Ornstein and Smough - The Dark Souls Boss That Destroys Players
By the time you reach Ornstein and Smough you think you are ready. You have survived the undead burg, conquered Sen’s Fortress, made it to Anor Londo and felt that spark of confidence saying this game has nothing left to surprise you.
Then you walk into that cathedral and all that confidence evaporates.
The arena is grand. Pillars stretch to the ceiling and there is a strange calm right before the fog gate. It lures you into a false sense of security. This fight is not just another duel. It is a test of everything you have learned about timing, movement, stamina and awareness.
The very moment the bosses appear you realize this fight is not about strength. It is about survival under impossible pressure.
Ornstein and Smough are legendary
This is because they make you fight two very different threats at the same time and they never let you relax. Ornstein attacks with lightning speed and aggressive thrusting attacks. He darts around the arena closing distance and poking you with his spear whether you expect it or not. Smough on the other hand is massive, slow and devastating. His hammer swings and ground pounds hit like a truck and make space feel dangerous.
The combination forces you to track both bosses at once and react to attacks that come from all angles. Focusing on just one almost always ends with the other slamming into you from off screen. In earlier fights you learned how to dodge a single threat here you have to balance both of them at once which is far harder than it sounds.
What Happens When You Kill One
You might hope killing one of them means progress. You would be wrong.
As soon as one boss dies the surviving partner absorbs the fallen one’s power and becomes stronger and more aggressive. If you kill Ornstein first Smough becomes bigger, harder hitting and unleashes electric hammer attacks. If you kill Smough first Ornstein becomes faster more deadly and gains extended range with lightning assaults.
This second stage feels like a whole new fight and there are no checkpoints or breaks. If you thought the first stage was intense this one punishes hesitation instantly. Even when you know what to do your nerves and instincts betray you.
Why This Fight Is So Frustrating
Players online talk a lot about how unfair the fight feels and I get it. Tracking Ornstein behind Smough’s giant body is impossible at times. Rolling through an attack to dodge one boss often puts you directly into the other one’s swing. The camera betrays you when you need it most.
Healing during this fight feels like playing Russian roulette. You take one step back to sip your Estus and suddenly a lightning ball sails around a pillar and one shoots you. Most deaths in this fight feel personal because they happen in the moments when you think you finally have control. They strip away confidence slowly until you start doubting every step.
Common Questions You Might Have
Are Ornstein and Smough the Hardest Boss in Dark Souls
A lot of people ask if this is the hardest fight in the game. For many players it absolutely feels like that. It is not just the raw difficulty, it is the psychological impact of fighting two bosses at once learning their patterns and adapting on the fly. Many players quit and come back weeks later because this encounter leaves a mark.
Should I Summon Help
Yes you can summon help including Solaire of Astora if you saved him. Summoning another player or an NPC can make this fight much more manageable because you divide the bosses attention. However it also increases their health so it is a trade off. On your first few attempts getting help is often worth the extra health bar.
Which One Should I Kill First
People online always debate this. A lot of players recommend killing Ornstein first because then facing Smough alone feels more manageable and his attacks are slower and easier to read. Other players prefer killing Smough first so they deal with Super Ornstein who is faster but can be baited into openings if you time your rolls well. Both choices work and it comes down to your build and playstyle.
What Weapons and Builds Help
Fire based weapons and pyromancy are effective because both bosses are weak to fire. Keeping your gear upgraded is crucial and being light enough to fast roll helps so you can dodge their unpredictable combo attacks. Shields can help but rolling often is more reliable than tanking hits in this fight.
The Emotional Toll
This fight is not frustrating because the game is cheating. Every attack you die is a mistake you can learn from. Every attempt teaches you something about how they move, how their attacks recover and where to be safe for a split second.
I remember the first time I killed one of them then instantly died to the powered up survivor. I just sat there for a moment not angry, not frustrated but exhausted. It was like running a race my body did not know I was still in.
You get better at reacting to their attacks. You get better at positioning. But even when you know everything there are phases of cocky confidence that still dissolve into surprise deaths.
How To Win Without Losing Your Mind
From my perspective here is what actually helps:
- Focus on positioning rather than damage
- Use the pillars to split them up as often as possible
- Learn to roll with precise timing not panic rolling
- Pick a kill order and commit to it even when it feels like it is not working
- Don’t try to heal until both bosses are out of range of your position
- Summon help early just to build confidence then challenge yourself solo
Every victory feels earned because a win in this fight is a combination of memory timing execution and patience.
Now if you want an easier way to defeat these two check out the video from TerraMantis below, that may help if you are really struggling.
Here is also a link to the dark souls wiki guide that could just tip the scales in your direction.
So, how melty is it?
Arena False Confidence – 8.5/10
Anor Londo’s beauty tricks you into thinking this will be manageable. The calm before the fog gate is a lie.
Dual Threat Pressure – 9.5/10
Managing two bosses with completely different speeds and attack styles overwhelms your attention immediately.
Camera and Positioning Chaos – 9/10
Large bodies, pillars and tight spacing constantly fight against your control and awareness.
Second Phase Psychological Damage – 10/10
Killing one boss only to watch the other absorb power and become stronger feels like betrayal.
Endurance and Nerve Drain – 9.5/10
Long attempts with no checkpoints wear you down mentally even when you know the patterns.
Total Melt Score: 9.6/10
This fight is a rite of passage. It is a checkpoint in your journey through Dark Souls. When you finally beat Ornstein and Smough you do not feel triumphant fanfare you feel that deep exhale that comes only from proving to yourself that persistence matters.
If you are looking for another challenging boss fight then check out our blog on Elden Ring’s Malenia: The Brutal Boss Fight That Makes Gamers Rage Quit
