You probably don't care, but I finally beat Ornstein and Smough !

For those who don't know, they are supposed to be the hardest boss in Dark Souls. Basically , it's a combination of two guys, big fat-titted hammer-wielding Executionner Smough, and fast-paced lanceman Dragon slayer Ornstein.

My build : 

SL57 /  Pyro build /  Armour : Gold Hemmed black set / RH : Pyromancy+15, Light crossbow+5 / LH : Silver Knight Shield +4 / Rings : Lightining def, physical resistance.

 Magic : Fireball, Fire orb, Great Fireball 

Strategy : 

At first, head to them since they're at the other side of the room, shield up. Try to lock on Ornstein, his lance stab should be absorbed by the shield. At the same time, keep an eye on Smough, let it attack with its hammer head on and bring him so that he races toward a column. Imho, this moment is very dangerous cause they can land quite a blow very early. 

Once they're both close to a column, lock Ornstein, shield up, back a bit. The overall strategy is to wait for Sough to use its hammer run attack to a column, while Ornstein is walking peacefully to you. At that moment, unleash Fireball first, make sure you're in the pace, then switch to great fireball. At pyromancy+15, 4 great fireball kills him.

If hit during this phase, go back, wait them to unleash their attacks, stand behind a pillar and take Estus when safe.

When Ornstein is dead, Super Smough comes into play. He can oneshot, if you're hit by its normal attacks he chops 2/3rd of your HP. Getting close triggers its lightning butt jump with a very large AoE. Getting too far triggers its hammer runs, which his blockable but progressively eats your hp. At mid range, it will be either hammer strike, which leaves a small window of attack. However at close range it's lightning butt stomp again. I couldn't get close, couldn't get far, and at mid range he sometimes switches its attack to a hammer sweep. I kept on dying and dying.

So I decided to use the crossbow, and developped a strategy. Find a blasted column, keep him behind at mid range turning around so the column pins him. You can't shoot through the blasted column but by moving left or right a bit, you can land a blow after some attacks. If he hammer runs the column blocks him but the sweep can go through the column. Tilt, then strikes, shield up and go the other way, rinse and repeat. If he hammer stikes, shooting will not hit him but its hammer. If he sweeps, go back, and watchout because sometimes he sweeps twice.

Finally, after a good 30+ tries, I managed to kill him and I could watch Gwynevere nice shapes ^^

Congratulations. I have big respect for people who can solo bosses in Dark Soul's, even more-so for people who don't rely on magic.

Ornstein and Smough is a tough fight, but man that DLC introduces you to some bullshit. Kalameet is a DOUCHE.

I've looked at tens of videos, and read hundreds of threads about them. Nothing worked. I couldn't land a blow with any melee weapon without those two beating the crap out of me.

Congrats man! That's actually my favorite boss fight from that game. Anor Londo is quite a beautiful place too..unless you do something to affect that mauhaha.

I hope Dark Souls 2 doesn't change too much and we still have that feel the Souls series is known for.

Gratz man, now you've got the 4 kings to look forwards too :) I personally think that the capra is harder due to the extreme limited space, but it probably helps by the fact I let Fatboy Slim kill me at the end just so I can enjoy the most epic boss ever again and again, so I kinda know exactly what to do :/ Next step is to soul level 1 them :p

Grats. One of the best boss fights in any game.

I posted about my first time somewhere...hmmm...lemme see.
Nope, I posted somewhere about my time in NG+ which for me was a lot better than the first time around, simply because I had to kill Ornstein last to get his soul - on the normal play through I rushed things and killed him first, though every walkthrough says that's the worst idea imaginable -.

If you feel like a bit of a read...enjoy, I guess:

New Game+, the cauldron where you bend or break, prove your mastery over the dark Land of the Lords or perish like the false lord that you are; it's not for the faint, not for the weak, only for the resilient and the brave, the creative and the fools.

Nowhere more so than in Anor Londo, in the City of the Sun. Each step taken is contested, each door opens into danger, each treasure may harbor doom, plain and simple. And yet you press on, driven, half-crazed. Blood eyed you avoid each trap and jump each hurdle, pushing ever on, through waves of Gargoyles and Silver Knights that hold your faith in their armored hands. You open the massive doors of the Cathedral and upgrade your weapons at the legendary Giant Blacksmith and forge on.

As you demolish the last Giant Knight and watch its corpse disappear into nothing, there's only the white fog gate ahead, tantalizing, almost inviting. You pray to the soul sign of Solaire of Astoria and watch his silent spirit surge into your world, his sword yours to command and sacrifice in the fire of the battle to come. The silence of the great cathedral is broken by the echoes of your steps as you near the gate once more. The gear is checked, the rings are ready - you choose the one that will break when you'll take it off and remember, with heartache, the battles you faced to get it -, the sword is nicked but as sharp and deadly as ever, the shield is flawless. There's no need for extras on your belt so you renounce them in favor of your health flask, almost full, and the few stamina herbs that will keep your muscles strong and lean. Nothing more is needed and you know it. You take a short moment to cast your Iron Skin and plunge yourself into the fray.

The moment is upon you as they rush. There's no choice but to take Smough out first, even if that's the worst idea you could come up with. The fat man takes a beating like nobody else and the hammer's a nuisance. But he must go down for the fight to yield the object you so need to complete your weapons.

Minutes pass, the flask empties. With one final swing Smough goes down as Solaire protects your back with the price of his life. The lion headed bastard Ornstein knees before his comrade's body and you witness his grueling transformation into a giant, his wounds healed, his power increased. Solaire is running on fumes of strength and you know it.

Ornestein knows it too and attacks without mercy or quarter. The brave knight fights on and fails you, collapsing back into his own personal Hell. The fight becomes a duel and the lion headed bastard has the upper hand. The time is now, the moment to prove yourself in front of any gods that may be watching. You charge...

Two sips left in the flask and the final moments are in view. Ornstein is hurt but he shrugs off all damage, his speed still superior, his attacks still vigorous, his lightning still potent.
And you?
The flask is almost empty and the herbs are gone; you've learned the hard way how your shield is next to useless against his magic but the lesson did not go unnoticed. Your magic's spent and now Quelana's Pyromancy Flame +5 is next to useless, dead weight.
You review it all in one beat of your heart. He'll offer you no other respite.

Ornstein jumps and slams his ass on the ground but you know the trick and are way out of his area of effect. You run forward and get a hit in before he retreats, reading his attack again. You dodge his charge and smile as he destroys another pillar. One more slash and one more dodge, taking its toll on your stamina as you roll in your Black Knight Set +5.

Time moves faster and you hands begin to shake, the prospect of winning this one perfect fight blooming in your mind. You grin and roll again as the bastard comes, avoiding the spear. The battle's a blur...

Dodgy dodge in your Black Knight +5 armor set, avoided the spear, he hits a pillar again. Get two swings in, roll away, the lightning misses you by a whisker. He jumps, your stamina's low, no time to get away. Pop a flask, weather the hit, get another swing in, roll away, pop your last flask.

He comes again but the pillar's in his way, you get a moment, a breath. Quick switch, Darkmoon's Bow +5 comes up, two arrows fly; roll away, the lightning misses you by the skin of your teeth. He lunges, you know it'll go past that pillar this time.

Quick switch, Arturias Great Shield +5 comes up, you block the sodden lance but the lightning chips your health, rattles your nerves. He lunges again, you avoid and bury your Fire Iaito +10 in the fucking bastard. Two swipes, one more and he's dead.

He brings his lance around in an arc and you barely raise your shield in time. Your stamina finally breaks and the hit knocks you back. One moment to react before he gets wind of how open you are. One lounge on his part, one desperate roll on yours. There's a whisker of stamina left as you roll into him. Mash R1, the roll ends in a slash and the mighty Ornstein goes down.

And that's it. One...perfect...fight. Your held breath escapes, whistling and the gamepad is slick with sweat. But you don't care, the glory in which you bask makes the entrance into the princess' chamber all the more satisfying, all the more deserving.

But the Four Kings still await, a promise of glory even greater.

not trying to downplay your success but I'm surprised how so many had problems with these bosses...both times I've played(lost game data and currently playing again) I've beaten them on my first try without using other players or the in game summons.

I'm still working on them. My progress is delayed because of it. I'm trying melee using the Chaos Blade, a shield, and medium to light armor load. So far I can only kill Smough once every few tries but have a hard time with Giant Ornstein.

Nice to see a thread about Dark Souls. I almost still can't comprehend how good that game is.

I dare you to shoot Gwynevere with an arrow.