Artorias the Abysswalker

The knight whose broken shield arm saved his wolf companion from the Abyss.

Artorias the Abysswalker is a character in the 2011 action role-playing game Dark Souls. He is the deceased master of Sif, the Great Grey Wolf, and the knight whose grave Sif protects. Artorias is known as the Abysswalker, and his ring, the Covenant of Artorias, allows its wearer to traverse the Abyss, a dark void normally impassable by mortals. In the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, which takes the player back in time hundreds of years earlier, Artorias is shown as the companion of a young Sif, when the knight accompanied the wolf to slay a primeval human known as Manus, Father of the Abyss. During this battle, Artorias is overwhelmed by the power of Manus, his shield arm broken and useless, and he uses his Cleansing Greatshield to form a magical barrier around Sif to save the wolf.

Quick Facts

Companion: Sif, the Great Grey Wolf

Lore & Background

Artorias the Abysswalker was a knight who, alongside his companion Sif, ventured to Oolacile to slay a primeval human known as Manus, Father of the Abyss, who had been resurrected and driven mad by the sorcerers of Oolacile. During the battle, Artorias was overwhelmed by the power of Manus, leaving his shield arm broken and useless. In a final act of protection, he used his Cleansing Greatshield to form a magical barrier around Sif, saving the wolf. In the ensuing years, Sif survived and grew to tremendous size to protect Artorias' grave. The player can rescue a young Sif during the DLC, and if they do, Sif can be summoned to fight Manus. Sif has a strong memory, as it remembers the player if they saved it during the DLC beforehand, but still engages the player in battle when they later approach Artorias' grave.

Reader's Guide

Artorias the Abysswalker is a central figure in the lore of Dark Souls, primarily encountered through his legacy and his grave. His story is told through the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, where the player travels back in time. In this past, the player can encounter a young Sif and rescue it from the Abyss. If rescued, Sif becomes an optional ally that can be summoned to fight Manus, Father of the Abyss.

Artorias himself is not fought as a boss; his fate is that he was overwhelmed by Manus and fell. The player's primary interaction with Artorias's legacy is through the boss fight with Sif, who protects Artorias's grave and the Covenant of Artorias ring. The fight with Sif is notable for its emotional weight, as critics have noted the role reversal of the player as a transgressor, and the fact that Sif limps in pain when reduced to low health. If the player saved Sif in the DLC, the wolf recognizes them but still engages in battle, making the encounter more tragic.