Yhorm the Giant. The name alone strikes fear into the hearts of many Dark Souls III players. This imposing boss presents a significant challenge, but with the right strategy and a bit of practice, victory is within reach. This guide outlines practical routines to help you conquer Yhorm and claim your rightful spoils.
Understanding Yhorm's Attacks
Before diving into combat routines, it's crucial to understand Yhorm's attack patterns. He's a slow but devastating foe. His attacks include:
- Giant Club Swings: These are his bread-and-butter attacks. They're slow, but possess incredible range and knockback. Learn to recognize the windup and time your dodges accordingly.
- Stomp: Yhorm will sometimes stomp the ground, creating a shockwave that can deal significant damage. Keep your distance to avoid this attack.
- Grab: He can grab and crush you, instantly killing lower-level characters. Prioritize keeping your distance to avoid this.
Routine 1: The Storm Ruler Strategy
This is arguably the easiest method. The Storm Ruler, located in the boss arena itself, is a powerful weapon specifically designed to counter Yhorm.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Locate the Storm Ruler: Immediately upon entering the arena, look to your left. The Storm Ruler rests on a corpse. Pick it up!
- Equip the Storm Ruler: This colossal weapon will be your primary weapon. It can one-shot him.
- Ranged Attacks: Use the Storm Ruler's charged R2 attack. It has a significant range, allowing you to inflict heavy damage from a safe distance. This negates much of the difficulty of this boss fight.
- Patience is Key: Yhorm is slow, so take your time and aim precisely. Avoid getting greedy. One well-placed hit will bring this boss down!
Routine 2: The Melee Combat Approach (For the Experienced)
This strategy requires significant skill and high stats. If you're confident in your melee abilities, this route can be incredibly satisfying.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Weapon Choice: A high-damage weapon with good reach is crucial. Greatswords, Ultra Greatswords, and other similar weapons are ideal.
- Aggression and Spacing: Get in close for attacks, but quickly retreat after each swing. Punish his slow attack animations.
- Dodge Mastery: Learn to precisely dodge his attacks. Practicing this against his slower attack animations is key.
- Stamina Management: Avoid overcommitting to attacks. Running away is more important than being overaggressive. Manage your stamina carefully, and you can avoid being stuck with an empty stamina bar.
- Punishing openings: He has clear moments of animation where he is vulnerable. Pay attention to learn when to attack and when to avoid his attacks.
Routine 3: Summoning Help
Dark Souls III allows for summoning assistance. This can significantly ease the burden of fighting Yhorm.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Summon a Strong Ally: Look for a summon sign near the fog gate. A well-equipped summon can drastically change the fight's dynamics.
- Coordinate Attacks: If you're using melee, coordinate your attacks with your summon to maximize damage output while avoiding Yhorm’s attacks.
- Focus on Survivability: As a summon does damage, you can focus on keeping yourself alive and dodging.
- Beware of AoE Attacks: Some attacks of the giant will hit both you and the summon. Be aware of the AoE attack radius to avoid taking unnecessary damage.
Tips for Success Against Yhorm the Giant:
- Level Up: Ensure your stats (especially Vigor and Strength/Faith, depending on your build) are sufficient to withstand his attacks and deliver damage.
- Use Estus Effectively: Healing is crucial. Don't wait until you're critically low on health to use an Estus Flask.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Don't get discouraged if you die a few times. Learning his attacks is half the battle.
By following these routines and incorporating these tips, you can systematically learn to overcome Yhorm the Giant. Remember, perseverance is key in Dark Souls. Good luck, Ashen One!
