Dark Souls' Gwyndolin is one of the most important figures in Lordran, even if that fact isn't immediately recognizable. He has so much influence, more than you might think, which is why were here, so you can learn everything about him, including his lore and his boss fight.
Of course, Gwyndolin is just one of many characters you can find in Lordran, and if you want to know more about all of the Dark Souls bosses, you should fight your way through our guide. However, if that's not enough for you, check out our Dark Souls Solaire article to discover why people think he may be Gwyndolin's forgotten older brother. We also have Dark Souls divine weapon and Dark Souls bonfire guides to help you out as you journey through this desolate world.
Here's everything you need to know about Dark Souls Gwyndolin.
Who is Dark Souls' Gwyndolin?
Dark Sun Gwyndolin is the youngest son of the first Lord of Cinder, Lord Gwyn (check out our Dark Souls Gwyn guide for more details). As such, this sorcerer is a god, alongside his two siblings – the nameless firstborn son and Princess Gwynevere (our Dark Souls Gwynevere guide provides more insight into her character). It's fair to say that Gwyndolin didn't have the best start in life, especially since he has an affinity with the moon (hence the name Dark Sun).
You might wonder why on earth an affinity with the moon is a bad thing? Well, when your father is the Lord of Sunlight, your brother is the founder of the Warrior of Sunlight covenant, and your sister is the Princess of Sunlight, you kind of stand out. Unfortunately for Gwyndolin, his father doesn't hide his disappointment. In fact, due to the moon being considered feminine, Gwyn chose to raise his youngest child as a girl, even though he's a boy.
In the end, despite how his father treats him, Gwyndolin's resolve to earn his father's affection never falters, even after he leaves to reignite the first flame. Instead, the Dark Sun stands watch at his father's tomb and threatens the life of anyone who dares tread there. He also keeps a watchful eye over Anor Londo, the city of the gods, going on to be the last remaining deity that calls this one great city home.
Fate in Dark Souls 3
While you have the choice to kill Gwyndolin or not in Dark Souls, there is a right answer in terms of the canon. Come to the events of Dark Souls 3, you do see Gwyndolin again, though he is lunch for Aldrich. Yes, you read that right. He has to survive the events of the first game so that he's around Aldrich to nibble on later.
Once you get to about the halfway point in your journey, you once again find yourself in Anor Londo, though it's not as stunning as it once was. Eventually, you enter the grand cathedral, going into the same room in which you face Ornstein and Smough in the first game.
When you arrive, you actually disturb Aldrich mid-feast, as he uses the top half of Gwyndolin like a puppet in his fight with you. In fact, the dastardly sludge thing has the audacity to use Gwyndolin's bow against you in battle – trust us when we say that you want to run away from that flurry of arrows.
The once proud son of Gwyn meets a grisly end, one we imagine would disgust and anger his father to no end. Still, you can help him find peace, somewhat, by killing Aldrich and putting an end to both beings. For everything Gwyndolin goes through in his life, this is a tragic end.
Where do I find Dark Souls' Gwyndolin?
Given Gwyndolin is completely optional, it's entirely possible for you to miss him on your adventure. If you want an audience with this god, there are two ways in which you can reach him; one gives you the opportunity to join his covenant, while the other ensures that you're public enemy number one in Anor Londo.
Your first option is to brave the Catacombs, a place you can easily access from Firelink Shrine. In fact, you probably did the first time you arrived there, only to get your butt kicked by a bunch of skeletons. The Catacombs is more of a midgame area, so we don't recommend you experience this hell hole at a low level.
When you feel ready to face these spooky, scary skeletons, begin to make your way through the area. You need to be willing to go off the beaten path and explore a little bit, but your curiosity does reward you with the darkmoon seance ring, an item that grants you passage to Gwyndolin. Once you have the ring, return to Anor Londo and return to the giant statue of Gwyn – you should also see one of Gwynevere.
Put on the darkmoon seance ring, and you'll discover that Gwyn's statue is an illusion, opening up a new path that culminates in a fog door. Behind that fog door is Gwyndolin. Entering it triggers his boss fight and locks you out of the Blade of the Dark Moon covenant. Instead, if you want the rewards this group offers, you should speak with Gwyndolin from outside of the gate and pledge your loyalty to him.
Your second option is to attack Gwynevere when you encounter her after the Ornstein and Smough fight. Once you hit her, the princess fades away, proving her to be an illusion created by Gwyndolin, who's voice then booms out, declaring you a traitor and the enemy of Anor Londo. It's at this moment that the veil is lifted over the city, showing you that it's actually a dark place.
What is the Dark Souls Blade of the Dark Moon covenant?
Rewards:
- Blue eye orb
- Darkmoon Blade
- Darkmoon talisman
Gwyndolin leads the Blade of the Dark Moon covenant, and they have but one duty – to kill those who sin. In order to get an assassin from this group on your back, you must kill Gwyndolin, cause darkness to embrace Anor Londo, slay NPCs, or successfully defeat other players after an invasion.
To join this group, make sure you get the Darkmoon seance ring (check our Dark Souls rings guide for more details) from the catacombs and speak to Gwyndolin in a peaceful manner. We certainly recommend the Blade of the Darkmoon as one of the better covenants to join, thanks to the Darkmoon Blade reward.
Dark Souls Gwyndolin boss fight
Gwyndolin is certainly one of the more interesting boss fights in Dark Souls, but he's not too tricky to defeat. In fact, he's one of the easiest bosses in the entire game. The battle takes place in what feels like a never-ending corridor (it does end, but it takes a while), and Gwyndolin fires a barrage of magic at you.
However, thanks to the numerous pillars around, you can hide and not take any damage – a good magic reduction shield, like the crest shield, is also a viable option if you don't want to dive behind pillars. After each spell, there's a small break in Gwyndolin's offense, and this gives you the chance to move forward. Eventually, you reach the boss and can get a few hits in. Just rinse and repeat until he's down.
Sorcery
Of course, the aforementioned strategy is mostly for melee fighters, but the use of a magic resistance shield is still good for magic users. The important thing to note is that it's incredibly hard to lock on to Gwyndolin to perform magic, so your best bet is to close the distance again and use something like a soul spear before he teleports. It may take longer to defeat him using sorcery due to how little you can carm him each time you reach the boss.
Phew, there you have it, everything you need to know about one of the most fascinating characters in the world of Dark Souls. Should you be after something new to play, our lists of the best games like Dark Souls and Soulslike games are sure to please you. We also have a list of Mortal Kombat 1 characters, in case you prefer fighting games.