What can you do as a free member?

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and unlock all our premium features and tools to enhance your gaming experience.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save articles to your watchlist and get notified when they're updated with new information.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save your favorite games for quick access later, synced across all your devices.

Member benefits illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you'll receive instant notifications when someone replies to your posts.

Comment rating feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can make use of convenient features in the comments section, such as rating and sorting comments.

Premium archive feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can access Premium articles that are exclusively available to members.

Site Interface

Guest
Free Member
Article Watchlist
Game Bookmarks
Cross-device Sync
Light/Dark Theme Toggle
User Profiles
Direct Feedback
Comment Rating

Game Tools

Guest
Free Member
Interactive Map Access
Interactive Map Pins
Interactive Map Comments
Interactive Map Pins Cross-Device
Check List
Event Choice Checker
Deck Builder Cross-Device
Message Board Notification
Message Board Cross-Device
Build Planner
Stat Calculator
Diagnostic Tool
Weapon/Armor Wishlist

Want more information?Learn more

Elden Ring Nightreign

All Returning Dark Souls Bosses

Add to Watchlist

Elden Ring Nightreign Dark Souls Bosses
There are 6 bosses from the Dark Souls games in Elden Ring Nightreign. See a list of all Dark Souls bosses and the games they originally appeared in.

List of All Dark Souls Bosses

There are a total of 6 bosses from the Dark Souls games that appear in Elden Ring Nightreign:

  1. Centipede Demon
  2. Gaping Dragon
  3. Duke's Dear Freja
  4. Smelter Demon
  5. Dancer of the Boreal Valley
  6. The Nameless King

Centipede Demon

Elden Ring Nightreign Centipede Demon

First Appearance Dark Souls (2011)

Originally an optional boss in the first Dark Souls game, the Centipede Demon is a large, insect-like creature found in the lava-filled Demon Ruins. In Nightreign, it appears as one of the Night Bosses during Expeditions.

Its moveset remains mostly unchanged, but it is now easier to sever the parts of the Centipede Demon. Cutting the boss' limbs reduces its range (particularly the front), but each severed piece becomes a separate enemy that can still attack, though it moves slowly.

The fight is also a bit easier in Nightreign, as it takes place in an open field rather than a confined lava dungeon.

How to Beat Centipede Demon

Gaping Dragon

Elden Ring Nightreign Gaping Dragon

First Appearance Dark Souls (2011)

Also an optional boss from Dark Souls, the Gaping Dragon is a large dragon-bat hybrid that spreads rot across the ground. In Nightreign, it appears at the end of Day 1 if you're taking on Fulghor in an Expedition.

As with most Dark Souls bosses in Nightreign, the Gaping Dragon is slightly subdued to make way for Nightlords. Avoid the rot by keeping your distance and use its large hitbox to your advantage.

How to Beat Gaping Dragon

Duke's Dear Freja

Elden Ring Nightreign Duke

First Appearance Dark Souls II (2014)

Duke's Dear Freja is a boss in Dark Souls II. In Nightreign, it is a Night Boss at the end of Day 1 if you're taking on Adel in an Expedition. Similar to its original appearance, the boss is a two-headed spider that shoots webs and attacks with its thorny legs.

To defeat Duke's Dear Freja, attack one of its two heads (or both if you're in a party), as the boss only takes damage if you hit its two heads. You can also use AoE spells to clear its minions.

How to Beat The Duke's Dear Freja

Smelter Demon

Elden Ring Nightreign Smelter Demon Dark Souls

First Appearance Dark Souls II (2014)

The Smelter Demon, an optional boss from the Iron Keep in Dark Souls II, makes an appearance in Nightreign as a Night Boss during Expeditions.

Like its original version, the Smelter Demon deals Fire damage. While not exactly easy, it’s one of the more manageable Night Bosses in the game thanks to its linear, predictable moveset.

How to Beat Smelter Demon

Dancer of the Boreal Valley

Elden Ring Nightreign Dancer Dark Souls

First Appearance Dark Souls III (2016)

The Dancer of the Boreal Valley from Dark Souls III makes an appearance in Nightreign as a Night Boss. This tall, armored knight wields a flame sword, then adds a magic sword once its HP is halved, making the fight even more challenging.

Since you're now battling the Dancer of the Boreal Valley in an open area, compared to the confined space in the original, the fight is a bit more manageable. The extra room makes it easier to dodge her spinning attacks, and the boss is more durable.

How to Beat Dancer of the Boreal Valley

The Nameless King

Elden Ring Nightreign Nameless King

First Appearance Dark Souls III (2016)

Arguably one of the most popular bosses in the Dark Souls games, the Nameless King from Dark Souls III returns in Nightreign as a Night Boss. You can find the boss at the end of Day 2 if you’re pursuing Fulghor in an Expedition.

As in the original, the Nameless King is just as challenging with its two-part fight. First, when the Nameless King rides the Drake, and then when he powers up with Wind spells, giving him the ability to fly and dash quickly. Strafe and dodge sideways to stay alive and outwit the boss.

How to Beat Nameless King

Why Are Dark Souls Bosses in Nightreign?

Dark Souls Bosses Are Not Canon to Elden Ring

Elden Ring Nightreign Nameless King Interview

The Dark Souls games and Elden Ring Nightreign are both developed by FromSoftware, but that doesn't mean they're part of the same universe. In an interview, game director Junya Ishizaki said that the inclusion of Dark Souls bosses in Nightreign is purely a design choice to add enemy variety and not a sign of shared lore or continuity.

Elden Ring Nightreign Related Guides

Elden Ring Nightreign - Bosses

List of All Bosses

List of All Forsaken Hollows Bosses

Nightlords
Balancers IconBalancers Dreglord IconDreglord

List of All Nightlords

Nightlords
Elden Ring Nightreign GladiusGladius, Beast of Night Elden Ring Nightreign Gnoster IconGnoster, Wisdom of Night Elden Ring Nightreign Adel IconAdel, Baron of Night
Darkdrift Knight Fulghor Fulghor, Champion of Nightglow Elden Ring Nightreign Maris IconMaris, Fathom of Night Elden Ring Nightreign Libra IconLibra, Creature of Night
Elden Ring Nightreign Caligo IconCaligo, Miasma of Night Elden Ring Nightreign Heolstor IconHeolstor the Nightlord -

List of All Night Bosses

Night Bosses
Bell Bearing Hunter Centipede Demon Demi-Human Queen
Demi-Human Swordmaster Draconic Tree Sentinel The Duke's Dear Freja
Fell Omen Gaping Dragon Nameless King
Smelter Demon Tree Sentinel and Royal Cavalrymen Godskin Duo
Ulcerated Tree Spirit Death Rite Bird Tibia Mariner and Those Who Live in Death
Crucible Knight and Golden Hippopotamus Dancer of the Boreal Valley Ancient Dragon
Wormface Nox Dragonkin Soldier Outland Commander
Valiant Gargoyle Night's Cavalry Grafted Monarch
Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast Battlefield Commander Royal Revenant

List of All World Bosses

World Bosses
Erdtree Avatar Magma Wyrm Snowfield Trolls
Guardian Golem Mountaintop Ice Dragon Albinauric Archers
Crystalians Oracle Envoys Depraved Perfumer
Elder Lion Ancient Hero of Zamor Fire Monk
Grafted Scion Albinaurics Royal Carian Knight
Leonine Misbegotten Lordsworn Captain Fire Prelates
Banished Knights Redmane Knights Flying Dragon of the Hills
Red Wolf of the King Consort Abductor Virgin (Swinging Sickle) Flame Chariots
Sanguine Noble Royal Army Knights Nox Warriors
Fallingstar Beast Omen Mausoleum Knight
Perfumer Runebear Beastly Brigade
Frenzied Flame Troll Beastmen of Farum Azala Ancestor Spirit
Battlemages Night-Swallowed Golden Hippopotamus Naturalborn of the Void
Black Knife Assassin Stoneskin Lords Black Blade Kindred
Miranda Blossom Erdtree Burial Watchdogs -

List of Special Bosses

Special Bosses
Night Idol Tutorial Boss Onestrike Gladiator
Blinding Elder Lion White Horn -

All Returning Dark Souls Bosses

Author

    Please participate in our site
    improvement survey
    12/2025
    Would you assist in
    improving Game8's site?
    ×
    This survey will take about 1 minute.
    Your answers will help us to improve our website.
    We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
    The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
    Begin Survey

    All rights reserved

    Guide Index