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Not to be confused with Pursuers.

The Pursuer (呪縛者, Jubakusha) is an optional boss and later an enemy in Dark Souls II.

Description[]

The Pursuer is a mysterious figure who relentlessly hunts the Bearer of the Curse. The Pursuer tracks the Bearer to the Forest of Fallen Giants, The Lost Bastille, the Iron Keep and lastly Drangleic Castle.

Lore[]

The Pursuer is a large hulking knight who hunts down those who bear the undead curse, possibly to atone for past sins committed.[1] Wielding an ultra greatsword renowned for being one of the mightiest of its design,[2] the Pursuer will relentlessly stalk its target until slain. It is unknown if the Pursuer served under King Vendrick, as did many other knights, or if it acted off of its own accord.

Locations[]

  • The same Pursuer can be encountered in two different areas in the Forest of Fallen Giants. It doesn't matter which location it is defeated in.
    1. The Pursuer is first encountered on a raised platform a short distance past the Cardinal Tower bonfire. The Pursuer is dropped by a large bird and can only be fought once in this location. Dying, or leaving the platform, will prompt the Pursuer to move on to its second location. No boss health bar will appear during this fight, instead there will be a standard enemy health bar above its head.
    2. The Pursuer's actual boss fight can be found past a locked door that can only be opened with the Soldier Key. The Pursuer will stay here even if the player is killed.
  • Another Pursuer can be found in the Smelter Demon's boss arena, if the player returns there after the Demon's defeat.
  • In NG+, two Pursuers appear simultaneously in the throne room behind Chancellor Wellager in Drangleic Castle.

Scholar of the First Sin[]

In Scholar of the First Sin, there are several new Pursuers in addition to the ones in the main game.

One of the NG+ Pursuers in Drangleic Castle's throne room spawns already-buffed by his Curse Stab.

Attacks[]

Charge
At a distance, the Pursuer will charge at the player with an upward strike. The easiest way to avoid, is walking to the right as soon as the animation starts.

3 Hit Combo
Performs two horizontal swipes and if all attacks are performed while the player is still near him, will follow it up with a full 360° spin attack or an overhead smash.

Shield Bash
He uses his shield and hits the player once with it, causes large stamina drain if blocked.

Curse Stab
The Pursuer's Blade glows blue and he lunges the sword at the player, if it connects, the player will be in an animation where they are impaled on his sword and the player will then be cursed. This attack cannot be blocked. The hitbox lingers for some time, so while the attack's long windup and low tracking makes it easy to avoid, one can also accidentally walk back into it after dodging it.

Dark Seeker Projectiles
The Pursuer will lift into the air and vent Dark energy from its body. This will cause 3 to 5 projectiles to exit its body and fire towards the player after a short delay, similar to the Affinity Hex. The projectiles are slow but track extremely well and deal a moderate amount of damage. Typically, this attack occurs after he has dropped below 50% health, but on rare occasion it can happen before. To avoid it, simply run behind the Pursuer as soon as he starts casting it.

Spread Projectiles
Similar to the Seeker Projectiles this attack starts with the same animation, but it fires several waves of spreading hex like attacks. These attacks can be dodged by rolling backwards away from the Pursuer and the next attacks will follow the relative direction of the first blast. (the attack has a similar look to the Hex Dark Hail, but lighter in color).

Energy Blast
Swings his sword and produces an energy blast in the players direction. The Pursuer in Iron Keep cannot use this move. [citation needed]

Combo 2
While blocking with his greatshield, quickly thrusts his weapon twice. He then swings his sword like a whirlwind while ascending a little from the ground.

Defenses[]

Physical Defenses
Physical Defense Strike Defense Slash Defense Thrust Defense
514 / 762(Iron Keep) -20% 7% 7%
Elemental Defenses
Magic Defense Fire Defense Lightning Defense Dark Defense
30% 30% 10% 50%
Resistances
Poison Resist Bleed Resist Can be Backstabbed Can be Parried
50% 100% No Yes
Slash/Strike/Thrust defense are applied on top of Physical Defense. -20% strike defense means taking 120% damage. (Stats are from Param Studio and are not estimated)

Strategy[]

The Pursuer's combos mainly come in threes, with the third strike leaving him vulnerable to a few hits afterwards.

Although the Pursuer is an agile opponent, parrying him immobilizes him for several seconds. This allows ample time for a counterattack, and more importantly allows the player to employ ballistae against him. On NG, if all three ballista bolts hit, 90% of his health can be taken out. A sizable chunk of his health is taken off even if not all of the bolts hit. The Buckler received just before the second bonfire in the forest will make parrying easier.

Note that the Pursuer can be poisoned with weapons or two casts of the pyromancy Poison Mist. Having two weapons at your disposal is a good way to poison him then switch to your more powerful weapon, Poison Ricard's Rapier +10 with two strong attacks will poison him, hence then switching to your main weapon for further damage is a good strategy. At the start of the fight, you have time before he fully materializes to initiate a poison.

Most of his attacks can be evaded if the player rolls to the right (his shielded side). However, this is not advised when he uses his three-hit combo as the spinning slash can still strike the player from the side. In particular, running away to bait his charge and then dodging through it, followed by an attack (Don't use the rolling attack, as it will most likely miss) is a very good tactic, so long as the player knows what the window of invincibility is for their character. (I-Frames)

He is vulnerable to lightning damage and somewhat vulnerable to magic.  

He is also capable of inflicting Curse on the player. This attack is telegraphed by the Pursuer extending its arms and hovering slowly toward the player, the sword will glow blue and the Pursuer will lunge forward, impaling the player, then lift them into and release a Curse-inducing cloud. It is possible to avoid getting cursed if the player is killed by the initial lunge. If the player is successfully Cursed by this move, the Pursuer will get a power boost, evidenced by its glowing, red eyes and a black mist surrounding it. This allows the Pursuer to release Dark orbs that homes in on the player. If any of the orbs connect with the player, they will deal massive damage and cause Curse build-up.

For the third encounter in Drangleic Castle, an easier way of obtaining the Ring of Blades +2 is to defeat one of the Pursuers, return to the King's Gate bonfire, then go back for a one-on-one battle against the second Pursuer.

Drops[]

Item Ring Ring of Blades
Ring of Blades
Ring of Blades+1
Ring of Blades+1
Ring of Blades+2
Ring of Blades+2
Drop Rate Guaranteed
(Forest of Fallen Giants)
Guaranteed
(Iron Keep)
Guaranteed
(Drangleic Castle)
Item Boss Soul
Soul of the Pursuer
Twinkling Titanite
Twinkling Titanite
Drop Rate Guaranteed
(Forest of Fallen Giants)
Guaranteed
(Drangleic Castle)
SotFS:
(The Lost Bastille and Things Betwixt)

Notes[]

  • The Pursuer seems to take increased damage from Lightning and Strike attacks.
  • The Pursuer is vulnerable to Poison.
  • When using a Bonfire Ascetic in the Cardinal Tower of the Forest of Fallen Giants, the Pursuer will not drop into the area that he can be fought outside of his boss room. This only happens once per playthrough.
  • When encountered in Forest of Fallen Giants, it is possible for him to go outside the arena, causing him to be unable to use attacks other than his basic swings.
  • In Scholar of the First Sin, a bug may occur with the Pursuer fought in the Forest of Fallen Giants which may prevent him from moving or attacking. This bug can happen if player performs a guard break on him while he is emerging from the ground. (confirmation needed)
  • Being cursed whilst fighting the two Pursuers in Drangleic Castle will prompt one of them to leave. This only occurs if both Pursuers are still present. As of patch 1.10, this no longer works.
  • In Drangleic Castle, dying after defeating one pursuer will cause the player to lose their drop, whether it be the Ring of Blades+2, or the Twinkling Titanite.
  • When he is fought for the first time in his boss room, he will be met by a cutscene, leading him to instantly being able to attack. But the times after that, he will slowly emerge from the ground, meaning that the player is able to use a ranged attack, so long as they can dodge the lunge attack afterwards.

Trivia[]

  • The Pursuer's armor has several faces, which appear to be contorted in agony, carved into it.
  • The Pursuer has several weapons bundled into a sheet on its back, forming a sort of quiver. These weapons are the size for a normal human's use, too small for the Pursuer to use.
  • The Pursuer's helmet bears a resemblance to the Elite Knight Helm.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Bosses
Aava, the King's PetAfflicted Graverobber, Ancient Soldier Varg, and Cerah the Old Explorer
Aldia, Scholar of the First SinAncient DragonBelfry Gargoyles
Burnt Ivory KingCovetous DemonDarklurkerDemon of SongDragonrider
Elana, the Squalid QueenExecutioner's ChariotFlexile SentryFume Knight
Giant LordGuardian DragonLooking Glass KnightLost Sinner
Lud, the King's Pet & Zallen, the King's PetMytha, the Baneful QueenNashandra
Old DragonslayerOld Iron KingProwling Magus and Congregation
Royal Rat AuthorityRoyal Rat VanguardRuin SentinelsScorpioness NajkaSinh, the Slumbering Dragon
Sir AlonneSkeleton LordsSmelter Demon
Smelter Demon (Iron Passage)The Duke's Dear FrejaThe Last Giant
The PursuerThe RottenThrone Watcher and Defender
Velstadt, the Royal AegisVendrick

References[]

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