Giant Skeletons are enemies in Dark Souls.
Location[]
They are primarily encountered in the Tomb of the Giants, but the Swordsmen may also be encountered in the graveyard area of Firelink Shrine.
A non-respawning Swordsman can be encountered in The Catacombs.
Description[]
Although the Giant Skeleton Swordsmen have a small chance of dropping a Murakumo, they actually wield a gigantic Falchion, which they can slam towards the ground in a vertical chopping motion.
The Giant Skeleton Archers wield a greatbow and shoot giant arrows. Both versions are known to use a downward kicking attack.
Strategy[]
Giant Skeletons are dangerous foes, but are weak to most forms of damage.
Giant Skeleton Swordsmen are vulnerable at the end of their rising animation, before becoming fully active from scattered parts: they will neither block nor attack for a two-second window.
If the player decides to face them early on in the Firelink Shrine Graveyard, wielding a large, powerful weapon can prove effective, as they stagger very easily and can get toppled with one power shot.
The several Giant Skeletons encountered early on in the Tomb of the Giants are located on small, elevated platforms. They can utilize heavy knockback to push players off an edge or lock them between Giant Skeletons and punish the player with chunks of damage to stamina and health.
Enemy information[]
Health and souls[]
| Location | Health | Souls | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NG | NG+ | NG | NG+ | |
| Firelink Shrine (swordsman) | 268 | 588 | 500 | 2,000 |
| The Catacombs (swordsman) | 286 | 580 | 800 | 3,200 |
| Tomb of the Giants (swordsman) | 386 | 634 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Tomb of the Giants (archer) | 262 | 429 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
Characteristics[]
| Respawn | Yes & No |
|---|---|
| Backstab | No |
| Damage Types | Regular / Slash / Thrust / Bleed |
| Abilities | Can kick the player to break poise and cause knockback. |
Attacks[]
| Attack | Damage | Attack Type | Status Effect | Parryable | Tracking | Attack Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greatbow Shot | 255 | Thrust | None | No | Neither | Medium |
| Attack | Damage | Attack Type | Status Effect | Parryable | Tracking | Attack Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slash Combo | 314 | Slash | Bleed: 33 | No | Both | Medium |
| Sword Slam | 352 | Slash | Bleed: 33 | No | Neither | Slow |
| Pound | 288 | Slash | Bleed: 33 | No | Neither | Medium |
| Stomp | 427 | Regular | Bleed: 33 | No | Neither | Fast |
Defenses[]
| Physical Defenses | Elemental Defenses | Resistances | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 301 | 211 | 301 | 376 | 231 | 204 | 313 | S | S | S |
These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.
| Location | Physical Defenses | Elemental Defenses | Resistances | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Firelink Shrine | 282 | 197 | 282 | 352 | 216 | 191 | 293 | S | S | S |
| Tomb of the Giants | 301 | 211 | 301 | 376 | 231 | 204 | 313 | S | S | S |
These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.
Drops[]
| Item |  Murakumo |
 Longbow |
| Drop Rate | 2% (swordsman) |
1% (archer) |
Gallery[]
