Dark Souls Archthrones Aldrich, Saint Of The Deep Boss Fight Guide

In Dark Souls Archthrones, while some bosses are entirely new in both design and mechanics, others pay homage to bosses from previous Souls games. Aldrich, Saint of the Deep, falls into the latter category, sharing a name with a boss encountered in Dark Souls 3.

If you're prepared to confront this boss once more, albeit, with a fresh move set and appearance, you're in the right place. Below, we'll provide some fundamental tips and strategies for facing and defeating Aldrich, Saint of the Deep in Dark Souls Archthrones.

Dark Souls Archthrones Aldrich, Saint Of The Deep Boss Fight Guide

Aldrich, known as the Saint of the Deep, is one of the three bosses found within the Cathedral of the Deep area, located in the Archthrone of the Xanthous Scholar. To encounter this boss, you'll need to navigate through the area until you reach the inner grand cathedral. Behind the large throne lies the pathway leading directly to the fog gate where Aldrich awaits.

The design of Aldrich in this game closely resembles its appearance in Dark Souls 3, appearing as a large worm or serpent-like creature. However, in this iteration, Aldrich takes on a more grotesque form, utilizing dark and curse-based abilities. Additionally, it summons smaller worm-like creatures during the battle to aid its attacks.

The most notable feature of this boss, however, is its phases, with the first not having you face the boss. Instead, you'll face a room of clerics (more on that in the boss guide section below). For now, let's cover the attacks that Aldrich will use during his fight against you:

Aldrich, Saint Of The Deep Attack Pattern

• Body Slam: Aldrich lifts its body and slams it down, causing damage upon impact.
• Forward Swipe: Aldrich swipes forward with its deformed mouth and hands.
• Cursed Hoplites: Summons small, rotting worm-like creatures to obstruct attacks and launch curse-based projectiles.
• Curse Spikes: Aldrich will summon massive spears from underneath the player that will fling you into the air and deal massive damage. 
• Curse Projectiles (Seeking): Releases numerous seeking curse projectiles that track and follow the player.
• Curse Projectiles (Rain): Summons curse projectiles around its body, which then rain down.
• Curse Discharge (Seeking): Summons large orbs of curse energy that seek out the player, dealing heavy damage.
• Curse Fall: Summons large orbs of curse energy that rain down and explode upon contact.

When it comes to the fight itself, you first need to note how the first "phase" works, in which you'll enter the boss room and there will be groups of clerics inside. You'll notice that the boss bar is empty, but as time goes on, it will gradually fill up, and this is because of the clerics inside who are summoning Aldrich.

The way this mechanic works is that one of the leading clerics is chosen at random (indicated by a glowing purple aura) and when it sacrifices itself, Aldrich's health bar will increase. However, you can run to get to the cleric first and kill him, stopping that part of the ritual and negating that part of Aldrich's health bar being restored.

Ultimately, this means that you can limit Aldrich's starting health (when he's summoned) by as much as 30-40% if you're fast enough, and can easily make the fight allow easier. Now when it comes to the fight itself, there's going to be a prevailing theme, run behind cover, and attack the main body only as much as you can.

Aldrich, Saint Of The Deep Strategy

Aldrich will summon curse projectiles as mentioned in the attacking breakdown above, but will also summon small fodder creatures that can obstruct your attacks on the boss as well as summon their curse projectiles. To deal with this, we suggest using the large square tomb in the center of the room to run around a corner which blocks the projectile's path and keeps you safe.

You'll want to keep a fair distance from the boss throughout the fight and attack its main body only when it's safe or there are fewer projectiles in the air. Another useful tip is that while its pawns are around its main body, the boss will move/teleport around, and the creatures will move towards it to protect it. And it's here that you'll want to close in on the undefended Aldrich and punish it, trying to attack its front, rather than its tail for extra damage.

While you're keeping your distance watch the ground for the curse spikes as Aldrich will do this automatically whether it can see you or not, and try to stay near one of the corners of the tomb in the middle of the room as much as you can. Simply rinse and repeat these tips and you'll easily be able to conquer Aldrich, Saint of the Deep in Dark Souls Archtrones.