How do you beat Gwyn, the final boss of Dark Souls?
Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, waits in the Kiln of the First Flame at the end of Dark Souls. He is fast and aggressive, but almost all of his sword swings can be parried. Parrying him and following up with a riposte is the most effective strategy; if you can't parry reliably, use a shield with high stability, stay close, roll through his combos and heal only when you have space.
Before the fight
- Place the Lordvessel and collect the Lord Souls from Gravelord Nito, Seath the Scaleless, the Four Kings and the Bed of Chaos (or the Witch of Izalith) to open the way.
- Fill your Estus Flask and upgrade it as far as you can.
- Bring a parry-friendly item in your off hand, such as a small or medium shield, or a stable shield if you plan to block.
How to beat him
- Learn the rhythm. Gwyn opens with fast slashes in combos of several hits. Watch a few cycles before you attack.
- Parry. Time your parry against his normal sword swings. A successful parry lets you riposte for heavy damage. His grab cannot be parried, so roll away from it.
- If you block instead: keep your stamina above half, block his combos, then punish with one or two hits after the last swing.
- Avoid the grab and the plunging attack. Roll sideways or away when he jumps or reaches for you.
- Heal at range. Gwyn closes distance fast; only drink Estus right after a combo ends or when you have distance.
After the fight
When Gwyn falls, approach the bonfire. Lighting it gives the Age of Fire ending; walking away gives the Dark Lord ending. The game then starts New Game Plus.
FAQ
Are the Four Kings required?
Yes. Their Lord Soul is needed for the Lordvessel. To reach them, you need the Covenant of Artorias ring to enter the Abyss.
What is the hardest boss in Dark Souls 1?
Players often name Ornstein and Smough, Artorias and Manus from the DLC, and the Four Kings for under-leveled characters.
Is the Bed of Chaos hard?
It is more about platforming than combat, and many players consider it the weakest boss fight in the game.
What is the easiest boss in Dark Souls?
Common answers include the Asylum Demon on a second visit, Pinwheel and the Ceaseless Discharge.