Dark Souls III Guide#
Dark Souls III is the final chapter of the Souls series and FromSoftware’s definitive action RPG, released in 2016. As the closing act of the Age of Fire, it sends you wandering the decaying kingdom of Lothric to face the Soul of Cinder, the avatar of the Lords who once linked the flame. Combat is faster and more aggressive than in previous entries, built around weapon arts, focus points, and a deepened infusion system, with two full DLC expansions closing out the story.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam) | Release Date: March 24, 2016
Game Information#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | FromSoftware |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Director | Hidetaka Miyazaki |
| Genre | Souls-like action RPG |
| DLC | Ashes of Ariandel + The Ringed City |
| Major Areas | 15+ — from Firelink Shrine to the Kiln of the First Flame |
| Boss Count | 25 total (19 base game + 6 DLC) |
| Endings | 4 |
| Multiplayer | Co-op summoning + PvP invasions |
Core Features#
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Faster Combat | Combat pace is dramatically quicker than earlier entries — aggression and positioning are rewarded |
| Weapon Arts | Every weapon has a unique weapon art that consumes FP |
| FP and Ashen Estus | A new focus point resource powers weapon arts and spells |
| Infusion System | Gems change a weapon’s damage type and scaling |
| Undead Bone Shard | Upgrades the recovery amount of your Estus Flasks |
| Lord of Cinder Mode | Defeating four Lords of Cinder in sequence unlocks the final area |
Attribute Breakdown#
| Attribute | Effect | Soft Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Vigor | HP — prioritize 40 | 40 |
| Attunement | FP + attunement slots | 30-40 |
| Endurance | Stamina — the green bar | 40 |
| Vitality | Equipment load limit | 40 |
| Strength | Damage for strength weapons | 40 (1.5x when two-handing) |
| Dexterity | Damage for dexterity weapons + casting speed | 40 |
| Intelligence | Sorcery damage + some fire damage | 60 |
| Faith | Miracle damage + some fire damage | 60 |
| Luck | Item discovery + bleed/poison buildup | 40 |
Early-Game Recommendations#
| # | Advice | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start as a Knight | The Knight’s starting gear and stat spread is the friendliest for newcomers — a 100% physical absorption shield plus high starting HP |
| 2 | Level Vigor and Endurance first | Put early points into Vigor up to 27 (soft cap) and Endurance to 20 |
| 3 | Shield up and circle | Raise a 100% physical shield and strafe around the enemy — strike once its combo ends |
| 4 | Never get greedy | The iron law of Souls games — hit once or twice, then roll; greed kills |
| 5 | Explore every corner | The game is packed with hidden paths, items, and NPC questlines — search each area carefully |
| 6 | Split your Estus | Early on favor the health flask; casters can lean on the blue flask. Rebalance with the Fire Keeper at Firelink Shrine |
| 7 | Don’t attack the old woman | The Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine is a key merchant — never attack NPCs |
| 8 | Summon NPCs | Many boss gates have golden summon signs — they drastically lower the difficulty |
Version Update History#
| Version | Release Date | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | March 24, 2016 | 19 bosses + 15+ areas |
| v1.03 | March 2016 | Balance adjustments — weapon scaling and spell damage fixes |
| v1.04 | April 2016 | Matchmaking optimization — spell cost adjustments — Blade of the Darkmoon covenant fix |
| Ashes of Ariandel | October 25, 2016 | DLC 1 — the painted world — Sister Friede boss — new weapons and spells |
| The Ringed City | March 28, 2017 | DLC 2 — the Ringed City — Darkeater Midir and Slave Knight Gael — the end of the Age of Fire |
| Final version | April 2017 | Final balance patch — PvP tuning — all online features stabilized |
FAQ#
Which starting class is best for beginners?#
The Knight. It starts with a 100% physical absorption shield, high Vigor, and heavy armor, making the opening hours far more forgiving.
Which boss is the hardest?#
Nameless King (base game) and Slave Knight Gael are generally considered the two hardest fights in the game.
What is the fastest way to farm souls?#
Farm the three mages on the top floor of the Grand Archives while wearing the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring and the Symbol of Avarice — roughly 100,000 souls per run.
Should I go strength or dexterity?#
Strength is friendlier for beginners — greatswords deal high poise damage. Dexterity builds reach higher DPS in the late game.
How do I access the DLC?#
Ashes of Ariandel: get grabbed by the new NPC at the Cleansing Chapel bonfire. The Ringed City: after defeating the Soul of Cinder, use the bonfire at the Kiln of the First Flame to travel there.
Does the platinum trophy require multiple playthroughs?#
Yes — at least three playthroughs to collect every ring and finish the soul-based achievements.
How do invasions work?#
Invaders enter your world as dark spirits, and you must be embered to be invaded. Matchmaking is bound by both soul level and weapon upgrade level.
What are the strongest PvP weapons?#
Gael’s Greatsword, Darkdrift, the Exile Greatsword, and the Chaos Blade.
Weapon Recommendations#
| Weapon Type | Recommended Weapon | Scaling | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Swords | Lothric Knight Sword | Str C / Dex C | Quality 40/40 — infuse with Refined or Chaos |
| Greatswords | Exile Greatsword | Str B / Dex D | Strength 66 — infuse with Heavy |
| Ultra Greatswords | Greatsword | Str S / Dex E | Strength 66 — infuse with Heavy |
| Rapiers | Irithyll Rapier | Str D / Dex C | Dexterity 40 — infuse with Sharp |
| Curved Swords | Onikiri and Ubadachi | Str D / Dex C | Dexterity 40+ with bleed |
| Great Hammers | Great Mace | Str S / Dex E | Strength 66 — the poise-damage king |
| Polearms | Red-hilted Halberd | Str D / Dex D | Strength 40+ |
| Casting Tools | Court Sorcerer’s Staff + Yorshka’s Chime | Int S | Pure caster at 60 Intelligence |
Boss Quick Reference#
| Boss | Location | Weakness | Suggested Tactics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iudex Gundyr | Firelink Shrine | Fire | Phase 2: wait out its combos before striking — watch the pustule attacks |
| Vordt of the Boreal Valley | High Wall of Lothric | Fire | Stay under him and hammer his midsection |
| Curse-rotted Greatwood | Undead Settlement | White sacs | Pop the white sacs on his body; in phase 2 target the sac on his leg |
| Crystal Sage | Road of Sacrifices | — | — |
| Abyss Watchers | Farron Keep | Backstabs | Phase 1: let the red-clad watcher thin the others; phase 2: counter after its wide swings |
| High Lord Wolnir | Catacombs of Carthus | Bracelets | Break the three golden bracelets — start with the one on the right hand |
| Old Demon King | Smouldering Lake | Dark | Keep mid-range, hit the head after its flame breath, watch for meteors |
| Pontiff Sulyvahn | Irithyll of the Boreal Valley | Parry | Parry masters: two steps in, then parry the first slash; otherwise shield up and circle behind |
| Yhorm the Giant | Profaned Capital | Storm Ruler | Grab the Storm Ruler at the entrance, charge its weapon art, 3-4 charged hits after it falls |
| Soul of Cinder | Kiln of the First Flame | Lightning | Phase 1: learn all five forms; phase 2: focus on dodging combos and punish the recovery of big attacks |
Sorceries, Pyromancies, and Miracles Quick Reference#
| Type | Name | Requirement | Effect | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorcery | Soul Arrow | Intelligence 22 | High single-target damage — the best value spell | ★★★★★ |
| Sorcery | Hidden Body | Intelligence 15 | Turn invisible to approach enemies — an exploration essential | ★★★★★ |
| Sorcery | Farron Flashsword | Intelligence 23 | Melee sorcery — the caster’s “sword” — very fast | ★★★★ |
| Pyromancy | Great Chaos Fire Orb | Intelligence 20 / Faith 20 | The strongest DLC pyromancy — high damage and huge range | ★★★★★ |
| Pyromancy | Perspiration | Intelligence 10 / Faith 10 | Massive fire absorption boost — built for demon enemies | ★★★★ |
| Miracle | Sunlight Spear | Faith 40 | The strongest miracle — double damage at point-blank range | ★★★★★ |
| Miracle | Tears of Denial | Faith 18 | Survive one fatal hit at 1 HP — a staple in PvE and PvP | ★★★★★ |
| Miracle | Great Magic Barrier | Faith 18 | Greatly boosts magic absorption — built for fighting mages | ★★★★ |
Covenants and Multiplayer#
| Covenant | How to Join | Reward Item | Reward Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Way of Blue | Speak with the idol at Firelink Shrine | No direct reward — PvP protection | Auto-summoned as a Blade of the Darkmoon |
| Warrior of Sunlight | Altar beside the Undead Settlement bonfire | — | — |
| Blades of the Darkmoon | The Darkmoon priestess — the chair at the Cleansing Chapel | Proof of Concord Kept — Darkmoon Blade | Summoned by Way of Blue hosts to kill invaders |
| Rosaria’s Fingers | Rosaria at the Cleansing Chapel | Pale Tongue — rebirth / stat respeccing | Invade and kill hosts |
| Watchdogs of Farron | Inside the gate at Farron Keep | Sword Grass — Wolf Knight Greatsword | Automatically defend Farron Keep |
| Aldrich’s Faithful | Behind the silver knights in Irithyll | Human Dregs — powerful sorceries | Automatically defend the cathedral grounds |
Covenant System Deep Dive: From Joining to Reward Farming Routes#
Covenants in Dark Souls III are more than lore — they gate exclusive gear, spells, and miracles. This section walks through every covenant in acquisition order, the core mechanics, and efficient farming plans so you can collect all covenant rewards quickly.
Covenant Overview#
| Covenant | Join Location | Core Mechanic | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Way of Blue | The tower at the foot of the High Wall (speak with the bishop) | Auto-summoned blue phantoms defend you when invaded | Way of Blue ring (damage reduction) |
| Warrior of Sunlight | High Wall of Lothric (the golden sign beside the bonfire) | Place golden signs to help hosts beat bosses | Sunlight Straight Sword, Sunlight Spear |
| Blades of the Darkmoon | Anor Londo (Yorshka’s church) | Automatically answer Darkmoon summons and hunt dark spirits | Darkmoon Blade, Silver Knight set |
| Rosaria’s Fingers | Rosaria’s chamber (offer tongues) | Invade and kill hosts to earn tongues | Man-grub’s Staff, Cursed Greatshield |
| Watchdogs of Farron | Farron Keep (the Wolf’s Blood contract) | Automatically invade red phantoms in the Farron Keep area | Wolf Knight Greatsword, Wolf Ring |
| Aldrich’s Faithful | Cathedral of the Deep (behind the congregation of bishops) | Automatically answer guardian summons and hunt dark spirits | Holy Moonlight Sword, Guardian’s set |
| Mound-makers | Untended Graves (speak with the Holy Knight) | Invade any world; kill hosts or white phantoms | Brazier Remains, Creeping Carrion |
| Lothric Knights | Lothric Castle (from the Knight captain) | Help kill bosses to earn covenant offerings | Lothric Holy Sword, Knight’s Talisman |
| Darkmoon Covenant | The Darkmoon altar (from the Darkmoon maiden) | Answer Darkmoon summons and hunt dark spirits | Darkmoon Blade (miracle), Darkmoon Ring |
| Ringed Knights | The Ringed City (from the Ringed Knight captain) | Help kill Ringed City bosses to earn Ringed fragments | Ringed Knight Straight Sword, Ringed Knight Greatshield |
Farming Routes and Practical Tips#
1. Warrior of Sunlight (the fastest covenant to start)
- Join at the altar beside the first bonfire on the High Wall of Lothric — no prerequisites.
- Farming Sunlight Medals: place your golden sign in front of boss gates; the Deacons of the Deep in the Cathedral of the Deep see frequent summons and quick clears.
- If nobody summons you, solo-farm the red-eye Lothric Knights on the High Wall of Lothric (about 5% drop each) with the Gold Serpent Ring +2 and coins to boost luck.
2. Blades of the Darkmoon (the slowest grind, the best rewards)
- Join requirement: finish the Yorshka questline, then join at the Darkmoon Altar in Anor Londo.
- Farming Proofs of Concord Kept: the most stable route starts from the Irithyll of the Boreal Valley bonfire — kill the two silver knights (one at the top of the stairs, one at the bottom), about 90 seconds per round.
- Recommended gear: Crystal Sage’s Rapier (off-hand), Gold Serpent Ring +2, Symbol of Avarice, and coins — drop rates climb to roughly 8-10%, averaging one proof every 10-15 minutes.
3. Watchdogs of Farron (a PvP favorite)
- Join location: the Wolf’s Blood contract altar in Farron Keep, accessible after defeating the Abyss Watchers.
- Farming Sword Grass: from the Farron Keep bonfire, kill the three Ghru elites in the outer ruins (about 4% drop each).
- Note: this area also triggers automatic Watchdog invasions — if you are embered you will constantly run into red phantoms, so play offline or use dried fingers to control the pace.
4. Mound-makers (the only covenant you can farm with a friend)
- How to join: speak with the Holy Knight in the Untended Graves (after defeating the Curse-rotted Greatwood and obtaining the Holy Knight’s ashes).
- Mutual farming: with a friend, one places a red sign as a Mound-maker and the other summons them and dies — each round yields one Vertebra Spine. The host must be embered, and both players must be within 20 levels.
- Solo alternative: farm the skeletons in the Catacombs of Carthus (about 1% drop) — not recommended.
5. Ringed Knights (late DLC)
- Join location: from the Ringed Knight captain in the Ringed City, after defeating Slave Knight Gael.
- Farming Ringed fragments: kill the four elite Ringed Knights at fixed spots along the mandatory route (about 15% drop each); one run from the Ringed City Inner Wall bonfire takes about five minutes.
Reward Redemption Priorities#
- Melee-focused: redeem the Warrior of Sunlight’s Sunlight Straight Sword (10 medals) and the Ringed Knights’ Ringed Knight Straight Sword (5 fragments) first — both are exceptionally strong in PvE.
- Caster-focused: redeem the Blades of the Darkmoon’s Darkmoon Blade (10 proofs) — the only miracle that can be buffed onto your weapon.
- Completionists: leave the Mound-makers for last (30 vertebrae for Creeping Carrion) — the mutual-farming loop takes the longest and the rewards offer the least combat value.
Common Pitfalls#
- Covenant rewards are granted immediately when you turn in the corresponding item, and switching covenants does not wipe your progress — swap freely.
- The auto-summon mechanics of the Blades of the Darkmoon and Aldrich’s Faithful require you to be embered and online, or they will not trigger.
- Some covenant item drop rates were lowered by the patch after version 1.15 — farm offline to avoid invasion interference.
Related Games#
- Nioh 2 — a hardcore Sengoku-era action RPG
- Bloodborne — a gothic-horror soulslike action RPG
- Elden Ring — the open-world soulslike masterpiece
- Demon’s Souls — the game that started the soulslike genre
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree — the major DLC expansion for Elden Ring
Related Rankings#
Full Guides#
For the full Dark Souls III walkthrough — area-by-area routing, every boss tactic, infusion and build planning, complete spell lists, covenant rewards, and ring collection — visit the Dark Souls III section on NTGame.