- For the Dark Souls III variant, see Black Knight (Dark Souls III).
Black Knights are powerful enemies in Dark Souls.
Locations
With the exception of the final area, Black Knights are unique enemies that do not respawn. They can be found in the following locations throughout Lordran:
- One Black Knight Sword wielder in the Undead Burg - Guarding the Blue Tearstone Ring.
- One Black Knight Greatsword wielder in Undead Parish - Atop the tower near the locked gate.
- Two Black Knight Sword wielders in the Northern Undead Asylum, when revisited. - Guarding the Peculiar Doll and the other at the opposite end of the long hallway beyond the second bonfire originally encountered.
- One Black Knight Halberd wielder in Darkroot Basin - Guarding the Grass Crest Shield.
- One Black Knight Greataxe wielder in The Catacombs - Through a crumbling floor.
- One Black Knight Halberd wielder in the Tomb of the Giants - Guarding the Effigy Shield.
- Five respawn at the Kiln of the First Flame and include all variations, two of which are sword wielders, and one of each of the other weapon wielders.
Description
Black Knights are encountered, individually, in many areas of the game as non-respawning challenges for players. At the Kiln of the First Flame, however, they do respawn.
They wield various slow hitting but powerful weapons, the Black Knight Shield and wear the Black Knight Set.
Lore
The Black Knights were once the proud Silver Knights of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight. Long ago they fought chaos demons and were charred black, also giving them high Fire resistance.[1] Many traveled with Lord Gwyn to the Kiln of the First Flame, and were burned to ashes when he linked the First Flame, wandering the world as disembodied spirits ever after.[2] Their disembodied spirits can be seen roaming the stairs descending into the Kiln of the First Flame.
Strategy
It is usually not a good idea to take on Black Knights directly, as they have high Poise and can deal huge amounts of damage. Their attacks are slow, however, meaning that they are susceptible to backstabs and parries.
It's also advisable for lower level players to try and force them off ledges if possible (such as Darkroot Basin) if killing them becomes problematic. This can either kill them or open them for a plunging attack to rack up some serious damage. One could also position themselves in front of a ledge, roll behind the knight as it attacks, and backstab it to knock it over the edge. If the knight dies from the fall, item drops will still be added to the players inventory like they would if the knight was killed normally.
Attacking them from where they cannot reach or where they will not attack the player will make it easy to kill the knights with ranged attacks, such as bows or firebombs.
Enemy information
Health and souls
Location | Health | Souls | ||
NG | NG+ | NG | NG+ | |
Undead Burg | 496 | 1,212 | 800 | 4,000 |
Undead Parish | 532 | 1,219 | 800 | 3,200 |
Darkroot Basin | 603 | 1,225 | 1,800 | 7,200 |
The Catacombs | 710 | 1,299 | 1,200 | 3,600 |
Undead Asylum (Revisited) | 745 | 1,304 | 1,200 | 6,000 |
Tomb of the Giants | 887 | 1,393 | 1,200 | 4,800 |
Kiln of the First Flame | 958 | 1,476 | 2,000 | 4,000 |
Characteristics
Respawn | Yes & No |
---|---|
Backstab | Yes |
Damage Types | Regular / Thrust / Strike / Slash - Dependent on weapon wielded |
Abilities | – |
Attacks
Attack | Damage | Attack Type | Status Effect | Parryable | Tracking | Attack Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chop | 399 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Double Chop | 409 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Spinning Underhand | 418 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Fast |
Quick Upper Combo | 513 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Smash | 513 | Regular | None | Yes | Neither | Fast |
Power Uppercut | 456 | Regular | None | No | Neither | Fast |
Dashing Smash | 513 | Regular | None | Yes | Neither | Fast |
Leaping Smash | 513 | Regular | None | Yes | Neither | Fast |
Shield Bash | ??? | Strike | None | No | Both | Medium |
Attack | Damage | Attack Type | Status Effect | Parryable | Tracking | Attack Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Hit Combo | 420 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Slow |
Sword Pound | 450 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Spinning Underhand | 450 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Stab | 413 | Thrust | None | Yes | Neither | Medium |
Charged Stab | 420 | Thrust | None | Yes | Both | Slow |
Shield Bash | 210 | Strike | None | No | Both | Medium |
Attack | Damage | Attack Type | Status Effect | Parryable | Tracking | Attack Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thrust | 272 | Thrust | None | Yes | Neither | Fast |
Double Thrust | 281 | Thrust | None | Yes | Neither | Fast |
Spinning Slash | 286 | Thrust | None | Yes | Both | Fast |
Spinning Combo | 374 | Thrust | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Dashing Thrust | 391 | Thrust | None | Yes | Neither | Fast |
Shield Bash | 340 | Thrust | None | No | Neither | Fast |
Swing | 269 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Double Swing | 289 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Attack | Damage | Attack Type | Status Effect | Parryable | Tracking | Attack Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Short Thrust | 296 | Thrust | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Triple Slash Combo | 316 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Fast |
Running Stab | 371 | Regular | None | Yes | Both | Medium |
Shield Bash | 193 | Strike | None | No | Both | Medium |
Defenses
Location | Physical Defenses | Elemental Defenses | Resistances | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Catacombs | 298 | 298 | 298 | 298 | 198 | 221 | 247 | B | B | A |
Kiln of the First Flame | 281 | 281 | 281 | 281 | 266 | 295 | 318 | B | B | A |
These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.
Location | Physical Defenses | Elemental Defenses | Resistances | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Undead Parish | 230 | 230 | 230 | 230 | 153 | 171 | 191 | B | B | A |
Kiln of the First Flame | 384 | 384 | 384 | 384 | 255 | 285 | 318 | B | B | A |
These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.
Location | Physical Defenses | Elemental Defenses | Resistances | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Darkroot Garden | 230 | 230 | 230 | 230 | 153 | 171 | 191 | B | B | A |
Tomb of the Giants | 349 | 349 | 349 | 349 | 232 | 259 | 289 | B | B | A |
Kiln of the First Flame | 384 | 384 | 384 | 384 | 255 | 285 | 318 | B | B | A |
These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.
Location | Physical Defenses | Elemental Defenses | Resistances | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Undead Burg | 214 | 214 | 214 | 214 | 142 | 159 | 177 | B | B | A |
Undead Asylum (Revisited) | 315 | 315 | 315 | 315 | 209 | 234 | 261 | B | B | A |
Kiln of the First Flame | 384 | 384 | 384 | 384 | 255 | 285 | 318 | B | B | A |
These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.
Drops
Item | White Titanite Chunk |
Black Knight Greataxe |
Black Knight Shield |
Drop Rate | Guaranteed | 20% | 5% |
Item | Titanite Chunk |
Red Titanite Chunk |
Black Knight Greatsword |
Black Knight Shield |
Drop Rate | Guaranteed (Undead Parish) |
Guaranteed (Kiln of the First Flame) |
20% | 5% |
Item | Blue Titanite Chunk |
White Titanite Chunk |
Black Knight Halberd |
Black Knight Shield |
Drop Rate | Guaranteed (Darkroot Basin & Kiln of the First Flame) |
Guaranteed (Tomb of the Giants) |
20% | 5% |
Item | Titanite Chunk |
Red Titanite Chunk |
Black Knight Sword |
Black Knight Shield |
Drop Rate | Guaranteed (Undead Burg & Kiln of the First Flame) |
Guaranteed (Undead Asylum) |
20% | 5% |
Gallery
References
- ↑ Black Knight Shield description.
- ↑ Black Knight Set descriptions.