Dark Souls 2: How to defeat the Old Dragonslayer and join the Blue Sentinels

In Dark Souls 2 the Old Dragonslayer is an optional boss, though if you have an interest in joining the Blue Sentinels, you will need to defeat him in order to gain access to the Cathedral of Blue and speak to the Blue Sentinel leader: Blue Sentinel Targray.

If you played the first Dark Souls, you may remember the Dragonslayer Ornstein, whom this Old Dragonslayer resembles very closely, with the exception of his magic attacks being Dark-based and not Lightning-based like Ornstein's. The Old Dragonslayer lore is vague at best, and like much of Dark Souls 2, it is left up to us to decide whether or not this incarnation is the same knight we faced in Dark Souls, a new Dragonslayer entirely, or merely a reanimated set of armour.


The Old Dragonslayer boss fight actually isn’t one of the most difficult in Dark Souls 2. He wields the Old Dragonslayer Spear, which gives him a dangerously long range. As a result, staying in front of him can be extremely dangerous and you will need to aim to roll to his back while he thrusts and swings wildly at you. If you are playing a character build without a shield, such as a Dual Swordsman, you’ll know just how important your rolls are, and you’ll need to be using them to maximum effect here, which means ensuring your equip weight is below 70%.

As you first enter the room, the Old Dragonslayer will (most often) open with a charge attack that you need to roll to avoid. As his spear has a particularly long reach, it’s generally better to roll sideways, or diagonally towards him, to avoid the straight thrust. As mentioned, the Old Dragonslayer’s weakness is his rear defence; if you can consistently flank him throughout the battle then you will have a very easy time of it, but be very careful of the pillars at the sides of the room, as they can impede your rolling ability and therefore get you into deep trouble.


The other side of the Old Dragonslayer’s attacks involves his dark magic powers. The main one to watch out for is the Dark Crash, which he will charge up for a few seconds before leaping into the air and crashing back down to the ground with a radial shockwave of dark energy. Be sure to move well out of his way when you see him charging up this attack. He also does a single- or triple-shot of dark energy that will shoot straight towards you and can be avoided by rolling to the side or underneath the bolts. Though the Old Dragonslayer is quite varied in his attacks, the only attack that presents any real danger is the Dark Crash, as it can hit you even if you’re standing directly behind him.

A major saving grace at this boss fight is that summon signs are fairly common both at the first area bonfire and also before you traverse the mist. With this in mind, the best possible way to beat the Old Dragonslayer involves clearing the area, going back to the very first bonfire you reached at Heide’s Tower of Flame and then summoning the shade of another player from there. Once this is done, you can rush back to the Cathedral of Blue with your new ally in tow and summon a second player by the misty gateway entrance. With three of you, the battle can be far, far easier, as your allies will allow you to temporarily retreat from danger to use a lifegem or an Estus Flask if necessary.


Once you have defeated the Old Dragonslayer, head through the rear doorway to find a couple of chests and Blue Sentinel Targray directly ahead. If you haven’t assisted another player in the game yet, his dialogue will read: "Transient being, nothing has changed. You would never make a Knight of the Blue, and I have nothing more to say. Be gone. You are not needed." Clearly, he doesn't know who he's dealing with.

If this is the case for you, the way to open up his next stage of dialogue is thankfully nearby. After heading down the staircase at the entrance to Targray's balcony and lighting the bonfire at the bottom, you should head straight back to where the mist gate to the boss arena originally was. Once outside, use your White Soapstone (received from Mild-Mannered Pate in the Forest of Fallen Giants) outside the boss area and wait for another player to summon you for help - remember that you must be Human in order to be summoned, but the sacrifice of a Human Effigy may be worth it in return for gaining entrance to the Blue Sentinels and the extra souls you will earn for successfully aiding another player to defeat the boss. Besides, having already defeated the Old Dragonslayer once, you should have little trouble with him a second time! Once you have successfully defeated him in another player's world, you will receive a Token of Fidelity, allowing you to become a Blue Sentinel.

Did this guide help you to defeat the Old Dragonslayer? Did we clear up your confusion about how to join the Blue Sentinels? Let us know in the comments section below!

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