Demon's Souls PS5: Phalanx Strategy
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Phalanx is a positioning fight. The real target sits behind a crowd of shield-bearing Hoplites, so attacking the nearest shield forever only spends stamina and lets the spear users box you in. Work around the room’s outer wall first. Pick off the exposed Hoplites, back away from their spear thrusts, and reopen the space before trying to reach the centre.
Fire is the clean answer to the shield layer. Firebombs, Turpentine, and fire magic remove the Hoplites much faster than ordinary hits. Save those tools for clusters and keep one escape lane open; a bomb thrown into the middle is useful only if you can step back before the survivors surround you. When the ring has thinned, run in for several attacks on Phalanx itself, then retreat rather than trading through a spear volley.
If the attempt is failing at the doorway, stop treating the boss room as a race. Heal near a side wall, rebuild stamina, and circle. The arena stays open as long as you leave room behind your character. Beating Phalanx starts the real Nexus progression, so return there and follow Getting Started before spending its Demon Soul.