Boss (Dark Souls II)

A boss is a powerful, non-respawning enemy in Dark Souls II. Bosses are distinguishable from normal enemies as their name and health are displayed at the bottom of the screen once encountered, and they are usually on the opposite side of a white fog door.

In addition to bosses, there are a number of enemies that don't respawn upon death and are sometimes referred to as minibosses.

Unlike the bosses found in Dark Souls, the majority of bosses found in Dark Souls 2 can be considered optional, due to the Shrine of Winter's flexible requirements for passing. The list of bosses below is treated under the assumption that the player takes the most linear route, and at least passes through each major location.

In addition to the main game, there are three additional downloadable content purchases that add additional areas and bosses to the game. The bosses for each area are listed as optional or not based on the need to defeat them for completion of the DLC.

Dark Souls 2
Forest of Fallen Giants Heide's Tower of Flame No-Man's Wharf The Lost Bastille Belfry Luna Sinner's Rise Huntsman's Copse Harvest Valley Earthen Peak Iron Keep Grave of Saints The Gutter Black Gulch Shaded Woods Doors of Pharros Brightstone Cove Tseldora Drangleic Castle Shrine of Amana Undead Crypt Aldia's Keep Dragon Aerie Dragon Shrine Memory of Jeigh Throne Of Want
 * The Last Giant
 * The Pursuer *
 * Old Dragonslayer *
 * Dragonrider
 * Flexile Sentry
 * Ruin Sentinels
 * Belfry Gargoyles *
 * Lost Sinner
 * Skeleton Lord
 * Executioner's Chariot *
 * Covetous Demon
 * Mytha, the Baneful Queen
 * Smelter Demon (Iron Keep) *
 * Old Iron King
 * Royal Rat Vanguard *
 * No Bosses in this Location
 * The Rotten
 * Scorpioness Najka
 * Royal Rat Authority *
 * Prowling Magus and Congregation
 * The Duke's Dear Freja
 * Dragonrider (Two)
 * Looking Glass Knight
 * Demon of Song
 * Velstadt, The Royal Aegis
 * Vendrick *
 * Guardian Dragon
 * No Bosses in this Location
 * Ancient Dragon *
 * Giant Lord
 * Throne Watcher and Defender
 * Nashandra

Crown of the Sunken King DLC
Shulva, Sanctum City Dragon's Sanctum Cave of the Dead Dragon's Rest
 * Elana, the Squalid Queen
 * No Bosses in this Location
 * Afflicted Graverobber, Ancient Soldier Varg, and Cerah the Old Explorer
 * Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon

Crown of the Old Iron King DLC
Brume Tower Iron Passage
 * Fume Knight
 * Sir Alonne *
 * Smelter Demon (Crown of the Old Iron King) *

Crown of the Ivory King DLC
Frozen Eleum Loyce Frigid Outskirts
 * Aava, the King's Pet
 * Burnt Ivory King
 * Lud, the King's Pet & Zallen, the King's Pet *

Asterisks (*) denote optional bosses.