Summary
The large boss roster ofDark Souls 2is part of what muddles the game’s quality for some series fans, with encounters like the Covetous Demon filling out the numbers without adding much in the way of challenge. However, while the Covetous Demon might not be thetoughest boss inDark Souls 2, a unique mechanic of the game still allows the enemy to shine for players in a different way.
Standing as the mid-boss of the Earthen Peak, guarding the way to fight the true challenge of the level, Mytha, the Covetous Demon is more like a speed-bump for most players. This is the type of middling encounter sprinkled throughoutDark Souls 2that brings the quality of the roster as a whole down, until players start to look at the boss as an opportunity as opposed to a challenge, thanks to the use of bonfire ascetics.
Covetous Demon’s Value Increases Every Time it is Defeated
An Underwhelming Climb up Earthen Peak
The lack of interest presented by the Covetous Demon is quickly apparent the moment players approach the fight and the boss slowly worms its way across the arena. With a creature design that evokes the slug-like posture ofStar Wars' Jabba the Hutt, the Covetous Demon could be seen as intimidating at first glance. However, any chance that the boss had at threatening players alongside one ofDark Souls 2’s larger enemiesis lost the second the Covetous Demon starts to flop around, missing any target that happens to strafe slowly to the side.
With the Covetous Demon’s most dangerous attack being a simple roll that moves quicker than the boss' normal movement, players will likely get past this fight with little effort. It doesn’t take one ofDark Souls 2’s best buildsto beat the boss and move on through the Earthen Peak. Instead, this is much more likely to be added to the pile of underwhelming bosses the game has to offer, as players move on without a second thought the way previous FromSoftware titles have taught them.
Bonfire Ascetics Help Dark Souls 2 Break the FromSoftware Mold
A relatively rare item, bonfire ascetics have the ability to fully restore any location to its previous state before the player arrived, including bosses. However, this comes with the caveat that the area associated with whichever ofDark Souls 2’s bonfiresthe ascetic was burned at will now be in a New Game Plus state, with tougher enemies and sometimes new threats waiting to catch players off guard. This trade-off also means that bosses can be challenged a second time in the same playthrough, with increased rewards each time they are fought.
This is where the lack of challenge of the Covetous Demon becomes the boss' greatest strength. With enough bonfire ascetics, players can use this relatively easy boss as a location to grind up extra souls, giving them the resources to either purchase powerful items or rapidly increase their levels. In some cases, fighting easy bosses like the Covetous Demon on repeat can even allow players to skip otherwise mandatory encounters likefindingDark Souls 2’s disappointing Vendrick fight, as having enough souls can unlock progress to the endgame.
In the case of which bosses have become favorites for players looking to use bonfire ascetics to grind easy fights, the Covetous Demon shares the spotlight with The Rotten, another simple boss that can be easily repeated. There are benefits to going after either in escalating New Game Plus encounters, but in most cases, the Covetous Demon offers the easiest fight to redo as many times as necessary. Whichever players choose to use their bonfire ascetics on, however, will give players a mucheasier time beatingDark Souls 2thanks to the influx of souls rewarded for repeating these fights.
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin
WHERE TO PLAY
Gamers are in for a big surprise in DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin. An unforgettable journey awaits you in a breathtaking world where each dark corner and unexpected encounter will test your resolve. Go beyond what you thought was possible and discover incredible challenge and intense emotional reward. Whether you’ve previously played DARK SOULS™ II, or are new to the award-winning franchise, you are in for an entirely different experience with this exclusive, “Director’s Cut” version of the game.The definitive edition of DARK SOULS™ II. DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin includes all the DARK SOULS™ II content released to-date in one package and much more!A brand new experience and challenge. Enemy placement has been overhauled, resulting in a completely different play dynamic than experienced before. The safe zones that some players remembered are no longer safe! A new NPC invader called Forlorn will also play a key role in changing the gameplay experience. Hardened players will have to forget everything they thought they knew about DARK SOULS™ II.Online play has been enhanced with the addition of a special item to regulate souls acquired in battle - it’s now possible to match up more consistently online. The number of players who can participate in an online session has also been increased, from 4 to 6 people, completely changing the online play dynamic.DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin brings the franchise’s renowned obscurity & gripping gameplay to a new level. Join the dark journey and experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical hazards, and unrelenting challenge.
