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Promised Consort Radahn takes the top spot in this ranking, followed by Malenia and Isshin, the Sword Saint. That order is an editorial judgment—not an objective measurement—and applies to FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games, not every Soulslike. Player experience, builds, summons, upgrades, route, and familiarity with each game’s combat all affect how hard a fight feels.
How the ranking works
The order weighs three things: how harshly a fight punishes unfamiliarity, whether later phases or mechanics raise the demands, and how broadly difficulty is reported across players. These are useful comparison points, not a standardized score. A boss who tests parrying and posture in Sekiro cannot be compared cleanly with one fought through stamina management and dodging in another game.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Dark Souls Trilogy (PS4) | $38.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dark Souls Remastered - PlayStation 4 | $22.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dark Souls 3 The Fire Fades (PS4) | $24.40 | Buy on Amazon |
The ranking draws on a 2024 GamePro reader poll, editorial rankings from Cheat Code Central and The Escapist, and Gameranx’s cross-series list. Those sources offer different kinds of evidence: a poll captures the opinions of its respondents, while an editorial list reflects its publisher’s judgment. Neither establishes a universal difficulty order.
The 8 hardest FromSoftware Soulslike boss fights, ranked
| Rank | Boss and game | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Promised Consort Radahn Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree |
He has the strongest combined case at the top: first in GamePro’s 2024 reader poll and in Cheat Code Central’s August 2026 editorial ranking. The DLC fight also features prominently in current difficulty discussion. That makes him a defensible number one, not a settled winner. |
| 2 | Malenia, Blade of Miquella Elden Ring |
She placed second in GamePro’s poll and near the top of The Escapist’s 2026 Elden Ring ranking. Her perceived difficulty can shift substantially with build, summons, route, and access to DLC progression systems, so her placement is not a like-for-like test against every other entry. |
| 3 | Isshin, the Sword Saint Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice |
Isshin ranked third in GamePro’s poll and is a leading candidate in Cheat Code Central’s list. His position reflects the intensity of a fight built around Sekiro’s posture-and-parry combat, rather than a direct comparison with stamina-and-roll encounters. |
| 4 | Orphan of Kos Bloodborne: The Old Hunters |
Orphan has support from both GamePro’s poll and Gameranx’s cross-series editorial list, making him a strong older-game counterweight to the two Elden Ring entries. GamePro respondents gave him 7% of the poll’s votes, a notable showing but not a direct measure of individual fight difficulty. |
| 5 | Sister Friede Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel |
Her appearance in GamePro’s results and Gameranx’s list supports including her among the series’ toughest fights. She ranks below the first four here because the available sources do not place her as consistently near the very top. |
| 6 | Darkeater Midir Dark Souls III: The Ringed City |
Midir appears in the GamePro poll results and Gameranx’s cross-series ranking. Those sources establish him as a credible high-difficulty pick, though they do not make a direct, controlled comparison with the higher-ranked fights. |
| 7 | Manus, Father of the Abyss Dark Souls |
Cheat Code Central includes Manus in its six-fight ranking. That makes him a defensible classic-era pick, but the evidence here is an outlet’s editorial judgment rather than a poll result or a broader measure of player outcomes. |
| 8 | Fume Knight Dark Souls II |
Fume Knight also appears in Cheat Code Central’s ranking. He rounds out the list as a demanding older-game candidate; his inclusion should be read as part of this ranking’s editorial selection, not proof that he is harder than every omitted boss. |
What the poll and trophy data can—and cannot—show
GamePro reported that more than 7,000 readers had voted by September 15, 2024. Promised Consort Radahn received 24% (1,974 votes), Malenia 19% (1,598), and Isshin 13% (1,072). These figures are an attributed reader-poll snapshot, not a representative survey of all players. They help explain why those three lead this ranking; they do not prove a universal top three.
#1 Best Overall
- DARK SOULS REMASTERED - Then, there was fire. Re-experience the genre-defining game that started it all. Return to Lordran in the beautifully remastered game in high definition, 60 fps with single-player or online multiplayer with dedicated servers. Includes the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
- DARK SOULS II: SCHOLAR OF THE FIRST SIN - Prepare to Die again. The second installment of the series includes the base Dark Souls II plus all three DLCs: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King.
- DARK SOULS III: THE FIRE FADES - Now only embers remain… Dark Souls III is the final journey in the series where players can fight through intense combat solo or team up for in co-op or PvP multiplayer. Includes the award-winning game and both DLC chapters: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
- ALL ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS - Visit the EP!C corner to download the music of the Dark Souls saga composed by Motoi Sakaraba and Yuka Kitamura. 110 tracks and more than 6 hours to listen and take back any Dark Souls fan to the intense boss fights and the best moments of their deadly journeys.
A separate AUTOMATON WEST analysis published November 29, 2023, examined PlayStation trophy acquisition across seven FromSoftware games, focusing on bosses required for story progression. It reported a 44.6% clear rate for Father Gascoigne and a 31.2% rate for Malenia. Those rates are not a comparable boss-difficulty scale: trophy acquisition can reflect a game’s age, player population, progression structure, and whether a boss is mandatory. Gascoigne is an early required progression boss, so his rate does not make him directly comparable to optional late-game fights.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the order can change for an individual player
- Preparation changes the encounter. Character build, upgrade level, summons, and route can alter how difficult a boss feels. The Escapist’s Elden Ring ranking specifically notes that build, summons, route, and DLC blessing progression affect perceived difficulty.
- Combat systems ask for different skills. In particular, Sekiro emphasizes posture and parrying, so placing Isshin beside stamina-and-dodge bosses is a judgment about overall challenge, not a shared mechanical test.
- Optionality changes the evidence. Mandatory story bosses and optional encounters reach different player populations. Completion figures cannot isolate boss difficulty from that structural difference.
- Rankings reflect their criteria. Cheat Code Central says its own three criteria are equally weighted. That is its stated method, not a universal standard; this article uses related considerations without claiming a validated scoring system.
The sources support a FromSoftware-centered ranking, not a complete ranking of the Soulslike genre. Non-FromSoftware games such as Lies of P would need comparable evidence before their bosses could be placed fairly alongside these fights.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Atmospheric Visuals: Dynamic lighting and particle effects immerse players into a dark fantasy world of ruin.
- Interconnected World: Expertly crafted world encourages players to explore vast and breath-taking landscapes.
- Sword Action: Diversifies combat action allowing players to craft their own unique play style.
- Unique Online System: Evolution of trademark online multiplayer functionality that seamlessly integrates online interactions into single-player story.
Rank #2
- Delve into an epic dark fantasy universe stricken by decline and the Curse. Explore its intricate world design - full of hidden passages, dungeons and secrets - and uncover its deeply rooted lore
- Each playthrough surprises you with new challenges and unexpected facets of the game. Don't bet on completing the game only once
- Hundreds of unique combinations of weaponry, armor, magic and crafting options to create your own playstyle and gaming experience
- From your first steps to mastery, build your character while refining your playing skills. Learn to strategize freely and experience the rewarding taste of overcoming daunting foes
- Whatever your motivations are to play online - collaboration or confrontation, support or betrayal - you'll find your true home among the nine covenants. Which allegiance will you choose?
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