8 Fastest Soulsborne Bosses in Official FromSoftware History, Ranked by Speed

From lightning-fast sword strikes and relentless combos that leave barely any room to heal, FromSoftware has created some of the most challenging bosses in gaming history. But which encounters count as some of the fastest? This list explores the 8 fastest Soulsborne bosses in official FromSoftware history and ranks them from eight to first.

8 Gehrman, the First Hunter – Bloodborne

Gehrman, the First Hunter, is a fitting introduction to this list. As Bloodborne’s final mandatory boss in the standard ending path if you play your cards right, this boss combines the experience of a seasoned hunter with the speed and aggression players have learned to master throughout their journey.

His trick weapon switches between a scythe and a shorter blade, allowing him to alternate between sweeping attacks and rapid close-range strikes. In his later phase, Gehrman becomes even more aggressive and starts covering ground quickly, punishing players who hesitate. His sudden lunges and quick follow-ups further make maintaining distance difficult.

What makes this FromSoftware boss particularly dangerous is how naturally his speed fits the game’s combat. Players must stay on the move and recognise attack openings while also avoiding the traps in this relentless offensive rhythm.

7 Genichiro Ashina – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Genichiro Ashina serves as one of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’s defining skill checks. His fighting style centers on rapid sword combos and attacks that force players to understand the game’s posture system.

The boss can quickly transition from sword strikes into bow attacks, keeping pressure on the player even when they are expecting a brief opening. His final phase introduces the Way of Tomoe, adding lightning attacks that demand immediate recognition and a well-timed response.

Although his individual movements are relatively readable, Genichiro’s speed comes from how frequently he chains attacks together. Players who rely on dodging instead of deflecting often struggle to regain control of the fight.

6 Sister Friede – Dark Souls III

Sister Friede is one of the most agile bosses in Dark Souls III, with a fighting style built on evasive movement and punishing attacks. In her first phase, Friede often vanishes before reappearing to deliver a devastating scythe strike. Her invisibility makes tracking her position essential, while her fast attacks punish players who heal without creating sufficient distance.

The encounter becomes even more demanding in its later phases. Friede gains access to more aggressive attacks, and her Blackflame form introduces dangerous combinations that can overwhelm players who misjudge their openings. Her speed is particularly threatening because she mixes mobility with delayed attacks, making simple reaction-based dodging unreliable.

5 Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower – Bloodborne

Lady Maria delivers one of Bloodborne’s most fluid and aggressive boss fights. Her elegant swordplay initially makes her movements appear controlled, but her attack speed increases as the encounter progresses.

Maria uses dual blades and a firearm to pressure players from different ranges. As she enters later phases, she incorporates blood and fire into her attacks, extending their reach and making previously safe positions considerably more dangerous. Her defining strength is the speed of her transitions, and she can move from a quick combination into a sweeping attack before players have time to recover, forcing them to learn her timing rather than rely on panic dodges.

4 Maliketh, the Black Blade – Elden Ring

Maliketh, the Black Blade, transforms Elden Ring’s combat into a test of positioning and reaction speed. After the Beast Clergyman phase, Maliketh reveals his true form and begins using the Black Blade’s devastating power. He leaps across the arena, attacks from unexpected angles, and launches rapid aerial combinations that make conventional defensive strategies difficult to maintain.

His attacks also inflict destined death, temporarily reducing the player’s maximum HP and draining health over time. Maliketh’s speed is especially dangerous because his mobility and damage output work together, and even a single missed dodge can leave players vulnerable to an extended sequence of attacks, making this encounter one of the game’s most punishing late-game battles.

3 Orphan of Kos – Bloodborne

Orphan of Kos remains one of Bloodborne’s most intimidating bosses because of his erratic movement and relentless aggression. Found in The Old Hunters DLC, the Orphan fights with a placenta-like weapon, using unpredictable swings and wide-ranging attacks.

His first phase combines quick strikes with awkward attack angles that make his movements difficult to read. In the second phase, he becomes considerably more frantic, leaping around the arena and unleashing explosive combinations. Unlike bosses whose speed follows a predictable rhythm, Orphan of Kos constantly changes direction and attack timing. Players must remain alert throughout the fight, as even a brief lapse in concentration can lead to a devastating hit.

2 Promised Consort Radahn – Elden Ring

Promised Consort Radahn is one of the most overwhelming encounters in Elden Ring. His second phase combines aggressive melee attacks with holy-light follow-ups, turning many of his already dangerous combinations into screen-filling barrages.

He closes distances rapidly and strings together sweeping attacks, leaving limited opportunities for healing. Moreover, his speed is not limited to how quickly he swings his weapons; the relentless pace of his combinations, the pressure he maintains across the arena, and the limited recovery window make him exceptionally difficult to manage.

1 Isshin, the Sword Saint – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Isshin, the Sword Saint, takes the top spot thanks to his extraordinary combat tempo and ability to pressure players across multiple phases. As the final boss of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the boss tests virtually every major skill the game teaches.

He transitions between sword strikes and sweeping attacks, thrusts, and even spear combinations with an unbelievable amount of fluidity, and it is all comboed with his second and third phases, which introduce longer-reaching attacks and lightning-based techniques, forcing players to react quickly while maintaining precise deflection timing.

Which FromSoftware boss did you feel was the most formidable when it comes to speed? Make sure to let us know in the comments below!