick? No, you do not need a specific item to reach King Vendrick. You can access his room simply by progressing through the Undead Crypt.
What happens if I fight Vendrick with zero Giant Souls? If you attempt to fight him with zero Giant Souls, you will inflict extremely low damage, making the fight exceedingly tedious and long. It will be like trying to damage an indestructible object.
Is Vendrick the final boss? No, King Vendrick is not the final boss of Dark Souls 2. He is an optional boss that unlocks other endgame content if defeated. The final boss is Nashandra, found in the Throne of Want.
Can I fight Vendrick before or after facing the Throne Watcher and Defender? You can face Vendrick at any point. His fight does not lock you into any progression-specific event.
Can I summon help for the King Vendrick fight? No, you cannot summon phantoms to help you against King Vendrick. It’s a solitary battle, enforcing the idea that you must overcome his challenges alone.
Is Vendrick weak to anything? Vendrick is relatively resistant to all elements, but slightly more vulnerable to lightning and dark damage (20-25%). Giant Souls are the most effective method to inflict damage significantly against him.
Can I poison King Vendrick? Yes, poison can affect Vendrick. Although, the amount of damage is small, and having Giant Souls is still the most effective approach.
Does killing King Vendrick end the game? No, killing Vendrick does not end the game. You can continue exploring and completing any remaining content. You can only go into NG+ by selecting the option in Majula.
What is the reward for killing King Vendrick? Upon defeating Vendrick, you can find the Soul of the King and Vendrick’s armor in the room behind the vines near the second Shrine of Amana bonfire.
What is the purpose of the Giant Souls? Giant Souls are not typical souls. They specifically and exclusively reduce Vendrick’s defense to a manageable level.
Is it necessary to fight the Ancient Dragon to get all 5 souls? No, the Ancient Dragon is optional. You can get 4 Giant Souls without killing it, but this soul makes the fight significantly more comfortable.
How do I get the Ashen Mist Heart to access the Giant Memories? You get the Ashen Mist Heart as part of the game’s main quest, by beating the boss called “The Duke’s Dear Freja” in Tseldora.
What happens to Vendrick if I have the crowns? Collecting the crowns and then speaking to Vendrick adds to his dialogue. You also get “Vendrick’s Blessing,” which applies to all 4 crowns.
What is the “cheese” method of beating King Vendrick? There are a few “cheeses” you can do. The most popular and reliable being to position yourself to his left and just behind him, at his “butt cheek”. You can keep hitting him with any weapon and he will hardly ever hit you. Another method involves using Fire Tempest and Firestorm behind him, the animation puts you in a position that often causes him to miss, as they have vertical/horizontal attacks.

Why isn t King Vendrick attacking me?