Dark Souls 2 Cheat Sheet

The following is a checklist and set of information I use when playing Dark Souls 2 to make sure I don't miss an item, conversation or boss. I hope you find it useful. A big thanks goes out to the community of contributors on the Dark Souls 2 Wiki where some of this information is borrowed from. If this is your first time visiting this page please check out the Help section.

Warning: Contains Spoilers!

Playthrough Checklist

Things Betwixt (Level 1)

Majula (Levels 1-10)

Forest of Fallen Giants (Levels 10-20)

Heide's Tower Of Flame (Levels 30-40)

No-Man's Wharf (Levels 35-45)

The Pit / Grave Of Saints (Levels 45-55)

The Lost Bastille / Belfry Luna (Levels 55-65)

Huntsman's Copse / Undead Purgatory (Levels 55-65)

Harvest Valley (Levels 60-70)

Earthen Peak (Levels 65-75)

The Gutter (Levels 65-75)

  • There are a few things to note while making your way through this area
    • It is much easier if you carry a torch at all times, and light all the sconces for better visibility and to know where you've been
    • Make sure you have some Poison Moss or lots of Lifegems to deal with the poison in this level
    • Smashing the Poison Shooting Statues uses weapon durability, so bring a second weapon or Repair Powder with you
    • The steps below assume you don't fall through a collapsible floor unless stated
    • There are multiple branching paths in this area, so it's easy to get lost or turned around. Stay calm, there's always a way back
    • Thankfully there is no Fucking Branch!
  • Before crossing the first bridge break the pot to the left to get the Dung Pies
  • Cross the bridge, watching out for the collapsing floor in the middle, cross the next bridge and kill the Molerat
  • Cross the next bridge, go up the ramp and drop down to the dirt area below
  • Drop off the edge farthest from where you came from and towards the wooden structure
  • Climb up the ladder on the side of the structure, jump across to the ledge and get the Ring of Soul Protection from the chest
  • Roll from the ledge back in to the wooden structure to get the Twinkling Titanite and Small Smooth and Silky Stones from the chest
  • Go back up the ladder, jump across to the ledge and light the sconce at the other end to get Melinda The Butcher to invade you
  • Drop down off the ledge, drop down again at the other edge, head back towards the bonfire, getting the Lifegem from the pot along the way
  • Go back across the first bridge, drop down through the collapsing floor, taking care of the ambush when you drop
  • Take a running rump across to the platform with the torch wielding Undead Citizen
  • Later, when you get the Forgotten Key in Black Gulch, come back here and go up the ladder to get Havel's Set and Havel's Greatshield
  • Go across the bridge, drop down the hole, kill the Molerat, and get the Dark Pyromancy Flame and Rotten Pine Resins from the pot
  • Go up two ladders, get the Large Soul Of A Nameless Soldier from the pot and drop down back to the start of the first rope bridge
  • Start across the bridge but watch for the exploding Undead Citizen in front of you and the Molerat that might drop down behind you
  • On the other side of the bridge, kill the Molerat, go up the ladder and get the Black Firebombs from the chest
  • Go down the ladder and drop down twice on the same structure and get the Titanite Chunk from the pot
  • Drop down in to the next structure and get the Tattered Set from the pot
  • Jump across to the dirt ledge and get the Ring of the Evil Eye from the chest, being ready for the ambush
  • Go up the very long ladder, get the Soul Of A Proud Knight and the Bandit Greataxe from the pot
  • Go up the ladder and use the zip line to return to the main area
  • Drop down in to the room below and drop down once more to return to the start of the first rope bridge
  • Cross the bridge, go to the next structure and climb the ladder to the start of the second rope bridge
  • Cross the bridge, watching for the exploding Undead Citizen, kill the Molerat at the end, watching out for the collapsing floor in the middle
  • Cross the third rope bridge, in to the cave and get the Wicked Eye Greatshield from the chest
  • Leave the cave, drop down to the left, go in to the cave with the Corrosive Ant Queen and get the Poison Moss from the pot
  • Go through the fog gate, wacthing out for the holes in the floor, smash the wooden wall and light the bonfire
  • Go back throgh the wall you smashed and down the ladder in the far left corner of the room
  • Drop down, get the Rotten Pine Resins from the pot, drop down two more dirt ledges and get the Great Club from the chest
  • Get the Dark Fog Hex and Torch from the pot
  • Use a ranged weapon, spell or consumable to destroy the corrosive pots in front of the hole in the wall, drop down and get the Fragrant Branch of Yore
  • Go through the fog gate in to Black Gulch and light the bonfire in the cave to the left
  • Return to Majula, level up, upgrade your weapons and armor, and buy any consumables you need
  • Travel to the Black Gulch / Black Gulch Mouth bonfire

Black Gulch (Levels 65-75)

Iron Keep / Belfry Sol (Levels 80-90)

Shaded Woods (Levels 80-90)

Doors Of Pharos (Levels 80-90)

Brightstone Cove Tseldora (Levels 90-100)

Sinner's Rise / Shrine Of Winter (Levels 95-105)

Drangleic Castle / King's Passage (Levels 95-105)

Shrine of Amana (Levels 95-105)

Undead Crypt (Levels 100-110)

Aldia's Keep (Levels 100-100)

Dragon Aerie (Levels 105-115)

  • Go up the path, ignoring the fork to the left for now, and talk to the Emerald Herald to get the Aged Feather
  • Head back to the fork, follow it along the bridge, and light the bonfire
  • Return to Majula, level up, upgrade your weapons and armor, and buy any consumables you need
  • Travel back to the Dragon Aerie bonfire
  • Go up the path, across the bridge and in to the cave, watching out for the exploding enemy on the bridge, kill the Crystal Lizard and get the Radiant Lifegem
  • Ignore the path to the right, since it's just a path that allows you to skip the dragon we're about to kill and you'll miss all the nice items
  • Go up the path in front of you, kill the Dragon and kill the four Crystal Lizards. The dragon doesn't respawn, so if you miss any lizards go back to the bonfire
  • There is another Crystal Lizard up the ramp to the right
  • Pick up the Darknight Stone, Dragon Tooth, Boltstone and Soul Of A Brave Warrior from the corpses
  • Cross the next bridge, watch out for the exploding enemy at the end, and pick up the Old Radiant Lifegem
  • Go across the next bridge, watching out for another exploder, cross the next bridge and kill the second Dragon
  • Kill the three Crystal Lizards in this area. If you miss any of them don't go back to the bonfire as we're about to open a shortcut back to here
  • Pick up the Soul of a Great Hero and Large Soul Of A Brave Warrior from the corpses
  • Go in to the cave on the right, watching out for another exploding enemy, and snipe the third Dragon
  • Drop off the ledge to the right, quickly turn around and kill the Crystal Lizard, and drop down and kill another Crystal Lizard
  • Pick up the Soul of a Great Hero, Ring of the Evil Eye +1, Flame Quartz Ring +2, Dragon Charm and Firedrake Stone
  • The cave to the left leads back to the top, so ignore it for now and take the bridge on the right
  • Use the zip line to return to an area above the bonfire and kick down the ladder to open this shortcut
  • Go back up the ladder and use the zip line to return to the area we just came from
  • Head up the path and to the right, across the bridge and back to where we killed the third dragon
  • Go in to cave on the right and drop off the ledge
  • Pick up the Large Soul Of A Brave Warrior and Pharros Lockstone, and use the Aged Feather to get back to the bonfire
  • Go up the ladder, ignore the zip line, go down the path and drop off the ledge to get a Twinkling Titanite
  • Use the feather, go up the ladder, zip line across and try to drop off on to the platform to get the Soul of a Great Hero
  • Again feather back to the bonfire, go up the ladder, across the zip line and head across the final bridge to light the bonfire
  • Return to Majula, level up, upgrade your weapons and armor, and buy any consumables you need
  • Travel back to the Dragon Shrine / Shrine Entrance bonfire

Dragon Shrine (Levels 105-115)

Memory Of Orro (Levels 110-120)

Memory of Jeigh (Levels 110-120)

  • Travel to the Forest of Fallen Giants / Cardinal Tower bonfire
  • Go down the ladder, cross the bridge and head outside to the large door, and put on the King's Ring to open it
  • Rest at the bonfire, go out and drop down to get the Twinkling Titanites, and use your feather to get back to the bonfire
  • Examine the tree to enter the memory. You will have about 5 minutes to complete it
  • You can summon Benhart Of Jugo before you go through the fog gate, at the bottom of the steps
    • This is the third of at least three boss fights you need to summon him for and have him survive to complete his quest
  • You can summon Captain Drummond before you go through the fog gate
  • You can only summon one of them. The other's summon sign will vanish when you summon one of them
  • Go through the fog gate, remembering about the fireballs that will rain down in this area
  • Get the Bonfire Ascetic from the corpse on the first platform on the left
  • Move forward passed the first fireball area and trigger the huge rolling head
  • Move forward, and get the Fire Seed from the platform on the left near the end
  • Kill the Giant Lord boss
  • Get the Old Radiant Lifegem from beside the pillar and then go out the door and down the steps
  • Examine the giant corpse to get the Soul of a Giant and again to leave the memory

Memory of Vammar (Levels 110-120)

  • Travel to the Forest of Fallen Giants / Cardinal Tower bonfire and head down to the area beside where you first met Mild Mannered Pate
  • Examine the tree to enter the memory. You will have about 5 minutes to complete it
  • Head forward and talk to Captain Drummond to learn the Hurrah gesture
  • If you have already completed the Memory of Jeigh then he will also give you the Drangleic Helm
  • Open the door to the left and get the Smooth and Silky Stone from the chest
  • Head through the other door, watching out for the enemy that breaks through the wall, and get the Fire Seed from the corpse at the end
  • Go up the hill, through the archway and run for the ladder leading up to the roof on the right
  • Run across the roof, drop down at the end and run in to the building to the left for cover
  • Go up the ladder in the building, cross the wooden bridge, clear the roof and get the Soul of a Great Hero and Bonfire Ascetic
  • Drop down, turn left before the door to the building, and get the Blossom Kite Shield from the chest
  • Go to the right side of the door this time and get the Giant Warrior Club from the corpse in the corner
  • Go back in to the building, out the back door and get the Rouge Water from the corpse beside the steps
  • Go up the steps and get the Old Radiant Lifegem, Soul of a Great Hero and Torch from the corpses
  • Examine the giant corpse to get the Soul of a Giant and again to leave the memory

King Vendrick (Levels 110-120)

Ancient Dragon's Memories (Levels 110-120)

Throne Of Want (Levels 110-120)

  • Travel back to the Drangleic Castle / King's Gate bonfire
  • Go out and down to the left to the door and put on the King's Ring to open it
  • Talk to the Emerald Herald and continue along the path to the fog gate
  • Go through the fog gate and first kill the Throne Defender and Throne Watcher
    • You can summon Benhart Of Jugo outside the fog gate to the left
    • This is the fourth of at least three boss fights you need to summon him for and have him survive to complete his quest
    • You can summon Head Of Vengarl outside the fog gate to the right
    • You will get the Throne Defender Soul and the Throne Watcher Soul and 68,000 souls
    • Optionally do some jolly co-op to get some extra souls. You will get 17,000 souls each time
  • Now you need to kill Nashandra
    • You must have killed the Giant Lord before she will spawn
    • Your summons will stay with you for this fight
    • You will get the Soul of Nashandra and 90,000 souls
    • Optionally do some jolly co-op to get some extra souls. You will get 22,500 souls each time
  • Walk forwards and enjoy the ending cutscene
  • You will now be back at Majula, where you can finish up some final tasks before continuing to New Game Plus

Miscellaneous Tasks

Dark Chasm Of Old (Levels 95-105)

  • I leave this to last due to it's difficulty and the need to use Human Effigies every time
  • Also, I like to do these in a particular order so that the easiest one is last, making the Darklurker fight easier to repeat if needed
  • If you have met Darkdiver Grandahl in all three locations you can now join the Pilgrims Of Dark covenant
  • Travel to the Black Gulch / Hidden Chamber, go up the hill and drop off by the first worm to the ledge
  • Go in and talk to Darkdiver Grandahl, join the covenant if you haven't already, and give him a Human Effigy to open the portal
  • Enter the portal and complete the area
    • You will need to kill four enemies. One heavy melee, two pyromancers and a shade
    • Remember to light the cauldron, using a Flame Butterfly to light your torch
    • Drop down the mist filled hole to complete the area
  • Talk to Darkdiver Grandahl to rank up in the covenant and receive the Resonant Soul Hex
  • Travel to the Drangleic Castle / Under Castle Drangleic bonfire, go out and around the corner to speak to Darkdiver Grandahl
  • Give him a Human Effigy to open the portal, enter it and complete the area
    • You will need to kill four enemies. One heavy melee, two fast melee and a shade
    • Be very careful not to fall of the ledges in the water
    • Remember to light the cauldron, using a Flame Butterfly to light your torch
    • Drop down the mist filled hole to complete the area
  • You won't rank up after the second area is complete. You need to complete all three areas to get the next rank
  • Travel back to the Shaded Woods / Shaded Ruins bonfire and drop down the hole near the second tower
  • Give Darkdiver Grandahl a Human Effigy to open the portal, enter it and complete the area
    • You will need to kill four enemies. Two fast melee, one archer and a shade
    • Remember to light the cauldron, using a Flame Butterfly to light your torch
    • Drop down the mist filled hole to complete the area
  • When you drop down the fog gate in the third area you can kill the Darklurker
    • There are no NPCs to summon for this fight
    • You will get the Darklurker Soul and 35,000 souls
  • If you completed all areas talk to Darkdiver Grandahl to rank up and receive the Great Resonant Soul Hex
  • If you also killed the boss talk to him to rank up and receive the Climax Hex, Xanthous Set and Dragon Chime
  • Head back to Majula

New Game Plus Preparation

DLC - Shulva: Sanctum City

  • After opening the door with the Dragon Talon, you will enter Shulva, Sanctum City.
  • Keep moving forward and as you pass a doorway look left and there will be a body with 3x Dragon Charm.
  • Keep walking and you will find a dragon sleeping. As you approach him he will wake up and fly away, so keep moving forward until you see a bonfire, the Sanctum Walk bonfire.
  • To the left of the bonfire there is a stair leading down, at the end of the stairs there is a body that holds 3x Old Growth Balm.
  • After the body you will find a dead end, so go back to the bonfire and this time follow the main path.
  • Shortly you will see a Sanctum Soldier pretending to be dead, he will get up and attack you as soon as you approach him.
  • Further ahead you will see an obelisk and a group of enemies down the path.
  • Hit the obelisk and a small structure will rise where a group of enemies is. 3 of them should die or be heavily damaged. Kill those enemies and 3 archers after them.
  • Loot the body next to the archers for 5x Lifegem and hit the obelisk nearby. Quickly drop to the top of the rising platform.
  • From here you can see an item in a body on a top of another platform.
  • Jump there to get the Dark Quartz Ring+3 from the body. Jump down and hit the obelisk again.
  • Drop down the hole and head right. Kill the Sanctum Soldier, go left and kill the other one before looting the body for 1x Poison Stone.
  • Head back and hit the obelisk. Jump on top of the structure as it rises and pick up a Long Bow+7.
  • Jump down and go up the stairs. Kill the archer and the 2 other enemies that are ahead.
  • On the left you can see a lot of red egg clusters inside a building, go inside and kill the 3 Corrosive Egg Crawlers and pick up the 3x Goldenfruit Balm from the body.
  • Go through the exit on the left and hit the obelisk, a structure will rise allowing you to enter the next building. Inside is a Sanctum Soldier waiting, kill him and go up the stairs.
  • Kill the Egg Crawler that ambushes you and pick a Poisonbite Ring+1 from the body nearby.
  • Go back and instead of going in the building with the egg clusters, go around it, drop on the ledge and pick up 3x Old Growth Balm, then run and jump to the stairs.
  • Go back up hit the obelisk under the ledge where the archer was.
  • Go back up the other stairs and into the building on the right, exit through the other door and hit another obelisk. Cross the new path and hit yet another obelisk.
  • Drop down and break the vases blocking the new path, enter the building and go up the stairs.
  • There will be 4 Egg Crawlers there, kill them and go to the window ledge, pick up a Elizabeth Mushroom and shoot an obelisk you can see before an archer, it will be below the floor level of that area.
  • That will block the archer view when you go to that area. Run and jump from the other window and go down the stairs.
  • Nearby a corpse contains Lightning Urn x5, and you can pick up 20x Throwing Knife next to the Poison Statue Cluster (NOTE: Poison Clusters are on the backs of crablike creatures and can be killed by shooting them at the base) and 5x Cracked Red Eye Orb.
  • On the left after the statue there is a Sanctum Soldier in a dead end. Kill him so he won't follow you later.
  • Go back and go down the next stairs. In the main path you will see another obelisk, hit it to raise a platform.
  • There will be a Sanctum Soldier on the floor that will rise when you get near and behind him an archer. Above the archer there is another Soldier and 2 more archers.
  • After dealing with them loot the bodies in the area for 3x Twinkling Titanite (?x in NG+) and 3x Lloyd's Talisman.
  • On the path up there is a corpse with Magic Bolt x30. Up the stairs there is a Sanctum Soldier and a corpse with a Dried Root.
  • Further along the prior path there is a small building with a Poison Statue Cluster inside, go around it and hit the obelisk.
  • Go back to the front of the building and you will see a cave, look a bit down to the left and you will see a set of red eye statues and an obelisk behind them.
  • Use either great arrows of a spell to break the statues and hit the obelisk. If you don't have any of these, then look down and you will a structure. Drop down to it and from there shoot a normal arrow to the obelisk, the angle from down there will allow to hit the obelisk without breaking the statues.
  • In the middle level of the structure (you will be one level above if you jumped down to hit the obelisk, so just fall to the entrance of the cave and walk back) there is a body holding 5x Torch.
  • Going inside the cave you have to pass 3 Poison Statue Clusters, inside there is a weird tree and 2 bodies, they hold a Notched Whip+7 and Hex, the Promised Walk of Peace.
  • You can kill the tree by hitting its eyes, it will drop 3x Dried Root, but it you hit it with any whip it'll completely restore the durability of all of your items currently equipped.
    • Oddly, if you hit the the tree with curved sword Eleum Loyce it'll also steal the health from the tree.
  • Go back to start of this area, near the first obelisk. Make sure the first platform is down, if it isn't, hit the obelisk.
  • Walk to the top the third platform. Jump to the platform on the left and pick up 2x Darknight Stone.
  • Now hit the obelisk with an arrow and has the platform rises jump/roll to its middle level to pick up a Thunder Quartz Ring +3.
  • From here shoot an arrow to the obelisk that controls the third platform to lower it, jump on hit, hit the same obelisk again and cross the platforms into the building on the left to find a bonfire, the Tower of Prayer bonfire.
  • Exit through the other door and drop down on the left side.
  • Pick up 1x Dried Root from the body, enter the building and kill the Sanctum Soldier, exit to the ledge and walk all the way to the right to find a body that holds a Sanctum Mace.
  • Go back to the building and to the ledge you dropped on, now drop down to the right side.
  • Go down the path and there will be a Soldier on the left, kill him and cross the bridge on the right, enter the building in front of you and pick up 10x Rusted Coin (?x in NG+) from the body.
  • Get out and go to the bridge with 2 Soldiers. The first time you go to this area Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon will show up and shoot 3 fireballs towards the bridge killing the enemies.
  • Don't step on the bridge yet, break the vases on the other side and go around to find the sorcery Focus Souls on a body.
  • Go back to the bridge and kill the 2 Soldiers (if they are still alive). Enter the building and you will arrive at the Dragon's Sanctum.

DLC - Dragon's Sanctum

  • Once you enter Dragon's Sanctum you have a closed door on your left, and a corridor in front of you.
  • You need a key you will find later to go through that door, so for now, go down the corridor and you will see a switch on the left side, hit it and pick up a Soul of a Great Hero and Dragon Charm x3, from the body.
  • Go towards the illuminated room on the right, there are two Ghost Sanctum Knights and two bodies on altars.
  • Attack the bodies on the altars, or hit them with arrows from the doorway, so the Knights turn visible and will take more damage.
  • Kill the Knights and loot the chests for Old Growth Balm x5, Titanite Slab x1, Soul Vessel, Destructive Greatarrow x50, and one Catarina Helm.
  • Exit to the hallway and continue going forward to the next division. A Sanctum Soldier will attack from the left, and there is another one on the right.
  • The raised floor tile triggers a crossbow trap which can be used to kill the Sanctum Soldiers. Two more soldiers are on the floor and rise when you approach.
  • At the end there is a chest (trap chest) with a Bonfire Ascetic (I got Dried Root x3 here instead).
  • Look at the ceiling and shoot an arrow to the switch, a wall panel will lift revealing a chest that contains Twinkling Titanite x5 and Petrified Dragon Bone x3.
  • Kill the Sanctum Priestess and the Sanctum Soldier in the room on the left, pick up a Human Effigy and use the pressure plate to rotate the contraption until you can get through (careful with the Sanctum Soldier waiting).
  • Keep going forward until you reach a junction. To the left there is a body with Repair Powder x1, to the right there is a wall that will be a shortcut later.
  • Keep going down and jump over the hole. You will reach a closed door.
  • Shoot an arrow into the switch in the hole on the left to open a passage on the left, but before you enter, go down the end of the hall and shoot an arrow on the switch above.
  • Kill the Sanctum Soldier on your left and before going down the stairs pay attention to the spike trap.
  • Kill the 2 enemies there and loot the 2 bodies for a Soul of a Hero and a Human Effigy.
  • Open the 3 chests in the end for Boltstone x3, Twinkling Titanite, Bleedstone x3, Petrified Dragon Bone x3 and a Puzzling Stone Sword.
  • Go back to the hole in the stairs you jumped over before, and fall through it. There will be a Corrosive Egg Bug on the right, kill it and equip the Cat Ring or any gear that lowers fall damage.
  • Fall through the hole and you will be surrounded by Egg Crawlers. The best way to deal with them is to quickly run up the stairs and deal use spells or deal with them in small groups.
  • After you kill them all you can loot the bodies in the area for Dung Pie x10, Poison Throwing Knife x20, Lifegem x5 and a Old Growth Balm.
  • Go up the ladder on top of the stairs and open the metal chest that contains the Flynn's Ring.
  • Go through the exit, you will drop where the body that had a Repair Powder is.
  • Again go down the stairs and drop in the hole but this time go left and you will find a room with the floor covered in spikes. There are 2 Ghost Sanctum Knights there and a Sanctum Priestess above.
  • There are some bodies in the spikes that hold 3x Twinkling Titanite, 1x Human Effigy, 5x Torch and 5x Holy Water Urn.
  • Hit the switch in the pillar in the end of the room to open a door on the right to a small room with a metal chest, the chest contains a Dragon Stone that you will need later.
  • There will be Ghost Sanctum Knights that you can not kill yet, so run into the room on your right. At the end of this room, there is a carved ladder that allows you to climb to where the Sanctum Priestess is.
  • Kill her and hit the switch on the ceiling to remove the spikes below. Ahead is another Priestess and another Ghost Sanctum Knight, kill them and grab Lloyd's Talisman x5 from nearby chest.
  • Go back to near the pillar with the switch for the Dragon Stone, keep going forward and you will reach a set of stairs going down.
  • Go down a few steps and look back, on the wall on the left there will be a switch, hit it with an arrow and it will open a hidden wall that leads to a bonfire.
  • Go back up and up the ladder on the right side, near the chest that had the Dragon Stone.
  • Run and jump the gap to light a bonfire, the Hidden Sanctum Chamber bonfire, and pick up a Sanctum Crossbow.
  • Now to solidify the ghosts so you can kill them. From the Hidden Sanctum Chamber bonfire, jump back to the other side and take out the Priestess on the bridge.
  • You'll see another bridge off to your right, that's where you need to go. (You can ignore the Priestess and the Ghost Sanctum Knight by running past them).
  • Go down the stairs and you will find a room with 3 Ghost Knights. Destroy all the "statues" in the walls in this room (there will be a "statues" on your left and right when you enter this room), this will make all Ghost Sanctum Knights in the Sanctum visible and weaker.
  • Kill the Knights and pick up the Eternal Sanctum Key and a Sanctum Knight Helm.
  • Once you've finished what you needed to do here, go back up the stairs and drop off the ledge on your right for a chest that contains a Bloodbite Ring+1.
  • Now you can kill the Sanctum Knights, so go ahead and dispatch them to pick up the items where the spiked floor was and the chest that contains a Dragon Stone.
    • Optionally, you can use the Eternal Sanctum Key at any time, skip to the bottom of this section for details, otherwise continue on.
  • Go back to the bridge where the Priestess stood. Walk till the middle of the walkway and on the left there will a rotating stone with a large and a small hole, like the one you found earlier.
  • Shoot an arrow to the switch you can see inside to rotate it. Drop down and get closer to the small hole, shoot another arrow to the switch.
  • Go back up the ladder and to the end of the walkway, shoot a final arrow to the switch. Drop down and enter that room, inside there will be a chest that contains the miracle Denial.
  • Head back to the room that had spikes on the floor and this time go down the narrow steps on the left side. Kill the Sanctum Knight and continue.
  • Go right, down the stairs and into the corridor on the right. Go through the doorway on the right and down the stairs. Pick up a Old Growth Balm.
  • Down 2 more sets of stairs and you will be invaded by Jester Thomas (he is a tough foe who uses pyromancy, try to increase fire defense as much as possible before the fight).
  • After dealing with the invader, go through the Fog Gate and you will be in shallow waters surrounded by giant lizard-like enemies, the Imperfects. Keep to your right and fight them carefully, they are tough.
  • Keep going right and you will find another bonfire, the Lair of the Imperfect bonfire.
  • From the bonfire keep going to the left path, you need to kill 2 or 3 more of those enemies, or run by them.
  • When you get out of the water you will see some stairs leading to a circular stone. Use the Dragon Stone here to create a path that will lead to Dragon's Rest.
  • Enter the next building and you will see an obelisk and a cave entrance. Hit the obelisk to enable the elevator and go through the cave.
  • You will find a body that has the Drakeblood Greatsword.
  • Go up the elevator and on the next level you will see another elevator and an exit. The elevator will take you the first bonfire of Shulva - Sanctum City, the exit will take up a set of stairs.
  • Before the stairs to your left is a corpse containing Human Effigy x1.
  • Go up the stairs and you will reach the entrance to Dragon's Rest (the location message saying Dragon's Rest will only show when you reach the bottom, near the Boss fog gate, so I will consider the whole next section to be the Dragon's Rest area).
  • With the Eternal Sanctum Key you can now open the door at the start of the Sanctum.
  • Inside are 2 Priestesses along with 5 chests containing: Dried Root x5, Dried Root x2, Dried Root x1, Bonfire Ascetic x2 and Lightning Clutch Ring.
  • Climb up two sets of adders to encounter 3 Egg Crawlers. Climb the next ladder to obtain the Sanctum Shield.
  • On the outside balcony you can light 2 Sconces. Drop down back to the level below and cross the long bridge (Rockshield Baldyr will invade you on this bridge).
  • On the other side of the bridge is the Priestess' Chamber bonfire.
  • Hit the obelisk here to activate the elevator, it will bring you down to the building near the first entrance to Dragon's Sanctum (where Sinh bombarded the bridge).
  • However, on your halfway down you can jump off the elevator. On this level locate a corpse with Torch x5.
  • Further around you'll find a chest with the hex Dark Greatsword.
  • From here drop down to the bridge below (Silvercat Ring is advised) and take the elevator back to Priestess' Chamber bonfire.
  • Proceed forward to the cave and then through the Fog Gate to Cave of the Dead.

DLC - Cave of the Dead

  • Drop down the ledge and if you are human, you will see 2 NPC summon signs, Rapacious Andrei and Ruined Aflis.
  • Drop down the next ledge and you will find a room with 3 Sanctum Soldiers, many Petrifying Statues and some holes in the ground.
  • Kill the enemies and drop down from the second hole on the right.
  • You will be in a room FULL of Petrifying Statues, some Poison Statue Clusters and some Sanctum Soldiers. Navigation is hard, but there is only one exit in the room, the hole mentioned for the player to drop in this walkthrough is the closest one to the exit.
  • In the room there is a metal chest that holds 3x Petrified Something, a body holding 2x Brightbug and a body holding 3x Bonfire Ascetic.
    • NOTE: It appears that if you kill the Petrify Statue Clusters to their spawn limit, the last one will drop a Promised Walk of Peace hex.
  • When you find the exit drop down fom the ledge. This new room has 3 Poison Statue Clusters, several Petrifying Statues, a Giant Worm and 3 Sanctum Soldiers.
  • After killing all these, enter the fog gate for the Boss fight with Graverobber, Varg, and Cerah.
  • Killing these bosses will give you 3x Twinkling Titanite, 3x Petrified Dragon Bone and a Titanite Slab.
  • Go to the opposite side of the entrance of the room and you will find a chest containing a Flower Skirt and a body holding 3x Blackweed Balm.
  • To exit you can use a Homeward Bone or Aged Feather or fall down the hole in the end, you will drop in the area where the Dark Greatsword hex is.
  • From here go back to the body that had the Torches and jump to the platform below.
  • From the platform roll down to the entrance of the building, take the elevator and you are back at the bonfire.

DLC - Dragon's Rest

  • After going up the stairs from Dragon's Sanctum enter the building and turn right and drop to the level below. You now need to reach the bottom of the area so you will be doing many drops from now on.
  • Drop again to the next platform, go through the doorway, drop right to a broken bridge, drop again at the end of the bridge. There will be Drakeblood Knights in this area, they are tough enemies.
  • Go up the small stairs and turn left then right into a room with a Black Drakeblood Knight and 2 switches on the floor.
  • After killing the Knight check the switches.
    • The switch on the left is hiding a Sanctum Knight. That room is empty, so don't bother with it.
    • The switch on the right is hiding 4 Crystal Lizards, as soon as the big opening is on the top level they will run to the other side of the room, giving you a short time to kill them and collect the loot.
  • Now go out and keep going left until you reach another broken bridge, drop down and go right into the next building.
  • Go straight ahead and you will see a body holding 10x Hexing Urn.
  • Keep going throught that corridor and there will be another Drakeblood Knight, kill him and go down the broken staircase on the right. At the bottom, go straight ahead and turn left.
  • Another left and in the middle of the corridor there will be an illusory wall on the left with a bonfire inside, the Sanctum Interior bonfire.
  • After lighting the bonfire go out and keep going left, go down the stairs and deal with 2 more Knights.
  • Turn left and again left and you will be in a room with several chest that are already open. There will be a body holding the Drakeblood Set.
  • Go out and turn right, go back to where you found the hidden bonfire, after the bonfire turn right and go straight until you see another broken bridge on the left, drop down here, down some steps and drop down again.
  • Drop down once more, you will see a area you can jump to on the left, so run and jump there.
  • Turn right and then left, you will see an item glowing on a body, don't run for it, since there are 2 Drakeblood Knights close by, kill the first knight and pick it up, it is 3x Vine Balm.
  • Go left and a body will be holding 3x Twinkling Titanite.
  • Further down there are 2 more bodies holding items, but first you need to kill the second Knight.
  • The items are a Large Soul of a Brave Warrior and 3x Twinkling Titanite.
  • Turn left and another body holds 5x Small Smooth & Silky Stone.
  • Turn left and keep walking until you see an area where you can jump to on the right side. It's close to the end near the wall.
  • Run and jump to that area. Here drop down to the next level and then again to reach the bottom.
  • Here you will see a large fog gate that leads to Elana, the Squalid Queen.
    • If you require assistance with the boss, there will be a few NPC summon signs in the area.
  • After you defeat Elana and receive her soul (which can be exchanged for the Wrathful Axe at Weaponsmith Ornifex), the wall adorned with a giant dragon opens, revealing a passage.
  • Continue through the passage and you will come across a bonfire, the Sanctum Nadir bonfire.
  • Now you stand before a smaller fog gate. To either side of the bonfire there are summoning signs for Abbess Feeva, and Transcendent Edde.
  • Through the fog gate is a large open area, where you must now fight Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon.
  • After defeating him you will obtain his soul (which can also be traded to Weaponsmith Ornifex for Yorgh's Spear), you should also see a glimmering orb on the floor, examine it and you will obtain the Crown of the Sunken King.
  • On the left side there will be a body with an item, head there and pick up the Yorgh's Ring.

DLC - Brume Tower

  • To enter the DLC, you need to go to the primal bonfire in Iron Keep and examine the obelisk that is in the room after the bonfire. You will be teleported to a new area.
  • Here you will see some stairs going up and a room on each side. Go up the stairs and open the big door with the Heavy Iron Key.
  • Straight ahead is an elevator, step on it and when it stops cross the mist wall. Turn right and go up the stairs.
  • You will see some bodies on the floor and what appears to be the remains of an Ashen Idol holding an item, pick up the 6x Smelter Wedges from the Idol and go up the chain.
  • Right in front of you will be the Throne Floor bonfire, light it and keep going forward.
  • As soon as you reach an ash covered area after some stairs, an Ashen Idol will emerge.
  • If you want, you can get close to it to examine it, use the Smelter Wedge to destroy it and pick up the Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (fragment) it drops.
    • However, it is recommended that you leave this Idol intact till the end of the DLC.
    • The reason is because this Idol is very easy to come back to, since its so close to the first bonfire, and if you want go straight to the main boss, you will need this Smelter Wedge for one of the Idols that keeps healing the boss.
    • You can later get more wedges and return here to destroy the idol and get the fragment of the Soul of Nadalia.
  • Go down the stairs on the left side (the stairs on the right) and pick up a Dexterity Ring.
  • Go back up and down the doorway ahead. Down the stairs and drop to the elevator, then drop again to the round platform.
  • Pick up 2x Old Growth Balm from the body and again to the level below.
  • Go through the doorway and down to an ash field. An Ashen Warrior will emerge from the ash, kill it and pick up 2x Twilight Herb from the body on the left.
  • Destroy all ash figures and pickup a Large Soul of a Proud Knight.
  • Go down the ramp and get ready for a fight with a group of Ashen Warriors that will emerge from the ash.
  • After you kill all 4 check on your right for an item on a body near some bars, it's a Rouge Water.
  • Back to the main route, enter the doorway and go down the ladder. Go around the round structure before going down the next ladder and pick up a Blackweed Balm.
  • Go down the next ladder, behind you is a body holding a Scythe+7, go through the doorway and pick up 10x Prism Stone from the body.
  • Keep going down that hallway and you will see a chest that has a Titanite Slab.
  • Down the next ladder and you will be in a big room with an Ashen Idol in the center and some Ashen Warriors.
  • The Ashen Idol will keep buffing the Ashen Warriors if you don't destroy it. To the right there is a room with 2 more Ashen Warriors and a body holding the pyromancy Dance of Fire.
  • In the main room destroy the idol for another Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (fragment) and kill all enemies.
  • In the end of the room on the left, there will be a lever, pull it to open the metal door.
  • Go through the door and turn left. Ashen Warriors will emerge from the ash.
  • Kill them and destroy the ash figures, pick up 2x Old Mundane Stone and go down, there will be a body holding 5x Lloyd's Talisman.
  • Opposite the body is a fake wall, open it and inside there are 2 chests. One has 4x Old Radiant Lifegem and 4x Wilted Dusk Herb, the other has 2x Soul Vessel.
  • Go back up right of the doorway this time. Open the metal door on the right at the end of the patio and enter a room with 3 Barrel Carriers.
  • They are not aggressive unless attacked. Be careful with them, the barrels are explosive and there is a fire source nearby.
  • Kill them if you want and go down the ladder on the left. Down the stairs there is a body holding 2x Goldenfruit Balm.
  • A Possessed Armor will attack you, kill it and keep going forward.
  • Be careful with the barrel carriers in the next section and head to the balcony through the doorway.
  • Go down the ladder, kill the Ashen Warrior there and go down the next ladder.
  • 2 more Ashen Warriors will be waiting there, kill them and open the wooden chest on the right for a Caestus+8.
  • Enter the doorway and on the right you will find the Upper Floor bonfire.
  • Continue forward and you will see a metal door, it doesn't open from this side so turn left and open the wooden chest for 3x Twinkling Titanite.
  • Go back to the bonfire, follow the right path and cross the mist wall.
  • Turn left into an alcove and then to the right and go down the ladder at the end, follow the path and turn right into a room with some dead bodies and a metal door.
  • Open the door and there will be 3 barrel carriers and a covered hole in the floor. A body near a ladder in the end holds 3x Radiant Lifegem.
  • Now you need to go down the ladder, but beware that down there you will be surrounded by tough enemies, several Ashen Warriors and a Iron Warrior.
    • An easy way to kill them is by making barrel carriers fall through the hole and let them blast near the Iron Warrior.
  • After you kill them all, use a Smelter Wedge on the Ashen Idol and pick up another Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (fragment) and a Flame Quartz Ring +3 from the body near the ladder.
  • Pull the lever near the metal door to open it.
  • Near the stair case after the door, a Possessed Armor will emerge, kill it and collect the loot from the 4 bodies.
  • Keep going down the path and 2 Ashen Warriors will emerge, backed up by a Fume Sorcerer further back shooting spells.
    • As you approach the sorcerer, another Ashen Warrior will emerge.
  • Keep moving forward, you will see a body on the left with an item and another sorcerer further ahead.
  • The item is a Human Effigy, kill the sorcerer first then pick the item up.
  • Go down the ladder at the end and kill the 3 Ashen Warriors nearby.
  • To the left you will see a big ash field with many ash figures. In the ash field 2 Ashen Warriors will emerge and ambush you from the wall on the left.
  • After you kill them, destroy the figures and pick up a 2x Soul of a Great Hero and a Large Soul of a Proud Knight.
  • Go back to the ladder and this time go down the stairs ahead. Exit the building and go around on the left.
  • Pick a Raw Stone from the body and go back to area near the ladder. Enter the mist wall on the right.
  • Go down the stairs turn right and after the closed iron door on the right you will find the Foyer bonfire.
  • Follow the path after the bonfire and on the right there is a body with 2x Magic Stone and turn right.
  • Go down the ladder and into the next area. Pull the lever at the end near the metal bars.
    • In this area there will be many flame spitting heads, remember that you could move them by hitting them with sword or arrows.
    • This is useful in toning down health of sorcerers or Iron Warriors, or blasting barrel carriers near them.
  • Kill the sorcerer after the flame spitting head.
  • Behind the sorcerer is a breakable wall with a chest, the chest contains 8x Petrified Dragon Bone, the wall can only be broken by exploding a Barrel Carrier.
  • Pull the next lever and kill the sorcerer nearby, run/roll by the flame spitting statue and kill 2 more sorcerers.
  • Behind these 2 sorcerers is another breakable wall that has a chest holding Catarina Leggings and Gauntlets.
  • Further down the path is another lever and an Iron Warrior. After killing the warrior, pull that lever and the other lever next to it.
  • Head outside and turn left into a small doorway, at the end turn left into a small room and go up the ladder.
  • Pull the lever to open a shortcut to the previous bonfire and pick up a Dried Root.
  • Go back and cross the chain on the left. Enter the mist wall and kill the 5 Ashen Crawlers in that hallway.
  • In the end of the corridor there is a body with 2x Petrified Dragon Bone. Go through the doorway and down the ladder.
  • You will be invaded by the NPC Quicksword Rachel, she will be waiting at the bottom of the ladder. Kill her and open the metal doors.
  • 2 Ashen Crawlers will be waiting behind each door.
  • Behind one door are 2 bodies that hold 2x Twinkling Titanite and the hex Recollection, a Fume Sorcerer will appear after you pick up the items.
  • One of the door will lead to a ladder, go down that ladder and keep following the path until you reach another metal door, open it and 6 Ashen Crawlers will be guarding the Scorching Iron Scepter.
    • Try and use some alluring skulls to get them to kill each other for you.
    • If you can't bait them into fratricide, do a suicide run to grab the scepter.
  • Go through the doorway on the right, kill the Ashen Crawler and follow the path and pull the lever to activate the elevator.
  • When the elevator comes down, kill the Ashen Crawler that is on it, step on the elevator and go up.
  • Cross the corridor and drop down he hole on the left. Go out and cross the chain again and go all the way back to the bonfire (or use a Homeward Bone or the Aged Feather).
  • Go to the structure in the middle of the room and use the Scorching Iron Scepter.
    • After placing the Scorching Iron Scepter next to the Foyer bonfire, take the elevator up, step out and go to the next elevator going up.
    • As soon as you step on the elevator move close to the front wall and keep pressing the "interact" button as it goes up.
    • When it comes down an illusory wall will be open, roll into that room and open the chest that contains the Hollow Skin.
  • This will activate the elevators in this room. In one of the corners of the room is a body that holds a Spell Quartz Ring +3.
  • Go down the elevator near the Sceptre, enter the doorway on the left and ignore the barrel carriers there, you will see an ash field.
  • 3 Iron Warrior will emerge from the ash. Kill them and destroy all the ash figures.
  • Pick up from the bodies and the figures in the area a Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier, 2x Titanite Chunk, a Wilted Dusk Herb, a Tower Key, 5x Charcoal Pine Resin, 2x Twinkling Titanite, 2x Human Effigy and a Skeptic's Spice.
  • Go back to where you exited the elevator and use the Tower Key on the locked door in front of it.
  • Follow the path and go down the stairs. On the right is a body holding 2x Twilight Herb.
  • The elevator there will take you down to an optional area, the Iron Passage.
  • Go back to the Foyer Bonfire and take the elevator that goes down (right in front of the bonfire).
  • Step out at the bottom and go right to the next elevator going down.
  • When it stops, don't step out, wait for it to start going up again and jump/roll to the platform above.
  • Follow that path and enter the room. On the left is a chest that has a Strength Ring.
  • Drop down the hole and kill the Ashen Warrior there.
  • Drop down the next hole and be careful not to step on the patched ground, or you will go down a few levels of patched grounds and die at the bottom.
  • This floor has 1 Ashen Warrior, the next floor has 2 Ashen Warriors, the one after has another Ashen Warrior. The next one has no enemy and the one after that has 2 Ashen Warrior.
  • In this floor there is a body holding a Partizan +6.
  • Drop to the final floor and deal with an Iron Warrior. After killing him pull the lever to open the metal door.
  • In this next area there is a Possessed Armor waiting, and after you kill it, another will emerge from the ground.
  • After them you will see an Ashen Warrior and 2 doorways. Kill the Ashen Warrior and go to the doorway on the right. Open the chest for a Sorcery Clutch Ring.
  • Go to the other doorway and take the elevator down at the end of the room. You will see a large ash field and a mist door.
  • Don't enter the mist yet. Turn right and an Iron Warrior will emerge, kill him and continue right, another will emerge.
  • After killing this one keep going until you see a bonfire on the right. Light the Lowermost Floor bonfire and now destroy the 4 Ashen Idols with Smelter Wedges.
  • If you don't destroy them, they will keep healing the boss that is inside that structure. At this point, consider doing the optional stuff listed below.
  • Now enter the mist and fight the Fume Knight.
  • After killing this boss enter the small room and examine the petrified body to obtain the Crown of the Old Iron King.
  • After killing the Fume Knight, you can explore the two optional areas, the Iron Passage and the Memory of the Old Iron King.
  • OPTIONAL CONTENT STARTS HERE: It's recommended to explore these areas wearing the Hollow Skin, because two of them inflict curse and this head gear gives the player 1000 curse resist, and before killing the Fume Knight so other players can be summoned to help.
  • Baneful Bird Ring: This ring is close to the first bonfire of Brume Tower, but its only reachable after the Scorching Iron Scepter has been placed near the Foyer bonfire.
  • Teleport to the first bonfire and look around, you will see a body with an item and a blocked path.
  • Now that the elevators are working wait for the elevator nearby to come up and jump/roll to it.
  • From the elevator walk to the landing where the body is and pick up the ring.
  • 4x Smelter Wedge and Dispelling Ring +1: From the Foyer bonfire take the elevator going up and the next elevator going up.
  • At the top go right and open the door at the end.
  • Kill the Possessed Armor (exploding the Barrel Carrier nearby is the easiest way), in one of the little room on the right is a body that has 15x Lacerating Knife, pick that up and go up the stairs.
  • Kill the Possessed Armor here and make one of the Barrel Carriers go to the fire the head is spitting, the explosion will break the wall and reveal a body holding the Dispelling Ring +1.
  • Continue through this path, kill the 2 Ashen Warriors waiting on the left and the 2 Possessed Armor at the end (again, exploding the barrels or the carriers nearby is the easiest way), in the end of this corridor on the left there is a chest that has the 4x Smelter Wedge.
  • Pilgrim's Spontoon: From the Upper Floor bonfire go to the circular room with the elevators.
  • Enter the room and turn right, wait for the elevator to be on its way up and drop to it.
  • Let it go up and when its going down, let is pass the platform you were in initially and roll to the next one, a smaller one, enter the doorway and open the chest to pick up the Pilgrim's Spontoon. (location video)
  • Life Ring +3: From the Upper Floor bonfire go to the circular room with the elevators.
  • Enter the room and turn right, wait for the elevator to be on its way up and drop to it.
  • Then quickly walk across to next ledge. Open the metal door and kill the Iron Warrior in that room.
  • Open the 4th door and use a Smelter Wedge to destroy the Ashen Idol, pick up the Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (fragment) and open the chest in the end of the room to pick up the Life Ring +3.
  • Open the first door near the chest and pick up 5x Flame Butterfly from the body, then break the crates and walk around the ledge they were hiding for 3x Titanite Chunk and a Titanite Slab.
  • Open the door right of the one where the Ashen Idol was and there will be 3 bodies with loot, they hold 10x Titanite Shard, a Petrified Something and a Broadsword +7. The other door has nothing behind it.
  • Simpleton's Ring: From the Upper Floor bonfire go to the circular room with the elevators.
  • Enter the room and turn right, wait for the elevator to be on its way up and drop to it.
  • When it is near the top walk into the passage to enter a room with a minotaur statue spitting fire.
  • The statues will spin 360 degrees if hit. Kill the 2 Possessed Armor there.
  • There is a body with loot under the fire, picking it up is very risky, it's 5x Old Radiant Lifegem.
  • Go around the statue and roll under the fire. Open the metal door and walk to the ledge to pick up the Simpleton's Ring from the body.
  • Majestic Greatsword: From the Foyer bonfire turn left, go past the metal door and up the stairs on the left, kill the Ashen Warrior and go down the stairs on the right.
  • Cross the chain and you will be invaded by Maldron the Assassin, this NPC will try to escape down the stairs when its health is low. Down there is an Ashen Idol that will heal it an buff it, so try to kill him as quickly as possible.
  • Open the chest in the end for 2x Bonfire Ascetic. Equip the Hollow Skin before going down the stairs, since the Ashen Idol keeps this place cursed.
  • Go down the stairs and 2 Ashen Warriors will emerge in the circular structure in the middle, and a Possessed Armor will attack you as soon as you are in range.
    • You can't kill the Armor because of the Idol in the bottom, it will keep bringing it back to life.
    • The best to do is to run to the bottom and destroy the idol so you can kill the enemies there.
  • A body in the stairs at the start holds 5x Silver Talisman.
  • In the 2nd round structure in the middle is a body holding a Alonne Greatbow+5.
  • Don't forget to pick up the Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (fragment) from where the Ashen Idol was.
  • At the bottom of the tower is a chest that holds the Majestic Greatsword, but as soon as you get near the chest 2 Ashen Warriors will emerge.
  • Pyromancy Fire Snake: From the Foyer bonfire turn left and open the metal door on the left with the Tower Key, this is another cursed area, so wear the Hollow Skin.
  • As soon as you go down the stairs, 2 Ashen Warriors will greet you, kill them and go down the next stairs, kill the Ashen Warrior and turn left, an Ashen Warrior and a Possessed Armor will emerge.
  • Quickly open the door on the left and destroy the Ashen Idol, now you can kill them.
  • Pick up the Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (fragment) and the 5x Large Titanite Shard from the body in the altar outside.
  • Go to the other end of the corridor, enter the room on the right and open the chest for the pyromancy Fire Snake.
  • Go up the stairs and turn right. The room on the left has a wooden chest that holds 3x Old Radiant Lifegem.
  • 2x Brightbug: From the Foyer bonfire take the elevator up, on the way up jump to the first landing you see.
  • Follow that path and shortly you will see a Crystal Lizard, kill it and pick up 3x Twinkling Titanite and 3x Titanite Chunk/1x Titanite Slab.
  • Open the metal chest ahead and pick up 2x Brightbug.

DLC - Iron Passage

  • Light the bonfire and drop down to the next floor, this is one of the areas where players that don´t have this DLC can be summoned into; also the NPC summon signs of Steel-willed Lorrie and Drifter Swordsman Aidel are located here.
    • It's worth clearing one room at a time, then feathering back, since you can earn a lot of souls ( Jester Gloves + Covetous Serpent Ring), and it's a very short distance from room to room, and dying deep sucks when you've collected 40k souls, and just done something stupid. It also means you only use one effigy if you're bringing the summons along.
    • Consider using the NPCs, combined with Aged Feather & Black Separation Crystal. It's considerably safer. They'll always take the low path. And if you take the high path, they'll just rush to the last room.
    • For specific clearing details, click the link at the top to be taken to the fextralife page where it is described in detail; it doesn't quite fit this checklist format.
  • Continue and you will see a lever, a path ahead and a path to the left.
  • If you pull the lever the cells in the path ahead will open and 4 Ashen Warriors will be released, after killing them the last cell to the right will have a body holding 7x Large Titanite Shard.
  • This lever has another use that is not essential to complete the area, it will be described near the end of the section.
  • Take the path to the left and drop down the hole. Around the corner is a room with 2 Ashen Warriors waiting and a Fume Sorcerer shooting lightning while you fight them.
  • You will see an item in a body out of reach, ignore it for now.
  • After killing the enemies go to through the doorway and drop down again. There will another drop with an Ashen Warrior waiting for you, drop and kill it.
  • Continue to another room with a caster, a Possessed Armor and 2 Ashen Warriors. One of them is hiding to the right ready to ambush you as you enter the room.
  • After killing them all continue to yet another drop. This final room has a Possessed Armor, a caster and an Iron Warrior.
  • After killing them all, pick up a Dried Root from the body and enter the mist to fight the boss, the Blue Smelter Demon.
  • After the boss, continue to the next division and pick up the Pharros Mask from the body, take the elevator and drop down to the walkway. You're back at the entrance of Iron Passage.
  • OPTIONAL CONTENT STARTS HERE: It is not possible to get all items in this area in one run. You will need to use Aged Feather or Homeward Bone and rest at a bonfire a few times to reset the area and come back for missing items.
  • The lever in the first room that open the cells, also opens the grate at the end for the stone lizard to shoot fireballs.
  • If you pull the lever and run (and manage to dodge the fireballs) you can go past the grate before it closes and have access to the upper areas with items you could see, but not reach.
  • Even these upper area have many enemies, its not easier than lower part.
  • When you manage to run past the closing grate, an Astrologist enemy will be waiting for you.
  • Kill and go left. Kill the Fume Sorcerer and pick up 2x Crimson Water from the body at the end.
  • Go back to where you dropped and go forward this time. You will see another lever and a Fume Sorcerer will emerge.
  • Kill the sorcerer and look ahead of the lever. Its another block of cells with a grate and a salamander at the end.
  • There are 2 bodies holding itmes in the cells, but to pick those up you can't progress more in this area, you will need to return to the bonfire to reset the area and come here again.
    • If you open the cells, 3 Ashen Warrios will come out, kill them and pick up a Simpleton's Spice and 5x Torch.
  • If you decide to run past the grate you will be in a room with 2 exits.
  • The exit on the left has an Astrologist waiting for you.
  • Here you can see an item below and a Possessed Armor close to it, but if you drop to pick it up you have to repeat the process all over again.
    • If you drop down, kill the Armor and pick up 2x Wilted Dusk Herb.
  • The other exit will take to the last area, near the boss gate.
  • A Possessed Armor will be guarding 2 bodies that hold 3x Cracked Eye Orb and 3x Old Growth Balm.

DLC - Memory of the Old Iron King

  • From the Foyer bonfire take the elevator up and the next elevator up.
  • At the top turn left and use the Tower Key to open the door.
  • Take the elevator up, turn right and you will be invaded by the NPCs Prowlers.
  • You will only see one in this room, kill it and destroy the Ashen Idol.
  • Pick up the Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (fragment) and continue through the doorway.
  • You will see a staircase and 4 more Prowlers will spawn. Kill them and go up the stairs.
  • Turn right and you will see a statue glowing, go around it and light the Smelter Throne bonfire.
  • Now go to the statue and examine it to enter the memory.
  • The room where you start is the room where summon signs of players that don't have the DLC show up, this is the other area for that also the NPC summon signs of Steel-willed Lorrie and Drifter Swordsman Aidel are located here.
  • Go through the doorway and enter a large room.
    • This room has many Alonne Knights and Fire Salamanders.
    • The best way to deal with them is to lure the Knights one by one trying to be out of range of the Salamanders fireballs.
  • The first doorway to the left has a body holding 3x Rusted Coin, in the middle of the room are 3 bodies that hold 5x Smooth & Silky Stone, 3x Human Effigy and one Skeptic's Spice.
  • Go to the end of the room and drop down the hole. Continue to the next room.
  • This room has several Knights and a Fire Salamander below shooting fireballs.
  • After killing them you can loot the 2 bodies there. One holds 5x Radiant Lifegem and the other 3x Repair Powder.
  • Take the side stairs to go below, kill the Salamander and 3 Knights there and explore the area for a Twinblade +7.
  • Go through the doorway in the end, down the corridor and enter the mist door to fight the boss, Sir Alonne.
  • After killing the boss, enter the room on the far right and examine the chair for a Smelter Wedge. Examine it again to be transported out of the memory.

DLC - Frozen Eleum Loyce

  • To enter this DLC, go to the Shrine of Winter and interact with the structure there. You will be teleported to a new snowy area.
  • In front of you is a big iron door that takes you to Frozen Eleum Loyce. Go up the stairs and light the bonfire.
  • Head to the opening ahead, enter it then turn right. Down the stairs there will be a Rampart Soldier waiting, kill him and head through the doorway to find another one.
  • On the left there is a body holding 4x Radiant Lifegem.
  • A third soldier will be attracted by the fighting noises and will come up the stairs to attack you, kill him and go down the stairs on the left.
  • Another soldier will try to ambush you from the left, after killing him take the left exit (the other one is blocked for now).
  • Cross the path and kill the next soldier.
  • Pick up 2x Goldenfruit Balm from the body and head outside.
  • A soldier will come from the left to attack you, kill him and continue down the stairs.
  • At the bottom of the stairs, on the right, there is a yard with 3 Rampart Dogs and a body holding a Winged Spear +7.
  • Continue down the main path and when you reach snow covered floor, turn left and pick up 5x Torch from the body near the edge.
  • Take the right path now, you will see ice boulders blocking the path to some bodies holding items, leave them for now as you can only reach those and many other items/chests later in this DLC.
  • Continue ahead and you will see a frozen fountain on the left and a group of enemies.
  • After killing them there will be 2 more ahead waiting for you. Turn left and pick up 5x Small Blue Burr from the body.
  • Back to the main path, go up the stairs on the left and kill the 2 soldiers there.
  • Enter the misty doorway on the left and go up the stairs.
  • On the left there will be many crates, beware that behind them there is a group of enemies.
  • Open the door behind those enemies and go up the stairs ahead.
  • Kill the Rampart Spearman and the Soldier ahead.
  • Enter the building on the left and kill the weak enemy there. Break the crates and go down the icy path.
  • Enter the cave on the right and kill the Rampart Lancer. Further ahead another Lancer will emerge from the snow. Pick up the Old Bell Helm from the body.
  • If you're feeling froggy and don't need a bonfire yet, you can take on some tough enemies for the key to the DLC's optional area.
  • Go back to the frozen path between buildings, follow it to the end, and light the four sconces to open the door.
    • NOTE: You cannot light the sconces until AFTER you've defeated Aava the King's Pet and spoken to the Oracle.
    • Until then, the wind will keep blowing your torch out.
    • So you cannot get the Garrison Ward Key until after Aava is dead.
  • Inside you will find a Flexile Sentry on the right, and a path up above the roomful of Retainer Rogues on bleachers.
  • After eliminating the sentry and the rogues, you will find another sentry waiting at the far end of the stone auditorium guarding the Garrison Ward Key.
  • Once all enemies are taken care of, collect the items littered along the bleachers, and check the left wall (while entering the cave) for an illusory wall leading up to a body with the Bone Fist.
  • Optional objectives in hand, let's return to the main path. Go back and now enter the building on the right.
  • Drop down to the lower level and light the bonfire.
  • Go outside and kill the Crystal Golem. On the back left there is another Golem.
  • Go up the ramp, kill another Golem, go up the stairs and kill the soldier. Another Golem will emerge below, go down and kill it.
  • On the right there is a path between the 2 buildings, follow it, turn left and pick up a Ring of the Embedded from the body.
  • Go back, but instead of turning right to go back to the path between the buildings, go ahead and turn right on this path.
  • You will find a body holding the hex Dark Dance.
  • Drop down and go up the stairs. Keep following this path and turn left when you see an opening.
  • A Rampart Lancer will be guarding a big metal door. Kill him and pull the lever to open the door. A body nearby has 5x Radiant Lifegem.
  • At this point, you can make use of the previously retrieved Garrison Ward Key.
    • NOTE: If you didn't retrieve it from the Flexile sentries earlier, then skip this section and continue with the main path.
  • With the key in hand, proceed through the large doors and turn left.
  • Eliminate the Rampart Golem and the three kneeling hollows (they will get up and attack you from behind if you leave them) and open the previously locked door to find the Expulsion Chamber bonfire.
  • Examine the nearby coffin to be transported to the optional area Frigid Outskirts.
  • Go through the door and turn right, going up the spiral stairs.
  • Kill the Lancer at the top, keep going forward and turn left. Go inside the building and turn left again.
  • When you enter the next building, a soldier will attack you from the left. Enter that area and pull the lever.
  • This will remove the stuff that was blocking a path very close to the start of Frozen Eleum Loyce. Back to the main path, keep going ahead and kill the Lancer on the left.
  • Pick up 8x Green Blossom from the body.
  • Down the stairs a soldier waits for you, kill it and enter the doorway. Drop down and keep going forward. Pick up a Crimson Water, and keep going down the stairs.
  • You will see a lit structure ahead, go there and pick up the Eye of the Priestess from the skeleton at the altar.
    • This item will allow you to see the invisible enemies and bosses that exist in this DLC.
  • Outside this building turn right and go down the path leading left. Kill the warpick holding enemy and keep following that path.
  • On the way there are 2 bodies holding items, they are 5x Alluring Skull and a Skeptic's Spice.
  • Further ahead there is a fog door on the left, enter it and light the bonfire ahead.
  • Turn left (facing the bonfire) and pull the lever to open the door. The next room has 2 Rogue Sorcerers and several soldiers. Kill them and turn right after exiting the room.
  • Go up the stairs and pick up 2x Dried Root. You will be invaded by a NPC called Holy Knight Aurheim.
  • Go up the next stairs and kill the sorcerer and soldiers up there. The three Frozen Golems in this room are surrounding a chest that contains the Curved Nil Greatsword.
  • Enter the left doorway and go up the stairs. You will see many barrels in this corridor, one of them near the end is the invader in disguise, so destroy them all and kill the invader.
  • Open the chest at the end and pick up 10x Silver Talisman.
  • Enter the doorway on the right and go up the stairs. At the top drop down to the lower path and you will be in the first area of Frozen Eleum Loyce again.
  • Turn left and enter the mist to fight the boss, Aava, the King's Pet.
  • After killing the boss, go through the doorway and up the stairs to enter the Grand Cathedral.
  • Finding the Eleum Loyce Knights: After visiting the Cathedral, you need to return to the Frozen Eleum Loyce to find the Knights that will assist you before the final boss fight.
    • Remember that when going through these areas that the ice have been melted a lot of places meaning that there will be a lot of loot available from unfrozen chests, the Retainer Rogues will get up and fight you and enemies killed near the Frozen Giants will wake them up and attack you (like the doors and giants in Drangleic Castle).
  • From the Outer Wall bonfire go to the frozen fountain area.
  • Go straight ahead from the fountain, through the archway and down the small set of stairs ahead.
  • You will need to cross the destroyed bridge by going all the way down to the ground and come back up on the other side.
  • Enter the building on the right by the destroyed bridge and step on the elevator.
  • At the bottom go outside and kill the three Rampart Hedgehogs that are next to the two corpses with loot.
  • Go left through the archway to an area with a lot of small pillars. Rampart Hedgehogs will be lying in wait as well as some corpses with loot.
  • Keep to the left and you are now in a big open area with several Hedgehogs. Three Witchtrees will be attacking you from the walkway above and you will get invaded by the red phantom Hexer Nicholai.
  • Keep to the right in this area and you will find a ladder going up on the right wall just before the huge metal gate.
  • Go up the ladder and loot the chest nearby.
  • You can enter the building near the chest, this is where you need to go, BUT if you backtrack along the walkway you will find another building with the Lower Garrison bonfire.
  • Go inside the building near the ladder and the chest from before and up the stairs. You will see a white phantom.
  • He will pretend to be friendly until he gets a chance to backstab you! Get rid of him and go up the stairs until you see a ledge outside.
  • Go there and pull the lever. Drop down and go through the huge gates.
  • At the bottom of the cave kill the white Covetous Demon and take the exit on the far right. A couple of Rampart Hedgehog are waiting for you in the tunnel.
  • The end of the tunnel splits into two, the left leads to a door that serves as a shortcut and the right leads to an outside area with several Rampart Hedgehogs and four sleeping Frozen Giants.
  • Go through the area, into the doorway at the end and step on the elevator. You are now on the other side of the destroyed bridge.
  • If you turn left when leaving the building with the elevator you can fight three Rampart Golems (can kill/damage them with enviroment if you take the other path first) for Azal's Staff and some loot at the end of the bridge.
  • Go up the hill, you will encounter a few Hedgehogs and Golems on the way to the top.
  • In front of the door is a snow ball you can hit that will roll down the hill over the bridge and cover the whole in the middle of the bridge, opening a shortcut and damaging golems.
  • Open the door at the building at the top of the hill and you will have freed one of the Loyce Knights.
  • From the Abandoned Dwelling bonfire go outside and up the snowy ramp on the left and up the stairs at the end.
  • Go through the doorway on the left at the end of the walkway. You will now be at the short bridge with a Rampart Golem and the lever that opened the metal door was.
  • Turn right, passing the circular room and go up the spiral stairs.
  • If this is the first time you pass through this area after melting the ice you can enter the door before the spiral stairs to a circular room.
  • There is a Rampart Soldier in here with several chests that can now be looted. Watch out as one of them is a Mimic.
  • At the top of the spiral stairs there are three paths to take. This first is to the left, the one you took the first time you went through this area.
  • The second is to the right and have two enemies stading by ballistas and a Pharros Contraption at the end.
  • The third is straight ahead, take that one to get to the Knight. Go down the stairs and kill the Lancer.
  • Exit the building, turn left and go down the stairs. Watch out since the two Rampart Soldier across the courtyard might be shooting at you.
  • Enter the building, you will now be in a long hallway with wooden floors that have a lot of holes.
  • There will be two Rampart Soldier and a Rampart Spearman in the hallway plus a third Rampart Soldier on the second balcony on the right.
    • He can be sniped from the first balcony, which you can get to by simply running across the hallway when you enter.
  • At the end of the hallway you will be in a small room with two ladders, one going down and one going up.
  • Going up the ladder leads to a small room with a door you can open for a shortcut (the door at the small bridge that is just before the circular room with the chests and the spiral staircase).
  • From the shortcut-door go down the ladder and down the next one as well. A Rampart Spearman will be waiting at the bottom.
  • From where the Spearman was standing you can snipe a Rampart Soldier that is standing on the wooden floor in the hallway on the level below.
  • Continue down the next ladder where a Rampart Golem will be waiting.
  • Go down the hallway, to the left is a balcony with a corpse holding Ring Of Resistance +1 and to the right is a ladder leading down to the ground floor of the building.
  • Four Rampart Stray Dog will come running to attack you just as you step off the ladder.
    • Be careful not to run too much around in the hallway when fighting the dogs as three more dogs lie in wait in the opposite end of the hallway (the end where you originally entered the building).
  • The small room where the dogs came from have a chest with some loot.
  • Run to the end of the hallway (opposite end of the small room with the chest) and dispatch the three dogs.
  • Go through the winding hallway that leads back outside.
  • Follow the walkway past the building with the elevator (this leads back after you have freed the Loyce Knight).
  • Before the end of the walkway you will be invaded by Castaway Witch Donna.
  • Kill her and dispatch the Rampart Golem that waits at the end. Open the door and you will have freed another one of the Loyce Knights.
  • Travel to the Inner Wall bonfire.
    • This entire next section will be littered with slumbering Frozen Giants.
    • These will come to life and attack you if an enemy is killed near them, so either kite the enemies away from the Giants or be ready when you wake one up.
  • Go down the hallway to the room with the 2 Retainer Sorcerers and several Rampart Soldiers.
  • There are also two Frozen Giants and two chests in this room (watch out, as one is a Mimic).
  • Turn right and go up the stairs and up the next set of stairs.
  • You are now in the room with 3 slumbering Frozen Giants in the center, two Rampart Spearman and a Retainer Sorcerer that will attack as soon as you reach the top of the second set of stairs.
  • If you don't want to wake up the giants you can kite the Spearmen and Sorcerer down the stairs and kill them in the big empty room.
  • From the three giants go down the path that was blocked by ice earlier, you will now be in a long hallway with 2 sleeping Frozen Giants, a Retainer Sorcerer and a Rampart Soldier.
  • At the end of the hallway turn right and the door on the left leads to the Loyce Knight.
  • Passing by that door is a corridor with loot by the end and a secret wall to its right side in the middle.
  • The stairs behind the Loyce Knight lead to a shortcut to the Grand Cathedral.

DLC - The Cathedral

  • Open the door and light the bonfire, go up the stairs and follow the red carpet.
  • At the end pick the option "talk" and when asked if you will help, select "Yes".
  • A new path will open which leads to the final boss; many areas, chests, & items blocked by ice in Frozen Eleum Loyce will also melt.
  • Before you go down and fight the boss it is recommended to find and recruit the three missing Eleum Loyce Knights to assist you.
  • After finding the Knights, continue through the Cathedral and drop down to The Old Chaos.

DLC - The Old Chaos

  • This final area of the Ivory Crown DLC can be accessed from a fog gate in The Cathedral.
  • Once the player enters the fog gate they will fall down a hole followed by the Knights of Eleum Loyce.
  • While the player is in no way obligated to recruit the help of the extra Knights it will certainly make their time in this area a lot easier.
  • The Knights will sacrifice themselves in turn to freeze over and block the portals that spawn their charred counterparts.
  • After defeating a certain amount of charred Knights, or freezing over all 3 portals, then a 4th portal will erupt from the lava on the far side of the area where the Burnt Ivory King shall walk forth from, ready for his final battle.
  • If the player has all 4 Knights at his side then there will be one left to help you battle the Burnt Ivory King.
  • After you defeat the boss, the Crown of the Ivory King will appear on the ground where the boss' portal was.
  • Head back to where you first landed in this zone, and activate the white beam to teleport back to The Cathedral.
  • Alsanna, Silent Oracle now has an additional line of dialogue.

DLC - Frigid Outskirts

  • This area is covered with a recurring blizzard, as well as Frozen Reindeer (Horse) spawning throughout the area, making navigation in this area extremely difficult even with the use of Prism Stone.
  • It looks like the reindeer can be despawned permanently by killing them repeatedly--see the Frozen Reindeer page for tips on fighting them.
  • Conserve your Estus Flasks for the boss fight! Try to use other healing items and healing Miracles as much as possible.
  • There are three buildings throughout the map with some loot; one of them about halfway to the boss contained a healing spring activated by a Pharros Lockstone.
    • This was especially useful for healing NPC phantoms; although, you have to get them to stand down in the water.
    • They have a mind of their own, but getting them to lock on to you helps: circle until their back is facing the spring, then walking toward it to make them back up into it.
    • MUCH faster and cheaper than Great Heal.
  • Lud and Zallen are located in a clearing behind a fog gate, across a bridge, at the end of a fairly linear (from building to building) level.
  • This path is generally to the left if you face the light.
  • Going through the level, you should keep the light on your right side if you get disoriented in the storm, particularly after a reindeer attacks.
  • This next section is going to be general Hints and Tips around the area taken from the fextralife page. They're not in any defined order so I'm just going to make a sublist out of them. Check this when you're done with the area.
    • Basically there are 3 areas throughout the map where the horses will appear: 1) past the first ruin, 2) past the second ruin, 3) between the third ruin and the bridge to the fog gate. It doesn't matter where you are in that area, they will always spawn near you.
    • The horses will stop spawning at some point. (I killed about 17 horses after the first ruin until they stopped spawning, around 22 after the second ruin and roughly 30 right before the bridge. If you kill them one by one they are not that hard.)
    • If you wipe out all the horses, they won't respawn after dying or leaving the area.
    • The horses have a small chance (like 5%) of dropping a Petrified Dragon Bone.
    • Pass through this area can be hard, you just have to know one thing. The sun (the reflex that blinds you when is directly on your sight) is your guide; starting from the statues where you can summon phantoms, just follow the sun having it slightly to your right hand (at some point you will reach a wall, go forward close to it), following it will lead you to the right corner of the map (doesn't matter if you get lost, just find the sun and follow it), where the boxes and barrels mark the limit between you and the cliff; and there you go, follow the boxes (in the path there is a corpse with the ring of the living), turn to the right when you see the path to the fog gate (All the enemies will follow you to the fog gate, so be quick or kill them in the way). Also you can summon the phantoms for a little help, most of the times they will make it with full health.
    • Running to the Head of Vengarl and then moving in a straight linear path to across the area may be most effective. Vengarl will take aggro from some of the enemies and you don't waste time and on some cases hardly any health. Once you've made to the cliff, its the home stretch to the boss. You can wait for Vengarl (at the risk of enemies following you across the bridge) or go in and start the fight til he gets there. However, if Vengarl's health drops too low, or he dies, head back to the bonfire, due to the fact that the bosses will be stronger and you will have no support. Or simply find a friend to summon with.
    • It is possible to pass through this area in complete stealth without fighting anything. This is achieved by using chameleon/silver talismans to transform into an object, as such the horses will not aggro when the blizzard causes them to spawn so long as you stand still when the storm kicks up. They also don't seem to aggro if you move as slow as physically possible and keep a respectable distance from them, but be careful not to bump into freshly spawned ones in the blizzard and keep your distance from the roaming hollows, they tend to bump into you as they wander around. Warning: this method is painfully slow.

Checklists

Master Of Sorcery (Learn all sorceries)

Master Of Miracles (Learn all miracles)

Master Of Hexes (Learn all hexes)

Master of Pyromancy (Learn all pyromancies)

Gesture Maestro (Learn all gestures)

Help

Is this a guide?

Nope, not really. This is a set of checklists and information that you can use while playing Dark Souls to make sure you don't miss an item, action, conversation or boss. If you need playthroughs then you can click on the links scattered throughout the page to find them in the wiki.

Do I need to follow the playthrough in this exact order?

Dark Souls is not a liner game and has multiple ways of progressing. This is generally the way I like to play through the game, so feel free to follow it if you like or mix it up. You can always jump back and forth and check things off in a different order.

Can I use this for multiple characters?

Yup, use the profile selector and buttons at the top right of the page to setup multiple characters.

Your level ranges are all wrong!

Any time I mention a level range it is just a rough guideline. The level an area or boss should be attempted at depends a lot on the experience of the player, their skill level and their gear.

How do I help with feedback, corrections, suggestions or additions?

You can post in this Reddit thread or if you know your way about Git/GitHub then fork my repo and submit a pull request.

Thanks to the following people for their suggestions, fixes and improvements

How does the checklist status get saved?

It gets saved to the local storage in your browser and not to any database or API. So if you are clearing your browser cache make sure not to delete the site data or your checklists will get reset. At some point in the future I might hook it up to an API.

What else have you got planned?

Every area in the game is now covered but I'm going to add other bits of information that I think might be useful as you do a playthrough. I'm also aware that the formatting needs a bit of work on mobile devices.

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