Should I Kill Smough Or Ornstein First?

When It Makes Sense

The Ornstein and Smough encounter in Dark Souls is a two-on-one boss fight where one boss is fast and the other is slow and heavy. Deciding who to defeat first is a strategic choice that depends heavily on your playstyle, character build, and what equipment or souls you hope to collect. The fight also changes based on which boss remains alive for the powered-up second phase, so the right answer is rarely universal. Below are the two most common situations where each order makes sense.

• Good fit: Kill Ornstein first if you are a melee, shield, or mid-range build that has an easier time handling a slow, telegraphed opponent in the second phase. Once Ornstein falls, Smough absorbs his power and becomes larger, but his attacks remain comparatively slow and predictable. This order is often recommended for first-time players because it removes the fast spear-thrusting threat early and lets you focus on spacing and punishing Smough’s recovery windows.
• Good fit: Kill Smough first if you want to obtain the Leo Ring and the Soul of Ornstein in a single playthrough, or if you are confident fighting a fast, aggressive boss alone. When Smough dies first, Ornstein grows in size and gains new lightning-based area attacks, but his core moveset is still the same thrust-and-leap pattern players learn during the first phase. Ranged builds, pyromancers, and experienced players who can exploit Ornstein’s openings may prefer this route.

When You Should Avoid It

Even though either kill order is technically possible, some approaches create unnecessary frustration depending on your goals and current character state. The most important factor to consider is whether you are locking yourself out of a specific reward or leaving yourself against an opponent your build handles poorly. Here are two warning signs that should make you reconsider your choice.

• Warning sign: Avoid killing Ornstein first if you need the Leo Ring for a thrust-counter, critical, or piercing-damage build. The Leo Ring only drops when Ornstein is killed last, which means killing him first will prevent you from obtaining it until a later New Game+ cycle or through multiplayer trading. If that ring is part of your planned equipment setup, Smough must die first.
• Warning sign: Avoid killing Smough first if you are low on poise, stamina, or healing and already struggle to dodge Ornstein’s quick lunges in phase one. Super Ornstein is widely considered the more punishing second-phase form because his attacks cover more ground and his size makes camera management harder. If you are underleveled, poorly equipped, or new to fast boss dodging, this path can feel much steeper.

Pros and Cons

Both kill orders offer clear advantages and trade-offs. Weighing them against your current situation will help you avoid restarting the encounter or missing a desired item.

Pros

• Killing Ornstein first usually produces an easier second phase. Super Smough is slow, heavily telegraphed, and leaves long recovery windows after his hammer swings. This makes the final phase more forgiving for shields, medium-roll builds, and players who prefer reactive gameplay over memorizing complex dodge timings.
• Killing Smough first preserves unique rewards. Doing so lets you earn both the Soul of Ornstein and the Leo Ring in the same playthrough, which are needed for certain weapon upgrades, armor purchases from Domhnall of Zena, and thrust-counter setups. It also lets you experience a different second-phase encounter if you have already beaten the bosses the other way.

Cons

• Killing Ornstein first locks you out of the Leo Ring. If you wanted the ring for a build centered around counter damage or heavy thrust attacks, you will have to wait until a subsequent playthrough or trade with another player. This can be especially disappointing if you did not realize the drop was conditional on kill order.
• Killing Smough first leaves Super Ornstein as the final boss. His powered-up form has larger hitboxes, faster lunges, and dangerous lightning area attacks that can punish panic rolls. Many players find him harder to read than Super Smough, making this route riskier for builds with limited mobility or low defensive stats.

Decision Checklist

Before you commit to a kill order, run through these practical questions to reduce risk and avoid missing important loot.

• Which reward do I actually need? Decide whether you want the Soul of Smough, the Soul of Ornstein, the Leo Ring, or specific armor pieces. Your reward priorities should usually determine the kill order before difficulty preferences.
• Which moveset am I better at reading? Ask yourself whether you are more comfortable dodging a slow hammer swing with area shockwaves or a fast spear lunge with extended reach. Pick the second phase that matches your skill set.
• Can I separate the two bosses? Use the pillars in the arena to break line of sight, or summon Solaire of Astora or another player to split aggro. If you can reliably isolate one target, either kill order becomes much more manageable.

Alternatives to Consider

If you are stuck regardless of kill order, you have several lower-frustration options. First, try summoning Solaire near the boss fog gate; having an extra target for Ornstein and Smough to chase makes the first phase far less chaotic. Second, leave the area and upgrade your weapon, reinforce your shield, or buy more healing items and humanity. Small upgrades can make the difference between a close loss and a clean kill. Third, watch community-run boss guides to learn each attack’s exact dodge timing and safe punish windows. Finally, if you are playing online and need the Leo Ring but already killed Ornstein first, you can trade with another player for the ring or wait until New Game+ rather than starting over.

Final Recommendation

For most players, especially those on a first playthrough, killing Ornstein first is the safer default because Super Smough is generally slower and easier to survive. However, if you are after the Leo Ring or the Soul of Ornstein, kill Smough first and prepare for the more aggressive Super Ornstein phase. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your build, your comfort with each moveset, and which rewards you value most. For high-stakes achievement or item-collection decisions, cross-check the current version of the game with reputable community wikis to confirm drop conditions, since patches and remasters can sometimes change item behavior.