Aldrich, Devourer of Gods | Dark Souls 3

Aldrich, Devourer of Gods Video Strategies

Below are video strategies from our Youtube Partners:

• Aldrich w/ Wolf Knight Greatsword/Cloranthy Ring

Aldrich, Devourer of Gods Attacks

Attack Name	Description
Lunge	Quickly lunges forward for a melee hit after a short charge up. Dodge roll to the side of it.
Horizontal Swing	(Phase 1) Swings "Gravelord-Halberd" in a wide arc and deals high damage. Dodge roll into it.
Soul Spear	(Phase 1) After a short charge up, thrusts two soul spears towards you which can pass through pillars. Dodge roll out of the way. Deals significant damage. Up to five soul spears can be thrust in succession during Phase 2. Less likely to use soul spears at close range.
Flame Trail	(Phase 2) Emerges from the ground in a burst of flames, swathing the ground in fire that will burn players who stand within it. Kite Aldrich away from the flames.
Homing Soul Mass	(Phase 1) Casts several homing soul masses. Use pillars to block them. (Phase 2) Casts homing soul masses after every retreat.
Scythe Spin	Draws a Lifehunt Scythe (miracle) and spins twice, stealing a bit of health.
Arrow Barrage	(Phase 1) Creates an expanding wave of arrows, dealing very high magic (and thrust) damage. (Phase 2) Creates a wave of arrows, which seeks his enemy.

General Tips

• Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, like most Dark Souls 3 bosses, is a very vicious boss with powerful attacks that can easily do 700 HP in damage to the player. That means like with most bosses, there are only 1-3 seconds to hit him safely. No getting greedy!
• Aldrich, Devourer of Gods is using the half-eaten, twisted upper body of Dark Sun Gwyndolin, and amplifying his abilities. That means he has the same attacks, but he's more dangerous. He can open up with any of his attacks, but is least likely to melee, since the player starts some distance from him. During this open-up, make sure to get a lock on, and keep it, because you can avoid off-camera insta-kills this way.
• Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's moveset is avoidable with basic moves, like dodging and running. He will sometimes throw his giant Gwyndolin soul-arrow while also using his trailing showering arrows, and will use this attack often. Since this arrow attack is very long, it is easy to lose all your stamina, and get caught, even with 120-130 stamina and a chloranthy ring. What one should do is wait for the arrows to come close, then begin spamming dodge roll, since it is efficient on stamina, and will allow for the player to dodge the soul arrow with proper timing. This is the KEY way to preserve estus during the fight, and out-last Aldrich. His other attacks are avoidable with basic game control knowledge, so no need to explain there. It is wise to also not let Aldrich control the player's movement, so that avoiding one attack puts him in the position to be hit with another, so be very careful about how stamina is allocated for dodging homing soul arrows, and such.
• Despite being able to stagger Aldrich, Devourer of Gods when hitting his tail, the tail takes reduced damage from attacks. Be sure to aim for the torso if given the choice.
• Aldrich, Devourer of Gods has low health, but he is extremely dangerous for this reason, and can kill in two hits, under three seconds, like the worst of bosses. Don't get too nonchalant and take him seriously, and you can end the fight well, without using your embers or buffs, which can be used on harder bosses. Think of Aldrich as about 50% harder than the Crystal Sage, and you have a good estimation of how powerful his character build is.
• Aldrich, Devourer of Gods is kind of a fast mover, and will swipe quite a bit if you are in front of him. So stay near his tail, and you can avoid some damage, and save about three estus flasks that way. Try not to get distracted by his up and down floatation, because it doesn't matter much.
• The area before Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, up until the Church Of Yorshka bonfire, from the Central Irithyll bonfire can net about 11k souls easy, with a basic Covetous Silver Serpent Ring. It is a good idea to take advantage of this caveat, because the player can passively buff his build with more stats, making Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's weakness of low health even bigger.
• As to his attacks, knowing the telegraphs Aldrich, Devourer of Gods uses with his weapon is not fully important, as the player has some time to see them coming at him to avoid them, but by all means, the player should take the privilege of learning his telegraphs with his weapon.
• Poise Torso vs. Tail: While it is known that striking the human torso of Gwyndolin deals more raw damage than striking the tail, there is a hidden distinction regarding poise. The tail possesses an infinite poise multiplier, meaning no amount of heavy weapon damage will ever interrupt the boss while striking that section. Conversely, the human torso has a finite, breakable poise threshold. By focusing heavy, consecutive strikes exclusively on the torso, the Ashen One can forcefully interrupt and cancel Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's spellcasting animations, including the devastating Soul Spear windup, completely neutralizing the threat before it fires.
• Teleport Element Damage: When Aldrich, Devourer of Gods prepares to teleport, he sinks into a shadowy portal that persists as an area-of-effect hazard. Although the abyssal visual design often leads players to assume the portal inflicts Dark damage, the environmental hazard is actually pure Magic damage. Ashen Ones struggling to survive this chip damage while pursuing the boss into close quarters should prioritize Magic damage mitigation, equipping the Spelldrake Ring or the Magic Stoneplate Ring will provide effective protection.
• Counter-Attack Tips: Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's extended arrow barrage during the second phase utilizes has a limited turning radius. Attempting to outrun the arrows by sprinting across the entire length of the arena is inefficient, as it rapidly depletes stamina and leaves the Ashen One vulnerable to follow-up attacks like Soul Spear. Instead, the Ashen One can exploit the tracking by circling tightly around one of the destroyed stone pillar stumps in the arena. Because the arrows cannot adjust their trajectory to match such a sharp turn, they will harmlessly impact the ground behind the player, allowing the Ashen One to preserve stamina and reposition safely to counter-attack.

How to fight and beat Aldrich, Devourer of Gods

Strategy 1 (Melee)

Aldrich, Devourer of Gods seems to be very weak to attacks on the tail. Multiple attacks will stagger Aldrich, Devourer of Gods and cause him to fall if he is standing higher for an attack. When you enter the room, rush towards Aldrich, Devourer of Gods and begin attacking. Dodge roll any melee attacks and soul spears, and use the pillars to block homing soul masses. When Aldrich, Devourer of Gods whips out a bow, run around the room away from him, as he will fire an Arrow Barrage over the area. Return to attacking when the arrows cease. Aldrich, Devourer of Gods will periodically retreat and reappear at the corner of the room farthest from you. Move to the center of the room and watch where he appears. Immediately move in to attack once he reappears. At about 70% health, Aldrich, Devourer of Gods will be augmented with flames, gaining a damage boost and leaving trails of fire in his path

Strategy 2 (Pyromancy)

This strategy involves using Great Chaos Fire Orb and Flash Sweat. Equip any high magic resistance armor and pyromancy equipment. Before entering the boss room, cast Flash Sweat to increase your resistance to fire damage. Sprint towards Aldrich, Devourer of Gods to close the distance, preventing him from casting Soul Spears. Begin casting Fire Orbs while dodging any attacks. Follow the dodging patterns from Strategy 1 to effectively evade his moves. Alternatively, you can stand behind pillars and lob Chaos Bed Vestiges or Great Chaos Fire Orbs at him. Aldrich, Devourer of Gods will take massive damage from these pyromancies. The only attacks you'll need to worry about are his Soul Spears, which can be easily dodged, and the tracking Arrow Rain in Phase II, which can be outrun.

Strategy 3 (Sorcery/Melee)

Twisted Wall of Light can be used to negate Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's soul masses and arrow barrage (though it does not work against soul spears). If you are using augmented spells like Greater Magic Weapon, apply them before entering the fog. Once inside, rush towards Aldrich, Devourer of Gods and follow the strategies from Strategy 1. If you are caught off guard, cast Twisted Wall of Light until Aldrich, Devourer of Gods stops casting. Continue closing the gap to deal melee damage, and ensure you top off your FP when Aldrich, Devourer of Gods teleports out. The dark miracle Vow of Silence can be used to cancel nearly all of Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's attacks, including the soul masses, soul spear, arrow barrage, and even the dark vortex he sends out before teleporting. However, Vow of Silence dissipates quickly, so time your attacks carefully to maximize its effectiveness.

Strategy 4 (Sorcery)

Pestilent Mist can be used to great effect against Aldrich, Devourer of Gods. He can be trapped behind the pillars fairly easily, and the spell can be cast before the arrow barrage attack if timed quickly. It is best used after melee attacks, as they usually cause Aldrich, Devourer of Gods to become unstuck. While casting the arrow barrage, Aldrich, Devourer of Gods will not move (this may need confirmation). During phase 2, this strategy works best when casting Pestilent Mist after the arrow barrage attack, as this phase lasts longer due to the fire augmentation.

To enhance your effectiveness, it is suggested to equip the Bellowing Dragoncrest Ring to increase sorcery damage, the Young Dragon Ring for an additional sorcery damage boost, the Lingering Dragoncrest Ring to extend the duration of spell effects, and the Sage Ring to shorten spell casting time. While employing this strategy, you can also use long-range spells such as Greater Soul Arrow to deal additional damage. It is recommended to remove the Crown of Dusk, as Aldrich, Devourer of Gods can easily one-shot an un-embered player. Additionally, using Blue Bug Pellets can help mitigate magic damage taken, with roughly two needed per fight.

Aldrich, Devourer of Gods Lore Theories

• "Aldrich, infamous for his appetite for flesh, apparently had the desire to share with others his joy of imbibing the final shudders of life while luxuriating in his victim's screams." - Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's Sapphire/Ruby
• "Aldrich, Devourer of Gods dreamt as he slowly devoured the God of the Darkmoon. In this dream, he perceived the form of a young, pale girl in hiding" - Lifehunt Scythe. This is most likely a reference to either Priscilla, and how her Painted World is akin to a dream in which she is hiding from the real world, or to Yorshka, who is found hiding at the top of the chapel in Irithyll. Given Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's similar abilities, it is possible that he devoured both Gwyndolin and Priscilla.
• As stated in Hawkwood's dialogue, "He ate so many that he bloated like a drowned pig, then softened into sludge, so they stuck him in the Cathedral of the Deep". Because of this, it has led many to believe that Aldrich, Devourer of Gods is a Man-Grub, a monster found in the Cathedral or that the Man-Grubs are made in Aldrich's image.
• Given their shared status as infamous maneaters, the fact that killing Aldrich, Devourer of Gods nets Smough's Set from The Shrine Handmaiden much as killing others nets their armor, and the fact that when Aldrich, Devourer of Gods returns to his true home, he is found in the cathedral of Anor Londo, it is likely that Smough became Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, possibly through consumption of huge quantities of humanity through the men he ate.
• Aldrich, Devourer of Gods had devoured Gwyndolin, who was ill at the time, thus possessing much of the latter's abilities as well as appearance
  • Aldrich, Devourer of Gods was locked up and forced to become a Lord of Cinder, as opposed to willingly sacrificing himself or becoming cursed like Prince Lothric.
• Pontiff Sulyvahn says in his dialogue that he imprisoned a God of the old royalty, Gwyndolin, son of Lord Gwyn (the old royal).
• After performing a melee attack, Aldrich, Devourer of Gods won't move for a while, which could be the result of not fully being used to Gwyndolin's body.

Aldrich, Devourer of Gods Trivia

• Use items that boost stamina regeneration, such as (Budding) Green Blossoms, the Cloranthy Ring or the Galvanize Skill, since a lot of rolling/sprinting is required.
• Because Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's teleport attack is not based on damage dealt to him or the health he has, it is advised to watch out for whenever he performs a teleport, as the AoE attack can easily kill you if you aren't prepared.
• Due to the fire around Aldrich, Devourer of Gods during phase 2 being so weak, trying to avoid it can prove to be a waste of time and may leave you open to other attacks.
• The arena you fight Aldrich, Devourer of Gods in has a few similarities to the one where you fight the dragon, Darkeater Midir.
• The Arrow Barrage is the boss' most dangerous move. In the first phase it can be dodged by going up close to the boss and simply rolling behind the boss when it casts, but in the second phase the arrows track you and last for roughly 3-4 times as long. These can be dodged effectively by rolling in a triangular or circular pattern, although the boss can cast Soul Spear at the same time.
• During Phase 2, you can also run away and back, forming a big loop and covering at least two pillars of distance. The arrows will be ended by the time you get back on Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's face. Prepare for a Soul Spear on your return.
  Another effective way to dodge the arrows in the second phase is to simply wait for them to come close then run in a circle around a pillar.
• The arrows have trouble crossing over the pillars and are slowed down by it greatly. Additionally, the pillar will defend against many projectiles Aldritch throws at you and the fact that you are running will dodge the rest. This works best with a summon or when doing it with Anri so that your friend can keep agro and damage on Aldritch.
• Despite Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's plural title, Gwyndolin is the only God confirmed to have been devoured.
• The blade on the end of his staff is the Gravelord Sword; this has led many to speculate that he may have devoured Nito as well. However, there are no other lore implications to support this claim, as Nito was destroyed in Dark Souls 1.
• Aldrich, Devourer of Gods possesses buff miracle that uses a staff as a catalyst, casting it at the start of combat. Entering the room and zooming in quickly allows one to see the staff itself, which is a Golden Ritual Spear.
• His theme lifts elements from both Dark Sun Gwyndolin/Moonlight Butterfly's theme.
• His name is likely derived from Germanic name Aldric, formed from the elements ald "old" and ric "ruler, power". Given his lore, he might be a reference to Saint Aldric, who was a 9th-century bishop of Le Mans.
• His name is spelled "エルドリッチ" in Japanese, which is read as "Eldritch," possibly a reference to H.P. Lovecraft.
• Examining the floor, the bones of the many hundreds, possibly thousands of beings that Aldrich, Devourer of Gods has consumed may be seen floating within the sludge. Given his use of the Gravelord's sword and that his own body is, effectively, a mass grave; Aldrich, Devourer of Gods may be considered the new Gravelord in replacement of Gravelord Nito, whose own body was also an aggregate collection of bones, rather than a reincarnation or corruption of Gwyndolin whom he merely manipulates as he would a puppet during this encounter.
• Oddly enough, Aldrich, Devourer of Gods's attacks will still deal magic damage during his second phase, rather than dealing fire damage akin to how the other three Lords of Cinder do so during their second phases.
• The arena you fight Aldrich, Devourer of Gods in is the same arena you fight Orstein and Smough in the original Dark souls.File:Aldritch6 tc.jpg