There are 12 expansions forDark Souls The Board Game, with seven of them being mega boss expansions and five of them being content expansions. If you want to improve the already incredible yet challengingDark Soulsexperience, you’ll need to know the best additions.
I will be ranking the mega boss expansions together as a group, for they are essentially the same sort of expansion. However, I will then be providing a separate ranking for all the mega boss expansions if you are interesting in purchasing one.
For the completionists, I have excluded the three Kickstarter exclusive expansions (The Four Kings,The Guardian Dragon, andThe Old King) as they are not available through retail anymore. Their supply is limited and so it wouldn’t be fair to rank them with the other standard expansions. They’re pretty good though, so hopefully someone out there is selling them second-hand.
Table of contents
Every expansion for Dark Souls The Board Game, ranked
There are quite a few content expansions forDark Souls The Board Gamethat add more enemies, bosses, and items. I would suggest compartmentalising these expansions for more immersive and focused experiences, although going all-out would definitely make for an unforgettable time.
1.Darkroot Expansion
TheDarkroot ExpansionforDark Souls The Board Gamehas got to be the best expansion going for it. The enemies are all interesting and provide the most diverse challenges, and it includes the iconic Sif and Artorias boss fights.
The Darkroot regions ofDark Soulshas got to be one of the most memorable, and this expansion really helps to bring this to life. Trying to keep out of reach of the Demonic Foliage and Stone Guardians whilst chipping away at the Mushroom Parents makes for a fun challenge that’s difficult, but just about manageable.
This is definitely my favorite, although I wouldn’t say it’s the most exciting. It may not add new mechanics and features some others, but this expansion can be easily slotted in to any game you’re running, and it provides a lot of new content that you’ll be constantly running into.
2.Explorers Expansion
TheExplorers ExpansionforDark Souls The Board Gamemay not add as much content as most other expansions, but it’s the one I’m the most excited to surprise players with. It adds a few new enemies, a new boss, but most importantly, it adds the dreaded mimic.
Now, as you explore, every chest you uncover may have to be earned through combat. The threat of a mimic is always nigh, and they’re just as terrifying as in the game. This mechanic elevates the experience and makes it so much more “Dark Souls.”
Also, replacing the cardboard components with 3D models is a very nice touch that will stay with you for every game to come.
3.Iron Keep Expansion
TheIron Keep ExpansionforDark Souls The Board Gameis a peer of theDarkroot Expansion, as it adds new items, enemies, levels, and bosses. These enemies are very challenging, and some of the levels it introduces are just mean.
TheIron Keep Expansionalso adds adorable Crystal Lizards that can be slain for loot, but they’ll escape when the encounter ends. The bosses are also some of the coolest-looking bosses out of all the expansions, and they’re always a treat to fight.
However, despite adding a new mechanic, theIron Keep Expansionjust isn’t as exciting to come across, and the enemies are less interesting and just plain harder. I’ve never been truly thrilled to face an Iron Keep level like I have a Darkroot level, although this one is certainly worth getting to really shake things up.
4. Mega Boss Expansions
The many mega boss expansions are certainly the show-stoppers inDark Souls The Board Game. They’re large, they’re threatening, they (mostly) have unique combat mechanics, and each have their own special boards. However, these bosses are typically a one-and-done deal.
Although these mega bosses are likely the best fights you’ll get out ofDark Souls The Board Game, you’ll likely only fight each of them once. There is little replayability for these expansions, and they have to be tacked on to the end of your game or campaign, meaning they’re not too accessible, either.
I definitely think these expansions provide the most fun and quality, but they’re expensive for what you get and have so much less presence than the other expansions on this list, meaning they’re not likely to some of the first anyone gets.
5.Characters Expansion
I’d probably say that theCharacters ExpansionforDark Souls The Board Gameis an essential expansion. It adds six new character classes and ten new figures to represent different armor sets.
The six new classes are always a welcome addition, and really serve to make every game you play more interesting, with lots of synergies and new strategies to be had. The expansion does also add new armor sets, with some being recognisable. When you find an armor set in game and wear it, you can swap out your figure to represent the new equipment.
If you look closely you may see some familiar faces. So if you want more interesting classes and the chance to wear the armor of everyone’s favorite onion knight, then you’ll need this expansion.
6.Phantoms Expansion
Up for a challenge? Or fancy some jolly cooperation? Then you’ll need thePhantoms ExpansionforDark Souls The Board Game. Above you’ll see all the summons and invaders that you could meet along your travels.
With this expansion in play, you’ll have a chance to get invaded at the start of every encounter. However, this difficulty is off-set by being able to summon a phantom to aid you in the next boss fight — for a cost. Each with their own behaviour decks, you’ll get to watch your friends in action.
This expansion also adds an interesting campaign that’ll send you down a gauntlet, facing off against numerous invaders. So make sure to prepare to die.
7.Darkroot Basin and Iron Keep Tile Set
Although theDarkroot Basin and Iron Keep Tile Setis technically not an expansion but an addition, I still thought I’d add it to the ranking as it’s literally the only extra retailDark Souls The Board Gameproduct wouldn’t be on the list.
The two meatier content expansions,DarkrootandIron Keep, can be brought further to life using the tile sets that better represent the areas. This expansion isn’t needed at all, but if you have everything else, you’d may as well complete the set.
The tiles do look pretty awesome, and would give your game night a finishing touch.
All Dark Souls The Board Game mega boss expansions, ranked
Now that we know where theDark Souls The Board Gamemega boss expansions sit compared to the other expansions, we can go further into detail and rank which ones are the best.
These expansions aren’t integral to the experience, but will make for unforgettable games as you and your friends conquer true post-game challenges. Or die trying.
1.Asylum Demon
The Asylum Demon is the first boss in the very firstDark Soulsgame, which was why I was confused to see it as a mega boss. However, it turns out that the Asylum Demon model represents two bosses: a new mini bossandmega boss.
This expansion is the best as it gives you the Asylum Demon mini boss and Stray Demon mega boss, which is much more fitting for the mega boss mantle. Having a mini boss allows you to actually use the loot you get in the campaign, which simply doesn’t happen for the mega bosses’ loot outside of homebrew situations or specific campaigns.
The fight isn’t the most exciting of all the mega bosses, but this expansion has the best value for money and gives you two bosses instead of one. Plus the fights are solid.
2.Black Dragon Kalameet
Black Dragon Kamaleet is certainly one of the bestDark Souls The Board Gamemega boss expansions. This terrifying foe has a tonne of health and some interesting mechanics in the fight.
You’ll need to be careful and well-equipped, for Kamaleet can strafe around the arena to deploy devastating damage and inflict Calamity, a new condition unique to this boss fight.
Be careful, however, as this particular mega boss fight can really drag on.
3.Executioner’s Chariot
The Executioner’s Chariot is one of the most unique mega boss fights inDark Souls The Board Game, for it stays very true to the game.
This terrifying warden will run in circles around the map that mimics the circular arena inDark Souls 2, meaning you’ll have to get out of the way and slay the other enemies before you can do any damage to the mega boss. This is likely my favorite mega boss fight, for the tense situations and interesting flow of the fight.
I’d personally recommend the Executioner’s Chariot forDark Souls The Board Game, although it’s hard to say that it’s objectively the best.
4.Gaping Dragon
The Gaping Dragon mega boss expansion forDark Souls The Board Gamemay be getting some hot press due to model quality, but it’s honestly a good expansion.
The fight is interesting and is relentlessly aggressive, making for a fantastic challenge for your players. A memorable boss inDark Souls, the Gaping Dragon is also memorable in the board game thanks to the unique corrosion tokens that it’ll be spewing to make your undeath more difficult.
For an interesting and overall solid mega boss, the Gaping Dragon is worth a try.
5.Manus, Father of the Abyss
Manus, Father of the Abyss is a mighty and large mega boss forDark Souls The Board Game.Don’t let the ranking number fool you, for this mega boss is unique and provides a new combat mechanic to really challenge your party.
You may find this mega boss to be your personal favorite, and I wouldn’t blame you, although I can’t personally place it any higher on this list. It’s a challenging fight and the level four encounter it adds is particularly interesting, however.
6.Vordt of the Boreal Valley
Vordt of the Boreal Valley provides an interesting enough mega boss fight forDark Souls The Board Game, although it’s still rather standard. A weaker and easy boss inDark Souls 3, this mega boss isn’t too much to write home about.
This mega boss does benefit from numerous behaviour decks, providing a variety of attacks that does serve to make the fight more dynamic. However, ultimately, this does fall short to the other mega bosses on this list.
7.The Last Giant
The Last Giant isn’t a particularly riveting boss inDark Souls 2, and it isn’t a particularly exciting boss inDark Souls The Board Game. It does rip its arm off like in the game to bludgeon you, but if that’s the most exciting part of the fight, you’re likely better off buying a different mega boss expansion.
This may sound pretty scathing, but this is in comparison to the incredible other mega boss expansions on this list. In isolation, it’s still a solid mega boss that you’ll enjoy overcoming.
We’re truly spoilt for choice with theseDark Souls The Board Gameexpansions, so which one will you pick?
