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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To fight Vendrick without collecting or using any Souls of a Giant, defeat Velstadt and continue straight to Vendrick without resting at the bonfire or leaving the area. Gamepressure’s guide says this immediate route leaves Vendrick with very little resistance, so you can deal normal damage. If you have already rested or left, you can still fight him—but expect a punishing endurance battle.
Take the immediate route after Velstadt
After defeating Velstadt, proceed directly to Vendrick. Do not rest at a bonfire or leave the location in between. According to Gamepressure’s Vendrick guide, this sequence creates a temporary opportunity in which his resistance is close to zero. You do not need a Soul of a Giant in your inventory for this route.
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This is the efficient option if you are planning ahead. The timing matters: it is specifically the uninterrupted sequence after Velstadt, not a permanent change that applies whenever you return to the fight.
If you have already rested or left
You can still challenge Vendrick without any Giant Souls, but the fight becomes dramatically harder. Gamepressure reports that your damage is reduced 32-fold; the Dark Souls II Wiki describes the zero-soul state as Vendrick having 32 times his base defense. In practical terms, treat this as an endurance challenge rather than a normal boss fight.
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| Route | Requirement | Reported resistance or damage | Practical expectation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediately after Velstadt | Proceed directly without resting or leaving; no Giant Souls required | Resistance is described as close to zero by Gamepressure | The efficient no-soul route |
| After resting or leaving | No Giant Souls required, but the immediate window has passed | Gamepressure reports 32-fold damage reduction; the Dark Souls II Wiki describes zero Giant Souls as 32 times base defense | A long, high-risk endurance fight |
Use a patient, behind-the-boss fight loop
GameSpot’s Vendrick walkthrough recommends staying close to his left rear side and waiting for him to attack before you commit. Gamepressure also advises moving behind him, slightly to the right, and returning there after evading his leap. These are guide recommendations, not a guarantee that every movement will be safe; watch his position and be ready to dodge.
- Circle behind him. Aim for the space behind Vendrick, slightly to his right, rather than standing in front of him.
- Wait for an attack. Do not start your own attack first if you can avoid it; the walkthroughs warn that this gives him time to turn and strike.
- Dodge, then punish briefly. Evade the attack, take a limited opening, and stop attacking in time to reposition behind him.
- Reset after the leap. Evade the leap strike and move back toward his rear side before trying to attack again.
Recognize the attacks that can catch you
- Horizontal slashes: These can chain one to three times and cover a broad area. Do not assume the first swing is the end of the sequence.
- Vertical strike: Watch for the downward attack and dodge rather than trying to trade hits.
- Leap strike: Evade it, then re-establish your position behind him.
- Curse projectile: Stay alert even while managing your distance and angle.
GameSpot notes that Vendrick’s health bar may take a few minutes of attacks to appear before the fight properly begins. On the later, zero-Giant-Soul route, the reported resistance penalty can make the fight feel even longer; do not mistake the slow opening for proof that the encounter has failed to start.
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What counts as a Soul of a Giant?
The strategy concerns the specific item called a Soul of a Giant. It does not require the Last Giant’s boss soul or the Giant Lord’s soul, and the immediate post-Velstadt route requires no Giant Souls in your inventory. You can use this approach without turning the encounter into a collection task.
Version and guide context
The cited walkthroughs are historical: GameSpot’s was published April 1, 2014, and Gamepressure’s guide was updated May 11, 2016. Their advice concerns the encounter’s mechanics, but edition-specific differences were not independently checked here, so exact behavior across every release is not established.
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- All 3 DLC Pack Contents: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King
- Additional NPCs Added For Enhanced Story Experience To Assist Guiding Players Through Level
- Parameter Setting Adjustments for Improved Balance
- Augmented Item Descriptions
- Increase in Maximum Online Players
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