1. Slave Knight Gael
Dark Souls III: The Ringed City Boss Ranking
Perhaps one of the best bosses in Dark Souls III, Slave Knight Gael will push any player to their limits thanks to his diverse moveset, amazing second phase, and powerful hits that can down a foe in seconds. Set in a vast wasteland, players are given a ton of room to maneuver during this fight which is helpful since Gael is exceptionally fast. The first half of the battle is like fighting a wild beast as he will lash out with erratic attacks that can make him very hard to predict. This only adds to the fun as it helps keep the player on their toes, and Gael leaves very little room for relaxation once the fight has actually begun. Yet, there are just enough openings and moves you can punish that allows this first half to not feel overwhelming and unbalanced.
Yet, once the fight shifts to his second phase Gael assumes an upright position and acquires a vastly different set of abilities, including being able to to use dark fire with his attacks. This makes him exceptionally dangerous even at a distance, as it will force the player to only strike him once or twice before rolling away. This is further enhanced by lightning that will be called down, requiring users to avoid this strikes unless they want to leave Gael an opening to strike. It’s this duality between his ferocious first form and more traditional second that makes this battle so memorable. While the latter homages the Artorious fight, it doesn’t feel too similar which allows the battle to stand out on its own.
While Dark Souls III: The Ringed City has some great bosses, there is little doubt that Slave Knight Gael is the best this game has to offer. The mix of complex mechanics, beautiful music, wonderful arena, and fun changes make him a battle that is instantly memorable. While it may be the last boss we ever face under the Dark Souls name, there is little doubt he will not be remembered as one of the greatest in the entire franchise.
