curse - Dark Souls

Benefits of being Curse

The player is able to hit ghosts, in New Londo Ruins, while being Cursed. Note that this can also be done with the Transient Curse item.

Effects of being curse

• A skull will replace the Humanity counter on the HUD.
• Unlike other status effects, players remain Cursed even after reviving.
• While being Cursed, their health points will also be cut in half.
• Curse won't stack, so being cursed again will kill the player, but the health will stay at half. (patch 1.05)
• The player can still collect Humanity, but Reviving and Kindling at Bonfires is unavailable.
• Cursed players can be summoned as a Phantom, but can't summon or be invaded since they cannot revive.
• Getting Cursed while playing as a phantom in an other world will not curse the phantom, but it will kill them.

Cure

• The most common way to remove the curse status is by using a Purging Stone.
• Purging Stones can be purchased from Oswald of Carim in the Gargoyle Belltower for 3,000 souls or from The Undead Merchant (female) in the aqueduct between Firelink Shrine and The Depths for 6,000 souls.
• Ingward, who resides in New Londo Ruins, will cure the players Curse for a fee of 1 humanity, but getting to him can be a pain.
• Some enemies, such as the clam shells in Ash Lake and Crystal Cave, can also drop Purging Stones.
• Snuggly gives you 2 purging stones for 1 Cracked Red Eye Orb. You can obtain 4 Cracked Red Eye Orbs from Firelink Shrine. Instead of riding the elevator up to Undead Parish, simply fall down the shaft and it'll be located in one of the chests.
• If you are cursed and have not yet rung the bell in the Undead Parish, Snuggly represents your easiest method of reversing the curse.

Prevention

• The player's Curse Resistance will increase with the amount of Humanity held, softcap at 10 and hardcap at 30.
• The Bloodshield and Cursebite Ring will increase the players Curse Resistance.
• Wearing armor with high curse resistance such as the Dingy Set, Antiquated Set or Paladin armor.
• The Resist Curse spell will remove the curse buildup, but some curse resistance is still needed to use it effectively.
• Wearing the Rare ring of Sacrifice will prevent you from becoming cursed after death.
• The Sanctus shield and the Greatshield of Artorias both have 100% curse reduction, but some attacks have AoE/mist properties which can not be blocked.