The Abyss Watchers, also known as the Undead Legion of Farron, are a collective boss in Dark Souls III, and are the first of the four main enemies that the Ashen One is tasked with slaying.
Found at the end of Farron Keep, the first phase of their boss battle is unusual: it involves a "main" Watcher whose health bar must be depleted, and who is joined as time passes by others with their own health bars, but also Watchers corrupted by the Abyss, who will indiscriminately target both the Ashen One and the uncorrupted Watchers, the latter of whom will fight back, turning the fight at times into a three-sided battle. Once the main Watcher's health is depleted, they regenerate for a second phase where they are the sole opponent.
In-Game Description
Location[]
Found at the end of Farron Keep, from the Farron Keep Perimeter bonfire (which is near two Darkwraiths fighting multiple Ghrus). From there is a stone path (or alternatively a side path along the right exit of where the bonfire is) where the Ashen One will encounter closed chamber doors where the fighting of the Watchers can be heard.
Description[]
The Abyss Watchers are a legion of troops that all wear a distinctive armor consisting of leather over chainmail, a long cloak, and a distinctive, pointed helm concealing a mask, seen as a sinister symbol by the masses.[1] They are known for combating the Abyss wherever it may break out, and eradicating any of its abominations.[2] They are believed to serve in the name of Artorias the Abysswalker, who was sworn to the same duty.[3]
All of them use a greatsword and curved dagger. The dagger is not primarily used for offense, or even parrying, but as a hook for the Watchers to utilize their wild, unpredictable fighting style.
By the time the Ashen One encounters the Legion, they are mercilessly fighting one another, seemingly because some of the remaining Watchers have gone mad from exposure to the Abyss, hence their glowing red eyes.
Lore[]
The Abyss Watchers were the main component of the Undead Legion of Farron, a special fighting force formed to combat the threat of the Abyss. Taking inspiration from the Wolf Knight (Sir Artorias, the Abysswalker), the Abyss Watchers themselves sought to utilize the techniques of Artorias, and partook of "wolf blood" to do so.[2][3] Empowered by the legacy of Artorias, they became intensely strong and agile, fighting in a coordinated and sporadic pack akin to wolves.[4]
Though the Legion was not inherently evil or overtly violent, they quickly became known for their scorched-earth tactics, said to "bury" entire kingdoms at the first sign of exposure.[5] Their distinct outfits, topped off with a tall, pointed helm, became an ill omen for its beholders. Their fighting style was enhanced by the revolutionary use of an ultra greatsword—modeled after Artorias' sword—along with a carved dagger, utilizing the dagger as support for utilizing their own unique, highly agile fighting techniques that was even more unpredictable and vicious than their predecessor.[4][6] As such, they disdained the use of shields and preferred a constant offense.[7]
The wolf's blood did more than enhance their bodies; the very essence of each Watcher who partook of the blood was interlinked, coalescing their souls into one. As such, instead of each body hosting distinct souls, all that partook the wolf blood shared the one soul, that of the "wolf blood master", distributed amongst them.[8]
Along with the "elite" Abyss Watchers, the complete Undead Legion consisted of two other levels. The Abyss Watchers recruited acolytes for assistance, who provided support via miracles, sorceries, and other concoctions. At some point, they made a pact of uncertain terms with one of the Crystal Sages of the kingdom of Lothric, who agreed to come to their headquarters in Farron and train their acolytes in sorcerous arts.[9] Due to the Legion's emphasis of speed over physical power, they asked the skilled sorcerer to develop unique variations of existing sorceries for the acolytes to use.[10] Some of them were created by a scholar named Heysel, the daughter of the head acolyte, and further refined by the Crystal Sage.[11]
Perhaps the most telling of their fall were the number of foot soldiers tasked with the covert disposal of corrupted members. As the Abyss slowly morphed the Legion's lost members, the so-called "Followers" would be sent to execute them before they were transformed into abyssal beasts.[12] Their primary technique was to surround the target, burning and stabbing them, and finishing them with honor using javelins thrown with great force.[13]
Beneath their home in Farron Keep are the Catacombs of Carthus, which contain a chalice holding High Lord Wolnir, who fell to the Abyss long ago. Along with the cindered Smouldering Lake, nearby is the Cathedral of the Deep, resting place of Aldrich, Devourer of Gods.
Eventually, the Watchers linked the Fire, although it is unknown if one or all had done so. With the Watchers becoming Lords of Cinder, the wolf blood dried up. The Followers, now having nothing to live for, went hollow, roaming the land and eventually disappearing into the Painted World of Ariandel. With no one remaining to execute the corrupted, the acolytes were slowly devolved by the Abyss, and Farron was consumed in a rotting bog.[14] When the Abyss Watchers were awakened to kindle the Flame once again, they returned home to find it corrupted and their mission unsuccessful. The Watchers in the keep now fight against themselves, endlessly slaying their brethren corrupted by the Abyss.
Strategy[]
The fight consists of the player fighting a lone Abyss Watcher, who is present during the entire battle. More Abyss Watchers will awaken to join the battle as it progresses. These Watchers are much more fragile than the main Watcher, but they can still deal a considerable amount of damage, especially when multiple attack at once.
Every other Watcher that awakens, starting from the second, will be red-eyed and hostile toward other Watchers. They can directly attack the player or each other, but they will mostly focus on the other watchers. These Watchers can be used to the player's advantage, as they assist in dealing damage and taking aggro. As such, it may be a good idea to switch to a more defensive playstyle while the player waits for these Watchers to even out the odds.
The main Watcher, although carrying a greatsword, is extremely fast and dexterous. He is constantly jumping around and evading the players swings by doing so. He will also try to take an advantage by swinging his greatsword around the floor of the arena. Never let your guard down, each and every attack can take you by surprise.
Second phase[]
Depleting the main Watcher's HP will trigger a cutscene, which shows the main Watcher absorbing power from the corpses around the arena. After this, the second phase of the battle commences.
At this point, the Watcher's sword will ignite, causing it to deal additional Fire damage and leaving trails in the floor that erupt into large pillars of flame. The Watcher himself will also take on an Embered appearance, revealing his true form as one of the Lords of Cinder.
The other Watchers no longer rise during the second phase, but the main Watcher is considerably more aggressive and powerful. The fight plays out in a similar fashion, but most of the Watcher's greatsword attacks are altered in some way. Killing the Watcher at this point will end the fight, but dying will reset it entirely, requiring the player to beat the first phase again.
Summons[]
- Black Hand Gotthard: His summon sign will appear before the stairs leading up to the boss arena.
- Londor Pale Shade: If the player has done Yoel of Londor's questline and met Yuria of Londor, the Londor Pale Shade can be summoned for the fight. His summon sign can be found near the Farron Keep Perimeter bonfire.
- Sirris of the Sunless Realms: If the player has given the Dreamchaser's Ashes to the Shrine Handmaid and then talked to Sirris afterward, she can be summoned for this fight. Her sign will be located to the left of the door leading into the boss arena.
- Yellowfinger Heysel: If the player has defeated Heysel when she invades the player either in Crucifixion Woods or Farron Keep, and then encountered Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth at the Cathedral of the Deep and deepened devotion to her covenant, Heysel can be summoned for this fight. Her sign can be found between the Keep Ruins bonfire and the door leading to the mausoleum, next to the ruined tower covered in Rotten Slugs.
Drops[]
| Item |  Soul of the Blood of the Wolf |
 Cinders of a Lord |
| Drop Rate | Guaranteed | Guaranteed |
Attacks[]
Notes[]
- Can be parried, riposted and backstabbed in both phases of the encounter.
- The Watchers wake up based on a timer. Damage dealt has an effect on how many of them are active.
- All Watchers are instantly killed when the first phase of the fight is finished.
- The Abyss-corrupted (red-eyed) Watchers are capable of finishing off the main Watcher. This has no direct effect on gameplay, however.
- If an enemy followed the player up to the fog door, it may attract the corrupted Watcher's attention and he will keep trying to attack it for the rest of the first phase, rendering him unable to help against the others.
- The Watchers that resurrect in the first phase of the fight are actually the same two Watchers, they will resurrect on the spot where they were killed.
- After defeating the Watchers, the Undead Legion Set will become available for purchase with the Shrine Handmaid, and the Hornet Ring will be found outside the Dark Firelink Shrine resting upon a grave next to a Black Knight.
- The Wolf Knight Set also becomes available from the Shrine Handmaid in the Untended Graves following their defeat.
Trivia[]
- Hawkwood the Deserter is a former member of the Watchers, and is speculated that he eventually deserted the Legion in part because of the mockery he received for his shield.
- From the description of their soul and the ability to create the Wolf Knight's Greatsword, it seems that the massive soul of the Undead Legion is a reincarnation of Artorias himself, as many souls have been known to eventually reincarnate.
- The design of the Abyss Watchers appears to be based on the Keeper of the Old Lords from Bloodborne.
Achievements/Trophies[]
Gallery[]
.png "Abyss Watcher (DS3 Design Works).png (1.77 MB)")
Videos[]
Music[]
References[]
- ↑ Undead Legion Helm description.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Undead Legion Set descriptions.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wolf Knight's Greatsword description.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Farron Greatsword description.
- ↑ Hawkwood the Deserter dialogue: "The Undead Legion of Farron is a caravan of Undead. Sworn by the wolf's blood to contain the Abyss, the Legion will bury a kingdom at the first sign of exposure. Joyous bunch, really. ..."
- ↑ Farron Ring description.
- ↑ Hawkwood's Shield description.
- ↑ Soul of the Blood of the Wolf description.
- ↑ Soul of a Crystal Sage description.
- ↑ Farron Flashsword description.
- ↑ Farron Dart and Farron Hail descriptions.
- ↑ Follower Set descriptions.
- ↑ Follower Javelin, Follower Torch and Follower Sabre descriptions.
- ↑ Exile Set descriptions: "After the Legion's Watchers became Lords of Cinder, the wolf blood dried up, and Farron was consumed by a festering wood."