All Dark Souls The Board Game expansions, ranked

There are 12 expansions for Dark 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 challenging Dark Souls experience, 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, and The 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.

Every expansion for Dark Souls The Board Game, ranked

There are quite a few content expansions for Dark Souls The Board Game that 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

The Darkroot Expansion for Dark Souls The Board Game has 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 of Dark Souls has 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

The Explorers Expansion for Dark Souls The Board Game may 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

The Iron Keep Expansion for Dark Souls The Board Game is a peer of the Darkroot 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.

The Iron Keep Expansion also 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, the Iron Keep Expansion just 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 in Dark 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 of Dark 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 the Characters Expansion for Dark Souls The Board Game is 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 the Phantoms Expansion for Dark 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 the Darkroot Basin and Iron Keep Tile Set is technically not an expansion but an addition, I still thought I’d add it to the ranking as it’s literally the only extra retail Dark Souls The Board Game product wouldn’t be on the list.

The two meatier content expansions, Darkroot and Iron 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 the Dark Souls The Board Game mega 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 first Dark Souls game, 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 boss and mega 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 best Dark Souls The Board Game mega 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 in Dark 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 in Dark 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 for Dark 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 for Dark Souls The Board Game may 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 in Dark 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 for Dark 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 for Dark Souls The Board Game, although it’s still rather standard. A weaker and easy boss in Dark 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 in Dark Souls 2, and it isn’t a particularly exciting boss in Dark 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 these Dark Souls The Board Game expansions, so which one will you pick?

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