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For other uses, see Demon (disambiguation).

The Stray Demon is an optional boss in Dark Souls, located in the Northern Undead Asylum. It can only be fought by players upon returning to the asylum, after they leave the facility for the first time.

Location[]

The Stray Demon is found in the Northern Undead Asylum. When first exiting the prison cell at the beginning of the game, the Stray Demon can be seen wandering around its boss arena through the bars to the right. However, it is impossible to reach at this point in the game since players need to return to the asylum after leaving for the first time. Upon returning, the Stray Demon can be fought by falling through the floor in the middle of the main hall, where players originally fought the Asylum Demon.

Description[]

The Stray Demon wields an unidentified catalyst, a casting tool used to channel Magic. The weapon is possibly a Demon's Catalyst. The demon itself is similar in appearance to the Asylum Demon and the Demon Firesage. It has an almost draconic appearance, with green scales all over its body and a pair of stubby wings on its back. It sports a tail and horn-like growths portrude from its legs and arms. Dark red eyes are accompanied by a set of large teeth that are revealed by the demon's permanently exposed gums.

Lore[]

The Stray Demon is a greater demon spawned from the Bed of Chaos, the entity that appeared following the attempt of the Witch of Izalith to make a power similar to the First Flame using her Lord Soul. The attempt was successful and she create the Flame of Chaos but Izalith and her powerful soul became a seedbed for a new lifeform: the mother and source of all demons[1][2][3]. After its birth, the Stray Demon managed to survive the war that the Silver Knights of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight waged against its kind[4] and at some point it was able to escape from the ruins of Lost Izalith. The demon wandered Lordran until it came to reside in the Northern Undead Asylum, the prison designed to keep Undead locked away from the rest of the world until the end of time[5][6], and that became its domain.

Strategy[]

The player will first fall through the floor, lose some health from the landing, and end up across the room in front of the Stray Demon. Casting Fall Control before the fight will negate the damage players suffer from falling into the Stray Demon's pit. There is no place to use the White Sign Soapstone in this area so it is not possible to summon others for this fight. The major difference from the Asylum Demon is that the Stray Demon wields a catalyst-type weapon that is capable of creating large Magic explosions in front of it, inflicting serious damage in a wide area.

The Stray Demon possesses two magic area-of-effect attacks, so learning the telegraphs for them is very important. When it prepares to wave its weapon horizontally, from left to right (player's right to left), it will create a large frontal magic explosion that can be very difficult to roll through. Its other area-of-effect attack is telegraphed by pointing its catalyst downward and planting it into the ground, which creates the self-centered explosion that can reach in an area behind it. The Crest Shield, dropped by Oscar of Astora, is highly useful in mitigating the magic damage.

Ideally, much of the fight should be spent attacking the demon from behind, as this leaves it unable to hit the player with its weapon swings. However, caution should be exercised as its downward-stabbing magical explosion can still hit players standing next to its tail. Players can avoid this by retreating a few meters behind it when they see it lift the catalyst up in preparation. In between his explosion attacks, players should pelt his backside with their attack of choice. The Stray Demon will occasionally jump into the air and perform a rear-drop to reorient itself to face the player. When this occurs, this can be avoided by walking about two meters away. Using a shield will deal heavy stamina damage. Sticking to his right may damage and knockdown the player due to the weapon facing in that direction.

The Stray Demon is susceptible to bleed damage and although it can be inflicted with both Toxic and Poison, it is immune to the damage of poison, though toxic will very slowly inflict damage. Like other demons, it also takes bonus damage from Black Knight weaponry. It is also not as susceptible to Black Firebombs as the Asylum Demon.

Boss information[]

Attacks[]

Double Hammer Swing[]

Dmg phy Dmg mag Dmg fire Dmg lght Attack Type Parryable Tracking Speed
672 - - - Physical No Both Slow

Two horizontal swings of the Demon's hammer. Similar to the Asylum Demon's attack. Can be blocked, but heavy stamina drain occurs. Can also be rolled under, allowing the player to attack the Demon.

Power Smash[]

Dmg phy Dmg mag Dmg fire Dmg lght Attack Type Parryable Tracking Speed
672 - - - Physical No Neither Medium

An overhead hammer smash with exceptionally long reach. Can be avoided by dodging to the left or right.

Double Power Smash[]

Dmg phy Dmg mag Dmg fire Dmg lght Attack Type Parryable Tracking Speed
456 - - - Physical No Neither Medium

Can only be used after the first Power Smash. The Stray Demon raises its hammer, then smashes it down again. Can be dodged by rolling to the left or right.

Leaping Hammer Smash[]

Dmg phy Dmg mag Dmg fire Dmg lght Attack Type Parryable Tracking Speed
??? - - - Physical No Neither Medium


Butt Slam[]

Dmg phy Dmg mag Dmg fire Dmg lght Attack Type Parryable Tracking Speed
744 - - - Physical No AoE Fast

The Stray Demon flies up, pauses momentarily to rotate itself to face the player, then falls to the ground. Can be avoided by retreating away.

Flame Explosion[]

Dmg phy Dmg mag Dmg fire Dmg lght Attack Type Parryable Tracking Speed
- 468 - - Magic No AoE Fast

The Stray Demon brings the hammer to its left (player's right), then waves it horizontally, causing a massive explosion in front of it. Unlike the Hammer Drive attack, it doesn't have any backwards hitbox and can be dodged by getting behind, or even under, the demon. Despite the attacks name, it deals purely Magic damage.

Hammer  Explosion[]

Dmg phy Dmg mag Dmg fire Dmg lght Attack Type Parryable Tracking Speed
- 456 - - Magic No AoE Medium

The Stray Demon grips the hammer in both hands, pointing downward, and drives it into the ground in front of it. Similar to the Asylum Demon's attack, however, once the hammer hits the ground, a massive explosion occurs at the point of impact, which can deal damage in an area behind it.

Defenses[]

Physical Defenses Elemental Defenses Resistances
Regular Defense Strike Defense Slash Defense Thrust Defense Magic Defense Fire Defense Lightning Defense Poison Toxic Bleed
258 323 194 258 195 207 168 C C D

These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.


Drops[]

Item Humanity
Humanity
Homeward Bone
Homeward Bone
Titanite Slab
Titanite Slab
Drop Rate Guaranteed Guaranteed Guaranteed

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Stray_Demon_-_Dark_Souls_Boss_Fight

Stray Demon - Dark Souls Boss Fight

References[]

  1. Quelana of Izalith dialogue: "… Say, you. I have a request, but… My mother, Izalith, was once one of the primordial Lords. She found a soul by the First Flame and became a Lord with its power… And then, my mother tried to light a Fire of her own with that power… She couldn’t control it. The Flame of Chaos engulfed my mother and younger sisters and made them into a seedbed for grotesque life."
  2. Lord Soul description: "Soul of the Bed of Chaos that is the mother of the demons. One of the Lord Souls that was found at the beginning of the Age of Fire. A witch tried to make a “First Flame” from a soul and created a warped beast of chaos fire. That power that became a bed for all the demons is sufficient to occupy the Lordvessel."
  3. Chaos Storm description: "Art of the Flame of Chaos which consumed the Witch of Izalith and her daughters. Erects localized chaos fire pillars. The ambition of the witch who tried to make a “First Flame” birthed a seedbed for grotesque life and a Flame of Chaos."
  4. Black Knight Shield description.
  5. Opening (Dark Souls) dialogue.
  6. Undead Asylum F2 East Key item description.
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