How to Beat the Nameless King in Dark Souls 3
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How to Beat the Nameless King in Dark Souls 3
Phase 2 — Nameless King
Tips
The Nameless King is widely regarded as Dark Souls 3’s defining optional challenge — harder than any main-path boss including Soul of Cinder, and a genuine test of everything the game has taught you. The delayed attacks in Phase 2 are specifically designed to punish muscle memory from other bosses. Most players take dozens of attempts before succeeding — each death teaches something new about his patterns. Defeating him is one of the most satisfying accomplishments in FromSoftware’s entire catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions
⚡ Quick Answer
Phase 1 — King of the Storm
The Nameless King is an optional two-phase boss in Archdragon Peak — widely considered the hardest boss in Dark Souls 3. Phase 1 is against his King of the Storm dragon — target the dragon’s neck/head, not the rider. Phase 2 is a direct fight against the Nameless King himself — stay close, dodge into his attacks, and punish aggressively. No summons are allowed. Recommended level: 80–100.
1Target the dragon’s neck and head — not the Nameless King riding it. The dragon is the health bar you’re depleting in Phase 1. Lock on to its neck when possible, or unlock and aim manually when underneath. Hitting the rider does almost no damage.
2The dragon’s main threat is its lightning breath — a wide arc that tracks you. Roll toward the dragon’s body when it begins breathing to get underneath the hitbox. The dragon also dives and slams the ground — roll to its side as it descends.
3The Nameless King himself attacks you with his spear from above during Phase 1. His spear slam creates a lightning explosion — dodge sideways just before impact, not early. He typically attacks 2–3 times in a row before the dragon becomes the main threat again.
4Once the dragon’s health is depleted, it falls and Phase 2 begins. Heal immediately during the transition — the cutscene gives you a brief window. Use all your Estus if needed before the Nameless King stands up.
1The Nameless King fights on foot with a lightning-charged spear. His attack speed is moderate but his reach is enormous. Stay at close-to-medium range — at close range his spear sweeps miss you more often. Never fight at long range — he uses a devastating lightning spear throw that’s hard to dodge from distance.
2His most dangerous combo is the 3–4 hit spear chain ending with an overhead slam. Roll through each horizontal swing (roll toward him, not away), then dodge the final slam sideways. Attack once or twice after the slam before he resumes his stance.
3Watch for his heavily delayed attacks — the Nameless King deliberately pauses mid-animation to catch early rollers. Don’t roll when you see him raise his weapon — wait until his arm begins to actually swing down. His delayed overhead is the most punishing move for players who roll too early.
4He occasionally charges his spear with lightning and fires a massive bolt — dodge sideways at the last moment when you see the spear glow. During his charged phases, stay aggressive and interrupt his animation with attacks before he can fire.
→Use Lightning-resistant armor and the Lightning Clutch Ring — both phases deal almost exclusively Lightning damage. Equip armor with the highest Lightning Defense you have. The Lothric Knight Set or Dragonscale Set provide good Lightning resistance.
→No summons allowed — the Nameless King fight has no summon signs and no NPC summons. This is a mandatory solo fight. Prepare your best solo build — see our best build guide for high-damage setups.
→Learn Phase 1 without taking damage — Phase 1 is significantly easier than Phase 2. If you’re spending Estus on the dragon, you’ll run dry fighting the king. Practice Phase 1 until you can clear it without healing, then focus all your resources on the Nameless King himself.
→Recommended SL: 80–100 with a +9 to +10 weapon. The Nameless King has very high HP and poise — use a weapon with strong poise damage to stagger him out of his attacks when you land hits during Phase 2.
Where is the Nameless King?The Nameless King is in Archdragon Peak — an optional hidden area. To reach it, perform the Path of the Dragon gesture at the altar in Irithyll Dungeon (near the Archdragon Peak area), or find it via the secret passage in Consumed King’s Garden accessible from Lothric Castle after defeating the Dancer.
Is the Nameless King optional?Yes — entirely optional. He has no connection to the main story path and his Great Rune and Remembrance aren’t required for any ending. He exists purely as an ultimate challenge for players who want to test themselves beyond the main game.
What does the Nameless King drop?He drops the Soul of the Nameless King — transpose at Ludleth for the Dragonslayer Swordspear (his signature weapon, excellent for quality/faith builds) or the Lightning Storm miracle. Both are powerful but niche. The real reward is the accomplishment of defeating him.
Can I use summons against the Nameless King?No — the Nameless King arena has no summon signs, no NPC summons, and cannot be entered in multiplayer. It is a mandatory solo fight with no cooperative options. This is intentional — the fight is designed as a personal duel rather than a group encounter.