There is an Enemy in Dark Souls 3 More Annoying Than Those Rotten Stray Dogs in Elden Ring

Dark Souls 3, inspired by Bloodborne, marked a significant evolution in the traditional Souls formula when it first came out. Its mechanics pushed toward faster, more intense combat, thereby creating a nicely balanced yet refreshingly challenging game for its time.

Yet, amidst the many challenges the game has to offer, a particular enemy stands out to us as uniquely aggravating, one that some might argue is even worse than those rotten dogs or the Lesser Kindred of Rot in Elden Ring.

Jailers in Dark Souls 3 Are One of the Most Annoying Enemies Fromsoft Has Ever Created

So, picture this: After somehow managing to not become mincemeat at the hands of Sulyvahn’s Beast, avoiding the Fire Witch’s pillars, and even beating Alva, you step into Irithyll Dungeon, greeted by an atmosphere that feels bleak even by Dark Souls 3’s standards.

The air feels heavier, the screams of unseen prisoners echo in the background, and the dim lighting betrays lurking dangers. With your ol’ reliable Claymore in hand, you inch forward cautiously, only to see a robed figure wielding a lantern.

It doesn’t sprint toward you or swing wildly—it just stands there, menacingly, of course. That’s when it happens: the eerie red glow of its lantern reaches your Ashen One, and suddenly, your max HP starts draining.

Panic sets in as you realize it’s not damage that can be healed; your health bar seems to be permanently shrinking. At least, that’s what it looks like for the moment.

Trying to avoid losing your well-earned Ember, you rush in to attack, thinking you can quickly put this enemy down. It’s slow, after all—it shouldn’t be too hard, right? But as you attack, the Jailer counters with its Soldering Iron.

One jab later, you’re on the ground, unable to drink Estus, your equip load heavier than before, with barely any health left. By the time you manage to regain control, you’re most likely back at the bonfire, left wondering what just happened. And this is just the first enemy; we won’t even discuss what awaits players at the bottom of the Dungeon right before Profaned Capital.

On a first playthrough, these Jailers are almost guaranteed to throw you off. After all, your health bar is your ultimate resource in Dark Souls, a measure of just how many mistakes you can make before you die. Hot take, but we wouldn’t want them to change in any way in the alleged upcoming remaster either.

Watching them shrink away while trying to approach Jailer’s line of sight feels risky and punishing in a way few other enemies manage. There are no Mind Flayers from Demon’s Souls, of course, but they can still be pretty annoying to deal with as you continue on your way down to the Dungeon’s lowest floor.

There Are Other Enemies That Can Contend for the Most Annoying in Dark Souls 3

Now, it’s best to address the fact that, when it comes to frustrating enemies, Dark Souls 3 has no shortage of some mightily unbelievable contenders. They may not be as fast or complicated as Elden Ring’s many enemy types, but annoying? Absolutely.

Let’s take the first one that most of you would probably have in mind, the goddamn dogs—an archetype every player dreads to go up against. Their erratic movements and lunging attacks are often hard to predict, making them an enduring annoyance.

Then there are Thralls, which are also a significant source of irritation, especially in the upper levels of the Cathedral of the Deep. These hyper-agile, dagger-wielding pests seem to drop out of nowhere, their attacks coming fast and relentlessly.

Of course, the Boreal Outrider Knights deserve a shoutout, too. These guys, with their invisible Grass Crest Shield +15 and Chloranthy Ring +99, attack a little too relentlessly and barely give you any room to breathe.

If we’re counting DLC enemies, the Angels from The Ringed City, especially the pre-nerf ones, deserve a special mention here. After all, who wouldn’t want to be at the receiving end of thousands of laser beams while you try to make your way around Dreg Heap?

For our money, though, even compared to these nightmares, the sheer panic that the Jailers induce is just on a whole other level. It’s that combination of health reduction, Estus denial, and equip load penalties that make these guys feel like an assault on the very mechanics that make Dark Souls fair.

Keeping that in mind, would we take a room full of Jailers over one filled with Thralls or an Angel sniper’s killing field? Honestly, no. But what are your thoughts on this? Do you have another enemy in mind that deserves the crown for the most annoying in Dark Souls 3? Let us know in the comments below!