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The Throne Watcher and Defender are bosses in Dark Souls II.

Description

The Throne Watcher and Defender are fought as a pair. The Defender is a heavily armored warrior while the Watcher is lighter and more agile, both wield a shield and a greatsword. It is possible to buy both of their armor sets from Maughlin the Armorer if you defeat them.

Locations

Both bosses are found in the Throne Of Want, behind the door that can only be opened with the King's Ring. They share the same arena as Nashandra.

Strategy

The Watcher is fast while the Defender is slightly slower, making the fight very reminiscent of the fight with Ornstein and Smough; as such, the same strategies can be utilized. 

One difference between the two fights is that both must be killed almost simultaneously. Failure to do so will result in one attempting to resurrect the other with full health which can be done indefinitely, though there is a delay before the remaining one will attempt to resurrect their fallen comrade. The player may finish off whoever is trying to resurrect the other as there is a casting time for the revival.

Both of them will buff their weapons with Lightning and Magic (Magic for Watcher and Lightning for Defender) when they reach half health. In addition, the Defender will throw away his shield once he starts buffing his sword and he will not regain it even if he is revived. 

The Watcher has lower resistances than the Defender, so a good strategy is to bring the Watcher to low health and then kill the Defender; the Watcher can be easily dispatched during the revival of the Defender. 

The Watcher is usually the one to close the distance first, splitting the both of them up and allowing for easy damage. However, after losing his shield, the Defender will be much more aggressive and will close the distance much more frequently. 

If a Bonfire Ascetic is used, then once the Watcher and Defender are both defeated, after receiving their souls the fight will immediately switch to Nashandra's Arena, any and all summons that were not at full health will remain at their current health until they decide to restore it.

Summoning

Vengarl of Forossa and Benhart of Jugo can be summoned for the fight, both summon signs can be found right outside the fog door.

In Scholar of the First Sin, Bradley of the Old Guard can also be summoned for this fight.

Attacks

(in progress)

Defenses

Throne Watcher

Physical Defenses
Physical Defense Strike Defense Slash Defense Thrust Defense
??? ??? ??? ???
Elemental Defenses
Magic Defense Fire Defense Lightning Defense Dark Defense
??? ??? ??? ???
Resistances
Poison Resist Bleed Resist Can be Backstabbed Can be Parried
??? ??? No Yes

Throne Defender

Physical Defenses
Physical Defense Strike Defense Slash Defense Thrust Defense
??? ??? ??? ???
Elemental Defenses
Magic Defense Fire Defense Lightning Defense Dark Defense
??? ??? ??? ???
Resistances
Poison Resist Bleed Resist Can be Backstabbed Can be Parried
??? ??? No Yes


Drops

Item Darkened Soul
Throne Defender Soul
Darkened Soul
Throne Watcher Soul
Ring of the Evil Eye +2
Ring of the Evil Eye +2
Drop Rate Guaranteed Guaranteed Guaranteed (NG+)

Notes

  • If the player has obtained the Giant's Kinship before this fight, then Nashandra will enter the arena immediately after this fight in a cinematic, then the fight with her will begin. As such, it is highly recommended to challenge this boss before obtaining this item. Any players or NPCs summoned that have survived the fight will remain with the host to defeat Nashandra and then Aldia.
  • The Throne Watcher is left handed, unlike most bosses in the game.
  • By using a Bonfire Ascetic on the Drangleic Castle bonfire, King's Gate, Throne Watcher and Defender can be respawned.
  • Both bosses can be parried.
  • Both bosses tend to go for the same target, making it harder to split them up to fight them individually. This can be used as an advantage if one wishes to do so: the host or phantom, if targeted, can tank them while the other damages from behind. Be wary, however, as they can switch their target abruptly.
  • Throne Watcher and Defender have the same defenses; However, Throne Watcher has a higher magic defense.

Gallery

Videos

Music

Dark_Souls_II_Soundtrack_OST_-_Throne_Defender,_Throne_Watcher

Dark Souls II Soundtrack OST - Throne Defender, Throne Watcher

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
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