How to Deal with Ornstein: The Ultimate Guide
Ornstein, one of the most iconic bosses in Dark Souls, can be a real challenge for even the most experienced players. With its lightning-fast attacks and towering height, Ornstein’s fight can be overwhelming to say the least. So, how do you deal with Ornstein and emerge victorious? In this article, we’ll cover the different strategies and tactics you can use to defeat this mighty foe.
Soul Spears and Dark Beads: A Strong Starting Point
One of the earliest and most effective ways to deal with Ornstein is to use Soul Spears and Dark Beads. These trusty weapons are particularly weak against Ornstein, dealing significant damage to this enormous boss. Keep in mind that you’ll need a decent amount of soul quality to craft these weapons. Additionally, it’s also important to use them from a safe distance to avoid getting hit.
Fire-based Magic is a Good Choice
Not only are Soul Spears and Dark Beads effective in dealing damage to Ornstein, but fire-based magic can also pack a punch. Daggers, Magic Arrows, and even Great Combustion can cause significant harm to this towering boss.
Defeating Ornstein: A Multi-Phased Approach
To defeat Ornstein effectively, it’s necessary to understand its attack pattern and use your abilities strategically.
Phase 1
- Soul Spear or Dark Beans are the best approaches in this phase, aiming for its legs or arms is a good starting point. Keep in mind that ornstein will quickly close in on you after you dealt damage.
- Lightning-based Magic does not work well in the first phase.
Phase 2
- You’ll notice Ornstein enters a new stance, putting its sword behind its body. This is a significant change in attack patterns.
- Fire-based Magic, Daggers and Magic Arrows become more effective during this phase, take advantage of this to deal damage
Phase 3 and Beyond
- As in the first phase, Soul Spears and Dark Beans are good options_.
- Continue to position yourself at a safe distance and use Fire and Dark type attacks to deal damage_.
The Final Takedown
In the ultimate showdown, focus on destroying Ornstein’s Sword and Shield, this will limit its movability and reduce its HP.
Tactics Beyond the Fight
After conquering Ornstein, where do you go next?
- New Londo (Down the Elevator in Firelink), if you are a Melee build that uses ST or DEX, you’ll have a safe and easy passage.
- Duke’s Archive (Start of Anor Londo) if you’re an Int build, it’s still a good starting point due to the numerous items
- Tomb of Giants (Thru the Graveyard and Continue Down) If you prefer a FTH build there are many enemies to soul level and item drops ahead.
What to Look Out For
Before stepping into the battle with Ornstein, have a good grasp of this information:
- Stance Changes: Pay close attention to Ornstein’s stance_ changes, these can heavily impact your battle strategy,
- Positioning Matters: Keep safe Distance from Ornstein,
- Keep Moving, don’t let Ornstein pin you to the edge of the battlefield
When you’re facing Ornstein for the first time, remember not to get overwhelmed by their sheer size and speed! With the right strategies in place, you’ll become a master of defeating even the most challenging bosses!