The undead have always been opposed in the world of Dark Souls and in the second chapter of the FromSoftware series we have ascertained it on two occasions, speaking first of the Executioner's Chariot and then of the Skeleton Lords. These bosses thematically go hand in hand, but there is no two without three: in this guide we address the Flexible Sentinel.
While the Hunter's Grove is the site of a tremendous fox (or rather, undead) hunt, on the other side of Drangleic other crimes have found a place in the region's history book. Down in the depths of Heide's Flame Tower is an old harbor called the Desolate jetty. The boss of this area is the Flexible Sentinel, technically an optional boss, but only becomes one if the Persecutor in the Forest of Fallen Giants is defeated. Both are only a means, and lead to the same destination: the Lost Bastille, a monument testifying to the imprisonment of the undead, and it does not matter which of the two detaches the ticket.
The Flexible Sentinel is found aboard the vessel with blue wisps passed the bonfire, but it will not be immediately accessible. To get it closer, just explore the Desolate Pier and pull one leads, which is found in the upper right of the area by climbing the flights of stairs of an arranged wooden construction. The lever will activate the bell, which will summon the ghost ship.
The only thing to do at this point is to board the ship and take care of the crew, descend the stairs leading to the lower level of the vessel, go through the fog and face the Flexible Sentinel. It presents itself as a creature formed by two reptiles joined to the life that respectively wield two curved swords and two clubs bristling with thorns capable of inflicting bleeding status. The peculiarity of this new threat is to be indirectly a timed boss: the arena begins to slowly fill with water after 2 minutes from the start of the fight, and once it comes to life it will prevent you from most of the movements, granting an easy victory to the boss.
Due to the aquatic nature of this battle, the duo is susceptible to electricity while resisting fire, thus giving pyromancers a hard time. The two sides, sharing only one AI, never fight at the same time, and for this reason we recommend that you focus on the side that uses the clubs: his attacks are much more predictable and slow. Before moving on to attacks as usual, we finally recommend that you use the tree in the center of the arena to your advantage to block the Flexible Sentinel and heal or catch your breath from time to time during the fight.
Attacks
- Jump: The jump attack is one of the best attacks the Flexible Sentinel can make and sees the club-wielding half jump and strike. Easily avoidable with a side dodge, the jump is an attack whose long recovery can be used for a couple of shots and above all it can be provoked (bait) and exploited by staying at a certain distance from the boss.
- Combo clubs: Given that most of the time this will be the half to focus on, it is good to learn the attack he makes most often. It is a combo whose end can be misleading: the boss will wave the clubs from top to bottom first to the left, then to the right and finally forward, by way of rapier. So don't dodge by rolling backwards, but always to the sides.
- Sword Combo 1: Even the half with the swords has their combos, and they are faster than their counterpart due to the nature of the weapon. One of these sees crossing swords for an attack followed by a quick dash forward with the left sword.
- Sword Combo 2: The second combo is more standard and starts with a left, then a right and ends with a lunge with the left sword.
- Presa: this boss has his hold too. Half of the sword will briefly charge a thrust to stab the Cursebringer. Once this is done, he will launch it into the air where it will be targeted by dozens of lightning strikes from both halves. It is a rare but dangerous attack like all holds and it is good to avoid it with a side dodge, paying attention to the tracking of the creature.
- Wheel: The last shot available to the Flexible Sentinel sees forces join forces and unleash in a whirlwind of blows. Start the half with the swords with a quick double cross swipe, after which both halves will start spinning on themselves 3-4 times. It is important to avoid the first hit with a double back dodge, because that is where the chain effect of the combo is created.
Once the boss is defeated, it will be possible to set sail to reach the Lost Bastille. From now on the Flexible Sentinel is downgraded to mini-boss: it will be possible to meet her, in fact, several times during the adventure such as in the Shady Woods, at Eleum Loyce and just before the Lost Sinner in the Scholar of the First Sin version of Dark Souls 2
Furthermore, From the New Game onwards, the original Flexible Sentinel of the Desolate Dock will be accompanied by two shadows who are more dangerous than the boss itself due to their quick attacks that inflict bleeding and poison. In this case it will be necessary to deal first with the minions and only after with the Flexible Sentinel, perhaps with the help of Lucatiel of Mirrah, who can be summoned on the bridge.
Drop
- Soul of the Flexible Sentinel (creations, from Straid: Deformed Sword, Arched Sword, Hooked Club)
- 14.000 anime
Lore
The Flexible Sentinel is linked to two adjectives: twisted and ruthless. Both reveal the nature of this creature, pinned with the express purpose of gather the undead and make them disappear in the sea mists. Like a more modern Charon, the Flexible Sentinel was therefore called upon to ferry the surplus of prisoners and make them disappear who knows where, but the descriptions do not leave much room for the imagination. They clearly speak of deaths from starvation or drowning, recalling the conditions of the slaves during the trade, and of the survival of a few, who managed to pass on their knowledge of witchcraft.
The contours of Vendrick's contribution are unclear: the Suspicious Shadows are assassins hired by Vendrick to put a stop to the cursed and the curse, as if they were seeds of contagion. Similarly, it is possible that he used the Flexible Sentinels like other kings before him (this would explain the appearance of the creature in Eleum Loyce) making himself an accomplice in this tragedy. Whatever his responsibility, the Flexible Sentinel is part of Drangleic's story and his extermination activity, carried out with great fidelity, says more than a thousand words.
► Dark Souls II is an RPG-Adventure game developed by FromSoftware and published by FromSoftware Bandai Namco for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the video game was released on 11/03/2014 The version for PC came out on 25/04/2014
