The Last Giant
The Last Giant is a mandatory boss. Here are reasons to defeat this boss:
- If you exhaust Melentia's dialogue, the defeat of The Last Giant would trigger her to relocate to Majula. While at Majula, Melentia would restock her supply of Brightbugs after you have defeated various mandatory bosses. Brightbugs are crucial to help you quickly dispatch of any boss you encounter. You need as many Brightbugs as you can obtain in each NG cycle.
- The Last Giant blocks the quickest path to the Lost Sinner, one of four mandatory bosses.
- Upon defeat, the boss drops the Soldier Key. You require the key to open two doors. The first door leads to the arena of the Pursuer. The second door leads to The Place Unbeknownst bonfire, next to the arena of the Giant Lord. You would not be able to access this bonfire until you have obtained the King's Ring.
Majula
Start from the Far Fire bonfire and navigate to the Forest of Fallen Giants. Pull the lever to unlock the gate to the Forest of Fallen Giants. While waiting for the gate to fully open, take some time to discard items you picked up and do not need. For example, when you collected the shiny dropped by Licia, you picked up the Rotunda Lockstone and Idol's Chime. You do not need the Idol's Chime for the rest of the challenge run. The item can safely be discarded. Have Alluring Skulls ready to distract various enemies ahead.
Forest of Fallen Giants
Speedrun through Forest of Fallen Giants NG+7, Dark Souls 2 SotFS
Make your way to Cardinal Tower. Run past The Crestfallen's Retreat bonfire and climb a ladder to find a fog wall. When you are near the fog wall, throw an Alluring Skull to distract the various Hollow Infantries who play dead nearby. The distraction from the Alluring Skull provides you enough time to enter the mist and dash up a flight of stairs to the next ladder. At the bottom of the second ladder stands a Hollow Infantry archer. Stop half-way up the flight of stairs and throw another Alluring Skull to distract the archer as well as various Hollow Infantries who are tailing you. Climb the second ladder and throw an Alluring Skull near the gate to the Cardinal Tower bonfire. The Alluring Skull would distract any Hollow Infantries who follow you up the ladder and the Hollow Soldier who hides around a corner. The distraction gives you plenty of time to open the gate, light the Cardinal Tower bonfire, and rest at the bonfire. Attune any spells you need for the upcoming boss fight.
The Last Giant is most vulnerable against dark. Attune Dark Weapon at the Cardinal Tower bonfire. You might also want to attune Sacred Oath as well, but this is not necessary. Exhaust Melentia's dialogue so she would relocate to Majula after the defeat of The Last Giant. Purchase the following items from her, in addition to any other items you might need such as Lifegems:
- Fragrant Branch of Yore. This item will be used to unpetrify an enemy at The Lost Bastille. The enemy blocks the passage to the arena of the Ruin Sentinels.
- Brightbug x 3. Purchase all of them if possible.
- Firebomb x 10. You require one Firebomb to unlock a shortcut, as shown in the video below. Purchase a few Firebombs in case you miss a number of throws.
Cale's Helm and Estus Flask Shard x 2 at Majula, Dark Souls 2: SotFS
Use a Firebomb to blast through a wall, as shown in the video above, thus opening a shortcut to The Last Giant. Throw an Alluring Skull to distract the nearby Hollow Soldiers, affording you a safe passage. Enter the building that has an iron door leading to the Pursuer. The door is locked and can only be opened by means of the Soldier Key dropped by The Last Giant. Throw another Alluring Skull to distract various Hollow Soldiers while you enter the nearby mist. After entering the mist, throw another Alluring Skull for distraction while you run to open the shortcut to the Cardinal Tower bonfire. Do not go to the bonfire. Instead, ride the nearby elevator down to the arena of The Last Giant.
The Last Giant
Red Iron Twinblade versus The Last Giant NG+7, Dark Souls 2 SotFS
The boss is weak against dark. You might find it easier to fight him melee than using hex projectiles. Use a dark infused Sunset Staff+5 to buff your melee weapon with Dark Weapon. The recommended melee weapon is the Red Iron Twinblade+10, although you are welcome to use any weapon with which you are comfortable. Hit one of the boss' legs two or three times, then switch to the other leg. Rinse and repeat until the boss dies. Upon death The Last Giant drops the Soldier Key, the item you require to unlock the passage to the Pursuer.
Use the Aged Feather to warp back to the Cardinal Tower bonfire.