At launch, Nightreign featured six returning Dark Souls bosses (two from Dark Souls 1, two from Dark Souls 2, and two from Dark Souls 3). Later, the Forsaken Hollows DLC expanded that lineup by adding two more Dark Souls bosses as Night Bosses during expeditions.
Centipede Demon
Originally from Dark Souls 1
The Centipede Demon is infamous for a reason. In Dark Souls 1, the fight was remembered as much for its frustration as for its spectacle. In Nightreign, you no longer have to deal with a huge lava-filled arena, but the boss still keeps its signature gimmick: you can break off limbs and its tail to weaken it. Be careful, though, because severed parts can continue to attack as separate enemies.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Sentient Pest or Darkdrift Knight Expeditions. The Centipede Demon can appear as a Night 1 or Night 2 boss.
Gaping Dragon
Originally from Dark Souls 1
The Gaping Dragon is one of the most unforgettable optional bosses in Dark Souls, mostly thanks to its grotesque design. In Nightreign, it returns with modern visuals that make it even more unsettling, while keeping the same overall identity as the original fight.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Gaping Jaw Expedition. The Gaping Dragon may appear as the main Night 2 boss.
Smelter Demon
Originally from Dark Souls 2
The Smelter Demon stands out as one of Dark Souls 2’s most memorable bosses, and Nightreign keeps both its look and core move set. The biggest difference is speed: it moves and attacks much faster than it did in DS2. It can also shift between its normal form and the Aged (blue) variant when it charges a close-range blast, unlocking stronger attacks.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Fissure in the Fog Expedition. The Smelter Demon may appear as a Night 1 or Night 2 boss.
The Duke’s Dear Freja
Originally from Dark Souls 2
Freja is a towering spider boss that DS2 players remember well, and she brings more than simple melee pressure. Her kit includes web attacks and a dangerous long-range laser that can shred low-HP builds. Nightreign keeps her overall style intact, so anyone familiar with Drangleic will recognize the patterns quickly.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Sentient Pest Expedition. Freja may appear as the main Night 1 or Night 2 boss.
Dancer of the Boreal Valley
Originally from Dark Souls 3
The Dancer is graceful, fast, and lethal. Just like in Dark Souls 3, she glides around the arena while chaining strikes with her dual blades. The attack to respect most is her multi-spin combo, where she repeatedly rotates and slams her weapons into the ground. Getting caught in it often means going down unless you have strong defenses or quick support.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Fissure in the Fog Expedition. The Dancer may appear as the main boss of Night 1 or Night 2.
The Nameless King
Originally from Dark Souls 3
One of the most iconic Dark Souls bosses returns in Nightreign with his two-phase structure intact. In phase one, you fight him mounted on the King of the Storm, dealing with lightning bolts and aerial pressure between brief windows on the ground. Once the dragon falls, phase two begins with the Nameless King fighting on foot, using surprisingly quick strings that punish greedy melee play, even though he stays grounded and more reachable.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Darkdrift Knight Expedition. The Nameless King may appear as a main Night 2 boss.
Demon Prince (Demon from Below and Demon in Pain)
Originally from Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City
Nightreign brings back the Demon from Below and Demon in Pain duo, a fight many players considered one of Ringed City’s more manageable bosses only because the rest of the DLC was so brutal. As in DS3, you effectively deal with both phases, since the Demon Prince returns after both demons are killed. The Nightreign twist is that you fight the duo on one night, then face the Demon Prince on the next.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Balancers Expedition. The duo may appear as the Night 1 boss, with Demon Prince appearing as the Night 2 boss.
Knight Artorias
Originally from Dark Souls 1: Artorias of the Abyss
A fan-favorite fight from the DS1 DLC, Artorias arrives as a true boss encounter in Nightreign (despite earlier assumptions tied to cosmetics). He remains aggressive and punishing, with heavy slams that can send Nightfarers back to the Roundtable quickly. At around 50% health, he enters a second phase where his attacks become empowered, and he starts chaining his signature slam more frequently.
How to find it in Nightreign
Target the Dreglord Expedition. Knight Artorias may appear as the Night 2 boss.