Who is Harder – Gael or Midir? A Side-by-Side Analysis

Among the legion of legendary boss battles across FromSoftware‘s catalog, two emerge as the ultimate tests of skill for even the most battle-hardened Chosen Undead – Slave Knight Gael and Darkeater Midir. These two epitomize the brutal yet fair duels that define the Souls experience.

But which foe pushes players to the utter limits of their skill? I‘ve broken down the key stats, movesets, lore, and community perceptions surrounding both to definitively conclude whether slave or dragon proves the harder roadblock on the long journey to that sweet, sweet victory screen.

By the Numbers: Midir‘s Imposing Statistics

Let‘s begin mythbusting – the notion of Midir as merely an oversized HP sponge who hits like a truck simply isn‘t accurate. A closer examination of facts and figures reveals a carefully crafted moveset accentuating his physical presence:

To put this into perspective, his health pool exceeds [final boss] Gwyn‘s by over 5x. Midir‘s high elemental and physical damage resistances force players away from lazy strategies like peppering him with arrows or spells.

Instead, one must stay aggressive using optimal damage types while avoiding the business end of his swipes and charge attacks doling out over 1000 damage. survivability hinges on consistently evading attacks over a 10+ minute marathon.

This begins painting a picture of Midir not as a stationary punching bag, but a lethal, relentless force.

Gael: Ferocious Fury Personified

In contrast to Midir‘s spectacle of size and power, Gael offers a more personal, emotionally charged duel. Once a feeble Slave Knight protecting the Painter, consuming the Dark Soul drives him to unspeakable bloodlust.

Stat-wise Gael fits the mold of a quintessential Souls endgame foe – not overly bulky health or defense but enough to withstand a protracted clash while relentlessly pressing the attack. Against Midir‘s 15000+ HP, Gael clocks in at a modest 7500-8000 HP depending on NG cycle.

This sensibly positions him as an even match for the Ashen One 1v1 rather than a towering behemoth. However, Gael compensates with a varied movepool accentuated by cinematic flourishes. Players must quickly adapt to his moveset evolutions across the three-phase fight while avoiding delayed windups or chained attack strings.

Epic Showdowns: Midir and Gael By Phase

Now, let‘s analyze Midir and Gael‘s distinct forms and attacks phase-by-phase to highlight differences:

Phase 1: Midir

Midir introduces himself by emerging from the chasm below, allowing players time to gape in awe before unleashing his first attack. crowds consistently cite his initial lunge as a memorable "wow, we‘re not in Kansas anymore" wakeup call signaling the epic battle ahead!

Key attacks include:

• Charging lunge into a 180 degree tail swipe or breath attack
  • High damage, long recovery window
• Flying charge stopping just short to catch panic rolls
• Seven hit claw combo
  • Moderate damage, knocks players down
• Vertical bite into a throw
  • High damage, long recovery

Midir sticks to these easily telegraphed moves to allow learning his patterns while minimizing risk. But even early missteps carry lethal consequences – a grab/throw or direct charge hits lead to massive damage or death.

This initial sparring round imbues a sense of honor before an all-out brawl as Midir recognizes the player‘s worth. His moveset communicates utter faith in his own strength rather than flailing desperately.

Phase 1: Gael

Gael‘s first phase echoes his elderly, decrepit appearance – slow shuffling movements coupled with easily avoided scythe attacks and crossbow bolts. However, seasoned players know looks deceive!

Gael introduces key combo strings a savvy player must quickly recognize, including:

• Upward slash, downward smash, horizontal slash/crossbow
  • Moderate damage, long delays and windup
• Running upward slash with forward momentum
  • Hits mid-dodge if timed improperly
• Cape whirlwind blast
  • Catches panic rolls, high dark damage

While limited to four basic move types, subtle variations in timing, range, and chaining keeps players uncomfortable. His delayed horizontal attacks in particular often catch the overeager off guard.

This initial phase trains inescapable principles – patience, properly spaced dodges, managing greed. Gael does not test raw strength but the mastery of fundamentals carrying any prospective Lord of Hollows forward.

Phase 2: Midir

The gloves come off for round 2 as Midir fully weaponizes his dragon heritage! His moveset expands by incorporating fiery explosions and afflictions with his already potent physical attacks:

• Fire spray from either frontal or facial crystals
  • 500 damage per second, causes lingering burn
• Plunging aerial charge ending with an explosion
  • Moderate damage, sweeps entire arena
• Berserker claw flurry ending with a point-blank AoE blast
  • 1000+ damage, blasts after knocking down

Midir reveals previously unseen aggression befitting The Darkeater while granting no quarter. Surviving requires balancing offense within smaller reaction windows to avoid flaming breaths orRetaliation opportunities.

This ultimately sets up the final phase‘s ultimate test of endurance.

Phase 2: Gael

Emboldened by a taste, Gael fully embraces the Dark Soul‘s corruption by phase 2. Where he once shuffled cautiously, he now utilizes his slave knight agility for potent hit and run tactics.

While still utilizing phase 1 moves, integrating acrobatic flair makes timing dodges far trickier – each attack contains delays or deceptive windups. New tools include:

• Dark magic infused divekick
  • Moderate dark damage and mobility
• Slash/thrust combo with crossbow flourish
  • Roll catches with delayed third bolt
• Explosive focus bolts from his embedded crossbow
  • High damage, manually aimed

Gael adopts a slippery, predatory guerilla style. This challenges the player‘s reactions and adaptability while isolating and overwhelming them. Survive this hunt to reach the final confrontation.

Final Phase Fury: Midir And Gael At Their Apex

Both bosses conclude their character arcs by fully embracing their purpose in a final all-out assault. For Midir, an embodiment of Knightly dragon honor passed down through generations. For Gael, a rage-fueled vessel driven by primeval humanity‘s insatiable hunger.

Phase 3: Midir

50% health remaining. Midir‘s frontal and facial crystals begin glowing with empowered energy before unleashing his ultimate attacks:

• Explosive laser sweep – Covers half the arena in deadly red energy
  • Instant death if caught in blast
• Enhanced fire spray – Triple previous range and quadruple duration
  • 700 damage/second, drains stamina

His signature moves also integrate further enhancements:

• Claw and bite combos conclude with imbued dark blasts
  • Nullifies absorption bonuses
• Tail attacks utilize lightning instead of physical
  • Bypasses lightning vulnerability

Midir fully evolves into an Abyss corrupted dragon wielding his full arsenal against the player. Surviving requires expert reading of every sequence to know which space grants momentary sanctuary.

This conclusion brings his lore arc to a head – the noble Darkeater knight fully unleashed despite irreversible corruption. Will the honorable warriors pass their duty onto another generation?

Phase 3: Gael

A sickly black aura overtakes Gael, granting both terrifying power and tragic symbolism. The once noble slave knight‘s mind and body fully sinks into the Dark Soul‘s malevolent will.

Gael gains massive mobility boosts through monstrous leaps and dashes punctuated by new manifestations of the embedded crossbow:

• Greatsword dash thrust with integrated crossbow shots
  • Multi hit combo catches panic rolls
• Leaping Dark Orb Slam that targets players
  • Lingering AoE prevents greedy counters
• Dark homing soul masses
  • Tracks players, enables combos

Gael fully embraces hisFloor-sweeping combos convey unbridled bloodlust in pursuit of the Dark Soul. Only a perfectly timed parry into a Riposte delivers victory over this whirlwind monster.

This bittersweet finale completes Gael‘s journey – victorious but consumed by primeval humanity‘s addiction to endless growth at any cost. A poignant reminder that even the mightiest fire eventually fizzles out.

Tale of the Tape: Midir vs Gael

Looking holistically across vital metrics and community perceptions cements Darkeater Midir as the decisively more difficult foe:

*Based on player polls and forum commentary

Midir‘s sheer vitality enables him to press the attack for longer durations compared to Gael. His explosive lasers and empowered claw swipes also inflict heavier damage than Gael‘s desperate crossbow trick shots.

Gael‘s erratic delay between combos takes more time adjusting to compared to Midir‘s telegraphed windups. However, Midir‘s sheer size increases evasion difficulty compared to the more reasonably sized Gael.

Both represent franchise peaks in auditory and visual design with Midir‘s crystalline dragon taking the edge in scale and awe factor. Players cite both as their sole motivation for completing respective DLCs.

Lore wise, Midir and Gael share rich tragic backgrounds. But defeating the legendary Darkeater passing his duty feels more impactful compared to finishing the now crazed Gael.

Finally, initial reception saw 90% of players singling out Midir are unreasonable or unfair compared to 20% for Gael. While skill eventually triumphs over both, the initial climb feels far more insurmountable against the Abyss Dragon.

The Verdict: Midir Rules Over Gael

While Slave Knight Gael‘s final rampage stands toe-to-toe among the franchise‘s pantheon, the full arc of Midir paired with his unrelenting offense edges him out as the ultimate skill check. Completing this ultimate duty by slaying Midir remains the series‘ defining triumph.

But for the blessed few managing victory over both, ultimate bragging rights await. Honestly at that level of skill, no other boss likely presents much issue either.

So all that truly remains is deciding which fallen legend deserves honor of being called Hardest SoulsBorne Boss. Do Midir and Gael‘s peerless legacy live on in you, oh Champion Ash? Let me know in the comments!