Even though video games were infinitely more challenging on average 30 years ago than they are today, the Dark Souls series has thrived on its iconic difficulty, and that is best illustrated in its battle against Dragonslayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough. There have been plenty of bosses throughout the Dark Souls trilogy that have been the cause of countless of controller destruction from frustrated players, but none of them reach the intense difficulty spike these two warriors possess.
Throughout the Dark Souls franchise, FromSoftware makes sure to keep players on their toes by implementing absolutely brutal boss fights which players will remember for the rest of their gaming career. The Ancient Dragon from Dark Souls 2 boasted perhaps the beefiest health bar in the series and is capable of killing almost any build in a single strike. Manus from the first Dark Souls is extremely quick, powerful, and capable of sniping players from across the map with his projectile spells. The Abyss Watchers from Dark Souls 3 mark the game's first true challenge and forces players to adapt to fighting multiple opponents at once. However, the Ornstein and Smough fight is the first truly brutal boss encounter that Dark Souls players will battle, and unlike many of the most difficult bosses in the series, they are not optional opponents.
Players developed a skill set for engaging two bosses at once when they had to battle the Gargoyles early on in Dark Souls, but Ornstein and Smough are significantly stronger and are far more coordinated with their move sets. Smough is a towering figure resembling a sumo wrestler who wields a giant golden hammer, and Ornstein, who is far more modest in terms of his size, strikes hastily and frequently with his lightning spear. Ornstein will spend a large portion of the fight pressuring the player with rapid jabs while Smough covers his weak spots with aggressive and brutal swings of his mallet.
How To Beat Ornstein & Smough
The key to fighting Ornstein and Smough in Dark Souls is to use this pattern against them and abuse their difference in speed to apply damage safely. Smough is very slow when compared to Ornstein, so its easiest to keep him close and Smough further away. When using this method, its important to constantly maintain a visual on Smough to make sure that any attacks will not be punished from a distant hammer swing while using the massive pillars in the chapel as cover from his heavy blows. It's also essential to focus on taking them out one at a time, so pick one specific enemy and attack only them until they've fallen to their knees. It's possible to defeat them in either order, but Dark Souls players will have to battle the remaining warrior after they have regained their health and powered up.
At this stage, patience is key. Both Ornstein and/or Smough will be slow and powerful in this second round, so all it takes at this stage of the Dark Souls boss fight is adapting to their attacks and punishing their openings. Both characters will jump in the air and pound the ground with a large electric quake. They're both vulnerable after this attack, so it is the perfect time to strike. Although it may not seem like it at first glance, this boss fight is just as fair as the rest of the fights in the series. After enough practice and dedication, even Ornstein and Smough can be overcome by anyone, just like the entirety of bosses in the Dark Souls series.