Dark Souls has 26 named boss entries under the broadest useful checklist: 22 from the base game when the revisited Asylum encounter is counted separately, plus the four Artorias of the Abyss bosses included in the remastered release. That total includes optional encounters and route-dependent fights, so guides that report a smaller number are usually using a narrower counting convention.
This guide separates required, optional, and skippable bosses; gives an example progression order without pretending that Lordran has one fixed route; and keeps the DLC roster separate from the original game. It also flags boss-soul, tail-cut, and access details that are easy to miss. Spoilers for areas, bosses, rewards, and progression follow.
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Dark Souls boss checklist at a glance
In this article, required means necessary on the ordinary route to an ending or to a particular required objective. Optional means the boss is not needed to complete the game. Route-dependent means a normal player commonly fights the boss, but a shortcut, alternate entrance, Master Key route, or sequence break can avoid it.
Those labels are practical rather than absolute. Dark Souls is unusually open-ended, and several areas can be tackled in different orders. The Wikidot boss reference likewise presents boss order as flexible rather than rigid. The broader classification used here follows the Dark Souls Wiki boss reference, which distinguishes named, non-respawning bosses from enemies more commonly treated as minibosses.
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| # | Boss | Area | Content | Normal status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asylum Demon | Northern Undead Asylum | Main game | Required later; first encounter can be postponed |
| 2 | Taurus Demon | Undead Burg | Main game | Route-dependent; skippable with alternate routing |
| 3 | Bell Gargoyles | Undead Parish | Main game | Required for the conventional first-bell route |
| 4 | Capra Demon | Lower Undead Burg | Main game | Optional by alternate-route standards |
| 5 | Gaping Dragon | The Depths | Main game | Optional; Blighttown has another entrance |
| 6 | Chaos Witch Quelaag | Quelaag’s Domain | Main game | Required on the conventional second-bell route |
| 7 | Moonlight Butterfly | Darkroot Garden | Main game | Optional |
| 8 | Great Grey Wolf Sif | Darkroot Garden | Main game | Required for the ordinary Four Kings route |
| 9 | Stray Demon | Revisited Northern Undead Asylum | Main game | Optional |
| 10 | Iron Golem | Sen’s Fortress | Main game | Required to reach Anor Londo normally |
| 11 | Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough | Anor Londo | Main game | Required |
| 12 | Dark Sun Gwyndolin | Anor Londo | Main game | Optional |
| 13 | Crossbreed Priscilla | Painted World of Ariamis | Main game | Optional; the Painted World can be left without starting the fight |
| 14 | Pinwheel | The Catacombs | Main game | Required on the conventional Catacombs route; timing and routing vary |
| 15 | Gravelord Nito | Tomb of the Giants | Main game | Required Lord Soul objective |
| 16 | Seath the Scaleless | Duke’s Archives and Crystal Cave | Main game | Required; the first Archives encounter cannot be won |
| 17 | Four Kings | The Abyss | Main game | Required Lord Soul objective |
| 18 | Ceaseless Discharge | Demon Ruins | Main game | Route-dependent; Chaos Servant shortcut can bypass it |
| 19 | Demon Firesage | Demon Ruins | Main game | Route-dependent; shortcut can bypass it |
| 20 | Centipede Demon | Demon Ruins/Lost Izalith approach | Main game | Route-dependent; shortcut can bypass it |
| 21 | Bed of Chaos | Lost Izalith | Main game | Required Lord Soul objective |
| 22 | Gwyn, Lord of Cinder | Kiln of the First Flame | Main game | Required final boss |
| 23 | Sanctuary Guardian | Oolacile Sanctuary | DLC | Required within the DLC route |
| 24 | Knight Artorias | Royal Wood | DLC | Required within the DLC route |
| 25 | Black Dragon Kalameet | Royal Wood | DLC | Optional |
| 26 | Manus, Father of the Abyss | Chasm of the Abyss | DLC | Required final boss of the DLC storyline |
The table counts the Stray Demon as its own named encounter and includes all four DLC bosses. It does not attempt to fold minibosses or every dangerous non-boss enemy into the total. This is why “how many bosses are in Dark Souls?” does not have one universally accepted answer.
An example Dark Souls boss order
This is a sensible first-playthrough order, not a mandatory sequence. Optional bosses are shown in the places where they are naturally accessible. You can move many of them earlier or later.
- Northern Undead Asylum: defeat or bypass the opening Asylum Demon encounter, then return later for the Stray Demon if desired.
- Undead Burg and Parish: Taurus Demon, then Bell Gargoyles.
- Lower Burg, Depths, and Blighttown: Capra Demon, Gaping Dragon, and Chaos Witch Quelaag. Capra and Gaping Dragon can be bypassed with alternate routing, but this is the straightforward early-game path.
- Darkroot: Moonlight Butterfly and Great Grey Wolf Sif are optional to general completion, although Sif is normally needed before entering the Abyss for the Four Kings.
- Sen’s Fortress and Anor Londo: Iron Golem, followed by Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough.
- Optional Anor Londo and Painted World content: Dark Sun Gwyndolin and Crossbreed Priscilla can be completed whenever their areas are accessible.
- After the Lordvessel: complete the four Lord Soul branches in any practical order: Nito, Seath, the Four Kings, and Bed of Chaos. Pinwheel precedes Nito on the ordinary Catacombs route, while the Demon Ruins bosses precede Bed of Chaos on the ordinary Lost Izalith route.
- Artorias of the Abyss: complete Sanctuary Guardian, Knight Artorias, and Manus before Gwyn if you want to finish the DLC during the current playthrough. Black Dragon Kalameet is an optional detour within that content.
- Kiln of the First Flame: defeat Gwyn last if you want to preserve access to other unfinished bosses and DLC in that cycle.
Do not read “required” as “the game has permanently locked you into this order.” It means required for the normal objective or route. Master Key routing, shortcuts, multiplayer, sequence breaks, and other advanced techniques can change the practical order substantially.
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Northern Undead Asylum and early Lordran
Asylum Demon
The Asylum Demon is the tutorial boss. The first meeting is designed to teach the player that retreat is sometimes the correct answer: the side exit allows you to leave and return later with a more suitable arena and equipment. The later encounter is the one that must be cleared for ordinary progression out of the Asylum. The revisited Asylum also contains the separately named Stray Demon, so the two should not be collapsed into one checklist entry.
Taurus Demon
The Taurus Demon guards the early Undead Burg route and is one of the game’s first major tests of positioning, vertical space, and pressure from a dangerous arena. It is commonly defeated, but it is not an absolute requirement: a Master Key or other alternate routing can take a run around the conventional encounter.
Bell Gargoyles
The Bell Gargoyles are the first-bell boss and a required encounter on the standard early route. The fight changes when the second gargoyle joins, making target control and quick damage important. Defeating them allows the player to ring the first bell of awakening.
Capra Demon
The Capra Demon is found in the Lower Undead Burg and commonly blocks the straightforward path into the Depths. Its cramped arena makes the opening seconds unusually important. Despite its prominence in a typical playthrough, the boss is optional in the broad sense because alternate routes can bypass the Lower Burg approach.
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The Gaping Dragon waits at the end of the Depths. It is the conventional route to the Blighttown entrance, but Blighttown can also be reached from another direction, making this boss optional for game completion. The Depths route remains useful for players who want its items, keys, and normal early-game progression.
Blighttown, Quelaag’s Domain, and Darkroot Garden
Chaos Witch Quelaag
Chaos Witch Quelaag is the standard second-bell boss. Her defeat gives access to the bell in Quelaag’s Domain and opens the conventional route toward the Demon Ruins. She is therefore a required objective for the normal route, even though high-level routing can make the wider game less linear than that description suggests.
Moonlight Butterfly
The Moonlight Butterfly is an optional Darkroot Garden boss. It is not needed to finish the game, but it is a useful encounter for players exploring the area and pursuing its associated rewards. The fight is substantially different from most early melee encounters because much of the damage window is dictated by the boss’s movement and ranged attacks.
Great Grey Wolf Sif
Great Grey Wolf Sif is normally the gatekeeper for the Covenant of Artorias, the ring needed to survive the descent into the Abyss. That makes Sif effectively required for the ordinary Four Kings route, although unusual sequence-breaking methods can alter that progression. Sif is located in Darkroot Garden and should be treated as a separate boss from the Moonlight Butterfly.
Stray Demon
The Stray Demon is an optional rematch-style encounter in the revisited Northern Undead Asylum. It is a distinct named boss with its own arena and reward, not simply a second listing of the tutorial Asylum Demon. It can be left until the player has stronger equipment and more experience with delayed area-of-effect attacks.
Sen’s Fortress and Anor Londo
Iron Golem
The Iron Golem is the required boss at the top of Sen’s Fortress. Its defeat carries the player to Anor Londo, making it a progression boss even though the arena and fight itself are separate from the city’s major encounter.
Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough
Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough are a required dual-boss encounter in Anor Londo. Both bosses are active at the same time; when one is defeated, the survivor absorbs its power and becomes the second-phase boss. The arena’s pillars can provide momentary cover and help separate the pair, a feature also documented in the individual encounter reference.
Because the second phase depends on which boss dies first, this is also one of the most important boss-soul decisions in the game. The soul and equipment outcome can differ depending on whether Ornstein or Smough is defeated first.
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Dark Sun Gwyndolin
Dark Sun Gwyndolin is an optional boss associated with the Darkmoon covenant and the lower, hidden section of Anor Londo. The fight is not needed to reach the ending, but attacking Gwyndolin can change the state of Anor Londo and affect covenant-related interactions, so it is worth doing deliberately rather than by accident.
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Crossbreed Priscilla
Crossbreed Priscilla is the optional boss of the Painted World of Ariamis. The player can leave the Painted World without fighting her as long as the encounter has not been initiated. If you are collecting every boss reward or want her tail weapon, do not assume that simply reaching the exit commits you to the battle.
Lord Soul branches and the endgame
Once the Lordvessel has been obtained, the game opens into four major objective branches. They are often listed as though they form a fixed sequence, but they do not. Choose based on build, resistance needs, shortcuts, and which area you are prepared to explore.
Pinwheel
Pinwheel is the boss of the Catacombs. The conventional route places him before the Tomb of the Giants and the Nito branch, and the broad checklist treats him as a required encounter for that route. In practice, the Catacombs can be approached and navigated through alternate methods, so speedrunners and sequence-break routes may not treat him as an absolute requirement.
Gravelord Nito
Gravelord Nito is the Lord Soul boss at the end of the Tomb of the Giants. He is one of the four endgame Lord Soul objectives and must be defeated for the normal completion route. The darkness and narrow terrain of the approach make preparation and navigation as important as the boss arena itself.
Seath the Scaleless
Seath’s first encounter in the Duke’s Archives is deliberately unwinnable. The player must later reach the Crystal Cave, where the real fight takes place and the required Lord Soul is obtained. Treating the first meeting as a failed attempt rather than a progression event is a common source of confusion.
Four Kings
The Four Kings are fought in the Abyss beneath New Londo Ruins. The normal access sequence requires draining New Londo and equipping the Covenant of Artorias before entering the Abyss; without the ring, the player falls to death instead of reaching the arena. The fight is also unusual because additional Kings can appear as the battle continues, making damage output and time management central to survival. The boss route and access requirements are summarized in the Wikidot boss listing.
Ceaseless Discharge
Ceaseless Discharge is the first major boss associated with the Demon Ruins. The normal route toward Lost Izalith passes through this encounter, but opening the Chaos Servant shortcut under its requirements can bypass it. It is therefore best labeled route-dependent rather than simply required or optional.
Demon Firesage
Demon Firesage is an optional-by-shortcut Demon Ruins boss. Players following the full Demon Ruins path will normally encounter it, while a functioning Lost Izalith shortcut allows the boss to be skipped. It is also a rematch-style demon encounter, so players familiar with the Asylum’s optional Stray Demon will recognize some of its broad attack ideas.
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Centipede Demon
The Centipede Demon normally guards the approach to Lost Izalith and is the next major obstacle on the long route through the Demon Ruins. Like Demon Firesage, it can be bypassed when the relevant Chaos Servant shortcut is open. It is not one of the four Lord Soul bosses, whereas the Bed of Chaos beyond it is.
Bed of Chaos
The Bed of Chaos is the required Lost Izalith Lord Soul boss, but it is not a conventional duel. The objective is to destroy separate parts of the arena-bound boss and then reach the vulnerable center. The fight’s progress persists after death, which makes it fundamentally different from a normal boss whose entire health bar resets after a failed attempt. Its environmental design is one reason many boss-counting guides distinguish “boss encounter” from “standard combat duel.”
Gwyn, Lord of Cinder
Gwyn is the required final boss in the Kiln of the First Flame. The ending choice occurs after the fight. If you still want to complete optional bosses or the DLC in the current cycle, defeat Gwyn last: finishing the encounter moves the playthrough into its ending and subsequent new-game cycle rather than returning you to ordinary free exploration.
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The remastered edition includes the original game and Artorias of the Abyss DLC. Bandai Namco’s official Dark Souls Remastered product page identifies the release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch and confirms that the DLC is included. The DLC bosses belong in a separate section because they are not part of the base-game Lordran route.
Sanctuary Guardian
Sanctuary Guardian is the first major boss on the Oolacile DLC route and is required to progress through that storyline. Its fast movement and combination of ranged and close attacks make it a sharp difficulty jump for players who enter the DLC late in a playthrough.
Knight Artorias
The game-facing name is Knight Artorias; some references also call him Artorias the Abysswalker. He is the central DLC boss in the Royal Wood and a required encounter on the way through the Oolacile storyline. His fight emphasizes aggressive spacing, fast recoveries, and punishing his attempts to power up rather than passively waiting for a long opening.
Black Dragon Kalameet
Black Dragon Kalameet is an optional DLC dragon boss. The normal setup involves Hawkeye Gough, although alternate methods exist. Defeating Kalameet awards the Calamity Ring, and cutting the dragon’s tail grants the Obsidian Greatsword, so completionists should plan for the tail-cut attempt before simply finishing the fight. The reward and setup distinctions are also recorded in the boss reference.
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Manus, Father of the Abyss
Manus is the final compulsory boss of Artorias of the Abyss. The DLC’s story centers on Oolacile’s collapse and the player’s confrontation with Manus, making him the DLC counterpart to Gwyn as the final required encounter of that content branch. He is not required to complete the base game.
Boss souls, tail cuts, and rewards
A boss victory can give more than a large soul payout. Before consuming a boss soul, check whether your character wants one of its unique weapons, spells, or other conversions. Boss souls are finite during a playthrough, and consuming one for currency permanently removes that opportunity until a later cycle.
- Boss-soul equipment: many boss souls can be used for unique weapons or shields rather than consumed. The required upgrade path, weapon type, and forge location matter, so keep the soul in storage until you have checked the recipe.
- Mutually exclusive outcomes: Ornstein and Smough produce different second-phase outcomes depending on which boss dies first. Sif’s soul also has multiple important uses, and collecting every possible item generally requires more than one playthrough.
- Tail rewards: some bosses have a separate weapon reward for severing the tail. This reward is not the same as the boss soul. Priscilla, Seath, and Kalameet are especially important for players pursuing a complete weapon collection; Kalameet’s tail gives the Obsidian Greatsword.
- Key progression items: some encounters matter because of what they unlock rather than because of their soul. Sif provides the Covenant of Artorias needed for the normal Four Kings route, while Iron Golem opens the way to Anor Londo.
- Unique progression rewards: Pinwheel and the Lord Soul bosses can provide important progression or build-related rewards in addition to souls. Do not judge whether a boss is worth fighting solely by its soul value.
For a completionist run, keep three separate checklists: the 26 named boss encounters, boss-soul conversions, and tail-cut rewards. A character can defeat every boss and still miss a weapon by consuming a soul or killing a dragon without severing its tail.
Why different guides list different numbers
There is no single count unless the scope is stated. A broad named-roster count can reach 26 by including:
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- the main-game bosses;
- the Stray Demon as a separate named encounter;
- optional bosses such as Moonlight Butterfly, Gwyndolin, and Priscilla; and
- the four Artorias of the Abyss bosses included in Dark Souls: Remastered.
A narrower guide may count only primary progression encounters, exclude DLC, combine or omit repeat-style encounters, or leave out optional bosses. Some references therefore use a 22-encounter figure for a more restricted scope. Neither number is meaningful without explaining what has been included.
The same issue affects the word required. Taurus Demon, Capra Demon, Gaping Dragon, Ceaseless Discharge, Demon Firesage, and Centipede Demon can all be avoided under some routing conditions. Sif is required for the ordinary Four Kings access route, but not necessarily for every advanced sequence. The most useful checklist therefore reports both the normal route and the exceptions.
Bosses versus minibosses
This list is not a list of every powerful enemy in the game. A formal boss is generally a named, non-respawning encounter that displays a dedicated health bar when the fight begins. Some large or dangerous non-respawning enemies are instead categorized as minibosses, and classification can vary between references.
Keeping minibosses separate prevents two common mistakes: inflating the boss total with every elite enemy, and assuming that an enemy without a conventional boss presentation is part of the 26-entry named roster. If you are building a 100% checklist, use a separate miniboss and unique-enemy list alongside this boss list rather than changing the definition halfway through.
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- Asylum Demon — include the later required encounter; record the opening encounter separately if tracking every meeting.
- Taurus Demon and Bell Gargoyles.
- Capra Demon, Gaping Dragon, and Chaos Witch Quelaag.
- Moonlight Butterfly, Great Grey Wolf Sif, and Stray Demon.
- Iron Golem and Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough.
- Dark Sun Gwyndolin and Crossbreed Priscilla.
- Pinwheel and Gravelord Nito.
- Seath the Scaleless and Four Kings.
- Ceaseless Discharge, Demon Firesage, Centipede Demon, and Bed of Chaos.
- Gwyn, Lord of Cinder.
- Sanctuary Guardian, Knight Artorias, Black Dragon Kalameet, and Manus.
- Reserve boss souls for desired weapons or spells before consuming them.
- Cut relevant tails before landing the final blow.
- Finish the DLC and optional bosses before Gwyn if you want them in the current playthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bosses are in Dark Souls Remastered?
The broad named-boss roster used here contains 26 entries: 22 from the main game, including the Stray Demon, plus the four Artorias of the Abyss bosses. Narrower guides may report fewer by excluding optional fights, DLC, or repeat-style encounters.
Which Dark Souls bosses are required?
The ordinary progression route requires the later Asylum Demon encounter, Bell Gargoyles, Chaos Witch Quelaag, Iron Golem, Ornstein and Smough, the four Lord Soul objectives, Bed of Chaos, and Gwyn. Sif is normally required to access the Four Kings, while several bosses can be bypassed through alternate routes or shortcuts.
Is Artorias of the Abyss included in Dark Souls Remastered?
Yes. The remastered release includes the base game and Artorias of the Abyss DLC. Its four bosses are Sanctuary Guardian, Knight Artorias, Black Dragon Kalameet, and Manus.
The Bottom Line
Use 26 as the broad checklist count for Dark Souls: Remastered, but always define the scope. The main game’s route is flexible, several familiar bosses are optional or shortcut-dependent, and the four Artorias of the Abyss bosses should be tracked separately. For a true completion run, record boss victories, boss-soul uses, and tail-cut rewards as different goals.
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