Dark Souls Remastered | Defeating the Phalanx enemies guarding a statue in Painted World of Ariamis

This is on NG+1. They are slow-moving. I use a lot of Pyromancy and Dragonslayer Greatarrows.

It isn't necessary to kill them. Once a valve is turned elsewhere will the statue face another direction and open the path to the boss fight. Then the blob-like enemies disperse and get in your way when you make your way through here again (assuming you haven't already killed them before resting at a bonfire or dying).

You can read more about the Phalanx here:

https://darksouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Phalanx