How to Beat Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls 3
Home → Dark Souls → How to Beat Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls
How to Beat Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls 3
Phase 2 — Gwyn’s Echo
Tips
Soul of Cinder is a worthy finale — it tests everything Dark Souls 3 has taught you across the entire game. Phase 1’s stance rotation rewards pattern recognition, and Phase 2’s Gwyn tribute is a love letter to longtime fans. The fight is hard but fair, and most players report it clicking suddenly after a handful of attempts. Once you’ve beaten Pontiff, the Abyss Watchers, and Yhorm, you’re ready. Stay patient, conserve resources, and trust the roll.
Frequently Asked Questions
⚡ Quick Answer
Phase 1 — Four Stances
Soul of Cinder is the final boss of Dark Souls 3, found at the Kiln of the First Flame. Phase 1 cycles through four weapon stances — sword, spear, curved sword, and catalyst — each with different attack patterns. Stay close, punish after each combo, and conserve Estus for Phase 2. Phase 2 is a tribute to Gwyn from Dark Souls 1 — parry his lightning attacks or roll left through his slashes for consistent openings.
1
Sword stance — fast slashing combos ending with a lunge. Stay close to his left side and roll into his attacks. Punish window is 2–3 hits after his 3-slash combo. Watch for the delayed overhead slam — it catches late rollers.
2
Spear stance — long-reach thrusts and a fire explosion at the spear tip. Stay at his sides rather than directly in front. The fire pillar that erupts after a thrust is easy to dodge sideways — don’t roll backward or you’ll walk into the delayed explosion.
3
Curved sword stance — the most dangerous Phase 1 stance. Fast multi-hit combos with wide arcs and a spinning finish. Roll into his body to stay inside the hitbox and avoid the outer arc damage. One or two hits per combo ending is all you need.
4
Catalyst stance — ranged magic and fire blasts. Close distance immediately when he pulls back. His ranged attacks are slow enough to roll through at medium range. This is your best punish opportunity — he has long recovery after each catalyst cast.
1
At 0% HP, a cutscene plays and Phase 2 begins. Soul of Cinder transforms into a tribute to Gwyn, Lord of Cinder from the original Dark Souls — same aggressive slash combos, same grab attack, same lightning empowerment.
2
Parry option: Phase 2 is highly parriable. All of his slashes can be parried with consistent practice — a successful riposte deals enormous damage and can end the fight in 3–4 parries. Use a buckler or target shield for the largest parry window.
3
No-parry option: Roll to your left (his right) through his slashes — almost every Phase 2 attack tracks to his left, so rolling his right side avoids most hits. Punish with 1–2 hits after each whiff. Don’t get greedy.
4
Watch for the grab attack — he reaches forward with one arm. Roll backward or sideways the moment you see his arm extend. It deals massive damage and is the most common cause of death in Phase 2.
→
Save Estus for Phase 2. Phase 1 is manageable with careful play — taking hits and healing during Phase 1 often means running out of flasks mid-Phase 2, which is far more dangerous. Aim to enter Phase 2 with at least 5–6 Estus remaining.
→
Recommended level: 80–100. Bring your best weapon at +9 to +10 (somber) or +14 to +15 (standard). Soul of Cinder has no specific elemental weakness — your highest-damage weapon is the right choice regardless of type.
→
Phantom summons available — Londor Pale Shade and Sword Master summon signs are near the fog gate. Both are good phantoms who deal solid damage, though they may distract Cinder in a way that makes Phase 2 timing harder to read solo.
→
The Black Knight Sword or Greatsword are excellent choices here — high poise damage that staggers Cinder out of combos and strong AR that keeps Phase 2 short. Keep a high Vigor investment so one-shot scenarios are avoided.
How many phases does Soul of Cinder have?
Two — Phase 1 cycles through four weapon stances (sword, spear, curved sword, catalyst). Phase 2 is a single Gwyn-inspired aggressive swordfighter stance. A cutscene separates the phases at the Phase 1 HP threshold.
Can Soul of Cinder be parried?
Phase 2 can be consistently parried — all slash attacks have parry windows. Phase 1 sword stance can also be parried, but the other stances (spear, curved sword, catalyst) generally cannot. If you’re comfortable parrying, Phase 2 becomes the easier half of the fight.
What does Soul of Cinder drop?
Soul of Cinder drops the Soul of the Lords — transpose at Ludleth for the Firelink Greatsword (its signature weapon) or the Sunlight Spear miracle — and 100,000 souls. Defeating him triggers the ending sequence and credits for your chosen ending.
What level should I be for Soul of Cinder?
SL 80–100 with a fully upgraded weapon is the recommended range. If you’ve completed all four Lord of Cinder fights and explored thoroughly, you should be in this range naturally. Use our level up fast guide to close the gap if needed before the final fight.