Dark Souls Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Dark Souls Wiki

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[]

After Pontiff Sulyvahn seized control of Irithyll, he formed a battalion of warriors to keep order in the city. Despite having withered away to hollow spirits, they continue to defend it from intruders, serving as Sulyvahn's watchful eyes, and punitive blades.

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
Large Titanite Shard
Pontiff Knight Curved Sword
Pontiff Knight Curved Sword
Pontiff Knight Great Scythe
Pontiff Knight Great Scythe
Pontiff Knight Shield
Pontiff Knight Shield
Drop Rate ??? ???
(sword wielder)
???
(scythe wielder)
???
(shield wielder)
Item Pontiff Knight Crown
Pontiff Knight Crown
Pontiff Knight Armor
Pontiff Knight Armor
Pontiff Knight Gauntlets
Pontiff Knight Gauntlets
Pontiff Knight Leggings
Pontiff Knight Leggings
Drop Rate ??? ??? ??? ???

Notes[]

Gallery[]

Advertisement