As one of the first Lords of Cinder that players can find in Dark Souls 3, the Abyss Watchers are a mandatory boss that is required to defeat if the Ashen One wishes to progress. Due to their unique scenario where multiple Watchers spawn, this battle can become quite hectic.
There is a lot going on, so focusing on implementing any strategy can be tricky between dodging, blocking, or parrying incoming attacks. Thankfully, there are a few ways to overcome these challenges at both close and long-range.
4 Melee Strategy #1: Parries, Ripostes, & Backstabs
Being humanoid enemies of size only slightly larger than the player, the Abyss Watchers can be parried and riposted as well as backstabbed. One can implement this tactic much like how they would against invaders or other hostile human enemies. The trick for parrying is to get the timing down correctly on one or two of the main Watcher’s attacks. In the first phase, try to bait out their combo by standing close, for their offhand attacks with their dagger are the easiest to parry as well as the least damaging if one misses the parry window. The second phase is more challenging since there is no offhand dagger, though any of the flaming Watcher’s non-jumping or dash attacks can be still be parried and all have notable telegraphing that can make them easy to see coming.
As for backstabs, one should also try to bait out their combos by standing close to the main Watcher. Both of their combination attacks unleash 3 moves that either end in an overhand slam with their Farron Greatsword or a jumping variant of the same move. It is during the 3rd attack in this combo that one should quickly roll behind them, wait a moment for their attack to hit the ground, and then tap the light attack button to plunge one’s weapon into their spine. The same method can be used in the second phase, despite the combos being different. Just be patient and be sure to get behind them during the last attack of their combo.
3 Melee Strategy #2: Stagger Them
It is clear that the Abyss Watchers prioritize speed and evasion over defense, like any true Dexterity build, which makes them very susceptible to being staggered by some of the heavier weapons. Two such armaments are obtained fairly easily and can be found in Farron Keep as well. Both the Great Club and Exile Greatsword can be acquired without any effort by tricking the Exile Watchdogs that try to double-team the player. One can lead them into falling down the shaft with the ladder that is located near to where they launch their attack on the player.
Either one of these weapons can be more than enough to interrupt many of the Watchers’ attacks, though the Great Club, being a Great Hammer, is the better out of the two for dealing huge poise damage. Since it also comes with some hyper armor and the Warcry weapon skill, it can allow one to tank through the lighter attacks while landing and interrupting combos quite easily. Just be sure to time attacks so that they don’t miss, for the long recovery time after a missed swing can lead to the Abyss Watchers landing more hits on the player than necessary.
2 Spell Strategy #1: Sorceries
The Abyss Watchers are weak to Lightning Damage, though, without many offensive miracles to be found at this point in the game, casters instead will need to rely on other kinds of spells to take down the first Lord of Cinder. The rapidly-moving Watchers won’t exactly give the player much time to cast, so the faster spells are handier here over the more powerful ones.
One that can be of great use is the fast and efficient Farron Dart spell. This is a great sorcery to pepper the main Watcher in phase one as well as the fire-buffed one in phase two, as there is little delay between casting and dodging, allowing for ideal hit and run tactics. Great Soul Arrow can also be of use here, despite being slower to cast, as it deals a fair bit more damage and can be especially devastating to the main Watcher in phase one if they get distracted by the other Watchers that spawn. Be sure to carry some Ashen Estus Flasks into this battle so that one can cast more spells.
1 Spell Strategy #2: Pyromancies
Despite the second phase Watcher’s sword being alight, he is not resistant to Fire damage. Although, without a chance to have gained some of the more powerful pyromancies, players determined to defeat the Abyss Watchers as one who wields flames will likely have to do so with the basic Fireball spell. However, this is likely one of the best to use anyway since it has one of the shortest casting times out of all pyromancies. Players will still have to wait for opportunities to lob Fireballs safely, so it is highly recommended to run around and bait the Watchers in the first phase so that they attack one another in order to have some breathing room to cast.
The second phase relieves one of having to deal with multiple foes, though with no one else around to draw aggro, players will need to time their Fireballs accordingly. The best way is to wait for the embered Watcher to unleash a combo or one of their heavier attacks before lobbing fire at them. Alternatively, utilizing the close-range weapon skill of one’s Pyromancy Flame, Combustion, can also be a suitable method as it has a very fast casting time and can essentially be used as a melee weapon. It is recommended to bring along some Ashen Estus Flasks, as with the sorcery strategy, for more spell ammunition.
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