In Elden Ring Nightreign, Dark Souls bosses can show up in a variety of Expeditions. Though there are not as many Dark Souls bosses in Nightreign as some players expected, the inclusions are some of the most memorable bosses from the Souls series – bosses that longtime FromSoftware fans should instantly recognize.
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Elden Ring Nightreign puts a new spin on the original game's core gameplay. But do you need the original to dive in?
In total, there are six bosses brought over from Dark Souls in Nightreign: two from the original Dark Souls, two from Dark Souls 2, and two from Dark Souls 3. This guide explains how to find Dark Souls bosses in Nightreign and provides a brief description of how each boss has been adapted for Nightreign.
Updated December 11, 2025, by Waseem Muhammad: The majority of the FromSoftware fanbase will agree that the bosses in the Dark Souls franchise had great boss designs. To be able to see them again in all of their glory in Elden Ring Nightreign is a joy to watch. The Forsaken Hollows DLC adds a lot of new content to the game, including the addition of two new Dark Souls bosses who act as Night Bosses during the expeditions. Below, we have updated the guide to include the newly added bosses and the expeditions in which they can appear.
Centipede Demon
Originally From Dark Souls 1
One of the most iconic Dark Souls 1 bosses is the Centipede Demon, in part because you can cut the boss' limbs and tail off to weaken it, but mostly because the original boss fight was one of the most frustrating in the game. In Elden Ring Nightreign, you won't need to worry about navigating a massive arena filled with lava, but you can still break off the Centipede Demon's parts to make it weaker. Watch out, though, as the severed parts will still try to attack players as separate enemies.
How To Find The Centipede Demon In Nightreign
To fight the Centipede Demon, Nightreign players must target either the Sentient Pest or Darkdrift Knight Expeditions, where the Centipede Demon will show up as either a Night 1 or Night 2 boss.
Gaping Dragon
Originally From Dark Souls 1
The Gaping Dragon is an optional boss from Dark Souls that has become one of the most fondly remembered in the game. It's a spectacularly horrific boss – a dragon split in half with teeth lining its stomach is just hard to look at – and in Nightreign, the Gaping Dragon has been remastered in gruesome modern detail.
How To Find The Gaping Dragon In Nightreign
To fight the Gaping Dragon, Nightreign players must target the Gaping Jaw Expedition, where the Gaping Dragon boss may show up as the main Night 2 boss.
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Smelter Demon
Originally From Dark Souls 2
Dark Souls 2 enjoyers look back on this black sheep of the Souls series with reverence, especially when it comes to particular moments and bosses that stand out. The Smelter Demon is one such boss, in part because the first fight in the Iron Keep is so memorable, but also because you encounter another version (the Aged Smelter Demon) in the Old Iron Keep DLC that's blue for no particular reason.
In Nightreign, the Smelter Demon retains its original look and skills, though it attacks and moves much faster than in Dark Souls 2. It can also switch between its regular and Aged (blue) form when it charges a close-range blast, unlocking more powerful attacks.
How To Find The Smelter Demon In Nightreign
To fight the Smelter Demon, Nightreign players must target the Fissure in the Fog Expedition, where the Smelter Demon may spawn as the main Night 1 or Night 2 boss.
The Duke's Dear Freja
Originally From Dark Souls 2
The Duke's Dear Freja is a gigantic spider that's as legendary to Dark Souls 2 fans as the Last Giant. Found in Brightstone Cove Tseldora relatively late in the game, this boss does a lot more than just poke at you with her spindly legs - she can also shoot webs and a long-range laser that can quickly tear through low-HP characters.
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In DS2, Freja appears both as a major boss and as a surprise boss encounter exclusive to New Game Plus. Though this surprise moment wasn't adapted to Nightreign, Freja's moveset will feel familiar to anyone who's spent some time in Drangleic.
How To Find The Duke's Dear Freja In Nightreign
To fight The Duke's Dear Freja, Nightreign players must target the Sentient Pest Expedition, where the Freja boss may appear as the main Night 1 or Night 2 boss.
Dancer of the Boreal Valley
Originally From Dark Souls 3
The Dance of the Boreal Valley is an elegant and fearsome boss that players can accidentally fight very early in Dark Souls 3. Found at the top of the stairs opposite Vordt of the Boreal Valley in the High Wall Of Lothric, the Dancer of the Boreal Valley dances around the boss arena as fast as she attacks with her dual blades.
Watch out in particular for the multi-spin attack, in which she will rapidly spin around and around and slam her blades into the ground with each rotation. If you get caught in this trap, unless you have a lot of HP, you'll probably go down and have to be revived by a teammate, so keep enough Stamina to Surge Sprint away when she starts to wind up.
How To Find The Dancer of the Boreal Valley In Nightreign
To fight the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, Nightreign players must target the Fissure in the Fog Expedition, where the Dancer boss may show up as the main boss of either Night 1 or Night 2.
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The Nameless King
Originally From Dark Souls 3
Arguably the fan-favorite boss from the Dark Souls series, or at least the most iconic boss from Dark Souls 3, is the Nameless King. Said to be the spurned son of Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight, the Nameless King rides upon the King of the Storm in what is one of the most difficult bosses in DS3 – and no pushover in Nightreign.
In Nightreign, the Nameless King has two phases, just like in his original fight. At first, you must fight him as he rides his dragon around the arena, hurling lightning bolts and ranged attacks as he soars between all-too-brief breaks on the ground.
After you beat the King of the Storm, the Nameless King will leap into the air, then come crashing down with a Lightning spear equipped. In the second phase, watch out for the Nameless King's surprisingly fast attack patterns. He will be stuck on the ground, so melee players can really go full force to beat the Nameless King in phase 2.
How To Find The Nameless King In Nightreign
To fight the Nameless King, Nightreign players must target the Darkdrift Knight Expedition, which may feature the Nameless King as a main Night 2 boss.
Demon Prince (Demon from Below and Demon in Pain)
Originally From Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City
The only entry from the Ringed City DLC from Dark Souls 3 that joins Elden Ring Nightreign are the Demon from Below and Demon in Pain. A duo fight, which was considered one of the easier bosses of the DLC, not because of them not being a challenge, but because of how tough the other bosses were.
Similar to Dark Souls 3, players in Nightreign can experience both phases of the Demons, as the Demon Prince comes back to life after both of the Demons are killed. However, in Nightreign, players will have to wait for the next night to face off against the Demon Prince and come out victorious.
How To Find Demon Prince In Nightreign
To fight the Demon Prince, players must target the Balancers Expedition, which may feature the Demon from Below and Demon in Pain as a Night 1 boss and the Demon Prince as the Night 2 boss.
Knight Artorias
Originally From Dark Souls 1: Artorias of the Abyss
Possibly the most popular and loved boss in the Dark Souls franchise, Artorias has also been added to Nightreign. At the launch of the base game, Wylder got a skin for Artorias, so a lot of fans assumed they would not see him as a boss variant, but everyone was wrong. Being one of the more challenging bosses in the Dark Souls 1 DLC, Artorias continues to overhead slam the Nightfarers to send them back to the Roundtable Hold.
Knight Artorias in Nightreign has a second phase that starts when the boss drops down to 50% health. His attacks get empowered, and he starts using his famous slam multiple times. He is a great addition to the DLC roster and a challenging boss who knows how to make an entry.
How To Find Knight Artorias In Nightreign
To fight Knight Artorias, players must target the Dreglord Expedition, which may feature Knight Artorias as the Night 2 boss.
Elden Ring Nightreign
- Released
- May 30, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Number of Players
- 1-3
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
