Dormin's colossi descriptions and hints

Dormin provides Wander with a hint.

Before Wander begins his search for a colossus, Dormin will inform him briefly and often cryptically about some aspect of the battle. If Wander is having trouble during a fight (i.e., if he goes for several minutes without discovering a way to exploit a colossus' weakness), Dormin will give him a hint about what to do.

In the PS4 remake, the time it takes for a hint to appear is halved. It is possible to disable Dormin's in-battle hints through the settings menu, which can be accessed at any time.

Colossi Descriptions

Colossus	English version	Japanese version (translation)
I	Raise thy sword by the light... and head to the place where the sword's light gathers... There, thou shalt find the colossi thou art to defeat.	Raise thy sword by the light... and head to the place where the sword's light gathers... There, thou shalt find the colossi thou art to defeat.
II	Thy next foe is... In the seaside cave... It moves slowly... Raise thy courage to defeat it.	Thy next foe is... In the seaside cave... It moves slowly... Raise thy courage to defeat it.
III	Thy next foe is... A giant canopy soars to the heavens... The anger of the sleeping giant shatters the earth...	Thy next foe is... A giant canopy soars to the heavens... The anger of the sleeping giant shatters the earth...
IV	Thy next foe is... In the land of the vast green fields... Rows of guiding graves... It is giant indeed but fearful, it is not.	Thy next foe is... In the land of the vast green fields... Rows of guiding graves... It is giant indeed but to be feared, it is not.
V	The next foe is... It casts a colossal shadow across a misty lake... As it soars through the sky... To reach it is no easy task...	The next foe is... It casts a colossal shadow across a misty lake... Dancing in the air... Giant wings shake the water's surface...
VI	Thy next foe is... A giant lurks underneath the temple... It lusts for destruction... But a fool, it is not.	Thy next foe is... A giant lurks underneath the temple... It lusts for destruction... But a fool, it is not.
VII	Thy next foe is... A ruin hidden in the lake... A ripple of thunder lurks underwater...	Thy next foe is... Ruins hidden in a lake... A ripple of thunder lurks underwater...
VIII	Thy next foe is... A tail trapped within a pail deep within the forest... A shadow that crawls on the walls.	Thy next foe is... A tail trapped within a pail deep within the forest... A shadow that crawls on the walls.
IX	Thy next foe is... The land where trees nary grow... It sleeps in a dry lake bed... A rude awakening.	Thy next foe is... The land where trees nary grow... A quiet thing sleeping in a cave... A rude awakening.
X	Thy next foe is... An isolated sand dune... Its tracks are well hidden... Shaking the earth, its gaze is upon thee...	Thy next foe is... An isolated sand dune... Tracks hidden from view... Shake the earth with your friend...
XI	Thy next foe is... An alter overlooks the lake... A guardian set loose... It keeps the flames alive.	Thy next foe is... An altar overlooks a lake... A guardian set loose... Don't let the flame go out.
XII	Thy next foe is... Paradise floats upon the lake... A silent being wields thunder... A moving bridge to cross to higher ground.	Thy next foe is... Paradise floats upon the lake... A silent being wields thunder... A moving bridge to cross to higher ground.
XIII	Thy next foe is... The vast desert lands... A giant trail drifts through the sky... Thou art not alone...	Thy next foe is... The vast desert lands... A giant trail drifts through the sky... Thou art not alone...
XIV	Thy next foe is... A guardian set loose... A closed-off city beyond the channel... It lusts for destruction...	Thy next foe is... A guardian set loose... A closed-off city lies beyond the aqueducts... It lusts for destruction...
XV	Thy next foe is... A giant has fallen into the valley... It acts as a sentry to a destroyed city...	Thy next foe is... A giant has fallen into the valley... It pretends to be a gatekeeper to a ruined city...
XVI	Finally, the last colossus... The ritual is nearly over... Thy wish is nearly granted... But someone now stands to get in thy way... Make haste, for time is short...	Finally, thy last foe... The ritual is nearly over... Thy wish is nearly granted... But someone now stands to get in thy way... Thou must hurry, for time is short...

Battle Hints

Colossus	Hints (Final)	Hints (E3 Demo)
I	Hold up thy sword to reflect the light onto the colossus. Its vitals shall be revealed... Thou must climb the colossus to reach its vitals... Attack its leg in order to cut a path for thyself...	Attack their legs to make them turn over...
II	The place that emits light is its vitals... It may have more than one vital point...	Perhaps it's got something to do with a place thou can't see... The spot which thy eyes can't reach shall be your opening...
III	The armor it wears seems brittle... Knock it to the ground to break it... The colossus' sword shall be thy path...	The armor it wears seems brittle... Knock it to the ground to break it...
IV	One strategy to consider is to hide thyself underground... Deceive the colossus to reach its back... Use thy sword to find its vitals...	Can't we use the tunnels to fool it? Take advantage of it... Use the tunnels in order to to deceive it...
V	Use thy bow and arrow to gain the colossus' attention... Stand on the platform on the surface of the lake to draw its attack...	Use the pillars scattered around the area to avoid the wind and find a way to proceed towards the enemy...
VI	Find a place where thou art hidden... Use thy sword to find its vitals...	Retreat to the back of the hall... Hide yourself and wait for an opportunity...
VII	Swim on the lake surface to draw out the colossus... Grab on to the colossus' tail... Sever the power of the radiating horn at its root...	Follow its body as it swims around and try to grab its tail... Move along its body until you reach its head and then aim for it...
VIII	Find a way to seal its quick movement... Draw it out to higher ground...	Shoot the enemy's supporting legs to reveal an opening... Hide yourself and aim with the bow...
IX	The power of the earth shall shake even a colossus... Aim for the legs that support the body of the floating colossus...	The power of the earth can shake even the largest of creatures...
X	Thy legs cannot possibly carry thee away from its dangers... Aim for its eyes...	You'll need assistance from a friend to run away... The enemy is unable to see the rocks on its way...
XI	It fears the flames... Perhaps thou can use the pedestal of flames...	The enemy is afraid of something... Give oneself to the flame and aim!
XII	Thou cannot aim for its vitals as thou art now... Cross to higher ground...	Cross to a higher place and wait for the colossus to emerge from the lake...
XIII	The power of the sword will not get thou close to it... Climb from where the colossus and the earth are connected...	Shoot the enemy's abdomen with the bow to reveal an opening...
XIV	Climb the tower to draw the colossus' anger... It cannot pursue thee at the top of the tower. Proceed forward...	You have to retreat... Its anger will force you to retreat. Climb the towers... Build up the enemy's wrath and let it create a path... Be patient and wait... The roof is just waiting to collapse... The impact will shatter even the Colossus's armor.
XV	A battle on the ground is unfavorable. Find a place where thou hast an advantage... Find much higher ground... Find its hidden vitals...	Do not be afraid to strike. Use your opponent's strength to pave the way...
XVI	There should be a place where thee can approach whilst hiding... Its response will be thy road... Climb higher from that place... The vitals are in a place thou cannot reach from there...	There are tunnels leading up to the Colossus built under the earth you're standing on...

Description riddles, explained

• 2nd colossus: Wander must raise his bow as one raises courage, as Dormin says.
• 3rd colossus: Wander must prompt the 3rd colossus to shatter the centerpiece of the battlefield in order to exploit its weaknesses.
• 4th colossus: The riddle hints towards the colossus' lack of fear. It expresses this by fearlessly peeking into the entrance of the graves. However, this is a written in a different way in the japanese release, being "to be feared, it is not" instead, possibly describing its former strategy.
• 5th colossus: Wander must find a way to bring the 5th colossus down to his level. The japanese release describes its wind attacks from its earlier strategy instead.
• 6th colossus: Dormin's riddle explicates that the colossus is no fool, and it lives up to this claim by knowing Wander is hiding. The riddle also claims it "lusts for destruction", and Wander must have it destroy some walls to get to his hiding spot.
• 7th colossus: The riddle warns that this is a colossus with a defensive mechanism: Electric spikes. Be wary of these.
• 8th colossus: Wander must dupe the colossus into climbing up the wall in able to shoot its legs.
• 9th colossus: Wander must lure the colossus over a geyser to flip it over; a rude awakening, indeed.
• 10th colossus: Take heed of the quote "its gaze is upon thee". Shoot it in the eye. The japanese release hints that the player needs the help of Agro, their friend, to win the battle.
• 11th colossus: The riddle makes a reference to flames. Use fire to frighten the beast.
• 12th colossus: Use the huge colossus to reach a higher vantage point.
• 13th colossus: The colossus is hidden when Wander enters the desert.
• 14th colossus: The volatile colossus must be lured to destroy many towers in order to reveal its weak point.
• 15th colossus: Get to the colossus' eye level.
• 16th colossus: At the time of the final colossus, Dormin just warns Wander that the time is short and that it is the last battle, not mentioning anything of the colossus itself.