First Lords of the Fallen II gameplay lands: bosses, foes, and 2026 window

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The next entry in CI Games’ dark fantasy soulslike is moving into the spotlight. The first gameplay trailer for Lords of the Fallen II premiered at The Game Awards 2025, confirming a 2026 launch window. The footage highlights sharpened combat, story beats set in Axiom, and a slate of new adversaries – from towering bosses to twisted lesser foes. Alongside the reveal, the 2023 title Lords of the Fallen received its final major update, Version 2.5, introducing a tougher Veteran Mode and broad AI refinements.

Trailer overview: a harsher Axiom and refined combat

The reveal offers a first look at three major boss encounters and multiple enemy archetypes. CI Games positions the sequel as a more demanding experience with evolved combat and encounters designed to press players’ reactions and planning. Cinematic sequences intercut with brisk, brutal engagements frame a world “shaped by ruin,” emphasizing consequences across enemy designs and arena pacing.

Watch the official gameplay trailer:

Bosses and enemies shown

CI Games detailed three bosses featured in the trailer, plus several lesser foes that set the tone between major fights. Below is a quick reference of what was shown.

Key adversaries revealed

• Heartroot Warden – An armored juggernaut wielding a chain-wrapped greatsword and favoring relentless, heavy pressure. Described as an undying guardian forged from elite Trelisi warriors.
• Koydreth – Once leader of the Crescent Host, now a winged predator marked by a severe curse. Focuses on evasion, trickery, and aerial control, slipping through a rune-etched mirror.
• Lingao, the Souring Storm – A vast draconic threat that wields wind and lightning at high speed, striking from multiple angles and sweeping the battlefield with a massive frame.

New enemy types

• Ashen Skin Stealer – A four-armed Rhogar duelist with a hollowed head and a chest-lit flame, fixated on hunting and ritualistic trophies.
• Man of Letters – A scholar turned feral by Umbral corruption, charging recklessly despite incoming fire (including crossbow retaliation).
• Hysteric – A grinning, twin-axe wielder whose erratic move set shifts unpredictably to keep players off-balance.

Read also our article: First look at No Law – Neon Giant’s systems-driven cyberpunk FPS

Quick reference: who’s who in the trailer

The table below summarizes the revealed adversaries and their standout traits, helping parse the combat profiles teased in the footage.

Lords of the Fallen (2023): Version 2.5 and new Veteran Mode

The original game received its Version 2.5 update, described as the final major patch. It delivers behavior upgrades to bosses, mini bosses, and standard enemies across Normal and the new Veteran Mode. Veteran Mode increases challenge with new boss attack patterns, faster transitions, and more unpredictable chains. In addition, several boss weapons were reforged with new signature animations.

What to expect in 2026

Lords of the Fallen II is slated to launch in 2026. The sequel aims to elevate the formula with evolved combat, fearsome boss design, and a setting in Axiom that leans further into ruin and consequence. For players of soulslike RPGs, the reveal signals a focus on tighter encounters and more expressive enemy behaviors.

Bottom line – why this matters

A tougher sequel and a smarter original land in tandem: the 2026 follow-up teases larger-than-life bosses and refined systems, while Version 2.5 gives returning players a meaningfully harder Veteran Mode to master now. If you’re tracking the series, the trailer outlines where the combat is headed – and the update lets you start preparing for it.