The 10 Strongest Optional Bosses in All Hidetaka Miyazaki Games, Ranked

Hidetaka Miyazaki’s games are infamous for punishing boss fights, but some of their most formidable encounters are completely optional. From Elden Ring’s infamous Malenia to Bloodborne’s Orphan of Kos, these bosses demand far more than simply learning a game’s basic mechanics.

Wondering what some of the best foes are that you can go up against in these games? We have ranked 10, and all of them demand far more than simply learning a game’s basic mechanics.

10 Demon of Hatred – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The Demon of Hatred is arguably the strongest boss fight in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Unlike almost every other major encounter in the game, this optional boss largely ignores the game’s emphasis on sword-based dueling and posture breaks.

Instead, players face a gigantic demon capable of devastating area attacks and unpredictable movement, topped off with fire damage. Its three-phase battle also gives it a huge health pool to get through, while several attacks can kill an unprepared Wolf almost instantly.

9 Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower – Bloodborne

Lady Maria is one of Bloodborne’s most aggressive optional bosses, and her difficulty comes from how relentlessly she pressures the player.

Her fight begins with fast, but admittedly simple, sword attacks before escalating dramatically. Maria eventually infuses her weapon with her own blood, giving her attacks greater range and damage. In her final phase, she adds blood and fire effects to her already rapid moveset. What makes this boss particularly dangerous is that she gives players very little breathing room.

8 Bayle the Dread – Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Bayle the Dread is one of the most intimidating optional bosses in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, combining tremendous physical power with devastating lightning and fire attacks. Encountered at the summit of Jagged Peak, Bayle forces players into a battle where positioning and timing matter as much as raw damage output.

His enormous size can make the fight hard to read, especially when he launches himself across the arena or unleashes wide-area attacks. Bayle can also use powerful fire and lightning abilities to punish players attempting to attack from a distance.

In the second phase, the dragon ends up gaining access to aerial attacks and massive AoE abilities, turning large chunks of the arena into potential danger zones, making them considerably harder to anticipate and dodge.

7 Manus, Father of the Abyss – Dark Souls

The original Dark Souls doesn’t have a lot to account for with its optional bosses, but Manus remains one of its most demanding encounters. Found at the bottom of the Chasm of Abyss, Manus combines extremely fast melee attacks with powerful dark magic. His enormous arm can cover significant portions of the arena, while his aggressive combos leave very little room for mistakes.

His attacks can also chain together in a way that punishes players who become too aggressive. He is one of the clearest examples of Dark Souls taking its combat philosophy to an extreme.

6 Owl (Father) – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Owl (Father) is one of the ultimate tests of Sekiro’s combat system. Unlike many bosses where players can exploit distance or defensive strategies, this one relentlessly challenges Wolf’s ability to deflect and counter. His enormous combat experience is reflected in his moveset, which includes devastating sword attacks, fire-based abilities, and deceptive attacks designed to catch you off guard.

His second phase adds even more chaos with the appearance of a spectral owl and additional attacks.

5 Artorias the Abysswalker – Dark Souls

Artorias remains one of the most memorable optional bosses in Dark Souls, largely because of how aggressively he fights. Unlike many enemies in the base game, this boss attempts to close the distance. He can chain together powerful sword swings and launch himself at the player with extraordinary speed.

His most dangerous mechanic is his ability to charge up and strengthen himself. Players can interrupt the process, but failing to do so makes an already powerful opponent considerably more dangerous.

4 Darkeater Midir – Dark Souls 3

Darkeater Midir is an enormous dragon that tests virtually every aspect of Dark Souls 3’s combat system.

His attack covers huge portions of the arena, while his fire breath can force players to constantly reposition themselves. Midir is also exceptionally durable, meaning even experienced players need to survive the counter for a long period.

The fight becomes particularly demanding because attacking the dragon’s head is usually the most effective strategy, forcing players to remain directly in front of one of the game’s most dangerous enemies.

3 Sister Friede – Dark Souls 3

Sister Friede’s boss battle is essentially three fights rolled into one. Her first phase features scythe attacks and invisibility, while the second introduces Father Ariandel, forcing players to manage two threats simultaneously.

Just when the encounter feels like it’s over, the third phase begins with Blackflame Friede. This final phase dramatically increases her aggression and adds powerful Blackflame attacks to her arsenal.

2 Orphan of Kos – Bloodborne

The Orphan of Kos is the culmination of Bloodborne’s The Old Hunters expansion and one of FromSoftware’s most notorious boss fights. Its erratic movements make conventional pattern recognition extremely difficult, as the Orphan can rapidly close distances and effortlessly throw its weapon across the arena with devastating force.

Its second phase is even worse. The boss becomes more aggressive and capable of unleashing explosive attacks across a large portion of the arena.

1 Malenia, Blade of Miquella – Elden Ring

Malenia, Blade of Miquella, stands at the top of this list because she combines an extraordinarily demanding move set with mechanics that actively punish mistakes. Her most infamous ability is Waterfowl Dance, a rapid sequence of attacks that can devastate a player’s health bar if they fail to evade it correctly.

However, her danger extends far beyond one move. Malenia heals whenever she successfully lands an attack, even when that attack is blocked, which means defensive play can still gradually strengthen her position. Her second phase, Goddess of Rot, adds Scarlet Rot explosions and airborne attacks.

Which optional boss made by Hidetaka Miyazaki gave you the most trouble? Make sure to let us know in the comments below!