Dark Souls 2: How to defeat the Dragonrider in 10 seconds

Following up from our previous Dark Souls 2 article on how to kill The Pursuer in 10 seconds, we thought it a wonderful idea to investigate further into boss exploits, and the next one on the list is the Dragonrider, who resides in Heide’s Tower of Flame.

While he isn’t an overly tricky boss to defeat in the traditional manner, there is nonetheless a very simple way of killing the Dragonrider with minimal hassle and without getting hit at all. Although the title says ’10 seconds’ this could in fact take you even less time than that if done right.

You don’t need any special items or equipment in order to do this: you simply have to watch your positioning carefully and pay close attention to your timing. The one suggestion that will help you out here, however, is to minimise your equip load to below 30% to give you that fraction more speed, which will be extremely useful for this Dark Souls 2 boss exploit.


The method is relatively easy, but unfortunately requires that you haven’t pulled any of the levers in the area leading up to the Dragonrider boss battle. This means that if you have already visited Heide’s Tower of Flame and pulled one or both of the levers, you will have to fight him in the traditional way – see our guide on how to do just that. There are 2 in total: one is on the precarious looking walkway after the third enemy, and the second is in the large circular room containing three Old Knights (two wielding standard Greatswords, and the one in the middle boasting an Ultra Greatsword). Once again: DO NOT pull either of the levers in this area!

The reason you want to leave them alone is the same reason that you’d normally want to activate them: namely, they raise the outer platforms in the boss arena. While this is essential for the extra space if you want to fight him normally, the key to defeating the Dragonrider quickly is to leave the platforms lowered, providing a treacherous drop into the sea below that you will be aiming to lure him into.

The way you trick the Dragonrider into falling off the edge involves exploiting the AI tracking ability to make him turn around and try to hit you while he is near the ledge. So how do you do this? Well, as you enter the arena through the mist, turn around and hug the now closed-off mist gate you came in through, awaiting the Dragonrider’s approach.


As he reaches the end of the platform by the walkway you are on, sprint past him, staying on the dangerous outer edge of the platform.


As you pass, he should aim a swing at you, causing him to turn and, in his efforts to hit you, trip backwards off the platform.

In the below image, you can just about make out a panicked Dragonrider falling off the ledge.


And there you have it: Dragonrider defeated!

Did you find this guide helpful for killing the Dragonrider? Do you have any tips of your own for fast ways to kill him? Let us know in the comments section below!

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