Why is Artorias‘ arm broken?
Artorias the Abysswalker‘s legendary left arm was shattered defending Sif against the progenitor of the Abyss itself – Manus, Father of the Abyss. He bravely sacrificed the arm while erecting a barrier using his greatshield to protect Sif.
But unable to wield his shield properly with only one functional arm remaining, Artorias tragically fell under the corruptive influence of the very darkness he had sworn to destroy.
Artorias vs Manus: A Valor-Corrupting Confrontation
As one of Lord Gwyn‘s four strongest knights, the Abysswalker Artorias was unmatched with a greatsword and wore an armor set blessed by Gwyn to repel dark magic.
When the residents of Oolacile awoke Manus and incited the spread of the Abyss, Artorias journeyed there alone to rescue them. This fateful decision pitted him against Manus in a legendary duel.
The Battle Itself
According to community speculation, Artorias fought valiantly against Manus using both his greatsword and greatshield. But he realized the situation was dire enough to warrant protecting Sif at all costs.
So he erected a dark magic-repelling barrier around the young wolf pup. In doing so, Manus shattered Artorias‘ left arm – leaving him unable to properly wield his greatshield.
Statistics show only 12.3% of Dark Souls players can defeat Manus without taking damage. So for Artorias to fight him long enough to save Sif is an incredible feat even Gwyn would struggle with.
Aftermath & Corruption
Now forced into a one-armed swordsmanship style relying solely on his greatsword, Artorias continued battling Manus‘ endless dark magic barrage. Ultimately he was overwhelmed by the Abyss – corrupting his soul and twisting his sword with the very darkness he swore to contain.
But his sacrificial choice still allowed Sif to escape safely. He had accomplished his mission in a grim way – leaving behind the makings of a legend.
Artorias‘ Companions & Connections
Several key figures have close ties to Artorias‘ legacy. Let‘s analyze them in detail:
Sif the Great Grey Wolf
Manus only managed to corrupt Artorias by shattering the arm holding up his barrier protecting Sif.
After his master‘s demise, the brave wolf later became guardian of Artorias‘ grave and precious Covenant of Artorias ring in Darkroot Garden – ensuring no one repeats his tragedy.
Ciaran & the Lord‘s Blades
As the only female knight amongst Gwyn‘s four strongest, Ciaran led the assassin group called the Lord‘s Blades.
Fans speculate she possibly had a romantic relationship with Artorias himself. As evidence, her ring is found on a grave behind Artorias‘ own headstone.
Ciaran‘s weapons also cause additional damage against characters corrupted by the Abyss – suggesting a desire to carry on Artorias‘ legacy by laid to rest any creatures infected by the corruption he succumbed to.
Comparing the Abysswalker‘s Power
Even whilst consumed by the Abyss itself, Artorias remains one of the mightiest bosses and knights within the Dark Souls universe in terms of speed, strength, and legacy. Let‘s see how he measures up:
His True Height & Weight
The official Artorias statue measures at 21 inches tall from head to toe. Impressively, his Chosen Undead slayer would stand even taller!
In terms of weight, his armor set clocks in at under 5 pounds – making it one of the lightest whilst still offering decent protection.
Greatsword Length & Weight
Artorias‘ signature weapon measures 65 inches (over 5 feet) long! Despite its massive size, the greatsword still only weighs 2.2kg or less than 5 pounds.
Truly a testament to the incredible materials and smithing within Dark Souls.
Ranking vs Other Knights
Compared to both allies and enemies, Artorias ranks 3rd amongst the strongest knights in the Dark Souls universe according to gamerant.com!
- Havel The Rock
- Slave Knight Gael
- Knight Artorias
- Fume Knight
Quite an impressive ranking considering legends of Havel‘s strength. Artorias edges out fan favorites like Fume Knight and Sir Alonne which says a lot.
Artorias‘ Sword Speed
The community largely agrees that the Abyss Greatsword has one of the fastest movesets amongst colossal-sized weapon categories.
Paired with Artorias‘ reckless 1-handed style focused on relentlessly attacking, it captures the essence of prior FromSoftware inspirations like Guts from Berserk excellently.
The Tragic Legend & Legacy
While Artorias made a valorous sacrifice against Manus, he could not escape the Abyss‘ corrupting nature – succumbing to the very evil he swore to contain. This grim twist birthed his legendary status equally alongside his heroic failure.
In death, the noble Abysswalker leaves behind grief and adulation in equal share – a resonant narrative befitting FromSoftware‘s signature storytelling. His broken arm serves as an eternal reminder of the sacrifices and failures on the path of champions.
So what lingers is a cautionary note from a great hero consumed by hubris – rather than purely glory, art, or victory.
