Is it just me or is the abyss watchers fight difficult?

[Devil Butterfly]

A friend said he killed them first time but I'm struggling a lot. I've found the game asy so far up until this bit. How did anyone else feel?

[lpnlizard27]

It helps to have a competent human summon, but yes they can be difficult alone or with the pathertic NPC summons.

[TrueArchery]

Protip:
You can backstab and parry-riposte them.

[Washing Machine]

Hate that first phase. Random charge attacks coming off camera are not my idea of fun.

If you want it easy, just summon Black Hand and you can stunlock the boss with ease.

[Devil Butterfly]

Are you using a slow weapon? This game is not balanced well for heavy slow weapons dude

[_blop_]

I used claymore+3 and didn't want to change my weapon just for him. Also, I never play in ember form unless I want to PVP, so, no summon.
I'm generally not bad at DS but this boss is clearly unfair with slow weapons, unless you know parrying. Also, landing hits on his face sometimes stunned him, sometimes not, I really didn't understood why.
After ~30 attempts, I eventually killed it with luck, my strategy unchanged, which was:
1. land 4 hits on first part
2. when they are two, RUN (and rollalot).
3. when the red eyes guy spawns, keep him in sight and hit the killable watcher (the second guy).
4. when you are about to finish this part, you have to be located on the edges of the room, otherwise, you are gonna die instantly after the short cinematic transition because he starts attacking before the game gives you back the controls.
5. when the boss is in fire form, you basically won, because he's only one.

[Faithnomore]

Originally posted by Hilly:

Beat Smelter Demon on my 2nd try but can't beat these guys, been fighting for 4 hours non-stop. Like 100+ attempts, no breathing room, getting destroyed on the 2nd stage

Hehe, welcome to Dark Souls. I love it.

[A2]

I have tried this fight about 100 times now with fast and slow weapons. Slow weapons do some damage but he will just come back with another attack before I can roll away and then stun lock me to death. If I use fast weapons he just attacks through my attacks, stun locks me and kills me. I got to the second phase once and he killed me in under two seconds. Mostly he just kills me as soon as I attack him or the adds attack me and not him like the videos show. Either way I am stuck on what seems a permanent basis. I have spent days grinding stats on the three monsters near the bonfire but that makes sod all difference. He is simply too fast and as I am not able to react that quickly I think this game is over for me. It is tragic as I love Dark souls and have beaten the other two but this one is just cruel and has gone beyond the punishing game concept and entered into the absurd and over the top boss fights that only the elite can manage.

[Foe]

Personal skill level, opinions. Next thread.

[karl-emil]

Originally posted by antoniostars:

I have tried this fight about 100 times now with fast and slow weapons. Slow weapons do some damage but he will just come back with another attack before I can roll away and then stun lock me to death. If I use fast weapons he just attacks through my attacks, stun locks me and kills me. I got to the second phase once and he killed me in under two seconds. Mostly he just kills me as soon as I attack him or the adds attack me and not him like the videos show. Either way I am stuck on what seems a permanent basis. I have spent days grinding stats on the three monsters near the bonfire but that makes sod all difference. He is simply too fast and as I am not able to react that quickly I think this game is over for me. It is tragic as I love Dark souls and have beaten the other two but this one is just cruel and has gone beyond the punishing game concept and entered into the absurd and over the top boss fights that only the elite can manage.

Easy boss is easy

Seriously though, once you learn the patterns it's not a hard fight.

[SnusHead]

Originally posted by antoniostars:

I have tried this fight about 100 times now with fast and slow weapons. Slow weapons do some damage but he will just come back with another attack before I can roll away and then stun lock me to death. If I use fast weapons he just attacks through my attacks, stun locks me and kills me. I got to the second phase once and he killed me in under two seconds. Mostly he just kills me as soon as I attack him or the adds attack me and not him like the videos show. Either way I am stuck on what seems a permanent basis. I have spent days grinding stats on the three monsters near the bonfire but that makes sod all difference. He is simply too fast and as I am not able to react that quickly I think this game is over for me. It is tragic as I love Dark souls and have beaten the other two but this one is just cruel and has gone beyond the punishing game concept and entered into the absurd and over the top boss fights that only the elite can manage.

holy crap that thread reviving

[DHZ]

Are we in Catacombs of Carthus? Cuz the necromancy is real

[A2]

I did try and learn his patterns and sometimes he will do three hits and then you attack and he pulls a fourth out. If I wait for that fourth attack it gives him time and he goes into a new attack cycle. Yes I know people beat him and yes I know how hard these games are but jeez, he makes Ornstein look like a kitten !

[terrorinsc]

I found them super easy. with one sngle sun bro we simply ganked him with backstabs over and over. a backstabbable boss = sort of easy.

[Crueler]

Early game greatsword might have made it a bit more challenging than a 1 hander. Still shouldn't be all that bad, because he can be stun locked most the time.

[A2]

Originally posted by terrorinsc:

I found them super easy. with one sngle sun bro we simply ganked him with backstabs over and over. a backstabbable boss = sort of easy.

What is a sun bro ? Do you mean a summon ? I cannot summon anyone. I try to backstab and I just kick. I guess I should just give up really or grind for about a month and try and outlve him on health.