The Game Progress Route features recommended routes to progress through Dark Souls and Dark Souls Remastered. This is meant as a companion to our New Player Help and Walkthroughs pages. Click to start your walkthrough on the recommended Beginner path: Northern Undead Asylum
Game Progress Overview
Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced |
---|---|---|
Northern Undead Asylum | ||
Firelink Shrine |
||
You can explore in whatever order you want. However, if you are following a beginner's path, we recommend going forward like this:
Sen's Fortress --> Anor Londo --> Darkroot Garden --> New Londo Ruins --> The Duke's Archives --> Crystal Cave --> Demon Ruins --> Lost Izalith --> The Catacombs --> Tomb of Giants --> (DLC Sanctuary Garden ◆ Oolacile Sanctuary ◆ Royal Woods ◆ Oolacile Township ◆ Chasm of the Abyss) --> Kiln of the First Flame
Game Progress Route for Beginners
Northern Undead Asylum
- Light Bonfire
- Speak with Oscar of Astora and gain Estus Flask
- Defeat Asylum Demon
Light the bonfire, head up the stairs and speak with Oscar of Astora and gain the Estus Flask. Head into the big doors and either kill the Asylum Demon if you took Firebombs as your Gift or run left and then face him after you've acquired a real weapon. Then open the other door and head up to the peak where you will be transported to Firelink Shrine.
Firelink Shrine
- Light Bonfire
- Speak to Crestfallen Warrior
- Speak with Petrus of Thorolund and join Way of White if you wish or buy Miracles
- Grab Humanities on the corpse for co-op play
Speak to the Crestfallen Warrior and then speak with Petrus to join Way of the White and buy some Miracles if you'd like. There are also some Humanities here on a corpse that will help with summoning should you wish to co-op, so be sure to grab them. Then head up the stairs along the cliff here and make your way to the Undead Burg.
Undead Burg
- Make it to the first Bonfire
- Speak with Undead Merchant and purchase Orange Guidance Soapstone, Residence Key and Dried Finger
- Defeat Taurus Demon
- Speak with Solaire and acquire the White Sign Soapstone
- Run past Wyvern and kick down ladder for a shortcut
- Kill Wyvern with Bow (optional)
Make your way forward in the Undead Burg until you reach the first Bonfire, just past where you see the dragon do a fly-by. Once the Bonfire is lit, double back and fight the two spear hollows and break the boxes and head down the stairs to the Undead Merchant. Here you can purchase the Orange Guidance Soapstone, Residence Key and the Dried Finger. Once finished, make your way forward and take on the Taurus Demon on the ramparts. Don't forget the Crystal Lizard in the barrels on the way!
After the Taurus Demon is dead, progress further and speak with Solaire and receive the White Sign Soapstone. Then sprint across the bridge and down the steps on your right as fast as you can to avoid being burned alive by the Wyvern. Kick down the ladder to the Bonfire below to unlock the shortcut. If you want to snipe the Wyvern with a Bow you can get the Drake Sword, which does really good damage early on in the game.
Undead Parish
- Light Sunlight Altar Bonfire
- Join Warriors of Sunlight (optional)
- Loot the Mystery Key from a corpse
- Open the gate to the church with lever
- Loot the Basement Key near the gate.
- Light the Undead Parish bonfire
- Visit the entrance to Sen's Fortress and talk to Siegmeyer of Catarina
- Upgrade a weapon to +5 at Blacksmith Andre
- Unlock shortcut to Firelink Shrine with the elevator
- Loot Fire Keeper Soul and upgrade Estus Flask
- Defeat Channeler
- Free Lautrec
- Defeat Bell Gargoyle
- Ring Bell of Awakening
- Speak to Oswald of Carim
Head up the stairs by the shortcut and sprint under the Wyvern, avoiding his flames if you didn't kill him. Light the Bonfire here and open the shortcut with the lever. You can join the Warriors of Sunlight at the alter if you have enough Faith (25); note that for each Boss you help co-op successfully, the Faith requirement will be reduced by 5. Then forward up the ramp, past the boor and down the stair where there are many weak hollows. Loot the Mystery Key from a corpse here and progress further.
After a few Balder Knights, you'll be able to head to the Undead Parish Bonfire (on the right inside the old church), or you can choose to open the large gate outside the church first using the lever (on the left), which is simply a shortcut. Regardless you'll want to do both. There is an elevator inside the church that opens up a shortcut to Firelink Shrine, so be sure to get it, and pick up the Fire Keeper Soul which you can use to upgrade your Estus Flask below the Firelink Shrine Bonfire.
Below the Undead Parish Bonfire is Andre the Blacksmith. He can upgrade your equipment using Titanite Shards if you have any. If you don't, you can farm the hollows just outside the church or the Baldur Knights inside for Souls and then buy some. It is recommended you upgrade to +5 before you head upstairs in the church.
Head upstairs and kill the Channeler and hollows, the Channeler will not respawn, so hooray for that. Head left and up the stairs at the end of the hall and free Lautrec using the Mystery Key, then speak with him. Now backtrack and head up the ladder, defeat the Bell Gargoyle, climb the tower at the opposite end of the roof and then ring the Bell of Awakening. Oswald will now be at the bottom of the tower, and you can speak with him to purchase some spells and items.
Lower Undead Burg
- Open shortcut to Upper Undead Burg
- Free Griggs of Vinheim using the Residence Key
- Speak with the Undead Merchant (Female)
- Open shortcut to Firelink Shrine
- Defeat Capra Demon
- Loot Key to Depths
To access the Lower Undead Burg, you will need to head to the locked door near Solaire, which is just at the opposite end of the bridge from the Sunlight Alter Bonfire (where the Wyvern was). Head down the ladder and up the stairs on the right to unlock the shortcut to Upper Undead Burg. Then head back down and forward and free Griggs of Vinheim from a locked house on the right using the Residence Key. Press onward until you come to a fog gate.
The fog gate is the Capra Demon boss fight, but we want to unlock the shortcut to Firelink Shrine first, so head right and down the stairs and then up the stairs and through the door on the left-hand side. As the top of the stairs is an aqueduct where you can speak to the Undead Merchant (Female) and purchase a few things. Then head down the aqueduct and unlock the door here, which is a shortcut to Firelink Shrine. You can hit the bonfire and then head back to the fog gate and take on Capra. Once defeated loot the Key to the Depths.
Depths
- Loot the Large Ember
- Free Laurentius from the barrels
- Light Bonfire (if you have Master Key)
- Loot Sewer Chamber Key (if you don’t have Master Key)
- Kill Channeler
- Defeat Knight Kirk (invasion)
- Open shortcut to Bonfire
- Speak with Domhnall of Zena
- Defeat the Gaping Dragon
- Receive Blighttown Key
The Depth entrance is just near the Firelink shortcut you used to face the Capra Demon, and is across from the steps leading to it. Once inside head down the stairs through the hollows and defeat the Butcher here to loot the Large Ember from a chest. Head down through the water and up the broken wall to find Laurentius of the Great Swamp trapped on your left. Free and speak with him.
The backtrack, defeat a second Butcher and open the door not far from here. Head down into the Depths and watch the ceiling for slimes, so they don’t land on you. If you have the Master Key, you can open the locked door at the end of the long corridor with tons of slimes and torch-wielding hollow, and light the Bonfire there. If not, you’ll have to press onward to the left.
Head forward until you reach a T and then head left. Continue onwards until you find the Sewer Chamber Key, which you can use to gain access to the Bonfire behind you if you don’t have the Master Key. Head under the stairs now behind you, and head straight until you come to a fog gate. Head through the gate and defeat the rats and the Channeler here.
Press onward until you come to some tunnels with rats, just before the basilisks that attempt to curse you. If you’re human, you will be invaded by Knight Kirk, and you can get some of his gear if you defeat him. Just past this area you’ll find a room with some rats and slime, head up the stairs and open the door in order to open the shortcut back to the Bonfire. Then head back down, and at the far ends is Domhnall of Zena, which you can speak to and buy things from. Then, just to the right of Domhnall by about 20 feet is the stairs leading up to the Gaping Dragon area where you will take him on. Defeat him and receive the Blighttown Key.
Blighttown
- Light first Bonfire
- Light second Bonfire (swamp)
- Acquire Fire Keeper Soul
- Defeat Maneater Mildred (invasion)
- Farm Leeches for Large Titanite and upgrade to +10
- Visit The Great Hollow and Ash Lake (optional)
- Join Path of the Dragon Covenant (optional)
After defeating the Gaping Dragon, backtrack to Domhnall and open the giant doors next to him to access Blighttown. Climb down the ladders and make your way to the first Bonfire, which is through a bunch of enemies, although it's pretty much straight ahead. Then make your way down carefully to the swamp area and the second Bonfire inside a drainage area. If you Reverse Hollowing at this Bonfire and walk a few feet out into the swamp on the right, you will be invaded by Maneater Mildred. There is a Fire Keeper Soul up the rotating lift and some ladders, but you'll have to make your way through many enemies that blow Toxic darts and several Fire Dogs to get it.
The Leeches in the swamp to the left of the Bonfire have a decent chance to drop Large Titanite and is a great place to farm them so you can upgrade before the next boss fight. Spend some time killing them over and over until you have enough to reach +10 on your preferred weapon. You can also visit The Great Hollow, and subsequently Ash Lake if you would like, buy breaking through two Illusory Walls inside the tree near the Leeches. Keep in mind though it’s one hell of a trek there and back, and would probably be best to clear Anor Londo first and gain the Lordvessel so you can warp out once finished. However, if you’d like to join the Path of the Dragon Covenant quickly, then this is a good time to do it.
Quelaag’s Domain
- Defeat Chaos Witch Quelaag
- Ring the Bell of Awakening
- Speak to Eingyi
- Join Chaos Servants (optional)
Once finished farming, defeat Chaos Witch Quelaag, who is located directly across the swamp (and a bit to the right) from where the Bonfire is. Once defeated, ring the Bell of Awakening to gain access to Sen’s Fortress, and then speak with Eingyi down the stairs from the lever (the egghead guy). He’ll let you pass, and then you can join the Chaos Servant covenant by speaking to the Daughter of Chaos. Note that you won’t be able to have dialogue unless you have the Old Witch’s Ring, but you can still join the Covenant.
Return to Undead Asylum
- Loot Undead Asylum F2 West Key from the roof in Firelink Shrine
- Trade with Snuggly (optional)
- Rest at Bonfire.
- Loot Peculiar Doll
- Defeat Oscar of Astora
- Loot Rusted Iron Ring from behind the locked door
- Defeat Stray Demon
- Loot Titanite Slab
To reach the Northern Undead Asylum from Quelaag's Domain, you will need to backtrack to the swamp Bonfire. From that Bonfire, head out into the swamp and turn right and head up the ramp here and take the rotating lift upwards, being careful not to fall. Climb ladders until you cannot climb any higher and then loot the Key to New Londo Ruins from the chest here and make your way to the Valley of the Drakes. Immediately head across the planks and open up the shortcut that will lead you to New Londo Ruins. Once there, take the lift in the adjacent tower up to Firelink Shrine.
Once there take the elevator to the church, but jump off onto a ledge just above where you lift off from the ground. From here you'll have to roll or jump onto a pillar across from you and head onto the roof of the building to loot the Undead Asylum F2 West Key. Repeat this process; only don't jump onto the roof and continue upwards to the nest. Crouch in the nest for about 15 seconds and you will be taken to the Northern Undead Asylum.
Once there you can trade with Snuggly who will be a few paces forwards and on your left in a small nest overhanging the cliff. Then proceed forward, being careful not to walk into the centre of the room where you fought the Asylum Demon, as it will cause the floor to collapse and you to fight the Stray Demon prematurely. Rest at the Bonfire and head back to the cell you began the game in to loot the Peculiar Doll, which will allow you access to the Painted World of Ariamis later in the game. Then make your way up to the second floor and defeat Oscar and loot the Crest Shield from him. Then head up to the third floor and open the locked door there with the Undead Asylum F2 West Key, and loot the Rusted Iron Ring.
Next head into the boss room and break the floor to trigger the fight with the Stray Demon. Defeat him and receive a Titanite Slab. Then head to the cliff and be transported back to Firelink Shrine.
Sen's Fortress
- Loot Key to New Londo Ruins
- Open shortcut to New Londo Ruins
- Speak with Siegmeyer of Catarina (2x)
- Light Bonfire
- Defeat Ricard
- Defeat Boulder Giant
- Speak with the Crestfallen Merchant
- Loot the Cage Key
- Open shortcut from top of Fortress to 1st floor
- Rescue Big Hat Logan
- Defeat the Iron Golem
Make your way to the Undead Parish bonfire using the church elevator, and you can see Sen's Fortress from this Bonfire. Siegmeyer is sitting on the steps as you approach, so be sure to speak with him before entering. Make your way through the fortress until you come to a part where there is a boulder rolling towards you and you have to sprint to avoid it. Just over the edge on the right side of this boulder track is Siegmeyer sitting on a platform. Drop down and speak with him again.
Make your way up to the room that controls which direction the boulders will roll, and be sure to fire at least one in each direction. You can then make your way down to the near the beginning of Sen’s Fortress where you walked past a sleeping Snake Warrior leaning against a wall. There should be a hole here, where you can rescue Big Hat Logan if you have the Master Key, or come back after acquiring the Cage Key.
Make your way up to the roof, and there is a hidden Bonfire here. You will need to drop over a broken wall to find it, and then backtrack back up to the roof afterwards. Up there you’ll find another large knight, just like the one in the church in Undead Parish. Past him, you can fight Ricard for his Rapier and some loot in chests behind him. If you make your way to the top where the boss fog is, there is one staircase leading up further where you can kill the Giant flinging boulders at you to make them stop. Then head back outside and down, and you’ll have to leap the gap on the walkway in this area to reach the Crestfallen Merchant and the Cage key.
Once finished with them, backtrack to the jump, and after jumping head straight and then right. There is a cage here that you can open to create a shortcut to the first floor of Sen’s Fortress, which is opened only with the Cage Key. If you haven’t saved Big Hat Logan yet, now is a good time to do it. Once finished, head up to the boss fog and defeat the Iron Golem to gain access to Anor Londo.
Anor Londo
- Use the rotary lever to turn the spinning bridge
- Head into the Painted World of Ariamis (optional)
- Light 2nd Bonfire
- Speak with Solaire
- Help Siegmeyer of Catarina
- Open shortcut to the second Bonfire
- Speak with the Giant Blacksmith
- Open up the door near Blacksmith
- Open main doors to Anor Londo with rotary lever
- Invade Lautrec with Black Eye Orb
- Defeat Ornstein and Smough
- Light 3rd Bonfire
- Speak with Gwynevere and obtain the Lordvessel
- Join the Princess Guard Covenant (optional)
- Kill Gwynevere and face Dark Sun Gwyndolin (optional)
Interact with the circle on the ground in the Iron Golem boss room to be taken to Anor Londo. Once there activate the Bonfire and speak with Darkmoon Knightess leaning against the wall nearby. Then head down the lift and defeat the Gargoyle. You cannot access the bridge yet, so hop over the left side near the lift and run up the buttress here and drop down to enter the chapel through a broken window. Make your way across the rafters and then rotate the bridge with the lever. Then defeat the second Gargoyle.
Next head down the spiral staircase here and make for the HUGE painting in the back of the chapel of the Painted World. Interact with it to be ported there and explore that location. I will add a description in the next section, but for now, let's assume you did that and are continuing on with Anor Londo.
Head back up the spiral staircase and towards Anor Londo's main gate. Make your way to the right, past the archers and drop down onto the ground and walk inside. Light the Bonfire through the left door and speak with Solaire. Continue through this area until you come to the roof. Head through the door directly across from you on the left and head down the stairs and aid Siegmeyer in defeating the Silver Knights, then speak to him once again. Then backtrack up to the roof and head through the other door and down those stairs.
Head into one of the doors here that contains two Silver Knights and two chests and open the door near the chests to give yourself a shortcut to the second bonfire, then backtrack. Head up into the central area of Anor Londo and head across the way, around the large Knights and Silver Knight archer. Head down the stairs there and speak with the Giant Blacksmith. Be sure to open the door outside just near him, so you have another shortcut. Then backtrack into the main hall once again.
Defeat the enemies here and open the door using the rotary lever in the corner furthest from the fog gate. Then use the Black Eye Orb to invade Lautrec and gain the Fire Keeper Soul and the Ring of Favor and Protection (FAP). Next, enter the fog gate and defeat Ornstein and Smough. Head up the lift, light the Bonfire and speak with Gwynevere to receive the Lordvessel and join the Princess Guard if you wish. You can also kill her, gaining access to the Darkmoon Tomb, but do not have to do so as there is another way in and are ramifications for killing her.
Painted World of Ariamis
- Light the Bonfire
- Loot the Red Sign Soapstone
- Defeat Xanthous King Jeremiah (invasion)
- Loot the Annex Key
- Loot the Dark Ember
- Defeat Crossbreed Priscilla (optional)
After entering the Painted World, light the Bonfire and make your way forward through the courtyard and you will find the Red Sign Soapstone at the top of a nearby tower. When you get to the part where there are many people impaled on wooden spears near a wooden door, you can be invaded by Xanthous King Jeremiah if you are not hollow. Then head down the well and locate the Annex Key which will allow you to enter the locked door in the church. Loot the Dark Ember in the Annex and then make your way through the level and either defeat Priscilla or jump off the plank.
After obtaining the Lordvessel is a good time to do this area as you can warp out afterwards. Port to the Daughter of Chaos Bonfire and make your way back into the swamp. Head to the giant tree near the back where you farmed the slugs and break the two Illusory Walls here and light the Bonfire. They make your way down the tree, looting the Cloranthy Ring and killing as many of the 9 Crystal Lizards as you can. There are some Basilisks here, so be sure not to get cursed. Then press on to Ash Lake.
Ash Lake
- Light Bonfire
- Defeat the Black Hydra
- Light 2nd Bonfire
- Join the Path of the Dragon Covenant (optional)
- Cut off the tail of Everlasting Dragon (optional)
Head right and light the Bonfire here and then face the Black Hydra who is similar to the Hydra you faced in Darkroot Basin. Then make your way forward until you come to the Everlasting Dragon. Light the Bonfire here and join the Path of the Dragon Covenant if you wish. You can also sever the Dragon's tail for the Dragon Greatsword, without it becoming hostile.
Darkroot Garden
- Purchase the Crest of Artorias
- Light Bonfire
- Open shortcut
- Defeat the Moonlight Butterfly
- Loot Watchtower Basement Key
- Loot Divine Ember
- Speak with Alvina
- Join the Forest Hunter Covenant (optional)
- Loot Enchanted Ember
- Defeat Sif
- Loot the Covenant of Artorias (ring)
Assuming you have now completed Anor Londo and have the Lordvessel, you can port to certain bonfires within the game. At this point, you'll want to port to the Undead Parish Bonfire and head down the stairs and buy the Crest of Artorias. Then head down the stairs and past the Titanite Demon. Make your way forward until you see a glowing circle in a door. You can use the Crest of Artorias to open this area, but we won't head in there just yet. Break the Illusory Wall to the left of it and light the Bonfire.
Next, head to the right of the door you just opened and follow the path and head through the woods. Up some stairs you'll face the Moonlight Butterfly boss - summon Witch Beatrice if you want her to appear later. Once it is defeated, head up the stairs past it to loot the Divine Ember and Watchtower Basement Key. Then double back to the Bonfire.
At this point you are ready to head through the door you opened with the Crest of Artorias. Be mindful of the NPCs that attack you, as they can hit hard, and this is a hot spot for invasions, so if you summon help prepare to be invaded. Make your way forward and left and speak with Alvina and join the Forest Hunters if you wish. Past Alvina you will find the Enchanted Ember guarded by some Giant Mushrooms, so be sure to pick it up. Then head forward to the big glowing doors and defeat Sif and loot the Covenant of Artorias.
Darkroot Basin
- Defeat the Hydra
- Unlock shortcut to Undead Burg
- Defeat Havel (optional)
- Light Bonfire
- Unlock shortcut to Valley of the Drakes
- Rescue Dusk of Oolicile
From Sif, head down the large ladder over on the left-hand side of the woods from where you come out of his boss room. At the bottom is the Hydra which you must defeat to rescue Dusk of Oolacile. Be sure to equip the Rusted Iron Ring to make this fight easier!
Once the Hydra is defeated, clear out the Golems and open the watchtower door with the Watchtower Basement Key and defeat Havel if you wish. Then head forward and defeat the Black Knight and Crystal Lizard and light the Bonfire in the cave. Then call the elevator to unlock the shortcut to the Valley of the Drakes.
After resting at the Bonfire return to where you fought the Hydra and head to the left in the watery "cave-like" area to find a Golem. Defeat the Golem and then head back to the shore where you fought the Hydra, and you should see the summoning sign of Dusk of Oolacile. Summon her and speak with her to gain some loot, as well as make it possible to access the DLC area later in the game.
New Londo Ruins
- Acquire Transient Curse or Cursed Weapon
- Speak with Blacksmith Rickert of Vinheim
- Defeat Crestfallen Warrior
- Acquire Fire Keeper Soul
- Speak with Ingward and obtain the Key to the Seal
- Lower water level using the rotary lever
- Loot the Very Large Ember
- Defeat the Four Kings
- Light the Bonfire
- Speak with Kaathe (game state-dependent)
- Join the Darkwraiths (optional and game state-dependent)
Once finished in Darkroot Basin port to Firelink Shrine and head down the lift beneath it to New Londo Ruins. You can speak to Rickert here if you wish and by some spells, if you haven't already. Then defeat the Crestfallen Warrior and make your way across the planks. You will need to use the Transient Curse (or have a Cursed Weapon) item to damage the ghosts here so make sure you have some. You can find some on a corpse in a pot just before the planks, or you can purchase some from the Undead Merchant (Female) in the aqueduct above Firelink.
Head right and right again immediately after stepping off the planks to find a Fire Keeper Soul guarded by several Ghosts. Then double back and head up the stairs here and make your way forward to the roof where Ingward is. Speak to him and learn some spells and get the Key to the Seal to open the door to the lever that lowers the water. Then make your way through the Ghosts and flip the rotary lever.
Once the water is lowered, head back to the very beginning of this area and head right; you will see the water is now much lower in some spots and you can traverse them. Drop down and head into a nearby structure and make your way to the top floor to find the Very Large Ember. Then head to the boss fog and drop down and defeat the Four Kings - summon Witch Beatrice to make sure you get her gear. Be sure you have the Covenant of Artorias ring equipped, or you will die the moment you land!
Once they are defeated, light the Bonfire here and speak with Kaathe if you have not yet placed the Lordvessel beneath Firelink and if you answer YES you can join the Darkwraiths. However, doing so will cause Frampt to disappear forever.
The Duke's Archives
- Light Bonfire
- Defeat Crystal Golem and loot Broken Pendant
- Get killed by Seath
- Light 2nd Bonfire
- Loot Archive Tower Cell Key
- Deactivate alarm
- Loot Archive Prison Extra Key
- Loot Archive Tower Giant Door Key
- Loot Crystal Ember
- Loot the Archive Tower Giant Cell Key
- Rescue Big Hat Logan
- Defeat Big Hat Logan
- Loot Large Magic Ember
- Light 3rd Bonfire
- Defeat golden Crystal Golem and speak with Sieglinde of Catarina (quest line dependent)
Warp from the Abyss Bonfire to Anor Londo and head left past the 2 large Boars to come to The Duke's Archives. Head up the lift and light the Bonfire on your left, then defeat the Crystal Golem and loot the Broken Pendant so you have access to the Sanctuary Garden. Then progress until you come to a fog gate in a crystally area where you will be killed by Seath upon entering. You can use a Ring of Sacrifice to prevent the loss of Souls if you wish.
You will reappear after this in a cell, light the Bonfire here, and you will need to kill the guard to your cell through the bars in order to loot the Archive Prison Extra Key. Use it to open your cell and fight your way down the ramp looting all the cells to find the Archive Prison Extra Key. At the bottom of the ramp you should see Big Hat Logan here behind some bars, but you can't free him yet. Then head up the ladder, deactivate the alarm and loot the Archive Tower Giant Door Key from the chest. Now head back up the ramp and up the ladder and out of this area.
Make your way through the rest of the Archives before flipping a lever at the bottom of ladder, revealing a shortcut and a 3rd Bonfire. Light it and then head into a library room with a few chests, including a Mimic. Here you will find the Crystal Ember and the Archive Tower Giant Cell Key, which you can use to rescue Big Hat Logan from his cell. After defeating Seath you'll want to head back and do this and then make your way to the room where Seath killed you to find a hollow Logan and defeat him. Loot the Large Magic Ember from this room.
Last you want to head back the library area, hit the lever inside and make your way outside. Look for the golden Crystal Golem and defeat it to speak with Sigelinde of Catarina. She will only be here if you have progressed Siegward's quest line as far as it can go, so if you didn't then skip this part.
Crystal Cave
- Defeat several Crystal Lizards
- Loot Blue Titanite Slab
- Defeat Seath the Scaleless , Cut Seath's tail (optional)
Head down the hill in the outside area of The Duke's Archives to come to the Crystal Cave. There are lots of Crystal Lizards here so be sure to kill them to get upgrade materials. Follow the invisible paths and eventually defeat Seath the Scaleless. You can cut his tail to receive the infamous Moonlight Greatsword if you wish.
Demon Ruins
- Defeat Ceasesless Discharge
- Loot the Chaos Flame Ember
- Defeat Knight Kirk
- Light Bonfire
- Loot Large Flame Ember
- Defeat Demon Firesage
- Unlock shortcut to Quelaag's Domain
- Defeat Centipede Demon
- Cut his arm off to receive Orange Charred Ring (optional)
Port from the Crystal Cave to the Daughter of Chaos Bonfire in Quelaag's Domain. Head down the path into the Demon Ruins and take on Ceaseless Discharge, who is just down and to the right across the lava. Once you defeat him the lava will recede, allowing you access to the later part of this area. Be sure to loot the Chaos Flame Ember here past all of the Taurus Demons, or come back later and get it once you have the Charred Orange Ring.
Head down the path past the Capra Demon to the first Bonfire, which you can just drop down to. You will be invaded by Knight Kirk on this path if you are in human form. Once the Bonfire is lit, proceed forward and right down the stairs. The large Flame Ember is to the left of the Taurus Demon here and you will have to face another one on the way to it. Make sure you get that, then head back to the boss fog and take on the Demon Firesage.
After you defeat the Demon Firesage, head up the stairs and unlock the shortcut to Quelaag's Domain, then head all the way down. Here you will happen upon another fog gate which belongs to the Centipede Demon. Defeat him and press onward to the next bonfire to the left of this area. If you cut his arm off you will receive the Orange Charred Ring, making the lava in this area barely hurt you, so you should try to get it.
Lost Izalith
- Light the Bonfire
- Speak to Solaire
- Light hidden Bonfire
- Defeat Solaire or open the Chaos Servant shortcut to save him (optional)
- Loot the Sunlight Maggot
- Speak with Siegmeyer (quest-line dependent)
- Loot the Red Titanite Slab
- Defeat Knight Kirk
- Defeat The Bed of Chaos
Light the Bonfire here and speak to Solaire. Make sure you have the Orange Charred Ring equipped and press onward into Lost Izalith. You will come to 2 builds, and the second one contains an Illusory Wall that you can break to reveal another Bonfire. Break the wall and light it. Then head to the hollow looking log nearby and past the stone demons in the area above.
Make your way forward, up some stairs and then right down, a log. Here you can head right past a Titanite Demon and you will find Solaire who you will either have to kill or, if you opened the secret passage by joining the Chaos Servant Covenant and reaching rank 2, he will not be hostile and you can speak with him. Regardless you will either get the Sunlight Maggot helm from him or the red-eyed maggot nearby. This item will make the next two sections of the game much easier, so be sure to get it.
Then double back and speak to Siegmeyer after you fall through the floor in the main area with all the stone demons. Then drop down and loot the Red Titanite Slab from a chest past all the monsters. Head back up and make for the fog gate above, where you will be invaded by Knight Kirk once more if you are in human form. Then defeat Bed of Chaos.
The Catacombs
- Light Bonfire
- Push first lever
- Push second lever
- Push third lever
- Light second bonfire
- Join Gravelord Servants Covenant (optional)
- Loot the Darkmoon Seance Ring (optional)
- Speak with Undead Blacksmith
- Light third Bonfire
- Defeat Pinwheel and receive the Rite of Kindling.
Port from the Bonfire in Lost Izalith to Firelink Shrine and head down to the cemetery here. Make your way down the stairs along the cliff and past the enemies to the first Bonfire and lever. Light it and push the lever. Then carry onward further into the Catacombs where you will happen upon a second lever eventually so that you can cross a bridge. Inside the area here after the bridge you can find the Darkmoon Seance Ring which will allow you to join the Darkmoon Blades in Anor Londo, and face Dark Sun Gwyndolin if you wish to do so, but you don't have to loot it.
Press onward until you reach a third lever and you will find a 2nd Bonfire nearby, so light it. You can head into a nearby area to find a Titanite Demon, and you can interact with the coffin near it to join the Gravelord Servants if you wish. Then find the spiral staircase and head down it then drop down to the Undead Blacksmith Vamos. Light the Bonfire here and speak with him, and upgrade any weapons you want to Fire or Chaos. Then head through the hole in the wall and right to face Pinwheel who will give you the Rite of Kindling once defeated, allowing you to Kindle Bonfires to 20 Estus instead of 10.
Tomb of Giants
- Light the first Bonfire
- Speak with Patches
- Inspect item near him
- Defeat hollow NPCs
- Speak Reah in the pit
- Loot the Large Divine Ember
- Light the second Bonfire
- Defeat Paladin Leeroy
- Loot White Titanite Slab
- Defeat Gravelord Nito
Climb up the ladder and make your way into the Tomb of Giants. You will need a light source here so be sure to use the Sunlight Maggot if you haven't been using it in The Catacombs. Make your way down to the first Bonfire and light it and then speak with Patches and inspect the item near him to get kicked into the pit. Defeat the hollow NPCs here and speak with Reah. Then press on and loot the Large Divine Ember from the room with tons of Skeletons.
Make your way back to Patches and speak to him again before heading to his right, being careful not to fall to your death. Make your way down past the Skeletons to the second Bonfire and then head down the long path out of the darkness. If you are human you will be invaded by Paladin Leroy just as you take a right from this path. Defeat him and then loot the White Titanite Slab from the area with all the Pinwheels and tiny Skeletons. Then defeat Nito.
In order to get here from Nito's room you'll need to head to where you killed the golden Crystal Golem in Darkroot Basin, to the left of where the Hydra was. There will now be a portal there that will take you to Sanctuary Garden. Once there light the Bonfire and defeat the Sanctuary Guardian, cutting his tail if you wish.
You will briefly pass through Oolacile Sanctuary on your way to Royal Wood. Light the Bonfire there and speak with Elizabeth, then press onward. Make your way through the woods and speak to Marvelous Chester near the Artorias boss fog. Activate the elevator near him in order to create a shortcut back to the Oolacile Sanctuary. Then defeat Knight Artorias. You will need to defeat Black Dragon Kalameet here as well but you cannot fight him until you've acquired the Crest key in Oolacile Township and have spoken to Hawkeye Gough.
Oolacile Township
- Light the Bonfire
- Speak with Cirian
- Defeat Marvelous Chester
- Loot Silver Pendant
- Loot Crest Key
- Unlock shortcut
- Speak with Hawkeye Gough
- Defeat Black Dragon Kalameet
- Cut his tail (optional)
- Light second Bonfire
After defeating Artorias, head to the Bonfire and rest at it and then head back to the arena you fought him in to speak with Cirian. You can trade here Artorias' Soul for here weapons or you can decline and kill her, or just decline. She will vanish after this so decide now. Then make your way down into Oolacile Township.
There is an Illusory Wall in the Township that is only revealed by using a light source like the Sunlight Maggot. Find it and loot the Silver Pendant which will be instrumental in the Manus boss fight later. You will be invaded by Marvelous Chester while looking for it while in human form. Defeat him, and then head down further to loot the Crest Key and unlock the shortcut back up to the area just after the Bonfire.
Now is a good time to speak to Hawkeye Gough in the tower near where you defeated Artorias, and if you've previously been to the canyon where Kalameet tries to burn you alive, Gough will shoot him down so that you can fight him. If not, head there and then speak with Gough. Then head to the canyon and defeat Kalameet. You can cut his tail off to receive the Obsidian Greatsword. Afterwards head back down the shortcut lift and make your way to the next Bonfire.
Chasm of the Abyss
- Speak with Alvina
- Unlock shortcut
- Save Sif (optional)
- Loot White Titanite Slab
- Defeat Manus
Once here head to the left to find a false floor where you will drop and speak with Alvina. Follow here and rescue Sif if you wish and unlock the shortcut back up to the Royal Wood. Loot the White Titanite Slab on the way to the boss and then defeat Manus. Be sure to equip and use the Silver Pendant against his spells!
Kiln of the First Flame
- Place Lordvessel (if you haven't already)
- Farm upgrade materials from the Black Knights
- Defeat Gwyn, Lord of Cinder
Once Manus is dead port out and head to Firelink Shrine. If you speak to Frampt he will take you below Firelink where you can put the Souls into the Lordvessel and gain access to the Kiln of the First Flame. This is a great place to farm different Chunks for upgrades, and you should do so until you have everything you need. Then defeat Gwyn when you are ready. Note that defeating him will end the game and that you don't have an option to not go to NG+, so only do so when you are ready to move to NG+!!!
Recommended Route by TheElk
Beginner Route Bonfire Progress
List of Bonfires following the beginner suggested path of the game.
- Undead Asylum - Escape Route
- Found in the sewer like area in the Undead Asylum
- Undead Asylum - Court Yard
- Found at the door just before the exit from the Undead Asylum
- Firelink Shrine
- You will automatically be dropped just before this bonfire as soon as you complete the Undead Asylum
- Undead Burg
- In the central room after killing the hollow archer
- Behind the Wyvern guarding the Undead Burg Bridge
- Undead Parish
- Found to the right of the Undead Chapel, down the stairs to the Andre the blacksmith
- (The Depths) Behind the door with the Slimes (need to retrieve the key or have the master key to open the door to this bonfire)
- Blighttown - Sewer
- In the middle of the swamp, inside a tunnel, once you have descended the waterweel
- On the path between the bottom of Blighttown and The Depths
- Quelaag's Domain - Daughter of Chaos
- Behind a hidden wall, after you kill Quelaag
- Darkroot Garden
- Next to the door of Artorias behind a breakable wall
- Darkroot Basin
- In the tunnel leading to the Valley of Drakes
- The Abyss
- After killing the boss in The Abyss a bonfire will spawn
- Sen's Fortress
- Reached by jumping off the second balcony while running away from the fire bombing giant's bombs
- Accessed by using portal from Sen's Fortress once you kill the boss
- Anor Londo - Darkmoon Tomb
- At the very bottom of the spiral stairs
- Anor Londo - Central Room
- In a side room just below the Titanite Demon
- Anor Londo - Chamber of the Princess
- Accessed once you kill the bosses
- The Duke's Archives
- Just after you kill the second Mecha Boar
- The Duke's Archives - Prison Cell
- Story Element has your character locked in a prison cell, Bonfire is next to where you wake up. This Bonfire is isolated from the others, meaning it can not be warped from
- The Duke's Archives - Balcony
- Lowest level below the casters, out on a balcony
- Crystal Cave
- After defeating final boss a bonfire will be available
- Demon Ruins
- As you enter there is a bonfire
- Demon Ruins (Central)
- In the ruin with Capra Demons
- Demon Ruins (Lower)
- Just before the Centipede Demon battle
- Lost Izalith
- Lost Izalith entrance
- Lost Izalith
- Lost Izalith lava field
- Lost Izalith
- Catacombs
- Entrance
- Catacombs
- Hidden by an illusory wall
- Tomb Of Giants
- Close to Patches
- Tomb of Giants
- Close to the Skeleton Beast
- Gravelord Nito's Tomb
- After defeating boss Gravelord Nito it will appear
Special Bonfires
- Firelink Altar
- The Lordvessel
- Kiln of the First Flame
- TBA
Other - Not progress related
- The Great Hollow
- At the entrance
- Ash Lake
- After exiting The Great Hollow on the beach
- Ash Lake - Stone Dragon
- Following the beach to the end in Ash Lake allows you to reach the Ancient Dragon
- Painted World of Ariamis
- Found just after entering Ariamis
- Sanctuary Garden (Exclusive to "Prepare to Die Edition")
- Found upon entering Sanctuary Garden
- Oolacile Sanctuary (Exclusive to "Prepare to Die Edition")
- Found after boss fight in Sanctuary Garden
- Oolacile Township (Exclusive to "Prepare to Die Edition")
- Found after boss fight in Royal Wood
- Anonymous
Quelana should have been added to this guide. now I have to wait until ng+ to further upgrade my pyromancy.
- Anonymous
Good guide, i would do Darkroot Forest and The Catacombs earlier tho
- Anonymous
beginners guide suggests beating Sif AFTER ANOR LONDO?
tha fudge.
Sif is beatable immediately after killing moonlight butterfly
- Anonymous
honestly, i dunno why going back to undead burg after the parish and and then going past the assassins and fighting the BS nonsense blind you before you can see what's happening and then 2 dogs+capra demon cheapass fight. land then going through the whole depths, fighting a dragon, then finally getting to blighttown and then you're in the most complicated section with all themwalkways and dozens of undead ghouls and hellhounds and ogres and spend hours running around to climb down. . .
is considered the "beginner's path"?
how is that easier than just going out the back door of the blacksmith in the parish, and you can just run past the titanite demon and not fight it and then from darkroot garden you can get to the basin and as long as you can get past a black knight, you can get to drake balley and then just run past the drakes and get to blighttown that way and that entrance is way easier to get in, just 3 ogres in the beggining that you can run past and not kill and there are walkways in that section but way less complicated and a fraction of the size of the other side. . .and yet my way is conside"intermediate".
is it because my way requires some metaknowledge?
- Anonymous
I would drop by the Catacombs earlier, mid game, for the Rite of Kindling.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
One advice for new players - go through Burg, Parish, Depths, Blighttown, Great Hollow, and finally Ash Lake before acquiring the Lordvessel. Make sure your get a good rest at lake's bonfires... This is how I got really gud on my first playthrough!
Good luck!
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
The only route that matters is the one that leads to the end shown in this video: 'Dark Souls 1 Secret ending Solaire ending'
- Anonymous
You don't "NEED" to summon Witch Beatrice in order for her appear later in New Londo Ruins . She appears there anyway and her loot will be dropped in Valley Of Drakes regardless if you summoned for any boss fight or no .
- Anonymous
Only thing I'd change for the beginner's route is to go down the catacombs and kill Pinwheel as soon as possible, so that you can kindle bonfires for 10 estus.
- Anonymous
Whoever wrote "For beginners, go to Anor Londo before Darkroot" is a big, gigantic, enormous troll. You fight Gargoyles in Undead Paris. Yay. Go to smith, get arrows. At least 100. Then you go talk to the smith and from there go to Darkroot. But wait, there's a big demon! He stomps you in one hit! Ignore that guy. Like, literally seriously ignore him and run-run-run and then go to darkroot. You found closed door? Poke around with a sword, sit at bonfire, go to open path. KILL EVERYTHING, LOOT EVERYTHING. Then go back to smith and purchase a key to the door. Kill everything, loot everything, kill boss. Go back to smith. Casually slay the demon. Go to depths. Find a merchant. Yay. Talk to him. Hm, he doesn't sell Master Key yet. Oh well. Kill Depths boss. Probably with arrows. Remember? The ones you bought at smith. Go back to trader, look at blighttown door. Nope out of there to Firelink. OPTION A: Go under the bridge. Talk to trader. Get the Master Key. Option B: PARKOUR to the key using paris elevators. Get rusted iron ring. Go to depths. Farm rats for humanity. More humanity. MORE! You think that's enough humanity? Nope. MORE!!! Now go to Blight. Hey. Yeah. You. Psst. Aren't you happy you have extra healing from humanity?
- Anonymous
The guide is great for beginners and I really found it very helpful but wow the videos are well*****.
- Anonymous
I think the official strategy guide still has the only reliable path. Burg, church, depths, blightown, spidertits, hollow, show snuggly some love, sen, Anor Londo, duke, basin, valley, new londo, abyss, catacombs, giants, demon ruins, izalith, kiln. Or kill everyone(almost) and then kiln. Might have missed a few optional areas. Usually the souls games reward you for being adventurous, thorough, and aggressive. Investigate new areas as they show up. Get lost for a while, you’ll end up better off than someone who tries to save side quests for later. There’s a reason bows are the weakest projectile weapons in the game. Being overly stubborn and cautious about how you progress is not how to play a souls game. It’s how you die and end up hollow 90% of the game.
- Anonymous
"Click to start your walkthrough on the recommended Beginner path: Northern Undead Asylum" is there an unrecommended path where you dont start in undead asylum and just to the kiln of the first flame?
- Anonymous
The Valley of Drakes is missing completely from the Game Progress Route for Beginners list.
- Anonymous
Good job creating this guide. I would still fight in the catacombs right after asylum demon, hadn't it been for it. -.-
- Anonymous
I just bought the game, and after I beat the Asylum Demon at the very beginning, and try to go to the next area, I just get the Dark Souls loading screen and it won’t let me pass it. Plz help
- Anonymous
Excellent guide, thanks for taking the time to make this! As a new player, it helped me a lot
- Anonymous
YOU HAVE TO OPEN SHORTCUT BEOFRE SPEAKING WITH SOLAIRE IN LOST IZALITH FOR THE FIRST TIME!
SHAME ON YOU! I HAD TO KILL SOLAIRE BECAUSE I FOLLOWED THESE STEPS! SHAME!
- Anonymous
the link to Bed Of Chaos boss isnt working. The URL is incorrect. it says https://darksouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Bed+of+Chaos but it should be https://darksouls.wiki.fextralife.com/The+Bed+of+Chaos
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
For the love of god put talk to Seig before ringing both bells
- Anonymous
Isn't the beginners bonfire order incorrect? The Abyss should be between Anor Londo- Chamber of the Princess and The Duke's Archives?
- Anonymous
Before fighting the four kings, you have put about getting the the Covenant of Artorias ring (the ring that lets you survive in the abyss). You also should have put the four bosses for the lord vessel in this order:
The Four Kings (New Londo)
Seath the Scaleless (The Crystal Archives)
Gravelord Nito (The Catacombs)
The Witch of Izalith (Lost Izalith)
This is because if you do it in this order, you will follow the knight of Catarina and his daughter's quest and Solair of Astora's quest in the order that it is so that it carries on so that you can finish their stories.
- Anonymous
I really would recommend that a new payer gets the Mystery Key as a gift...
- Anonymous
How do you plan on getting to the four kings without the ring of Artorias? Also this is obviously assuming your expecting all beginners to kill Ingward for the key to the seal because without the lord vessel that is their only option for taking the four kings before ornstein and smough....
- Anonymous
Feel beginners should do Catacombs before Sen's Fortress as the area is pretty low level and decent place for soul farming SL 30-40
- Anonymous
Naw damn :c i hate my Explorer nature :c i saw every place at my first trough :c
- Anonymous
I'm doing 25 push ups and sit ups after every death. It's called GIT Gud or GIT swolle. Plse halp.
- Anonymous
Regarding the advanced path at the top: What is the benefit of going through New Londo and Valley of Drakes to Blighttown and Quelaag first, before Undead Burg/Parish? Sure I can do that if I start with the Master Key, but I don't know why I would as I have to do both either way and Blighttown is a lot more difficult without gear.
- Anonymous
Don't you have to go to the Garden place and get Ring of Artorias from the wolf boss before you can even fight the boss in The Abyss (The four kings)
"summon Witch Beatrice if you want her to appear later", I was confused. I did not know it means that if not summoned we cannot be summoned later for another boss. "Appear later" I thought it was an invasion.
0
+11
-1