One of the complaints that drove me crazy about Dark Souls II was how “cheap” it was because they used so many instances of groups of mobs and ambushes to “artificially” inflate the difficulty.  I often asked myself, “Don’t people remember Dark Souls?”  I made a small rant about this in Volume 1 of my return to Lordran.  This prompted the idea to catalog all of the “cheap” groups of mobs in the first game in the series and make a long rant.  I’ll warn you ahead of time, this is a long list (and I likely forgot some).

The rules to qualify for the list are:

• Group/gang attack: Any group of enemies that pull or aggro from approximately the same spot in numbers of 3 or more.  There is some subjectivity, but the idea is to capture “if a new player were exploring, what’s likely to occur.”  I know there are instances below where there’s a sweet spot where only one will pull, and you can back off safely. But again, “what’s a new player likely to walk into” was the standard
• Ambush attach: Any group of 2 or more enemies, in which at least one enemy is using a clear ambush tactic. I consider ambush tactics to be anything that are meant to surprise the player. Enemies hiding are the most common example. Using one enemy to pull the player’s attention toward not seeing another also occurs a good deal
• Just to clarify, if a group has BOTH elements, it counts as one instance below. Example: Crossbow snipers that ambush during the Taurus fight would be considered both, counted once
• To further clarify, I do not accept any version of the excuse “But you can negate that by…”  I don’t care.  That applies to all Soulsborne games, and games in general.  When you know the trap it’s always easier.  Going back to the first point and the standard I laid out; “What’s a new player likely to step into?”

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Undead Asylum:

• Before leaving to Lordran, this area is actually mostly gang free.  While there’s a group near the white light to drop onto the Asylum Demon, they naturally pull separately.  And that’s really about it for gangs.  It makes sense they would go easy on you in the tutorial
• When you come back, there are four torch mobs that can easily be pulled at the same time.  Three is very common, and I’ve inadvertently gotten the attention of all four without much in the way of effort
• Above the Stray Demon, there is a group of two mobs with ambush capability hiding behind pots.  Also, the floor can collapse and force you into an unexpected Boss Fight
• Number of gang or ambush attacks: 2, and they’re pretty easy ones admittedly

Undead Burg:

• From Firelink, engaging the first enemy can easily lead to a second jumping down off the stairs AND a guy throwing firebombs at you.  Surprise!
• Approaching the firebomb guy is likely to pull two more enemies (most new players won’t be able to take out the bomber from below, so I did count him as part of both groups)
• After killing two easily seen mobs (after the tunnel with the rat), a firebomb thrower has a guy hiding in the building to the left for a sneak attack
• Jumping below to get the rubbish has several mobs hanging from the railings to ambush you
• Right after the Wyvern, three melee hollows are supported by a sniper.  The melee hollows will all pull at the same time, and the sniper has crazy range
• Going down to see the merchant and then access the roof to get your own crossbow has a small group of hollows that can all pull at the same time
• Crossing the bridge after the bonfire, there are three firebombers…a group attack that pushes you to run into…
• Two hollows waiting to ambush you in the next room.  A third will likely open the door and rush in as well
• Cresting the stairs is three hollows, one of whom will attack from range with firebombs
• If you don’t happen upon the sniper in the tower, he will ambush you as you engage the two hollows at the bottom of the stairs.  A third hollow will also enter the fray shortly after
• Getting to the top of the tower to fight the Taurus Demon, there are two support snipers that are accessed by an easily missed ladder that create a gang attack during a boss fight of all things
• There’s a gang of hollows after Solaire but it’s hard to count them due to the GIANT WAVES OF FIRE that create a small mismatch for most players…
• Under the bridge there’s a group of rats (3 in total, two likely to pull and ambush at the door) that rush you on a narrow ledge
• Coming to the top of that room, a small contingent of hollows with an armored boar and sniper support greet you (two snipers).  There’s even a dude guarding the snipers so you can’t just rush them from the right.  You may have to fight a hollow that Turtles with a spear and shield while avoiding crossbow fire
• Heading inside, a frail hollow runs away, which is of course so others can ambush you
• Further along, a hollow soldier and a Balder Knight are creating a pincer attack after a short hall with an incredibly narrow field of view
• If we access the front of the Parish, three Balder Knights can pull at the same time, with varying movesets (and regardless of which direction you find them, at least one is outside normal range of sight)
• If you approach from the side there’s three hollows that I don’t consider a gang or ambush due to how they pull.  The crossbow hollow can provide support, but the others tend to pull one at a time
• However, the large knight guarding the altar can have soul arrow support from a Channeler, which is generally the first time you learn of that enemy.  I consider this an ambush as it appears the intent is that you’ll get blindsided by sorcery
• Heading up the stairs, there are NINE hollows that all pull together in a confined space.  If that wasn’t enough, the Channeler buffs the entire group AND can sometimes get a soul arrow to slip past the pillars.  Having just played this with a new character and being rusty, I will confirm that buffed hollows hit HARD
• The Boss Fight is naturally a gargoyle followed by a second gargoyle ambush
• Number of gang or ambush attacks: At least 19

Lower Undead Burg:

• The dogs are borderline.  I have them here, because it’s very difficult to see past the fire on the stairs and I know I pulled two the first time I played and it felt like an ambush
• The group of torch hollows near the sorcerer don’t count to me because of how they pull
• The assassins that jump out to surround you sure as hell count though
• So do the second set of surprise assassins, which will also likely have dog support
• If you go toward the merchant, there is one assassin in view to try to lure you to walk by the one hiding behind the small corner.  This enemy’s AI tends to prioritize backstabs and parrying
• The boss is a Capra Demon and two dogs in a tiny area.  This is the third boss fight in a row which has a gang or ambush approach (or both)
• Number of gang or ambush attacks: 4 at least

Darkroot Garden:

• Just gonna throw this out there, but the trees are all trying to be camouflaged and ambushy right?  OK then…
• Before the secret bonfire, there’s the one hidden in the ground who spawns when you engage the more visible one.  Spawns BEHIND you to be precise
• Heading down to the Moonlight Butterfly zone there’s the small room where the trees surround you and jump up when you’re collecting the treasure
• Three flying frogs ambush you.  Depending on where you are (or move to) as this happens, a Stone Knight can lend support
• Heading toward the snake on the tree and the Partizan, a tree will aggro and attack from behind
• Grabbing the Elite Knight set will aggro several trees and at least two Stone Knights (Christ)
• Forest NPCs?  Yikes. Nothing but ambush and gang attacks.  Same goes for the group of trees near the cliff
• The Rolly cats are at least an ambush attack what with the dropping off the cliff by surprise and all, and can become a group attack if you play your cards wrong
• Number of gang or ambush attacks: Somewhere between 7 and Infinite I think

Darkroot Basin:

• Crystal Golems are easy enough to pull one on one (though a group attack is quite possible, especially for melee only characters).  Don’t forget they have an f’n HYDRA to support them though.  For many players, I would imagine the hydra blasting them with water was a big surprise, aka “ambush”
• This doesn’t count for my criteria, but opening the tower from the basin has Havel hiding and waiting to smash you

Depths:

• The very first visible hollow has another one that will attack you from behind (behind and right when coming down the stairs)
• Then there’s a small group of hollows (including one that can attack you from behind)
• Then another small group of hollows hiding around the room
• A Butcher with dog support
• Dogs in water with a hollow (a second Butcher can drop down to enter the fray as well)
• Pile of slimes
• Is there any reason to actually count all the instances here?  Groups of rats.  Groups of slime.  Groups of F’N BASILISKS?!?!?! A Channeler who buffs a group of really big rats AND CAN ASSIST THE FLIPPIN’ BOSS TOO?!?!?!?!!?
• For the veterans, ask yourself this honestly…when the game first came out, didn’t you have a blast running through the corridors that were drastically narrowed thanks to the absurd amount of statues that used to be other players?  Rolling around, smashing the online remnants of your fellow chosen undead?  I mean seriously…those basilisks were nightmare fuel.  And does anyone remember the periodic “I’m in the depths and have been cursed six times in a row and can’t get out” posts on the forum before they patched out curse stacking?

Graveyard and Catacombs:

• Two skeletons that pop up from the ground
• Different two skeletons that pop up from the ground
• Yet more skeletons that pop up from the ground, except this group also has a giant one
• Skeleton on walkway with exploding head support (narrow ledges are fun here)
• Have you seen this trick yet? Multiple skeletons popping up from the ground…cause it’s gonna keep happening
• Necromancer shooting off fireballs while two skeletons go all Lord of the Dance on you
• When you actually reach the necromancer, there’s a skeleton archer above you…and a group of skeletons right by the guy.  And who can forget that, unless you have a divine weapon, many skeletons will refuse to stay down
• Group of skeletons AND exploding heads AND spikey statue traps on the way to the lever to flip the bridge
• More skeletons
• Skeleton archers able to fire down into a pit with two skeletons you have to deal with
• Skeleton group with more exploding heads (near the area to drop down to summon Leeroy)
• Necromancer with two skeleton archers…in a corridor
• Exploding heads AND bonewheels…you didn’t forget this room did you?
• Pinwheel is basically a group fight
• Total gang and ambush attacks: THE ENTIRE AREA

Blighttown:

• Ahhhhahaaahahahahahahahah…let’s do this I guess…
• If you’re not careful, the second and/or third large club guy can pull with several of the smaller guys
• Group of little guys
• Different group of little guys
• Little guys navigating the scaffolding
• Surprise!  Two fire breathing dogs charging at ya from hiding
• Toxic dart guy lending support to the little guys
• Mosquitoes sneak up and force awkward movement on narrow walkways
• Group of fire bug things
• Mildred with mosquito support
• Slug gang
• Group of boulder throwing guys
• Two more dart guys supporting various other mobs
• Remember, these are all taking place on narrow platforms or poison swamp
• Number of gang or ambush attacks: Does it even matter at this point?

Sen’s Fortress:

• Dart trap and double snake men ambush
• Snake guy with snake mage support (while on a bridge with large swinging blades…wait…TWO bridges with swinging blades to get to the mage)
• It doesn’t fit my list criteria, but it’s worth noting that the mage is then followed by another dart trap near a chest, then a mage throwing lightning while you dodge the boulders, then a dart trap that necessitates you taking three hits to the back, or turning your back to the snake guy that runs out at right around the time you reach the trap
• To be honest, there’s not many group attacks here, but if you count environment this place is crazy as hell.  Remember trying to cross that last bridge with blades and the snake guy throwing lightning at you? Titanite demon with lighting support from above?
• Number of gang or ambush attacks: Not too many unless you consider the building an enemy

Anor Londo:

• The giants don’t count by themselves in any circumstance in my opinion.  They’re easy to see overall, and those that are behind corners have really poor vision and won’t aggro unexpectedly
• The first couple painting guardians can ambush you
• The next bunch aren’t exactly “fair” in that they’re on narrow ledges with throwing knives, but don’t ambush or gang up by my criteria
• The group below does gang up
• I’ll come back to the Painted World
• Most enemies don’t pull in groups or ambush until you reach the two demons below the archer duo.  One is well hidden and they will pull together to ambush
• No one forgets the two silver knight archers I’m sure.  But even I forgot how crazy their rate of fire is.  HOLY SHIT!  And no matter which direction you choose, you need to watch for an arrow in the back. I consider them an ambush as the first time most of us became aware of them was likely an arrow impacting near us (or slamming us around the level)
• There’s a few instances where a person who isn’t creeping forward will pull ambush or group assaults from Silver Knights
• A Silver Knight archer will provide support where you fight the two giants that have the ability to cast miracles (giants by themselves don’t count, but adding the archer in does)
• Ornstein and Smough is only two, but seriously…a fight against two bosses and when you finally think you’re ahead the one remaining alive gets his full health bar back plus new super powers? The super second phase is basically an ambush
• Total count: Not high, but memorable

Painted World:

• I’m done counting…
• Groups of Tengu (for the last time they are NOT harpies)
• More Bonewheels
• Ambush hollows
• Phalanx 2.0
• Again, I know this doesn’t count but…the boss can turn invisible…

Alright…to hell with this project.  I haven’t even gotten to the infamous Taurus Demon Super Action Hyper Force, the Infinite Spawn Skeleton Kiddie Pool…now with Pinwheel Clones, Giant Skeleton archers in a pitch black zone, Ghosts that don’t obey the rules of walls, and on and on…

I hit the 2,000 word mark awhile ago, and it wouldn’t take many more to land at 3,000.  Most of that is just list.

[sarcasm]So yeah, group attacks and ambushes are definitely unique to Dark Souls 2.[/sarcasm]

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