Though Champion Gundyr doesn’t transform, he makes use of everything that he has. His combinations are harder to dodge because they start slow but unleash very quickly. He also has a couple of hand-to-hand attacks that are brutal mix-ups. He has a shoulder charge that comes out of nowhere when it adds to a combo, and his high kick is infuriatingly tough to avoid when you’re getting used to it.
The good news is that you’re late enough in the game to face this version of Gundyr with a huge reserve of Estus Flask uses. As long as you don’t let Champion Gundyr take you from 100-0, you’re going to be in good shape. You always have the option to dodge backward, dodge again if you need even more space, and then heal. Let that be your bulwark against his upgrades.
You don’t need to race him or take him down quickly. He doesn’t get any nastier during the battle, so settle in and take potshots to diminish his health over time. Avoid long combos or desperate measures.
Safe healing is probably is probably the hardest thing to master about this encounter. Champion Gundyr has so many added hits and charging movements that you really have to work to avoid getting hit while you drink. Roll behind him during his leaping attack or wait for the end of combos, otherwise you lose as much as you gain.
After you win the fight, the Champion Gundyr Bonfire appears.
Open the doors to get into the Firelink Shrine yards, and start exploring them. There are Black Knights on the path, and they’re tough adversaries. However, they’re individuals, so you can pull them away and fight them anywhere you want. The tower entrance to the northwest has a Chaos Blade waiting for you. Get that before going into the shrine. Also, look on the northern ledge outside to get a Hornet Ring.
There are many important things to do inside the Firelink Shrine’s dark version. First, you get a Coiled Sword Fragment from the area where the Bonfire is supposed to be. This item acts as a permanent Homeward Bone, so that saves you some Souls in the future.
A secret door hides the Fire Keeper’s Eyes, back in the spot where Irina normally stays. These items are vital for unlocking one of the endings to the game, see the NPC chapter for more details. By the Blacksmith's area, you also get a Blacksmith Hammer.
Another version of the Shrine Handmaid is here, she sells the Wolf Knight’s armor set and the Priestess Ring. On New Game +1 you find a Ring of Steel Protection+1 in the northern tower. On New Game +2 you get a Life Ring+3 when you search the top throne inside the shrine.
