You walk into that quiet, high-ceilinged chapel in High Wall of Lothric expecting a cutscene or maybe just a cryptic chat with Emma. Then the music shifts. The air gets heavy. This tall, spindly, terrifyingly graceful creature drops from the ceiling like a liquid shadow. Honestly, the first time I fought the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, I didn't even land a hit. I just watched her move until I was dead.
There’s a reason Dark Souls III players talk about this boss more than almost any other in the trilogy. It isn't just because she’s hard. It’s because she cheats—at least, she cheats the "rhythm" we all spent hours learning. If you’ve played Bloodborne or Sekiro, you know the flow. You dodge on the beat. But the Dancer? She dances to her own time signature, and that’s why she’s a nightmare for your muscle memory.
The Lore Most People Miss
She wasn't always a monster. Before Sulyvahn took over Irithyll and turned it into a frozen hellscape, the Dancer was a member of the royalty. We know she’s a descendant of the old royalty of Anor Londo. Sulyvahn basically forced her into his service, made her a dancer, and then "gifted" her the Pontiff's Eye rings.
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Those rings are cursed. They turn people into beasts.
By the time you meet her, she’s barely human. She’s elongated, her armor is fused to her skin, and she’s a literal beast of burden for the Pontiff’s agenda. She guards the path to Lothric Castle not because she wants to, but because she’s a husk of a person following a final, cruel command. It’s tragic, really. You’re putting down a former princess who has been stretched out and broken.
Why the Dancer of the Boreal Valley is Graphically "Broken" (On Purpose)
If you feel like your timing is off, it’s because it is. Most bosses in Dark Souls move in a 4/4 time signature. You can literally tap your foot to the rhythm of their swings. 1, 2, 3, dodge. 1, 2, 3, dodge.
The Dancer moves in 3/4 time. It’s a waltz.
Because she moves like a dancer rather than a soldier, her animations are "off-beat" compared to everything else in the game. She has these weird, lingering pauses where she just circles you, dragging her sword on the floor. It creates this incredible tension. You expect an attack, you panic roll, and then she hits you because you’re mid-recovery. It’s a masterclass in psychological game design.
Phase One: The Stalking
In the first half of the fight, she’s relatively passive. She uses a fire sword—the Enchanted Swords of Judgment’s fiery counterpart. Her grab attack is the real run-killer here. If you see her right hand pull back and hear that subtle hiss, roll toward her left leg. If you roll away, her massive reach will snag you anyway.
A lot of players try to stay far away. Don't do that.
The Dancer of the Boreal Valley punishes distance. She has a lunging poke that covers half the arena. You actually want to stay glued to her backside. Specifically, hug her right leg (your left). Most of her horizontal swipes start from her left, so being behind her right hip gives you an extra split second to see the animation starting.
Phase Two: The Blender
Once she hits 60% health, she pulls out a second blade—the dark-infused one. This is where things get messy. She starts with a massive spinning attack that can last for up to seven rotations.
I’ve seen so many people try to shield through this. Unless you’re rocking a Greatshield with massive stability, you’re going to get guard-broken and shredded. The best move? Just run. Get behind a pillar. The pillars in the room are your best friends, even though she can occasionally clip through them if you’re standing too close.
Handling the Dark and Fire
- Weaknesses: She’s surprisingly weak to Dark damage (ironic, right?) and Lightning. If you’re a faith build, Lightning Stake or Great Lightning Spear will chunk her health.
- The Bleed Strategy: This is the "pro tip" for low-level runs. She’s incredibly susceptible to Bleed. Using a Bandit’s Knife or applying Carthus Rouge to a fast weapon like the Sellsword Twinblades makes this fight significantly shorter.
- Strike Damage: Her armor is metal, so hammers and maces do more "poise" damage, potentially leading to a stagger.
The "Early Dancer" Mistake
You can fight her as the second boss of the game if you kill Emma, the High Priestess, immediately.
Should you? Probably not.
Beating the Dancer early gives you access to Lothric Castle, which lets you farm Large Titanite Shards and Chunks way before you're supposed to. It breaks the game’s power scaling. But unless you’re a speedrunner or a glutton for punishment, fighting her at Level 20 is a lesson in frustration. Most players encounter her after defeating three Lords of Cinder. At that point, you should be around Level 60-70. If you’re struggling at that level, it’s not your stats—it’s your rhythm.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Attempt
Stop looking at her swords. Look at her hips.
In any dance, the movement starts in the core. The Dancer of the Boreal Valley has very long, distracting arms, but her torso tilts before the swing actually happens. If you watch her center of mass, you won’t get faked out by her "noodle arm" animations.
- Stay close and circle left: Keep to her rear. Most of her deadliest combos have a blind spot directly behind her.
- Don't greedy hit: She recovers faster in Phase 2. Hit once, maybe twice, and keep your stamina for the inevitable dodge.
- Use the environment: If she starts the "infinite spin," line up a pillar between you and her. She’ll often get stuck on the geometry, giving you a chance to heal or buff.
- Human Pine Resin: If you aren't a caster, buy some Human Pine Resin from Patches or the Shrine Handmaid (after giving her the right ashes). The extra Dark damage is the most effective way to burn her down.
The Dancer is a wall, but she's a fair one. Once you stop trying to fight her like a standard knight and start treating the encounter like a deadly waltz, the fight clicks. It’s easily one of the most beautiful and haunting moments in the entire FromSoftware catalog. Be patient, watch the hips, and don't let the music dictate your heartbeat.
Next Steps for Players:
Check your equipment load; if you're over 70%, you’re "fat rolling," and you will never dodge her Phase 2 combos. Drop some armor to get that fast roll. If you're still stuck, go to the Cathedral of the Deep first to grab the Lloyd’s Shield Ring—it’ll prevent her from one-shotting you when you're at full health. Move toward her, never away. That's how you win.