Guide: Dark Souls Remastered Ornstein and Smough Boss Walkthrough

I can't take this...

by Glen Fox Tue 29th May 2018

Dark Souls Remastered Ornstein and Smough Boss Walkthrough Guide

Bosses in Dark Souls Remastered are the cream on the challenging cake. Sure, fighting your way through a new area is no cakewalk, but it all builds towards beating the area boss.

Not only do these guys have an enormous health bar that you'll have to whittle down piece by piece, but they also deal insane damage. So much so that it's entirely possible you could get wiped out in a single hit.

They may even be surrounded by enemies from earlier in the level, or attack you as a duo. Just you wait until you face your first double boss – that will make everything you've faced up until that point easy by comparison.

Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube150k

Watch on YouTube

In this guide, we're going to walk you through how to beat Ornstein and Smough, easily one of the toughest boss(es) in the entirety of Dark Souls Remastered. Good luck!

How to beat Ornstein and Smough in Dark Souls Remastered

There's no two ways about it: Ornstein and Smough is an intensely difficult boss combo that will have you tearing your hair out. Individually, these guys aren't particularly tough, but together they are nigh unstoppable. Both deal vicious damage, and can unleash attacks fairly quickly.

Ornstein is the smaller of the two, and glides around the arena dealing fast lightning attacks with his spear. Smough is massive, moves slower, and deals slower attacks that hit harder with a massive hammer.

Depending on the order you take them out in, you'll receive different rewards at the end. So bear that in mind when picking your first opponent.

Beating Ornstein first

We recommend taking out Ornstein first, as it's quite easy to keep track of Smough using your peripheral vision. Just put some distance between you and Smough and let Ornstein close in on you. Be careful though, as he's surprisingly quick and can deal heavy damage with a zooming attack. Block or dodge that then wail on him until Smough closes in on you. At this point, just rinse and repeat the steps until Ornstein goes down.

A cutscene will ensuee in which Smough finishes off Ornstein and steals his lightning ability. Now you just have Smough to deal with, though his hammer now deals lightning damage too. Even so, this section of the fight is much easier than the first. Just dodge Smough's well-telegraphed attacks and counter with your own.

Be careful of his new AoE attack though, which also deals heavy lightning damage. Get well out of the way whenever he jumps in the air, as that's his signal to stomp you.

Beating Smough first

Well, you've just picked the tougher of two options in one of the most difficult boss fights in a very hard game indeed. Congratulations! We'd urge you to summon Solaire just outside of this fight if you pick this approach, as he deals a lot of damage to these two and can tank really well.

If you can, use fire attacks on Smough as he's weak to these. You'll also deal solid damage if you have a levelled up Lightning Spear, as this also does good damage to Smough. Either way, bring him down and then Ornstein will become even more powerful than before. All of his attacks will be lightning-based now, and he'll inherit a stomping AoE attack that can deal a lot of damage to you. Get out of the way of that.

Let Solaire tank him while you wail away on him, or dodge his attacks and wait for an opening to retaliate in kind.