Pontiff Knights are enemies in Dark Souls III.
Description[]
Pontiff Knights wield either a curved sword or a scythe and can also spew homing dark orbs at the player from long distances. Their attacks induce Frost build-up.
They always move by following a determined path, which may leave them open to backstabs or preemptive attacks. If they come in a formation and get disbanded, they will seek their companions after a while to continue their patrol.
Location[]
Pontiff Knights conform the main enemies encountered throughout the city section of Irithyll of the Boreal Valley.
Lore[]
The knights of Irithyll represent the ranks of the city's army and answer to the holy knights[1] in the service of Gwyndolin, king of the gods and of the Boreal Valley[2]. Due to their size and the fact that the city's inhabitants were the distant descendants of the ancient gods of Anor Londo[3], it is possible that these knights were themselves nobles of divine blood who had not chosen the path of high priests of the Way of White[4][5]. When Pontiff Sulyvahn plotted to control Irithyll, he corrupted their leaders thanks to the unquenchable Profaned Flame[1] that he found in the ruins of the Profaned Capital[6]. After turning the captains of the army of Irithyll into sorcerers in his service[7], Sulyvahn also influenced the knights they led, gifting them golden crowns as they helped him seize power[8]. After he took power, the knights would serve as Sulyvahn's watchful eyes and punitive blades[8]. When Aldrich and his Deacons attacked Irithyll, the Pontiff Knights were all slain, and now they are frigid spirits brought back to life by the Pontiff's necromancy[9]. Their swords are now gnawed by the insects of the deep spawned by the Evangelists[10], and the knights continuously spit dark souls as their bodies were hit and filled by the sorceries of the deacons.
Strategy[]
Pontiff Knights are very aggressive opponents with a plethora of rapid combos that can kill the player very quickly if they are stun-locked. Whilst their attacks can be blocked, they will either retaliate with a guard break or perform continuous slashes until the player runs out of stamina. Most of their attacks do physical damage; however, they will occasionally use a charged slash that inflicts Magic damage, even if blocked.
Pontiff Knights often appear in pairs, so it's highly recommended to lure them over with ranged weapons, as taking on a group is extremely risky. Although agile, they have very little poise and are relatively easy to stagger with continuous attacks, provided the player does not run out of stamina. They are also vulnerable to backstabs, although their speed can make this tricky to perform.
When provoked, shieldless knights will chase the player relentlessly throughout extended parts of the city. However, those who carry shields will barely move from their current positions and will just raise them to protect their companions. For this reason, it is advisable to lure the former away from their group and deal with them first; if possible, by hiding out of their sight and attacking them as they are trying to return to their formation. For this effect, equipping the Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring or casting Spook is notably useful, as it allows to perform frequent backstabs on them.
Drops[]
| Item |  Large Titanite Shard |
 Pontiff Knight Curved Sword |
 Pontiff Knight Great Scythe |
 Pontiff Knight Shield |
| Drop Rate | ??? | ??? (sword wielder) |
??? (scythe wielder) |
??? (shield wielder) |
| Item |  Pontiff Knight Crown |
 Pontiff Knight Armor |
 Pontiff Knight Gauntlets |
 Pontiff Knight Leggings |
| Drop Rate | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? |
Notes[]
- Affected by Alluring Skulls.
- All variants can be parried, riposted and backstabbed.
Gallery[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fire Witch Set description.
- ↑ Soul of Pontiff Sulyvahn description.
- ↑ Irithyillian character preset description: "The features of the old gods, as if from legend. They say children born like this are fated to be taken to the Boreal Valley".
- ↑ The city of Irithyll is decorated primarily with statues of elderly priests or young squires, implying how the culture of the kingdom pushed its inhabitants towards military or religious service.
- ↑ File:Irithyll Priest Statue.jpg
- ↑ Profaned Greatsword description.
- ↑ Immolation Tinder description.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Pontiff Knight Crown description.
- ↑ Pontiff Knight Set description.
- ↑ Dorhys' Gnawing description.
