In the dark and punishing world ofDark Souls III, boss fights often stand as significant hurdles that test a player’s skill, patience, and strategy. One such infamous encounter is with Pontiff Sulyvahn, a formidable opponent located in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. Given the boss’s fast-paced attacks, wide-reaching combos, and summoning of clones mid-battle, many players look for ways to level the playing field. One of the most common questions among those preparing for this challenging fight is: Is there a summon for Pontiff Sulyvahn? Understanding the answer to this can significantly affect your experience in the game and provide an edge in what can be a very punishing fight.
Location and Context of the Pontiff Sulyvahn Fight
Where to Find Pontiff Sulyvahn
You will encounter Pontiff Sulyvahn in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley, after traversing through numerous frostbitten enemies and haunting architecture. His arena is inside a large cathedral-like structure just beyond the courtyard filled with silver knights. This boss fight marks a significant turning point inDark Souls III, transitioning from mid-game to late-game difficulty and narrative significance.
Why the Fight Is Difficult
Pontiff Sulyvahn is considered one of the harder bosses in the game for several reasons:
- He wields two swords, one imbued with fire and the other with magic.
- His attack patterns are relentless, with few windows for healing.
- Midway through the fight, he creates a clone that mirrors his movements, effectively doubling the threat.
- His long-range attacks and combos can easily overwhelm unprepared players.
Because of these traits, many players naturally look for ways to make the fight more manageable, including using NPC or player summons.
Are There NPC Summons for Pontiff Sulyvahn?
Yes, You Can Summon Anri of Astora
There is indeed an NPC summon available for this boss fight, and that is Anri of Astora, a character who plays a significant role in one of the game’s questlines. However, her summon sign will only appear under specific conditions:
- You must have progressed through Anri’s questline without causing her death or prematurely ending the storyline.
- You should not have defeated Pontiff Sulyvahn yet.
- The summon sign will appear outside the boss fog, near the entrance to the cathedral where the fight takes place.
Summoning Anri can provide a valuable distraction during the fight, especially when Pontiff summons his clone. While her damage output isn’t enormous, her presence allows players to heal, reposition, or land attacks without being constantly under pressure.
Other Potential NPC Summons
In addition to Anri, players can summon Londor Pale Shade under specific circumstances. To summon this character, you must have progressed with Yuria of Londor’s questline and have not angered the Londor faction.
The summon sign for Londor Pale Shade will also appear near the boss room, but similar to Anri, it depends on quest progression. Missing key steps or betraying the questline can cause the summon sign to disappear entirely.
Can You Summon Other Players for the Fight?
Multiplayer Summoning Options
If you are connected online and in Ember form, you can summon other real players to assist with the boss fight. This is done by interacting with golden or white summon signs on the ground outside the boss arena. You must not have already defeated Pontiff Sulyvahn for summoning signs to appear.
Player summons are often more helpful than NPCs because they can dish out more damage, dodge attacks effectively, and use healing items like Estus Flasks. Coordinating with friends or experienced players can significantly reduce the difficulty of the encounter.
How to Prepare for Summoning
- Use an Ember to become eligible for summoning and to increase your health pool.
- Stand near the fog gate and wait for summon signs to appear.
- Summon up to two phantoms (players or NPCs) before entering the boss room.
- Keep in mind that more summons will increase the boss’s health pool.
Does Summoning Make the Fight Easier?
Advantages of Having Summons
Having summons during the Pontiff Sulyvahn fight provides several tactical advantages:
- Diverts Pontiff’s attention away from the host player, making it easier to heal or attack.
- Disrupts the coordination between Pontiff and his clone, especially in the second phase.
- Increases overall damage output, shortening the fight’s duration.
- Allows for better crowd control during chaotic moments.
Things to Consider
However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using summons:
- The boss’s health and damage may scale up depending on the number of summoned allies.
- Too many players in the arena can make the camera disorienting or reduce visibility.
- NPC summons have limited effectiveness and may not be as agile as human players.
Tips for Beating Pontiff Sulyvahn With or Without Summons
Preparation Before the Fight
- Level up Vigor and Endurance for survivability and stamina management.
- Use armor with decent fire and magic resistance.
- Equip a fast weapon for quicker hit-and-run tactics.
- Upgrade your Estus Flask and make sure to have enough healing.
During the Battle
- Watch for his long combo chains and dodge roll through attacks instead of away from them.
- When the clone appears, try to keep both entities in your camera view to avoid surprise attacks.
- Focus your damage when either Pontiff or his clone is separated from the other.
- If using summons, try to attack when the boss is distracted by your allies.
So, is there a summon for Pontiff Sulyvahn? Yes, there are a couple of NPC summons available Anri of Astora and Londor Pale Shade provided you have met the correct conditions in their respective questlines. Additionally, players can always summon others online to help with the fight. Summoning can greatly enhance your chances of success, especially in such a fast-paced and challenging boss encounter. Whether you choose to face Pontiff alone or with help, understanding his mechanics and entering the battle prepared will be the key to victory. For those struggling, a summon can be the difference between defeat and triumph.