How to Beat Abyss Watchers in Dark Souls 3
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How to Beat Abyss Watchers in Dark Souls 3
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The Abyss Watchers are one of the first major skill-check bosses in Dark Souls 3. Most players struggle because they try to brute-force Phase 1 instead of using the enemy infighting to create openings. Once you understand that mechanic and learn to roll into the fire attacks in Phase 2, the fight becomes much more manageable. If you can beat the Abyss Watchers, you are more than ready for the rest of the mid-game.
⚡ Quick Answer
Step-by-Step: How to Beat the Abyss Watchers
To beat the Abyss Watchers in Dark Souls 3, use Phase 1 to let the Watchers damage each other, then focus the main boss when openings appear. In Phase 2, stay close, roll into his fire attacks, and punish after his lunges and combo endings. A comfortable level is 35-40 with an upgraded weapon.
1
Phase 1 — use the Watchers against each other. Multiple Abyss Watchers appear in the first phase, and the red-eyed one will attack the others for you. Do not rush in blindly. Let them fight, then punish the main Watcher when the arena creates a safe opening.
2
Stay controlled in Phase 1. The Abyss Watchers are fast, but their attacks are readable once you stop panicking. Land 1-2 hits after safe dodges, then reposition. Greed gets punished hard in this fight.
3
Phase 2 starts when one Watcher absorbs all the others. A cutscene triggers — the surviving Watcher merges with the others and gains fire abilities. His speed increases and he gets a flaming sword. The fight becomes a proper 1v1 with no more reinforcements.
4
Phase 2 — stay close and slightly to his left. Most of his attacks become more dangerous if you panic-roll backward. Stay near him, roll through the swings, and keep your punish windows short and disciplined.
5
Dodge his fire sweep by rolling toward him. His most dangerous Phase 2 move is a wide fire sweep along the ground. Roll toward him and to the side to pass through it. Rolling backwards puts you in the fire path. Once you pass through the sweep you have a full combo window.
6
Punish the lunge and combo endings. His forward lunge is one of the safest openings in the fight. Roll to the side, let the attack finish, then land 1-2 hits before resetting. This is one of the most reliable Phase 2 punish windows.
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If your build still feels weak by this point, the problem may come from your early setup rather than the boss itself. That is more common when you did not start with a beginner-friendly option like the best starting class in Dark Souls 3.
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Fire resistance helps in Phase 2 — the Flame Stoneplate Ring or Firelink armor reduces fire damage from his sweeps significantly.
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Don’t waste Estus in Phase 1 unless you really need it — Phase 2 is much more dangerous. If you feel underpowered, it may be better to level up fast in Dark Souls 3 first and come back stronger.
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The Abyss Watchers drop the Soul of the Blood of the Wolf. You can transpose it into powerful weapons later, so do not consume it immediately unless you are sure you only want the souls.