Great Grey Wolf Sif |
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| Location | Darkroot Garden |
| Health * | NG: 3,432 |
| NG+: 5,800 | |
| Souls * | NG: 40,000 |
| NG+: 120,000 | |
| * Recorded in PATCH 1.05 | |
Great Grey Wolf Sif is a Boss in Dark Souls and Dark Souls Remastered.
Great Grey Wolf Sif Information
A very large wolf who resides in a serene graveyard, across the river from Darkroot Garden. It can also be reached by climbing up the ladder close to the Hydra in Darkroot Basin.
According to lore, Sif was Artorias the Abysswalker's partner. When Artorias was swallowed by the Abyss, he threw up his Greatshield to protect Sif, as he could no longer bear it with his arm broken. Now, Sif guards their fallen comrade's grave and his ring, to ensure that what happened to Artorias, doesn't happen to anyone else.
The name Sif itself is a female name of Norse origin. However, all translations into European languages with grammatical gender use male gendered language for Sif, though many of them can be interpreted as the most neutral phrasing of the name. This includes French, Italian, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese and Russian.
Drops
- Soul of Sif
- 40,000 souls
- Covenant of Artorias
- 1 Humanity
- 1 Homeward Bone
Rumors
It was originally believed that Sif could be spared and allowed to limp away during the last segment of the fight. This is not true and the only way to progress in the game is to kill Sif; it is not an optional boss. Your dealings with Sif have no impact on the Forest Hunter covenant.
Attacks
Horizontal Swing
Sif swings her sword, usually followed up by a second in the other direction. This attack is easily telegraphed, and countered by rolling out of the way, but if caught in it, can knock you down. This is the main attack she uses throughout the fight.
360 Sword Spin
Sif will swing her sword in a full circle, sometimes twice in a single attack. It has a quite slow wind up and has a very telling animation, as she moves her sword to the opposite direction, then takes a big swing. When the player sees this, they should try to either get as far back as possible, or under her. This attack knocks you down, and hurts as well. If you try to block this, it will most likely stagger you, so stick to rolling.
Overhead Swing
Sif gets on her back paws momentarily, and swings her sword into the ground, dealing high damage in the process. The attack can be dodged by well-timed rolling in the direction the sword is coming from.
Backflip
As all these attacks can be essentially avoided by sticking under her body and legs, Sif recognizes this from time-to-time and backflips away to a create some distance again. She swings her sword while she does this, but you will rarely get caught in it. She can also do this attack when you are facing her head to head, so watch out for it then, as well.
Charge Attack
Sif's final attack is a charged one, which she rarely uses but is still noteworthy.
Alternate Cutscene
- Opening cut-scene is slightly different if you had freed Sif in the Chasm of the Abyss before approaching her at the end of Darkroot Garden. (AotA / PTDE)
- Confirmed (at least for freed and summoned). Sif will approach menacingly, knock the player down, and then recognize the player's scent. Her expression will change, she will howl at the moon, and reluctantly pick up her greatsword. The cinematic is noticeably longer than normal. (AotA/PTDE)
- The special cutscene appears even without summoning Sif.
- Sif can be summoned to help with Manus if you locate and free her from the magic barrier provided by the Cleansing Greatshield situated behind an illusionary wall.
- The Hornet Ring can be obtained without triggering the initial boss encounter. Only the immediate area in front of Sif's greatsword will begin the cutscene, so it is safe to simply walk around the gravestone, grab the ring, and leave.
Strategy 1 - Melee
Stay close to the wolf! The danger lies in the lengthy attack range, but by sitting under Sif, she will miss completely. Get in as many hits as you can before Sif eventually flips away, timing yourself to get under the belly of the beast once again.
The easiest way to to get underneath Sif is by waiting for a swing, then roll under her front legs. Just lock on to Sif and back up while waiting for her to swing, after the first swing get your shield up and run underneath her. This is also a simpler way to avoid the 360 attack, which will always come from the left swinging to the right. Make sure you stay in the middle and back up in a circle to avoid getting pinned down. Attacking her legs will make them limp, disabling her mobility (Jumping/Running).
Also, unless you have an uber shield with amazing stability and/or godly stamina, Sif's two loop spin will most likely break your guard/stamina. Another way is to block the first hit then roll toward the next attack direction. The Eagle Shield found just past the upper bonfire in Blighttown is excellent in this fight and for this spin attack, for your first playthrough.
Sif will also begin to limp at the brink of death. Her attacks will become slower, and the slash combo will cause it to fall over and struggle for a bit before getting back up. Despite rumors that attacking her sword at this point, will cause it to break and her to flee, there is no such forgiving option.
As you try to figure out how on lordran you can spare her life, you realize the true evil of the creators in making you kill a limping, almost defenseless doggo.
Strategy 2 - Ranged Cheese
If you wish to cheese, after spawning the initial cutscene, quit and reload. It is possible to jump to the top of the rocks to the left of the boss fog and snipe Sif with a bow. Any combination of Red Tearstone Ring, Feather Arrows, Black Bow of Pharis, and Hawk Ring is recommended.
Strategy 3 - Mage
Honestly, this fight is either extremely hard or extremely easy depending on how much you think about it. The easiest way to beat is to follow these 5 steps (if you main magic)
- IF YOU AREN'T CASTING KEEP YOUR SHIELD UP.
- Stay as far back as you can without losing your lock on. Despite the length of Sif's sword, if you keep backing up, most of her normal attacks will miss.
- Great Heavy Soul Arrows are a HUGE NO NO (unless you have excellent timing). The casting time is too great for you to just muck around. Stick to using your Soul Spears and Great Soul Arrows.
- Time your regen, randomly drinking Estus Flasks is an easy way to get killed; this is an endurance match, don't rush it.
- Guard and use your spells when Sif whiffs.
Instead of staying under Sif, try kiting her around and whenever attacked, make sure you've rolled away from her (backwards/sideways) then fire off a few spells. Repeat the process and Sif should go down pretty easily. Or if you have combustion, sit under Sif and combust.
Online Co-Op Issues
There seems to be an issue (possibly a bug), when trying to summon the same phantom after losing in a fight with Sif. I'm not sure if this is related to the Darkroot Garden in general, or possibly due to the forest and the covenant/hunter PVP.
I was summoned as a phantom by 3 separate hosts and lost the fight 3 times. Unlike other boss fights like Gaping Dragon and Chaos Witch Quelaag, the host was not able to find my soul sign after returning to the steps leading into the forest and the doors leading to Sif. New hosts were able to summon me with no issue.
I talked to the 3rd host and we both exited and re-entered the game, set my soul sign down and we were then able to match up and fight Sif again with no issues. I was Covenant of the White and the host was Forest Hunter Covenant.
Gallery
Anonymous
- Anonymous
oh no! i killed this boss and now everyone hates me! even though its mandatory for fighting in the abyss!
I think they patched the cheese method, I've tried a couple times, quitting while in the arena right after the cutscene and I still can't jump on those blocks.
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Man I felt so guilty when Sif got to low health and started limping.
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Easy boss annoying hitboxes, some attacks clearly don't connect but the damage magically appear
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Took me 472 tries but I finally defeated Sif! This boss fight is TOUGH!!
- Anonymous
Stupid dog couldn't handle my silver straight sword lmao. First try. Dex builds stay winning.
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I just grabbed the hornet ring and exited via the menu, it teleported me to the gate (entrance to sif's arena) and that's how I avoided killing sif
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This boss sums up Souls fucck you attitude to the player perfectly. Can hit you even when you're under her jaw. Is far more agile and swings a sword faster than you despite being a 20-foot dog holding a two-ton sword in its teeth.
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Can get cheap chip damage on you just by jumping away from you, annoying.
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Bitterest victory in the series. The last blow carries "I'm sorry".
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beat on first try panic chucking fireballs while camera was going crazy when I was under it, feels like I kinda missed out on what should have been an epic fight
- Anonymous
The pain and guilt i felt watching Sif limp when they got low on health was immeasurable, RIP Great Grey Wolf Sif, You truly were the Goodest Boi ;~;
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there is one youtuber that said, dark souls is life. Men at least Life give you a choice. Dark souls doesnt.
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Probaly my favorite fight, along with Orenstein and Smough. great music, great design, great lore.
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Well... After killing him in about 50 tries i desided not to make any more "glass cannon" types =)
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I did the alternate cutscene and I wept! G*d da**it creator! Why make us kill the wolf!
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Worst f***ing boss fight in this s***ty f***ing game!!! So f***ing unfair!!! F***ing oneshots me!!!
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I wish that if you saved Sif in the chasm of the abyss you would get the option to spare her during her boss fight.
It would kinda make sense plus I wouldn't have to kill the puppy to progress. Unfortunately all we get is a different cutscene.
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Ok sure Sif has lore, but still, she is just an oversized striped dog
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the only time i kill sif is if i need the shield for a build.
which is never.
dex build is best build.
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well at least i killed sif before learning about their lore, yet i still feel terrible
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decided to play ng+ and she rolled over when she swung in last phase.. broke my heart lol. always finish her over the gravestones :(
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The easiest boss imo. I beat him in my second try. I would‘ve beaten him in my first try too but I was low on hp and didn’t have any estus
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Miyazaki, why, just why did you have to make a boss that brought all animal lovers to tears?
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this doesn't feel like a victory it feels like a sad goodbye
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Me on my first playthrough: hehe funny big puppy go die haha
Me on my second playthrough: im sorry im so sorry please forgive me i need to do this for the ring please oh god why miyazaki why
Next time i'm taking my pickup truck to run this little mut over
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I was happy to kill her. She fied an honorable dog and her soul can be free eith her master.
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Why on the god name, you dare to animate a limb and dying dog? You fuing psyco!!? And then force me to kill him!!! Hate you creator!!!
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Goodnight sweet pupper, I'm sorry it had to be like this...
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I WIN!! MY DEAD POST WAS DELETED I WIN!! U FOOLS YOU ALL FELL FOR MY TRAP WHAT NOOBS HAHAHAHAHAHA
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Decided to go to AotA before Sif in my current playthrough.
Well, what can I say? Guess this playthrough end here. The world could submerge into darkness for all I care, but I didn't save the pupper only to kill him later and steal the ring.
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It also means more story-wise if Sif is a female because it creates an interesting archetype for the character: Whereas Fenrir took Tyr's hand for delaying the inevitable Ragnarok, Sif comforts Artorias by watching over him in death. She becomes like a grieving mother, whose son was taken from her fighting against chaos and the end of the world. In this way, Sif would become a direct inversion of Fenrir. We also know that the princess believed Artorias saved her, but never actually met him that we know of. Thus, Sif being female could also hint at the idea that the only female that was able to participate in his life was Sif herself. His life was too dangerous and brief to take a wife or love a family, so he had to settle for the friendship of a beast. Sif being a male wouldn't really help to hint at either of these ideas, which is why I think it'd be more interesting if Sif was a female.
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this boss is just average i guess people just like it because of lore
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I played the whole trilogy and all the pain, frustration, triumph, and dying in dumb ways nothing comes close to
the grief when it comes to Sif. Not even the Frigid Outskirts or the Dancer of Boreal Valley was nor will ever be
as painful as fighting Sif especially after the secret cutscene for Gwyn's sakes neither you or Sif want to fight each other. And that is why I love Dark Souls. Now if you excuse me I got to find a corner to cry on.
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Sif is clearly a girl because theres no 7 ft furry dong between those legs. Case closed
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why! sifs been though hell he lost his caring master and friend and was stranded in a abyss where a corrupted prehistoric human lurks im so sorry sif
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I can't help but feel like it would be so much more satisfying if beating the DLC before reaching Sif allowed you to spare her. I often skip the DLC on more casual play-throughs, but if the above was the case, I'd do it every time.
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Confirmed: when sif is really low she will stop jumping but limp walk to you (struggeling) to stop you,.
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Hi my name is **** but I cannot say my name on this page.
D
I
C
K
is a name????
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I'm somehow so stupid that I managed to stumble into the boss room before even beating Gaping Dragon.
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Cheese: get her back pointing to the fog wall, then she cant move. Killed within 10 secs.
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The argument that Sif is a Norse female name so sif is female is ludicrous.
Or shall we assume Orn"stein" is Jewish.
Sif should be referred to I. A gender neutral fashion.
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saw many orange soapstone with "grief" message, didn't know what it mean...until I beat the boss
*cries in corner
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Sif, please forgive me. If only there was one way to give me your ring and then just leave this place. Did you want to test me whether I am worthy to tread the darkest abyss? Or did you want by all means to prevent me from suffering the same fate as that of your master? You fought bravely. Well goodbye, my good boy.
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imagine wasteing 20000 souls or kill andre to for Crest of Artorias while you can literally use ladder next to hydra to get free access to this boss
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if your pet is wiling to protect your grave out of love and respect for you you should be happy that they think you were that great
i get the feeling if artorias saw him guarding his grave for him he would be in tears
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come on sif it’s time for you to go home artorias will be there I promise maybe ciaran as well
Dark souls did something barely any games get right or don’t try at all
They mirror the real world in a truthful way they show. Sifs Sadness
They show ciarans broken hearted and greving for artorias
And. Artorias. Even tho his lines are cut show how much he cared for everyone even after he fell to the abyss
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Sif we just need the ring to kill 4 kings. You know we can handle the abyss you helped us kill Manus! Stop making us fight you for the ring ;-;
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you know the one thing i always say to make killing sif easier is its okay you will get to see artorias again and i promise he will never have to leave you again never will you have to say goodbye either
- Anonymous
One of the easiest yet annoying fights in the game. It doesn't like telegraphic its back-hop swing at all, although it rarely hits unless you're moving backwards.
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poor little sif I so much wish I could spare him in the game his backstory is so sad.
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Why can I see sif as artoriases stand like seriously it would fit actually when we go to fight him a cutscene plays were sif appears as his stand
Not a bad boss but an incredibly overrated one nonetheless
I feel like people only love Sif because of his/her incredibly basic backstory and the fact that he/she's a wolf
and if you don't like Sif then you're obviously a monster who feels no emotion.
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I hate the artorious boss so much that I did a second play through just to kill his dog again **** sake I hate this boss. The only boss that I’m thankful that he’s not skippable because killing him is by far the most satisfying thing I’ll ever do.
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Ah sir there you are artorias cut line. I feel so sorry for sif while he was shielded from the abyss he probably was forced to watch artorias get murdered by manus and get brought back in the state we meet him in game damn it dark souls you tell great story’s but why do they always make me cry
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This is impossible to kill for me or others so its like you have reached the credits of dark souls , you finished the game
"and his ring". The Hornet Ring is found behind Artorias' grave and as far as I know his ring was the Wolf Ring.
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Me about to fight Sif erm buddy I have a bone I stole from nito you want it ?
Pulls sword out of ground
Let me guess artorias left ciaran to feed and she forgot well here you can have my left arm to chew on I’m hollow anyway I don’t need it
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I found out someone actually named their dog after sif because it was a type of dog that looked similar to him
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I have to ask, is Sif Female or male, I remember seeing on reddit that the character was female through looking at the game's code.
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when I fight Sif, I see a warrior who fights for her master's honor. Not for a person who fight's for herself. She could be out and about doing thing's that is possibly the most useful, but she stay's by her side and protect's the sword of the man who saved her life. Poor Sif, I'm glad we had a good fight, Pup.
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beat him with a +5 zweihander after the bell gargoyles, not that hard
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“You defeated Sif!? You’re a hero! Which part of London are you from?”
“I’m not from London, I’m from Liverpool.”
Next day in the paper “Scouse hooligan destroys family pet”
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idk how but i beat him with a REGULAR UNUPGRADE FKN DRAKE SWORD I SWEAR TO GOD it took like 3-4 minutes
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**** this boring ass filthy boss and his not a bit sad story of pure failure and no accomplishment (well written, still)
Does killing Sif disallow you from summoning them during Manus? I don't want to have to go through the entirety of AotA before this
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