Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Guide: Part 14

INVADER: NAMELESS USURPER

The path to the next major opponent is as long as it is challenging. It’s a route that comprises of the wooded Shrine of Winter and the awfully imposing Drangleic Castle. To first reach the Shrine of Winter, you must return to the Ruined Fork bonfire in the Shaded Woods. While facing the three paths in the fork, take the left path. You’ll eventually reach the Shrine of Winter, which is actually a mere transitional area between the Shaded Woods and Drangleic Castle.

By exploring each route and room in the castle, the process of elimination will ultimately lead you up this dark and intricate stronghold. Eventually you’ll come across an ominous and more importantly, cursed painting (so don’t go near it!). Past this room with the painting is another set of stairs. While ascending, you should get the latest Invader notification. To make the situation feel all the more intimidating, the Invader will pop up behind you.

If you’ve wielded a dagger, then you know of its benefits as light weapon for fast movements. The Nameless Usurper will rely on this to attack swiftly. The good news is that it is a dagger so keeping one’s distance isn’t that much of a challenge. Just be mindful of the narrow real estate you have to work with, including the stairs and the hallway the Usurper came from. Be extra vigilant when he’s wielding the dagger with two hands.

BOSS: DUAL DRAGONRIDERS

This pair of Dragonriders in Drangleic Castle are here to punish us for our borderline exploit in defeating the first Dragonrider in Heide’s Tower of Flame. There aren’t any ledges to fall off this time. Surprisingly, this fight could have been much harder, but one of the Dragonriders chose to be an archer and a coward on a higher platform. So ready your best ranged attacks and target this Dragonrider first because he’s very weak and can be taken down within seconds.

The real fight begins as you take on the remaining Dragonrider one-on-one. He moves just like the Dragonrider at Heide’s Tower of Flame, with very long stabs and wide attacks with his halberd. It might have gotten a hit or two when you were taking on the archer, so keep your distance and gain your bearings while you heal. When you’re ready, try to bait the Dragonrider to stab and swipe on your own terms. Those moves of his might be lethal, but they also require time to recover, giving you lots of openings to attack. We prefer ranged attacks from a distance, especially when the room is large and free of obstacles. If you’re more of a melee fighter, you can get up close with well-timed rolls toward the Dragonrider.

BOSS: LOOKING GLASS KNIGHT

Like the Shrine of Winter, the King’s Passage is a brief transitional area connecting two larger maps. In this case, it’s Drangleic Castle and the Shrine of Amana. The King’s Passage is not without significance especially since it’s where you’ll take on one of the creepiest-looking bosses in the game: The Looking Glass Knight. He’s also one of the harder bosses, so there’s no shame in getting a little help from a phantom. Having a sidekick feels all the more practical when the knight executes its Through the Looking Glass move to summon a Dark Spirit, which can happen multiple times if the fight goes on long enough.

With an outdoor battle in the rain, it’s no surprise that the knight will use an array of lightning attacks. When he raises his sword toward the heavens, he’s charging it for one of three attacks: the Stormcloud Slash, the Thunder Beam, or the Electrostatic Discharge. The slash and the discharge can be dodged by keeping your distance or with well-timed forward rolls. The beam is a narrow attack, so it can be dodged with rolls to the side. Timing dodges in this fight is especially crucial, so feel free to experiment and study his moves with a few trial runs in the Hallowed state. You also need to emphasize the knight’s right side since the left side is well-guarded with an impenetrable shield.

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Class Breakdown

30 Items to Collect Before Your First Battle

Part 1: The Forest of Fallen Giants, The Last one (Boss), The Pursuer (Boss)

Part 2: Heide's Tower of Flame, The Dragonrider (Boss), The Old Dragonslayer (Boss)

Part 3: Down Heide's Tower, No Man's Wharf, The Flexile Sentry (Boss)

Part 4: The Lost Bastille, Ruin Sentinels (Boss), Sinner's Rise

Part 5: Belfry Luna, Bell Keeper (Invader), Belfry Gargoyles (Boss), Vorgel The Sinner (Invader)

Part 6: Huntsman's Copse, the Greatsword Phantom, Merciless Roenna (Invader)

Part 7: Skeleton Lords (Boss), Executioner Chariot (Boss), Harvest Valley, Earthen Peak, Covetous Demon (Boss)

Part 8: The Crescent Sickle Phantom, Mytha The Baneful Queen (Boss)

Part 9: The Pit, Grave of Saints, The Gutter, Rhoy the Explorer (Invader)

Part 10: Royal Rat Vanguard (Boss), The Gutter (Part 2), Melinda the Butcher (Invader), The Rotten (Boss)

Part 11: Iron Keep, Smelter Demon (Boss), Belfry Sol, Old Iron King (Boss)

Part 12: Shaded Woods, Scorpioness Najka (Boss), Doors of Pharros, Bowman Guthrie (Invader), Royal Rat Authority (Boss)

Part 13: Brightstone Cove Tseldora, Prowling Magus (Boss), The Porcine Peasant (Invader), The Duke's Dear Freja (Boss), The Lost Sinner

Part 14: Shrine of Winter, Drangleic Castle, Nameless Usurper (Invader), Dual Dragonriders (Boss), Looking Glass Knight (Boss)

Part 15: Shrine of Amana, Undead Crypt, Peculiar Kindalur (Invader), Demon of Song (Boss), Nameless Usurper (Returning Invader)

Part 16: Aldia's Keep, Velstadt, The Royal Aegis (Boss), Aslatiel of Mirrah (Invader), Guardian Dragon (Boss)

Part 17: Dragon Shrine, Dragonfang Villard (Invader), Ancient Dragon (Boss)

Part 18: Memories of the Ancients, Memory of Vammar, Memory of Orro, Memory of Jeigh, Giant Lord (Boss)

Part 19: Throne Watcher and Throne Defender (Boss), Nashandra (Final Boss)

Part 20: King Vendrick (Boss), Dark Chasm of Old, Darklurker (Boss)