The Nameless King, alongside his Stormdrake known as the King of the Storm, is an optional boss in Dark Souls III.
In-Game Description
- The Nameless King was once a dragon-slaying god of war, before he sacrificed everything to ally himself with the ancient dragons.[1]
Location
Found in Archdragon Peak, summoned by ringing the bell of the Great Belfry.
Lore
Dark Souls
The sunlight fighting miracle of the Nameless King.
The Nameless King is the firstborn child of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] and one of the deities who resided in Anor Londo during the Age of Fire[9]. He was worshiped by the humans as the "god of war"[10].
During the war against the Dragons, the eldest son would have taken part in the fighting together with Dragon Slayer Ornstein[11] and his father Gwyn[12], using sunlight like him to create lightning spears and infuse his weapons[13] to damage the creatures' armor[14]. The god of war would have distinguished himself as a dragon slayer[15], using his swordspear imbued with lightning[16] and even creating his personal armor with the scales of his preys[17]. In addition, Ornstein, as his companion during the war, would also become his first knight[18] and as a god of war, the firstborn would have created his own covenant of the Warrior of Sunlight, a group of knights who venerated the heir of the sun and supported other fighters in battle[19], obtaining medals with the symbol of the divinity as trophies[20]. The eldest would recognize their efforts and reward them by teaching them his lightning miracles[21]. The sun warriors would also develop an original miracle based on the story of the Nameless King, Ornstein, and the brave dragonslayers in their service[22]
.png){kind=link}
The medal of the covenant with the Nameless King.
After his father Gwyn linked the First Flame[23] the throne of Anor Londo would pass to him, as the eldest son of the Lord of Sunlight and heir to his light[24], He would thus wear the golden crown and the title of "king of the gods"[25] and "god of the sun"[26] of his father[27], however, as the god of war, he had respect only for arms and nothing else, proving himself not a ruler able to face the challenges of this new age[28]. Gwyn's firstborn carried forward his father's design and instructions, sheperding humans on the path to the Linking of the First Flame to continue the Age of Fire[29] In fact, under Anor Londo a city was built exclusively for the undead, with an altar inside for the firstborn of Gwyn[30][31], and the aim of raising and cultivating a chosen undead who would one day sacrifice himself to the Flame, so much so that in city there is the Undead Parish, a church at the center of the cult of the burg and connected to the first test to start on the path of Firelinking and ring the first Bells of Awakening[32], and the town is connected to the Firelink Shrine where Kingseeker Frampt awaited the champion and directed them on their journey[33].
The crown of "king of the gods" of the Nameless King.
However, the rest of the firstborn's reign was marked by catastrophes. The Four Kings of Petite Londo were corrupted by the dark power of Darkstalker Kaathe[34], starting to sow devastation right near the city of the gods, forcing them, after Knight Artorias' failure to defeat the Darkwraiths[35], to flood the city, sacrificing all the humans in it, and seal it[36]. A similar event happened in Oolacile when, again due to Kaathe[37][38], the awakening of the primordial human Manus[39] and his fury led to the collapse of the country when Artorias was unable to defeat him[40]. In addition to the serious situation on the borders of Anor Londo, the city of the gods itself became a dangerous place when a group of cultists began targeting the clan of Gwyn and their kind[41] and occult weapons[42] capable of killing the gods[43] reached inside the walls of Anor Londo[44]. Furthermore, in the city of the gods Seath the Scaleless had now completely lost his mind[45], transforming his Archives into a prison and going so far as to kidnap the maidens of Gwynevere to carry out experiments on them[46][47].
At a certain point, the eldest son of Gwyn would go too far as he decided to sacrifice everything to ally himself with the ancient dragons[48], probably fascinated by their strength in his foolishness[49]. This behavior proved intolerable for the other deities of Anor Londo, archenemies of the dragons with whom they had fought until their extermination in the past, and the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back was used as an excuse to condemn the firstborn to be dethroned and exiled from the city[50]. The fury of the gods was so great that the former king even lost his deific status, his statues were destroyed and his name erased from the annals of history[51]. Before leaving Anor Londo, the eldest would have left his sunlight blade miracle and ring on Gwyn's empty grave in his mausoleum as a final farewell, still demonstrating respect for his father[52]. Although now out of the pantheon of the gods and without a place, the god of war would continue to watch closely over his warriors of the sunlight[53], listening to their prayers and rewarding the proofs of their exploits with his miracles of Sunlight Spear and Great Lightning Spear.[54].
Dark Souls II
The ruins of an altar to the God of the Sun near Alken.
At some point the followers of the god of the sun reached Drangleic and in the Harvest Valley, a region under the control of Alken[55], the remains of an altar that venerated the Nameless King can be found in the form of an exact replica of his ancient statues[56][57], implying that in the kingdom the god of the sun he was still worshipped before its fall.
After all this time, however, the ancient Warrior of Sunlight are no longer alive or no longer have the desire to show themselves openly[58]. As a result, the veneration of the sun that was once widespread among great warriors has become a lost belief[59], however their very absence has made the tales of their brave deeds all the more alluring[60]. In particular, Solaire of Astora's deeds have been memorialized[61] and his artifacts passed down in the cult of the Heirs of the Sun[62], who continue to act to help other warriors in times of need following the original philosophy of the cult of the sun[63] and collecting evidence of their successes in the form of ancient medals with the symbol of the sun to search among them for the most worthy servant of the sun god[64].
Despite this, the Falconers, a group of mercenary falconers hired to protect the elites of Volgen[65] were still part of the covenant of those that worshipped the God of the Sun[66] and possessed their Sunlight Medals[67]. In addition, in Lindelt, a "sacred land" known for its clerics and miracles[68], his miracles of Lightning Spear and Great Lightning Spear were preserved and passed down among the religion of the region[69] although the name of the clan of gods and the sun god had been lost[70]. Furthermore, some other miracles of the god such as the Sunlight Blade and the Sacred Oath appear to have been part of the lost culture of Olaphis[71], indicating a continuing tradition of the cult of the Nameless King, even if fragmentary, through all the history of Drangleic.
Dark Souls III
The swordspear that the Nameless King used to slay the Dragons.
Over the centuries, the Nameless King would continue to lead a warrior's life and took part in countless battles[72], fighting alongside his stormdrake with whom he forged a relationship of profound camaraderie[73], coming to consider him as a comrade in arms as was an ancient custom among soldiers of the gods[74][75].
The ruins of an altar to the God of the Sun inside Lothric.
At the origins of the kingdom of Lothric, when people originating from the region of Drangleic[76][77] and followers of the Way of Blue[78] and the Heirs of the Sun[79][80] moved to a new location, they still remembered the Nameless King as their God of the Sun. In fact, as the early inhabitants of Lothric found themselves facing large numbers of wyverns they had to become dragonslayers to survive[81]and thus they turned to the Nameless King, building an altar for him[82]. The first knights of Lothric began to worship the ancestral deity of the sun and war[83] who in return gave them the tools to face the wyverns[84]. Their first armors were heavy masses of iron capable of withstanding dragon fire and similar in design to the ancient armor of the dragonslayers of Anor Londo while their shields were capable of absorbing the high lightning emission of wyverns[85][86]. From the sun god they also soon learned how to infuse their weapons with the power of lightning, lethal against dragons, and the ancient techniques for hunting archdragons[87]. Armed and protected to counter the fearsome creatures, the old knights of Lothric devoted themselves to the covenant of the sun god[88] and finally learned to use his miracles which allowed them to manipulate the power of lightning[89]. The cult of the Nameless King remained widespread among the army of Lothric even until the last days of the kingdom, as one of his altars can be found right inside the military barracks[90][91], and the knights of the kingdom are still part of the Warriors of Sunlight covenant[92].
Theories
.png){kind=link}
The helm of Faraam depicting a knight fighting a dragon.
- It is possible to theorize that Faraam is the name that the people of Forossa used to continue to venerate Gwyn's firstborn after his name was lost over the centuries, as not only Faraam shares with the Nameless King the title of "god of war"[93][94] but the god was also able to bless the armor of Forossa's knights[95], whose helmet depicted a knight fighting an enormous dragon[96], implying that Faraam was not a "false" deity created by the legends of men[97] but an active entity in the kingdom that was capable of performing the miracles of the ancient gods[93]. In addition the "Lion Knights" of Forossa[93], sharing the lion title of Gwyn's firstborn first knight[98][99], where not only mighty but rabid fighters obsessed with fighting [100] just like the Nameless king had respect only for arms, and nothing else.[101].
Artifacts
- Golden Crown
- Dragonscale Set
- Ring of the Sun's First Born
- Ring of the Sun's Firstborn
- Dragonslayer Swordspear
- Storm Curved Sword
- Great Lightning Spear
- Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls II)
- Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III)
- Sunlight Blade
- Sunlight Blade (Dark Souls II)
- Lightning Blade
- Lightning Storm
- Sacred Oath
- Sacred Oath (Dark Souls III)
- Sunlight Medal
- Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls II)
- Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls III)
Strategy
Phase 1: King of the Storm
The fight begins with the Nameless King entering on his mount from the midway point of the arena. He then proceeds to attack the player through either swipes and slams from his spear. Lightning bolts during flight and flames fired from his mount. Both have two qualifiers; one being that he touches down nearby the player and sprays a swatch of fire in their direction, to cover a large area. The other being when the player stays under the mounts body and is reminiscent of the Ancient Dragons attack of flying straight up and flooding the area under him with a long burst of fire. This can easily kill the player as it will stun them in the first hit, knocking them down and, hit them once again as they recover. All attacks should either be leveled at the mounts head, or the rider himself. Several attacks are enough to stagger the mount long enough for a critical, or if one has sufficient int/faith. A spell can be used to possibly once shot the rider. A Sunlight Spear and standard charm were enough to accomplish this task on NG+1.
Phase 2: The Nameless King
The Nameless King will dismount and absorb the strength of his mount after it is defeated. His attacks will be dragged out when going after the player. Usually catching an unprepared fighter off guard as they roll too early and are struck for heavy damage. Which on later a play through, can nearly one hit the player in several instances. His attacks will either be followed with large burst of wind, or lightning and he also possesses several attacks that can release ranged bolts on the player. Along with a grab that can travel up to 20 units in the player's direction.
It is advised that the player wait for him to finish his attacks before attacking him during his recovery from the combo, or strike him when he is stuck telegraphing his more powerful maneuvers.
Drops
| Item |  Soul of the Nameless King |
| Drop Rate | Guaranteed |
Notes
- Both the Nameless King and the King of the Storm can't be parried, but can be poise-broken with successive attacks, which allows to perform a riposte.
Achievements/Trophies
Gallery
Videos
References
- ↑ Item description of Soul of the Nameless King.
- ↑ Dragonslayer Swordspear and Storm Curved Sword explain how the Nameless King is temporally located during the Dragon War and belongs to the clan of the gods of Anor Londo, where it was traditional to absorb the souls of comrades fallen in battle (see Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough bossfight)
- ↑ Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III) description explains how Gwyn's firstborn used a greatspear to hunt dragons, as the Nameless does too when fighting (see Dragonslayer Swordspear)
- ↑ Soul of the Nameless King description explains how the Nameless King had the title of "dragon-slaying god of war", a name dedicated only to Gwyn's firstborn (see Great Lightning Spear) description
- ↑ Lightning Storm description explains how the Nameless King's soul is directly linked to Gwyn's firstborn as his lightning miracle can be crafted with it (see Lightning Spear)
- ↑ Lightning Storm description explains how the Nameless King was not only a god of war but also the "former king" of the gods, thus describing him as the heir of Gwyn, the previous king of the gods
- ↑ Golden Crown and Golden Bracelets descriptions explain how the Nameless King wears the same golden armor of Lord Gwyn as he inherited the crown of king of the gods after he linked the Flame (see Crown of the Great Lord and Bracelet of the Great Lord)
- ↑ Dragonslayer Swordspear description explains how the Nameless King is the "heir of lightning" as Gwyn was the god of sunlight and used lightning in battle (see Sunlight Spear)
- ↑ Ring of the Sun Princess description.
- ↑ Ring of the Sun's First Born and Ring of the Sun's Firstborn description.
- ↑ Sacred Oath (Dark Souls III)description.
- ↑ Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Sunlight Blade description.
- ↑ Great Lightning Spear and Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Lightning Storm description.
- ↑ Dragonslayer Swordspear description.
- ↑ Dragonscale Set description.
- ↑ Leo Ring (Dark Souls III) and Sacred Oath (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Solaire of Astora dialogue.
- ↑ Sunlight Medal description.
- ↑ Great Lightning Spear#Availability
- ↑ Sacred Oath and Sacred Oath (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Kingseeker Frampt and Opening dialogue.
- ↑ Ring of the Sun's Firstborn and Ring of the Sun's First Born and Dragonslayer Swordspear andGreat Lightning Spear and Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Lightning Spear (Dark Souls II) description.
- ↑ Solaire of Astora dialogue and Sacred Oath description.
- ↑ Golden Crown description.
- ↑ Great Lightning Spear description.
- ↑ Darkstalker Kaathe dialogue: "Hmm... You are astonishing. The truth I shall share, without sentiment. After the advent of Fire, the ancient Lords found the three souls. But your progenitor found a fourth, unique soul. The Dark Soul. Your ancestor claimed the Dark Soul, and waited for Fire to subside. And soon, the flames did fade, and only Dark remained. Thus began the age of men, the Age of Dark. However... Lord Gwyn trembled at the Dark. Clinging to his Age of Fire, and in dire fear of humans, and the Dark Lord who would one day be born amongst them, Lord Gwyn resisted the course of nature. By sacrificing himself to link the Fire, and commanding his children to shepherd the humans, Gwyn has blurred your past, to prevent the birth of the Dark Lord. I am the primordial serpent. I seek to right the wrongs of the past, to discover our true Lord. But the other serpent, Frampt, lost his sense, and befriended Lord Gwyn. Undead Warrior, we stand at a crossroads. Only I know the truth about your fate. You must destroy the fading Lord Gwyn, who has coddled Fire and resisted nature, and become the Fourth Lord, so that you may usher in an Age of Dark. ."
- ↑ https://darksouls.fandom.com/wiki/File:Sunlight_Altar_Statue.png
- ↑ Warrior of Sunlight#How to join
- ↑ Bells of Awakening and Bell Gargoyles location.
- ↑ Kingseeker Frampt location and dialogue.
- ↑ Bequeathed Lord Soul Shard and Dark Hand and Darksword and Red Eye Orb description.
- ↑ Greatsword of Artorias and Greatsword of Artorias (Cursed) and Silver Pendant description.
- ↑ Key to the Seal and Tin Banishment Catalyst description.
- ↑ Marvelous Chester dialogue: "Believe it or not, Oolacile has brought the Abyss upon itself. Fooled by that toothy serpent, they upturned the grave of primeval man, and incited his ornery wrath. What could they have been thinking? But to you and I, it's all ancient history. You have to ask yourself. Does it really matter? Heh heh heh..."
- ↑ Hawkeye Gough dialogue: "I suspect thou hast taken a gander at it, but the Dark of the Abyss, which swallowed poor Artorias, threatens to devour our entire land of Oolacile. It seems that this dire fate is unavoidable. But, seduced by a Dark serpent or no, they awoke that thing themselves, and drove it mad... One's demise is always one's own making."
- ↑ Soul of Manus description.
- ↑ Hawkeye Gough dialogue: ""I suspect thou hast taken a gander at it, but the Dark of the Abyss, which swallowed poor Artorias, threatens to devour our entire land of Oolacile. It seems that this dire fate is unavoidable. But, seduced by a Dark serpent or no, they awoke that thing themselves, and drove it mad... One's demise is always one's own making." and "If thine wish is to succeed poor Artorias, and challenge the spread of the Dark, then thou must face Manus, Father of the Abyss. The Dark emanates from Manus himself. Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion... But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that."
- ↑ Effigy Shield description.
- ↑ Occult Club found inside Anor Londo.
- ↑ Dark Ember description.
- ↑ Anor Londo#Notable items
- ↑ Darkmoon Knightess dialogue: "Now that I think about it, do you know the white dragon Seath? Legend says he betrayed the Ancient Dragons. He became a sworn friend of King Gwyn, was made Duke, and given the freedom to do his own research. In the enormous library, he immersed himself in research on the scales of immortality, which he did not have. But soon, those searches drove him crazy. The library became a prison, a place of macabre experiments... And now it's a no-go zone and no one can get close. It's at the top of the mountain on the left after you exit here. Please don't approach recklessly..."
- ↑ Pisaca#Drops
- ↑ Archive Tower Giant Cell Key description: "The large cell that once held many holy maidens is now empty, leaving aside the presence of an important prisoner. It is difficult for a normal person to stay sane in this place, due to the results of the horrible twisting experiments."
- ↑ Soul of the Nameless King and Dragonscale Set description.
- ↑ Ring of the Sun's Firstborn and Great Lightning Spear description.
- ↑ Soul of the Nameless King and Ring of the Sun's First Born and Ring of the Sun's Firstborn description.
- ↑ Soul of the Nameless King and Ring of the Sun's First Born and Ring of the Sun's Firstborn and Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Sunlight Blade description.
- ↑ Sunlight Medal description.
- ↑ Sunlight Spear#Availability and Great Lightning Spear#Availability
- ↑ Heirs of the Sun#Requirements
- ↑ https://darksouls.fandom.com/wiki/File:Heirs_of_the_Sun_Statue.png
- ↑ https://darksouls.fandom.com/wiki/File:Sunlight_Altar_Statue.png
- ↑ Sunlight Parma and Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls II) and Sunlight Blade (Dark Souls II) description.
- ↑ Sun Seal description.
- ↑ Sunlight Parma description.
- ↑ Sunlight Parma description.
- ↑ Sun Sword#Availability
- ↑ Sun Seal and Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls II) description.
- ↑ Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls II) description.
- ↑ Falconer Helm description.
- ↑ Falconer#Drops
- ↑ Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls II)#Availability
- ↑ Archdrake Staff description.
- ↑ Lightning Spear (Dark Souls II)#Availability and Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls II)#Availability
- ↑ Lightning Spear (Dark Souls II) description.
- ↑ Sunlight Blade#Availability and Sacred Oath#Availability
- ↑ Storm Curved Sword and Lightning Storm description.
- ↑ Storm Curved Sword and Lightning Storm description.
- ↑ Storm Curved Sword description.
- ↑ Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough bossfight.
- ↑ Faraam Set (Dark Souls III)#Availability and Lion Knight Albert
- ↑ Priest's Chime and Priest's Chime (Dark Souls III) appearance.
- ↑ Way of Blue (item)#Availability and Golden Wing Crest Shield and Golden Wing Shield description.
- ↑ Lightning Urn (Dark Souls III) description and Sunlight Straight Sword (Dark Souls III)#Availability and Warrior of Sunlight (Dark Souls III)#Altar of Sunlight location
- ↑ Spirit Tree Crest Shield#Availability and Golden Wing Crest Shield#Availability and Sunlight Straight Sword (Dark Souls III)#Availability
- ↑ Lightning Urn (Dark Souls III) and Lothric Knight Shield and Lothric Knight Greatsword and Lightning Gem description.
- ↑ https://darksouls.fandom.com/wiki/File:Altar-sunlight-ds3.JPG
- ↑ Soul of the Nameless King description.
- ↑ Lightning Urn (Dark Souls III) and Warrior of Sunlight (Dark Souls III)#Altar of Sunlight location and Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls III)#Availability
- ↑ Iron Dragonslayer Set and Dragonslayer Set appearance.
- ↑ Dragonslayer Greatshield and Lothric Knight Shield description.
- ↑ Dragonslayer Greataxe and Lothric Knight Greatsword and Lightning Urn (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Lightning Urn (Dark Souls III) and Warrior of Sunlight (Dark Souls III)#Altar of Sunlight location and Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls III)#Availability
- ↑ Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III)#Availability and Dragonslayer Greatshield description.
- ↑ Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls III)#Availability
- ↑ https://darksouls.fandom.com/wiki/File:Altar-sunlight-ds3.JPG
- ↑ Lightning Urn (Dark Souls III) and Warrior of Sunlight (Dark Souls III)#Altar of Sunlight location and Sunlight Medal (Dark Souls III)#Availability
- ↑ 93.0 93.1 93.2 Faraam Set description.
- ↑ Northwarder Set description.
- ↑ Faraam Set description.
- ↑ Faraam Helm (Dark Souls III) appearance.
- ↑ Hunter's Blackbow description.
- ↑ Ornstein's Set and Dragonslayer Set description.
- ↑ Leo Ring (Dark Souls III) and Sacred Oath (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Vengarl of Forossa dialogue.
- ↑ Great Lightning Spear (Dark Souls III) description.