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Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough are a two-stage boss encounter in Anor Londo in the original Dark Souls. Both fight at once in the opening stage; the one defeated first determines which survivor absorbs the fallen boss’s power and becomes the second-stage opponent.
This guide includes spoilers for the encounter’s second stage. Its detailed figures and character descriptions come from the community-maintained Dark Souls Wiki, not an official developer walkthrough.
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Where the Ornstein and Smough fight takes place
The pair waits in Anor Londo, in the room next to the hall with the Royal Sentinels, according to the Dark Souls Wiki. The encounter is a major two-on-one fight: both bosses are active during its opening stage.
Who are Ornstein and Smough?
Dragon Slayer Ornstein
The community reference describes Ornstein as the faster, more agile fighter. He wields a spear and uses lightning power, so his quick attacks contrast with Smough’s slower, heavier approach.
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Executioner Smough
Smough is characterized as slower and exceptionally powerful, striking with the force expected of a royal executioner. The difference in pace matters: while tracking one boss, the player must also account for the other’s attacks.
How the two stages work
- Opening stage: Ornstein and Smough attack together. The first boss you defeat is removed from the encounter.
- Powered-up survivor: The remaining boss absorbs the fallen one’s power. The resulting opponent depends on kill order: Ornstein or Smough survives in a larger, empowered form with different traits.
If Ornstein is defeated first, Smough gains Ornstein’s lightning power. If Smough falls first, Ornstein becomes larger while retaining his lightning and speed. These descriptions, like the encounter mechanics, are from the community-maintained wiki.
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How to beat Ornstein and Smough
There is no single kill order that is established as easiest for every player. The choice changes the second-stage opponent, and what feels manageable depends on a player’s build, timing, and experience. Treat the first stage as a fight against two threats at once, then choose a target order based on which powered-up survivor you would rather face.
- Pay attention to both bosses rather than focusing only on the one you are attacking.
- Make your target choice deliberately: defeating one boss commits you to the other’s powered-up form.
- Use the first stage to learn how the pair’s different speeds and attack styles affect your positioning and openings.
Community-reported HP and souls
The Dark Souls Wiki lists the following New Game values. They are community-reference figures and are not independently verified here against official game data.
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| Encounter form | HP listed for New Game |
|---|---|
| Ornstein | 1,642 |
| Smough | 2,645 |
| Super Ornstein | 2,981 |
| Super Smough | 4,094 |
The same wiki lists 50,000 souls for the New Game encounter. That is a game reward value reported by the reference, not a real-world statistic.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Dark Souls version includes the encounter?
The encounter is in the original Dark Souls, and Dark Souls: Remastered is the relevant remastered edition. FromSoftware describes the original as a 2011 release and lists the remaster for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. The listed launch dates were May 24, 2018, for PS4, Xbox One, and Windows, and October 18, 2018, for Switch. The official FromSoftware product page says the remaster includes Artorias of the Abyss DLC, updated graphics, and expanded online gameplay. Availability of specific physical or digital editions varies by platform and territory.
Other ways to explore the encounter
For a game reference, Future Press describes its Dark Souls Remastered book as an update to the official game guide covering Lordran and online play; see the Future Press guide page. For a tabletop adaptation, a published Dark Souls: The Board Game rulebook names Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough in its boss roster. That does not establish that every edition or expansion contains the same boss components, so check the contents of the specific edition before buying.
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