The much-awaited Demon’s Souls Remake is out on PS5 and so far it has received nothing but positive reviews. As a breathtaking, highly rewarding remake of the 2009 Demon’s Souls, Demon’s Souls 2020 pushes the envelope on bringing upgraded features and better game mechanics to old titles that have brought joy to a whole generation of gamers.
A variety of changes have been brought to modernize the game and cut down on some frustrating aspects of the 2009 edition without compromising on the riddling boss battles and the game’s essential style that led to its success.
For those who’re new or simply want to brush up on their Demon’s souls knowledge, in this guide, we zoom in on the Bosses – where to find them, tips on how to defeat them, and how best to utilize their souls.
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What are the Demon Souls?
Every world and location has its Boss. The souls of these bosses are called Demon Souls which the players can harvest (upon defeating them, of course).
These are important resources in your ultimate struggle against the Old One – the final boss in the game – as well as for a few other things that will help you get there.
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Demon Soul Uses
There are a variety of uses for Demon souls. They can be utilized just like other souls in the game but that isn’t their only purpose. If you’re playing for the first time, don’t simply consume them or use them with careless abandon.
That is if you want to advance and not find yourself locked out of using them for other things such as exchanging them for weapons, spells, or miracles.
Every Demon Soul can be traded to receive these upgrades. For spells and miracles, one needs only to hand it over to an NPC. However, for weapon upgrades, you will first be required to give the Searing Demon Soul to Blacksmith Ed (more on this later).
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Where and How to get each Boss Soul
Bosses abound in Demon’s Soul and hunting them down and finishing them requires some forethought, strategy, and skill. Let’s go into each Boss and figure out what is required to get their Demon Soul.
Vanguard Demon Boss Soul
This pot-bellied, spike skinned, axe-wielding demon is the first you’ll encounter right in the tutorial itself. Fighting it can be quite difficult especially considering the fact that it can kill the player in one or two blows.
The best way to go about the boss fight is to avoid the front. Stick to the rear, especially if you have nothing but melee, and spam its ass. You don’t want to parry its axe attacks.
Players will encounter the demon once again in The Shrine of Storms (4-1). By that time, they would have access to formidable ranged weapons which can be used to strike Vanguard down from a distance. The Grey Demon’s Soul can be exchanged to improve your Battle Axe, or consumed for 1500 souls.
Phalanx Boss Soul
Remember Spartans and how they used to form a wall of soldiers with their shields? It’s called a Phalanx and this demon boss does exactly that, albeit it’s not as agile as those warriors or has as firm a footing.
This slimy blob covered with hoplites and shields is one of the easiest bosses to defeat. It’s highly vulnerable to fire and is just a weakling in general. The only actual threat is the hoplites that surround it.
Throw fire bombs to kill the Hoplites and expose the innards of the boss. Don’t wait too long before finishing off the Hoplites as they regenerate their HP over time. Once you hit a bunch, make sure you focus on that area and kill them.
This boss is found in Boletarian Palace (1-1) and drops the Lead Demons’ Soul that can either be exchanged for the Scraping Spear or consumed for 1520 souls.
Red Flying Dragon Boss Soul (Optional)
More like a bat, but still breathing waves of fire on anything that trespasses its territory, the Red Flying Dragon cannot be beat. The dragon doesn’t really attack the player outright and focuses its infernal breath on a segment of the bridge.
Approach the bridge and back away so that the dragon swoops down and incinerates the enemies first. Use a big sword or an axe to attack its tail as it is flying by. Or else, you can also use the Compound Short Bow but that can take a couple of hundred arrows.
Do it a few times to get the dragon’s HP down to 70 percent and will leave the castle alone for the time being. That should gain you the Small Flame Scale Demon’s Soul. Found in Boletarian Palace (1-1).
Tower Knight Boss Soul
A giant covered in knight’s armor wielding a shield and a lance, the Tower Knight is also found in Boletarian palance (1-2). It is supported by eight archers perched on high balconies and it is advisable to take them out first as they can be quite a nuisance.
The tower knight can be defeated in a couple of ways – long range or close range. Using ranged attacks will require players to have enough resources (arrows or Mana) and can simplify the ordeal. Wait for the Knight to lower its shied before dealing an attack and aim for its head (harder) or its torso.
The other way is to attack its legs from behind. As soon as it falls, aim for its head and finish it off. Killing the knight will provide the Iron Demon’s Soul that can be used to exchange it for the Warding spell, or be consumed for 4400 souls.
Penetrator Boss Soul
Another knight, not as tall as the previous boss, but much deadlier. Wielding a sword that glows with each blow, its penetration is quite slow but highly destructive that can destroy even the pillars of the room.
In the previous level, if you had freed Biorr he would come to help you in your fight and will distract the Penetrator with his sword.
With or without him, being able to dodge the penetrator’s attacks in time and rolling away from the attacks is crucial to avoiding his long thrusts as his offense is quite slow. He is also susceptible to magic so make sure you have enough Mana to defeat him.
Found in the Boletarian palace (1-3), it drops the Silver Demon’s Soul that can be used to exchange it for either the Light Weapon spell or Cursed Weapon spell. Alternatively, it can also be consumed for 36,000 souls.
Blue Dragon Boss Soul (Optional)
Sitting atop the palace keep and breathing fire at anything that moves, this dragon is much stronger than its red counterpart.
The best way to kill it is to use range weapons and spells. On the right side of the area, sit safe and still and keep ranging the dragon. At 50% HP or if the player gets too close, it should fly away.
The dragon is found in Boletarian Palace (1-4) and drops the Large Flame Scale Demon’s Soul consumable for 30,000 souls.
Old King Allant Boss Soul
This is the last boss in the Boletarian area (1-4). His rapid attacks can be quite problematic and the only reprieve that players receive is after one of his stronger attacks.
Also known as the False King, he is one of the more challenging foes that can deal significant damage. A good way to heal is to dodge the lunge attack and consume an item quickly before the king recovers.
His sword Souldbrandt is extremely powerful, as is his Soul Drain attack. Lookout for when he sticks the sword in the ground to charge a shockwave. At this time you basically get a free hit.
When killed, you can consume the False King’s Demon’s Soul for 60,000 souls.
Armor Spider Boss Soul
This boss looks exactly as its name suggests, and is the first one we encounter in the Stonefang Tunnel region (2-1).
Like most enemies in the region, it is resistant to fire. It has three basic attacks – web shot, a large fireball, and three cascading fireballs. It can spew a layer of oil and light the spark. Best to run away during this attack.
This boss is vulnerable to magic and spells so use the range spells to good effect. You can also close in on it and bait a slam attack, dodge it, and attack.
The boss will drop its Hard Demon’s Soul that can be exchanged for a bow upgrade, Fire Spray spell, Ignite spell, or consumed for 3200 souls.
Flamelurker Boss Soul
The Flamelurker Demon, sealed since ancient times in an underground temple, breaks out just for you.
This boss is basically like a flaming hulk. He can jump long distances, emit huge shockwaves and double smash the pulp out of you. Good thing it’s big on roaring before attacking and jumping back when wounded.
As is the case with most enemies immune to fire, they are highly susceptible to magic. Use the thief’s ring to get behind it and Poison Cloud it to kill this infernal hulk.
Though it can be consumed for 18000 souls, give the Flamelurker Demon’s Soul to Ed to unlock forging of advanced weapons.
Dragon God Boss Soul
More dragons, more fire. And this one won’t go down with a few arrows.
As soon as the player gets close to the demon, it will smash the pillars at the corridor. The rubble will have to be used as hidden blocks to keep away from the Dragon God’s line of sight. If the demon sees you, it will either breathe fire on you or punch you – both of which are fatal.
Make your way down the corridor and destroy the rubble in the way. At the end of it, you’ll see a Ballista glowing blow. Interacting with it will fire a javelin into the demon’s shoulder, taking away almost half of its HP. Now, dash to the final rubble pile, destroy it and climb atop the second balcony where another ballista will be found.
When both javelins are fired, the Dragon God will be lying prone on a ledge nearby and won’t be able to attack directly anymore. However, since it still has about 10% of its HP, its breath can still damage if you get too close. Damage the horn on its chin and kill the God to claim its soul.
The Dragon Demon’s soul can be traded for Fireball or Firestorm spell, God’s Wrath miracle, or consumed for 26400 souls.
Fool’s Idol Boss Soul
Here begins the area Tower of Latria where the player will be greeted by the Fool’s Idol Demon.
It will create duplicates of itself to confuse the player. But the fakes ones die in a single hit and have their health bars on their heads while the real one doesn’t.
It is advised that before the fight begins, the player kills the old man sitting atop the upper balcony. This is because the old man will revive Fool’s Idol as soon as the player leaves the region.
Be on the lookout for green runes that the demon places as they become invisible after they’re placed and, if the player passes over them, s/he will be paralyzed for five seconds.
Fool’s Idol will attack with a spell and transport away. Use the lock-on system to recognize the real Fool’s Idol and eliminate it systematically.
Once dead, it will drop the Doll Demon’s Soul that can be used to exchange it for Soul Ray spell or be consumed for 7600 souls.
Maneater Boss Soul
With a lion’s body, bat wings, a snake for a tail (that acts independently of the body), and an almost human head, Maneater is a completely messed up chimera. But it also means that it can scream sonic waves, spew ranged magic attacks, and getting imbued with magic energy with its own snake bite.
A minute into the fight, another Maneater will appear, swiping, lunging, shooting arrows while flying, and self-buffing. On top of that, there’s also the danger of falling as you’re on a bridge.
The best way is to stand near the fog gate and kill off the first Maneater before even entering the arena properly. If the first Maneater gets damaged to a good extent or dies, the other one will spawn immediately. You should be looking to bite its serpent tail so it can’t imbue itself with magic abilities.
Found at the Tower of Latria (3-2), Maneater drops the Mixed Demon’s Soul that can be exchanged for upgrading the Dagger, or can be consumed for 7600 souls.
Old Monk Boss Soul
This is nothing more than a black phantom being controlled by the real Old Monk. The tricky thing here is that if the player is invaded, the invader can be the Old Monk. That means it can be very unpredictable to have a strategy against it.
But if you’re not invaded, there are some things to keep in mind. The black phantom is super aggressive, but it can be stun-locked when executed right. One effective strategy is to parry its attack as much as possible and revert with a quick attack. A large weapon can also be highly effective.
The Yellow Demon’s Soul dropped by the Old Monk can be used to upgrade the Catalysts, exchange for Soul Thirst or Homing Soul Arrow, Banish miracle, or be consumed for 26400 souls.
Abjudicator Boss Soul
Found in the Shrine of Storms (4-1), as the Demon Soul’s version of the pokemon Lickytongue, Abjudicator is quite an uncanny demon with a golden crow perched upon its head. And he is humungously fat.
Needless to say, keep away from its tongue by rolling to the side or moving at least halfway across the room. The cleaver attacks can sometimes hit the platform and fall down dealing minor damage, so make sure to avoid being under the falling debris.
Although it is immune to normal attacks, if the player focuses on its open wound on the left side of its belly, it will release a gush of blood and the Abjudicator will fall on its belly. This will make the golden crow susceptible to attacks.
Upon its death, you will receive the Swollen Demon’s Soul exchangeable with the Regeneration miracle or consumable for 13200 souls.
Old Hero Boss Soul
Without eyes or lips and brought to life by the Old One, this hero of legend equips a huge curved sword made out of crystals.
Stealth-based tactics would work best against this demon since he’s blind and won’t be able to notice if you get behind it stealthily. But it will charge after you if you attack it so make sure you have a pillar nearby to hide behind. If you use the Thief’s ring, the battle will become a walk in the park.
Found in Shrine of Storms (4-2), this demon drops the Hero Demon’s Soul that can be exchanged for an upgrade to the Large Sword of Searching, to purchase the Second Chance miracle, or be consumed for 36000 souls.
Storm King Boss Soul
The final boss in the Shrine of Storms (4-3), this is the King of Storm Beasts (an oversized version of them) and is capable of multiple spear attacks.
Use the Stormruler sword to hunt it down, or arrows and spells can be used on it as well. Other than that, grab a sword, run to the house at the farther end of the area. Once inside, it should be fairly easy to attack it.
If, however, you find that the house is too vulnerable an area, find the tallest pillar and use it to block the Storm King’s attacks. Since it is also in its flight path, you’ll get multiple opportunities to bring it down.
The Storm Demon’s Soul can be consumed for 48000 souls, or be exchanged for the Anti-magic field miracle, or get the upgraded Morison Blade.
Leechmonger Boss Soul
A huge pile of slime and leeches made sentient by the Wriggling Demon’s Soul. It won’t move from its pit and will hurl huge masses of leeches at the player.
Leechmonger is quick to regenerate but doesn’t have a good defense. Other than the balls of leeches that it spits out, it only has a tentacle thrash, and a horizontal spin attack. Be advised that if you get hit by the leech balls, you’ll be covered in leeches and your HP will slowly be sucked out for fifteen seconds.
The best way to kill the Leechmonger is to use fire arrows. Also, to ensure that it can’t regenerate its health, players would have to go down to its pit and destroy the leech ring.
As the first demon boss of the Valley of Defilment (5-1), it drops the Wiggling Demon’s Soul that can be exchanged for the Poison Cloud spell or the Cure miracle, or be consumed for 6400 souls.
Dirty Colossus Boss Soul
It’s hard to define what Dirty Colossus looks like, chiefly because it is so deformed that it defies categorization. Suffice to say it is a wooden figure covered in slime, red spikes jutting out of it, and a cloud of flies buzzing around it all the time.
Thankfully it is slow and is weak to fire attacks. But be careful not to be demolished by its cloud of insects, or a blunt attack from its wooden arm. If you get hit by the insect cloud, the insects will buzz around you for fifteen seconds and during that duration, your HP will slowly be drained out.
Players have to focus on destroying the barrel surroundings its abdomen, and use turpentine on weapons to make the battle easier. High damage weapons and spells such as Fireball should do the trick.
The boss drops the Eroded Demon’s Soul that can help buy the Acid Cloud spell or be consumed for 40000 souls.
Maiden Astraea Boss Soul
A move away from ugly looking Lovecraftean monsters to the tall blonde beauty of Maiden Astraea – a caring pilgrim striving to help the diseased and the suffering. Her bodyguard Garl Vinland makes up her only defence/offence.
The path to Astraea will be blocked by Garl. You will be forced to take the longer route (and this is highly recommended) since wading through the swampland will mean sure death.
Garl will be fought with on a small island that can be somewhat problematic as his weapon can deal a lot of damage, especially in tight spaces that makes dodging impossible. The best strategy is to get behind him and deal him heavy blows with a big weapon.
Once he is defeated, you can simply approach Astraea and, after a short dialogue, she will kill herself.
Another way is to kill her using arrows from afar. If you choose this, she may end up using an alternate version of God’s Wrath miracle that deals a lot of damage and can even knock you down. Better to speak and let her kill herself.
The Pureblood Demon’s Soul can be exchanged for a Blueblood Sword, a Death Cloud spell, Relief spell, or the Resurrection miracle, or be consumed for 48,000 souls.
And that’s all the Demon bosses that you need to overcome.
Screengrab via: Boss Fight Database | Adam Ninja | Game8 International
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