The Old Iron King is the final confrontation waiting at the end of the Iron Keep in Dark Souls 2. He is a mandatory boss and quite intimidating when you first face him. However, you will quickly learn that he is more bark than bite.
In this boss guide, we’ll go over what makes this “great” boss so underwhelming and how you can make quick work of him and continue to conquer Dark Souls 2.
Fighting Old Iron King in Dark Souls 2
When you enter the boss fog gate, the ensuing cutscene will reveal a massive (somewhat generic-looking) horned-winged demon, the Old Iron King, bursting out of the surrounding ocean of lava.
The seemingly behemoth size of this boss will surely make you wet your pants. You have to face him on a broken platform surrounded by magma while the giant stands waist-deep in lava.
His hand slam attacks hit extremely hard. He has a plethora of fire-based attacks like fire breaths and lasers, and the encircling lava makes this quite a fatal fight. He can end you in a direct hit or two.
However, you’ll see most of his attacks coming from a mile away since they are highly telegraphed and overly slow. This makes it a very predictable and easy-to-manage boss fight. His attack animations are unhurried, and the recovery after said attacks leaves plenty of windows to really lay into him. Not to mention, the arena itself can be used against him.
You just have to keep your distance until his attacks are done and go into the opening to punish. Rinse and repeat; the fight will be over before you know it. He sure is underwhelming for a one-of-four Great Souls boss in Dark Souls 2.
Keep these tips in mind when facing Old Iron King in Darks Souls 2:
- He is extremely weak to Strike damage type. A blunt weapon like a giant club will cause significant harm to the boss.
- Although the boss is weak to both Magic and Dark damage, he is far more susceptible to Lightning elemental damage.
- He can be Poisoned.
- He is immune to Bleed, can’t be parried, nor can be backstabbed.
- If you stand close to him, he will start using the Scream AoE attack more while if you are farther away, he will use ranged attacks exclusively. This means you can dictate his moveset, giving you much more control.
- This fight is a tad bit harder for melee players since the boss is harder to reach while he stands erect. He comes near while going for a few attacks so you need to punish those windows. Mage and ranged builds will have a field day with this boss.
- Most of Old Iron King’s attacks deal fire damage, so it is best to equip fire-resistant armor like the Hexen set. The Flash Sweat pyromancy works, too.
- It is recommended that you wear Light armor or stay under the load limit to keep rolling fast. His attacks will be much easier to outmaneuver.
- The arena is surrounded by lava. Be vigilant when dodging his attacks, or you could fall to your doom.
- Depending on where he is standing, you can hide behind the corner wall of the structure in the arena. It will stop most incoming attacks.
- You can summon Manhunter O’Harrah to make this fight a breeze.
Boss Strategy
For a winning melee strategy against Old Iron King in Dark Souls 2, grab a weapon with a Lightning Infusion or buff it with Gold Pine Resin and wield it with both hands for maximum power. As soon as you enter the arena, take cover behind the corner wall and position your camera to keep the boss in sight. Stay hidden behind the wall until you spot him gearing up for his Fiery Beam attack.
This attack is highly predictable, so bait it reliably: just before his arm stretches out fully, sidestep to the right to dodge the beam. With his arm extended, you’ve got a prime moment: strike it fast, then retreat as he recovers. When he dips under the lava, sprint to his last location to force him to resurface in the same spot. Rinse and repeat until victory.
Another great opening for damage comes when he does the Ground Pound or unleashes a flame attack. If you’re up close, hitting him mid-flame attack is tricky but still possible. Aim for his horns for extra damage, and if you’re close enough, target his hand during his fire breath for maximum impact.
For ranged, mage, or archer builds, you can defeat the Old Iron King without taking a hit. If you’re coming back for a second round, the boss will always spawn right next to the fog gate. Rush behind the corner wall and start firing 3-4 shots, using your spells or arrows, preferably lightning spells/arrows, and ducking behind the cover as needed to avoid the flames.
At the end of each flame breath, sneak in another 1-2 shots before he starts the next attack. When he winds up for the Fiery Beam, move right into the arena to dodge; walking is enough to avoid this attack as he’s too slow to track you. While he’s locked in that position, unleash another four shots.
When he dives back into the lava, sprint to the far side of the fog gate wall, he’ll resurface in the same spot, opening with a close-range melee or flame attack. Position yourself near the arena’s corner wall and fire off four hits. After several rounds of running and firing, it’s down with the king.
Moveset
Below, we listed down all the attacks you expect Old Iron King to perform and how you should avoid them:
| Attack | Description | Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Pound | He raises his hand and smashes his fist on the ground. He can use either one hand or two hands together. It can be chained with another Ground Pound or Horizontal Swing attack. | Roll right as it’s about to land, or run away when you see his fist raise. The recovery afterward is sluggish, so really lay into his hand. |
| Horizontal Swing | He stretches his hand and drags it horizontally across the arena. It can be chained with another swing or a Ground Pound. | Roll towards or into the incoming hand and the I-frames will save you. |
| Fire Breath | He lowers his head and sprays a straight line of fire. | Take cover behind the corner. Or, dodge the breath by rolling to the side at the start, moving towards his head, and punishing until he’s done with the attack. |
| Horizontal Fire Breath | He will look down and spew fire in an arc. It releases big fireballs that travel some distance over the arena. | It can be avoided behind the corner cover. It can be dodged, but finding the opening between the fireballs and letting them pass is better. |
| Scream AoE | When you stand close to him, he will rear up and let out a huge roar that will knock you back. | Back off when you see him prepare for this attack. |
| Lava Dipping | He dives into the lava, sending out some fireballs near him. After some delay, he resurfaces in a different location, sending another wave of close-quarter fireballs. | As soon as he takes the dip, back off to avoid the fireballs and let him finish the attack. It’s an excellent time to heal up or apply buffs. |
| Firey Beam | He raises his hand and charges it up, then thrusts it forward to cast a liner laser beam of pure fire. | Roll to the side at the right time or start running to a side. You can pummel him while he is stuck in the attack animation. DO NOT take cover behind the corner; the laser goes through it. |
| Blazing Ground Pound | It is similar to Ground Pound, but he charges his fists first and then slams them, bursting out pillars of fire from the point of impact. The whole attack has AoE. | Move back and out of the way when you see him prepping for the attack and let it finish. |
Rewards for Defeating Old Iron King
Assassinating the Old Iron King will unlock the following rewards in Dark Souls 2:
- 48,000 Souls
- Old Iron King Soul – Give this soul to Weaponsmith Ornifex, and you’ll receive the Iron King Hammer great hammer.
- When defeated in NG+, you’ll be rewarded with the Old King Soul – Take this to Straid of Olaphis to transform it into the Blinding Bolt Miracle, or you can trade it with Weaponsmith Ornifex to receive the Dragonslayer Greatbow.
According to the Dark Souls 2 lore, this demonic beast is not actually the Old Iron King but the monarch transforming into the thing caused by his heinous actions. Regardless of the backstory and the bombastic boss reveal, the boss battle is exceptionally dull. The slow nature of the fight and the predictable moveset make it a fight that will be lost in the annals of souls-like.