Estimated achievement difficulty: 7/10
Offline: 38 [1000]
Online: 0 [0]
Approximate time: 90 Hours
Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 3 (or 1 1/2 and Covenant boosting)
Missable achievements: Yes - Lucatiel (though can be done on NG+)
Does difficulty affect Achievements: No
Unobtainable/glitched Achievements: No
Extra equipment needed?: No
Welcome to another potential bevy of deaths in Darks Souls II. This game doesn't seem quite as challenging as the first, but that may be because most players now know what to expect, you will still need a decent level of skill and perseverance in order to get the full 1000.
NOTE ABOUT ONLINE: I've put this game down as fully offline, which is true to a point. In order to get the achievements for all spells you HAVE to get Rank 3 in the Heirs of the Sun Covenant and the easiest way to do that is to play online and use the White Soapstone to be summoned to help other players defeat bosses and get Sunlight Medals in return. HOWEVER, you can get these items as very rare drops from a number of enemies so it is possible (but amazingly time consuming) to do this offline if you so wish.
Sunlight Medals
Offline
- Random drop from the Dark Giants (ridden by hollows) in Harvest Valley.
- Random Drop From Falconers in starting area (NG+)
Online
- Can be obtained by helping another player beat a boss while in the Heirs of the Sun Covenant
- Can be obtained by defeating a boss with a player who is in the Heirs of the Sun Covenant
- Can be obtained by phantom after summoning time limit expires (Phantom Duty Fulfilled) while in the Heirs of the Sun Covenant
Likewise if you are prepared to grind out 500 invasion kills for EACH of the Blue Sentinels and Brotherhood of Blood covenants (for the spells Rank 3 of each gives you) then you can get away with only one playthrough of the game, plus a partial one for the boss souls needed for NG+ spells. It is actually less time consuming just to play through the game a couple of times. Again, your choice. The only other Covenants required (Pilgrims of the Dark and Bellkeepers) can be done offline at your leisure.
The only missable task is for Lucatiel as you have to speak to her at set points and ensure she survives certain fights in order to get her gear. Though you can do this task in NG+ or later but it just makes your life harder than it needs to be. Likewise you could TECHNICALLY miss out on getting the items from other NPC's, or the achievement for getting them all in Majula, if you go around killing them. SO DON'T KILL ANYONE.
1st Playthrough
Walkthrough is here. This playthrough should see you trying to find EVERY covenant, kill every boss, find all NPC's, find all gestures and get ALL spells barring the ones that are NG+ or NG++ only.
If you are going for the Lucatiel achievement this time around then do NOT go to No Man's Wharf before you have killed the Pursuer via the fog gate and gone to the Lost Bastille that way. Once you have spoken to her at the Lost Bastille you can head back to No Mans Wharf and find her there. All other events should be able to be done in order.
Be sure to join and complete the following Covenants for spells (Heirs of the Sun - Rank 3, Pilgrims of the Dark - Rank 3, Bellkeepers - Rank 2). Go here to find out good methods to do so.
Be sure to keep ALL boss souls rather than using them and trade them to Straid (in the Lost Bastille) for unique spells. Note that you do NOT have to be able to use the spells - merely have them in your possession. A list of all spells can be found here.
ALWAYS speak to all NPC characters until they repeat themselves, as many of them will give you items, teach you gestures or move locations (to further their story) when you do so. This is needed to learn all gestures and get everyone possible to Majula. See here for help on both.
King Vendrick is an optional boss at the end of the Undead Crypt so read his specific achievement guide for help on defeating him.
Once you defeat the last boss (at the Throne of Want) you will be asked whether you want to start a NG+. Select NO and head back to Majula to finish up any tasks you need to (you can speak to Cale in the mansion for an achievement now you have beaten the last boss) and buy any items/spells you would like. All merchants replenish their stock on NG+ so buy up rare things you may need. Once you are ready for NG+ then the option to start it will appear when you rest at the Majula bonfire.
2nd + 3rd Playthrough
All of your stats and items will carry over to a new game (barring any keys or key items you have). On the second playthrough each of the main bosses guarding a Primal bonfire will give you a different unique soul. DO NOT USE THESE. Trade them to Straid for more unique spells that you will need. Though you can skip some of the optional bosses this time around if you would like to. You will still need to play through most of the story though, and defeat the final boss, in order to get to NG++ (unless you feel like maxing out the Blue Sentinels and Brotherhood of Blood Covenants on either of the first two playthroughs).
On NG++ you need to get to Drangleic Castle as quick as possible, so either light the Primal bonfires and head through the Shrine of Winter or use the shortcut method that requires you to delete the update. Either way you need to speak to Chancellor Wellagar who will now stock the spells that could only previously be acquired by slogging through the invasion requirements of the Blue Sentinels and Brotherhood of Blood. Once you buy these you should have every spell and then snag the Dark Soul achievement.
Congrats on doing it all again.
The Dark Soul 50g - Earn all achievementsSelf – explanatory. This will unlock once you acquire your penultimate achievement which, all things being equal, will be for acquiring all of the spells of a certain class.
Self Recollection 10g - Reclaim flesh and set out as an UndeadOnce you start the game you will wake up in a field and move towards a house up ahead (do not attack anything yet) once there you will speak to some old Firekeepers and be able to choose you name and character, This will unlock once you are done.
Supreme Weapon 50g - Reinforce a weapon to its limitYou will need the following to max out an item: 6 Titanite Shards, 6 Large Titanite Shards, 6 Titanite Chunks, 1 Titanite Slab (most of these are found through natural progression, a slab can be found in the Lockstone room below the Ballista room of Forest of Fallen Giants). Plus, the required amount of souls to upgrade the weapon. The easiest blacksmith to find is Lenigrast in Majula, speak to him and then buy his shop key from the merchant by the Cardinal Tower bonfire. Then head back and open the store. Once you upgrade a weapon to +10 with the above items this will unlock.
Gesture Maestro 50g - Learn all gesturesYou start with a number of gestures and then need to learn the following:
Welcome – Speak to Crestfallen Saulden, who is sat on the stone monument in Majula go through all his dialogue to learn this.
Duel Bow – Speak to Blue Sentinel Targray in the Cathedral of Blue (found in Heide’s Tower of Flame area) after acquiring a Token of Fidelity, you can find one on aledge just under the bridge leading to the Undead Purgatory in Huntsmans Copse OR acquire by helping other players via the White Soapstone. You HAVE to join the covenant for him to give you the option of learning the gesture (but you can leave after).
Fist Pump – In Huntsman's Copse, after you lower the huge iron bridge cross it to come to a bonfire behind a locked door, take the Cliffside path nearby (rather than the caves) and follow it to another small cave that has some enemies and the Lockaway key. Return to the locked room and speak to Creighton the Wanderer to learn this.
Joy – From Majula head back towards Things Betwixt but take the right hand cave instead. Speak to Benhart (with the blue sword) and then examine the statue up ahead. You need a Fragrant Branch of Yore to un-petrify Rosabeth of Melfia here, once you have done so go back and speak to Benhart again to learn this gesture.
Warmup – First purchase the Ring of Whispers from the cat in Majula (costs 5,800 souls) then speak to Manscorpion Tark in the Shaded Ruins (he is at the bottom of the left hand building as you face the giant basilisk in this area) after defeating Scorpioness Najka (you may need to rest first if you summoned him to help in the fight).
Hurrah! – Can only be acquired AFTER speaking to the Ancient Dragon and getting the Ashen Mist Heart. Then go to the Forest of Fallen Giants and access the Memory of Vammar (tree that looks like a giant near the ballista room). Speak to Captain Drummond in the memory to learn the gesture.
This one's me – When you first get to Castle Drangleic go up the stairs ahead and speak to Chancellor Wellager (the ghost) repeatedly until he teaches you the gesture.
Have mercy! – Shortly into the Undead Crypt (after the first rooms with the ghouls and spellcasters) someone will call out to you. DO NOT HAVE A LIT TORCH OR SORCERY AT THIS POINT. Follow the path and speak to Grave Warden Agdayne to learn the gesture.
Prostration – In Earthen Peak, after the second bonfire that is behind a fog gate, go up the stairs outside that room and smash the wooden fencing ahead of you. Go along the ledge to the left to meet Laddersmith Gilligan, pay him 2000 souls for a ladder to reach a Lockstone and he will teach you this. If you miss him he will move to Majula AFTER you defeat the area boss and be sat by the pit near the mansion.
Decapitate – From the Ruined Fork Road in the Shaded Woods enter the foggy door and stick to the left hand wall, follow it up to a ruined circle and speak to the Head of Vengarl repeatedly to learn.
Mock – In the Lost Bastille, just before the bridge to Sinners Rise, you can go up some stairs to some cells with a petrified wizard. Use a Fragrant Branch of Yore to free Straid of Olaphis then speak to him repeatedly to learn this gesture.
Praise the Sun – Just before you enter the large building (Earthen Peak) via the door with all of the poison pots in Harvest Valley, there is a small path that runs across to the left above the poison smog with the two Dark Giants. Follow this to the Alter of Sunlight and you can learn this without having to rank up in the Covenant.
Master of Sorcery 30g - Learn all sorceriesYou will need a BASE statistic (i.e. no item bonuses) of at least 8 FAI/INT to speak to certain merchants. A full list of where they are found is here. You will need to find the following spells (NG+ REQUIRED):
Soul Arrow - Merchant Hag Melentia – 1,500 souls
- Carhillion of the Fold – 1,500 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir – 1,500 souls
Great Soul Arrow - Carhillion of the Fold – 3,000 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir – 3,000 souls
- Found in the Forest of Fallen Giants
Heavy Soul Arrow - Magerold of Lanafir – 2,000 souls
- Carhillion of the Fold – 2,000 souls
Great Heavy Soul Arrow - Magerold of Lanafir – 4,500 souls
- Carhillion of the Fold – 4,500 souls
- Found in Earthen Peak
Homing Soul Arrow - Straid of Olaphis – 6,500 souls
- Weaponsmith Ornifex – 6,500 souls
Heavy Homing Soul Arrow - Trade a Ruin Sentinel Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Homing Soulmass - Weaponsmith Ornifex – 6,000 souls
- Found in Shaded Woods
Homing Crystal Soulmass - Found in Shrine of Amana (on corpse in area with NPC invader after tunnel with large poison tick)
Soul Spear - Grave Warden Agdayne – 12,000 souls
- Found in Hunstman's Copse
Crystal Soul Spear - Trade Old Paledrake Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 10,000 souls
Shockwave - Carhillion of the Fold – 1,800 souls
Soul Spear Barrage - Carhillion of the Fold – 2,500 souls
Soul Shower - Trade Scorpioness Najka Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Soul Greatsword - Found in Drangleic Castle
Soul Vortex - Grave Warden Agdayne – 10,400 souls
- Found in The Pit
- Found in BrightstoneCove Tseldora
Soul Bolt - Found in Drangleic Castle (King's Passage)
Soul Geyser - Found in Aldia's Keep
Magic Weapon – Carhillion of the Fold – 2,000 souls
Great Magic Weapon - Reward for reaching Rank 1 in the Company of Champions Covenant
- Royal Sorcerer Navlaan – 6,000 souls
- Found in Black Gulch
Crystal Magic Weapon - Found in Dragon Shrine
Strong Magic Shield - Straid of Olaphis – 6,300 souls
- Royal Sorcerer Navlaan – 6,300 souls
- Found in Drangleic Castle
Yearn - Carhillion of the Fold – 3,000 souls
Hush - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in Way of the Blue Covenant
- Found in Lost Bastille (hidden passage in Ruin Sentinel boss room, press A on the walls)
Fall Control - Magerold of Lanafir – 4,800 souls
- Weaponsmith Ornifex - 4,800 souls
Hidden Weapon - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in the Bell Keeper Covenant. To do so easily, go into Offline mode by just starting a Party Chat, then go to Belfry Sol. Head up the ladder from the bonfire and go straight towards the ballista ahead. Once there look left, if you see a Red Phantom then this is the guy you need to kill 30 times. He has a roughly 20% chance of spawning every time you rest at the bonfire (even after you permanently cause the other enemies here to disappear by killing them) and will do so infinitely though it will still take a couple of hours of farming.
Repair - Found in Shrine of Winter, go through the Shrine and drop down the path then head right to find a dead end with a corpse. The spell is here.
Cast Light - Straid of Olaphis – 3,000 souls
- Darkdiver Grandahl – 3,000 souls
Chameleon - Found in Harvest Valley, on a corpse in the poison mist pit with two Dark Giants just before you enter Earthen Peak.
Unleash Magic - Received from Royal Sorcerer Navlaan after giving Aged Feather for fourth assassination. You can get the Feather by either killing the Emerald Herald in Majula (NOT RECOMMENDED) or she will give it to you when you speak to her after reaching the Dragon Aerie.
Master of Miracles 30g - Learn all miraclesYou will need a BASE statistic (i.e. no item bonuses) of at least 8 FAI/INT to speak to certain merchants. A full list of where they are found is here. You need to find the following spells (NG++ REQUIRED):
Heal - Merchant Hag Melentia – 1,500 souls
- Licia of Lindelt – 1,500 souls
Med Heal - Licia of Lindelt – 3,000 souls
Great Heal Excerpt - Licia of Lindelt – 4,500 souls
Great Heal - Cromwell the Pardoner – 8,000 souls
- Found in the Grave of Saints
Soothing Sunlight - Invade and defeat Licia of Lindelt (you will find a Crushed Orb in the Undead Crypt, take this back to where Lydia is standing in Majula and use it to invade and kill her. WARNING: Make sure you have bought everything you want from her as she will be permanently gone until NG+)
Replenishment - Licia of Lindelt – 3,000 souls
- Cromwell the Pardoner - 3000 souls
Resplendent Life - Licia of Lindelt – 4,500 souls
- Straid of Olaphis – 4,500 souls
Bountiful Sunlight - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in Blue Sentinels Covenant
- Chancellor Wellager (New Game ++) – 11,000 souls
Caressing Prayer - Licia of Lindelt – 2,000 souls
- Cromwell the Pardoner – 2,000 souls
Force - Licia of Lindelt – 1,800 souls
- Cromwell the Pardoner – 1,800 souls
Wrath of the Gods - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in Blue Sentinels Covenant
- Chancellor Wellager (New Game ++) – 8,200 souls
Emit Force - Cromwell the Pardoner – 4,200 souls
- Blue Sentinel Targray – 4,200 souls
- Found in No-Man's Wharf (top ledge as you go to ring the bell, on a corpse)
Heavenly Thunder - Cromwell the Pardoner – 3,300 souls
- Blue Sentinel Targray – 3,300 souls
Lightning Spear - Licia of Lindelt – 6,000 souls
- Found in Earthen Peak
Great Lightning Spear - Straid of Olaphis (after clearing the Undead Crypt/defeating Velstadt) – 13,000 souls
- Found in The Pit
- Found in Undead Crypt
Sunlight Spear - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in the Heirs of the Sun Covenant (need to assist 30 players with boss fights successfully AFTER joining the covenant OR be assisted by other covenant players when fighting a boss).
Soul Appease - Stone Trader Chloanne – 8,800 souls
- Grave Warden Agdayne – 8,800 souls
Blinding Bolt - Trade Old King Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 10,000 souls
Magic Barrier - Head of Vengarl – 2,700 souls
- Felkin the Outcast – 2,700 souls
Great Magic Barrier - Chancellor Wellager – 9,300 souls
- Found in Aldia's Keep
Homeward - Licia of Lindelt – 2,400 souls
Guidance - Licia of Lindelt – 3,700 souls
Sacred Oath - Trade Soul of Velstadt with Straid of Olaphis – 3,000 souls
Unveil - Straid of Olaphis – 2,200 souls
Perseverance - Cromwell the Pardoner – 3,500 souls
Sunlight Blade - Straid of Olaphis (after defeating Velstadt) – 12,400 souls
- Found in Shrine of Amana
Master of Pyromancy 30g - Learn all pyromanciesYou will need a BASE statistic (i.e. no item bonuses) of at least 8 FAI/INT to speak to certain merchants. A full list of where they are found is here. You need to find the following (NG++ REQUIRED):
Fireball - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) - 1,200 souls
- Dropped by Salamander in Forest of Fallen Giants
- Found in No-Man's Whar
Fire Orb - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 3,400 souls
- Dropped by Salamander in Forest of Fallen Giants
Great Fireball - Dropped by Salamander in Forest of Fallen Giants
- Found in Brightstone Cove Tseldora
Great Chaos Fireball - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in Brotherhood of Blood Covenant
- Chancellor Wellager (New Game ++) – 17,400 souls
Firestorm - Titchy Gren (Undead Purgatory – need 1 Token of Spite to speak with him) – 4,500 souls
- Dropped by Poisonous Horn Beetle in The Gutter
- Found in Drangleic Castle
Fire Tempest - Dropped by Guardian Dragon in Dragon Aerie
- Found in Shrine of Amana
Chaos Storm - Found in chest on flaming platforms in Iron Keep (use flame resist, orange burr, Flash Sweat and water to reach)
Combustion - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 1,500 souls
- Found in Huntsman's Copse
Great Combustion - Titchy Gren (Undead Purgatory – need 1 Token of Spite to speak with him) – 4,800 souls
- Found in Drangleic Castle
Fire Whip - Titchy Gren (Undead Purgatory – need 1 Token of Spite to speak with him) – 3,800 souls
- Dropped by Bell Keeper Phantom in Belfry Sol
Poison Mist - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 3,400 souls
Toxic Mist - Trade Royal Rat Vanguard Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Acid Surge - Trade Royal Rat Authority Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Lingering Flame - Straid of Olaphis – 6,700 souls
- Dropped by Undead Jailer in Lost Bastille
Flame Swathe - Straid of Olaphis – 9,500 souls
- Dropped by Bell Keeper Phantoms in Belfry Sol
Forbidden Sun - Received from Royal Sorcerer Navlaan after giving Sunset Staff for third assassination
Flame Weapon - Trade Old Witch Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 5,000 souls
Flash Sweat - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 2,300 souls
Iron Flesh - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) - 3,500 souls
Warmth - Grave Warden Agdayne (Undead Crypt) - 5,200 souls
- Dropped by Corpse Rat in Grave of Saints
Immolation - Found in Iron Keep (Belfry Sol)
Master of Hexes 30g - Learn all hexesYou will need a BASE statistic (i.e. no item bonuses) of at least 8 FAI/INT to speak to certain merchants. A full list of where they are found is here. You need to find the following (NG+ REQUIRED):
Dark Orb - Felkin the Outcast - 600 souls
- Straid of Olaphis - 600 souls
- Darkdiver Grandahl – 600 souls
Dark Hail - Darkdiver Grandahl – 1,500 souls
- Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir – 1,500 souls
Dark Fog - Straid of Olaphis – 5,200 souls
- Found in the Gutter
Affinity - Straid of Olaphis – 11,500 souls
- Dropped by Kobold of Aldia's Keep
Dead Again - Stone Trader Chloanne - 4,000 souls
Dark Weapon - Felkin the Outcast – 2,700 souls
Whisper of Despair - Found in Grave of Saints
Repel - Trade Giant Lord Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 5,000 souls
Twisted Barricade - Found in Doors of Pharros
Numbness - Trade Old Dead One Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 5,000 souls
Scraps of Life - Cromwell the Pardoner - 2,200 souls
- Found in Black Gulch
Darkstorm - Darkdiver Grandahl – 4,700 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir - 4,700 souls
Resonant Soul - Reward for reaching Rank 1 in Pilgrims of Dark Covenant -
- Felkin the Outcast - 1,100 souls
Great Resonant Soul - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in Pilgrims of Dark Covenant
- Felkin the Outcast – 3,400 souls
Climax - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in Pilgrims of Dark Covenant
Resonant Flesh - Felkin the Outcast – 3,400 souls
Resonant Weapon - Felkin the Outcast – 4,000 souls
Profound Still - Darkdiver Grandahl - 13,000 souls
Lifedrain Patch - Trade Darklurker Soul with Straid of Olaphis - 5,000 souls
Selfless Giver 50g - Max-out devotion to covenantYou need to reach Rank 3 with ANY Covenant for this to unlock. You need to get two to Rank 3 for other achievements anyway (as you need the requisite spells) so aim for those. The two are: Heirs of the Sun (once joined the need 30 Sunlight medals for max rank – gained by helped other players beat bosses or being helped in turn by members of this Covenant) and Pilgrims of the Dark (need to find the Darkdiver in three places and then complete the small dungeon in each of them and light the beacon, then defeat the final boss). For a guide to all covenants and requirements go here.
This is Dark Souls 10g - Die for the first timeKill yourself, or be killed, in any way and this will unlock.
King's Ring 20g - Acquire the King's RingStory progression – can’t be missed. Once you defeat the boss in the Undead Crypt you will go into the room behind him and see an optional boss (don’t attack him yet) and an item to grab. Pick up the item to get this ring and the achievement.
Ancient Dragon 20g - Acquire Ashen Mist HeartStory progression. Can’t be missed. Once you have the King’s Ring head to the Ruined Fork Road bonfire in the Shaded Woods and then through the middle opening to access a gate (need the ring equipped to open). This leads to Aldia’s Keep, go through here to the Dragon Aerie and then the Dragon Shrine. At the end of the shrine you will speak to the Ancient Dragon and be given this item and the achievement will unlock. You do NOT have to fight him, but if you do so it will make the Vendrick fight much easier - only attack him AFTER you get the Heart.
The Heir 100g - See the endingStory progression – can’t be missed. Once you have the Ashen Mist Heart you need to use it on the various inanimate giants in the Forest of Fallen Giants (one near ballista room, one past Pursuer fog gate location and one through King’s door you can now open). Once these are complete go to the King’s door in Drangleic castle (to the left of the first bonfire) and head to the Throne of Want. You then have two boss fights, back to back, though you can do the first one BEFORE doing the memories of the giants to make your life easier. After the last boss is defeating you have completed the game and get the achievement. You can then choose to mop up anything you have missed or go into NG+ (if you chose the first option you can then select NG+ from the Majula bonfire).
Last Giant 10g - Defeat the Last GiantThe Last Giant is likely to be your first real boss and can be found in the Forest of Fallen Giants, after you have gone through the area to create a loop back to the Cardinal Tower bonfire there is an elevator here. Go down it to find a fog gate at the bottom. You can summon Pate to help you if you spoke to him repeatedly earlier in this section and are human. The fight is fairly simple. Simply aim to roll straight through his legs and he will swipe where you were, now attack his ankles and then roll away to avoid his follow up stomp. At 50% health he will use his arm to attack but follows the same pattern (but with a longer reach) so repeat the above until he dies. If you need to heal then do so AFTER rolling through his legs but instead of attacking.
Sinner's Bonfire 20g - Light the primal bonfire in Sinner's RiseStory progression – can’t be missed. At the end of the Lost Bastille you will find Sinners Rise. Head down the elevator and through the watery depths to find a long bridge leading to a boss fight. The Lost Sinner is pretty tough and will do relentless physical attacks, so summoning help is advised (you can summon Lucatiel from the bottom of the elevator if you spoke to her earlier and are human). Only go for single strikes and try and recover as much stamina as you can between her strikes. All her attacks CAN be blocked if you have a good shield and stamina, but only counter when there is an obvious opening. In terms of healing Lifegems leave you FAR less exposed than the Estus Flask. Once she dies you can enter a new area to light the Primal bonfire.
Iron Keep Bonfire 20g - Light the primal bonfire in the Iron KeepStory progression – can’t be missed. You need to defeat the Old Iron King at the end of the Iron keep to access the bonfire. He will come out of the lava and use a number of crushing attacks or flame based ranged attacks. For his physical attacks you can dodge under his horizontal swings and dodge his overhead smash at the last second – both leave him open to a counter. If you stay close he shouldn’t use his long ranged flame attacks that often but be warned they CAN hit you through the stone walls here and knock you into the lava, so only heal when you have a moment. If you have the Gyrm shield (found from enemies in the Doors of Pharros) you can block the flame strikes at the cost of a LOT of stamina. In truth he is fairly easy due to his habit of standing still and telegraphing his blows. Once he dies go into the small building here to activate the Primal bonfire.
Gulch Bonfire 20g - Light the primal bonfire in the Black GulchStory progression – can’t be missed. For this fight you need to defeat The Rotten in the Black Gulch. He is a large enemy that does primarily melee attacks (that can be blocked if you have the Endurance and a good shield) and some dark spells too. You can find a summon sign for Lucatiel in the hidden room to the right side of the chamber before the mist door, plus another sign for an archer near the wall on the left side before the door. Keep your distance if you can, as he has a dangerous grab attack, and bait him into one of his large swings or an overhead smash. Then step in and attack him while he recovers. Watch out for the many flaming pits in this room as they do a lot of damage to you, and none to him. But he moves so slowly that you should be able to keep him at arms length and just dash away from him to heal if you need to. Once he dies you can go into the new room to activate the Primal bonfire.
Brightstone Bonfire 20g - Light the primal bonfire in Brightstone Cove TseldoraStory progression – can’t be missed. You need to kill the Duke’s Dear Freja, a giant two headed spider at the end of Brightstone Cove. You can summon an excellent ally (his sign is behind the pillar opposite the fog gate by the far wall) to aid you and be aware that a number of smaller spiders are present to begin with, so try and clear them out ASAP. Once they are dead stick really close to Freja’s sides. She can’t hurt you there as her leg stomps don’t get close enough and her other attacks come from each head. You can only damage each of her heads, so wait until she attacks and then get a couple of strikes in before moving to her safe area. She will do a big lunge, a two hit mandible combo or a large spit attack all of which can be easily dodged or blocked. If you need to heal try and bait her lunge attack and then run around to her side to quickly get health back while she recovers. Once she dies make sure to interact with the glowing red soul and then follow the passage to kill the weak Duke, then another passage to the Primal bonfire. Beware: Vengarl’s headless corpse will be waiting for you so kill him before lighting the fire.
Giant Lord 20g - Defeat Looking Glass KnightStory progression – can’t be missed. Once all of the Primal bonfires are lit you can access the Shrine of Winter in the Shaded Woods. This leads to Drangleic Castle and if you fight your way through here you will eventually end up at King’s Passage. Watch out for the horse headed statues leading to the fog gate (snipe them from afar if you can). You can find a summon sign for Benhart to the left of the gate if you spoke to him earlier, and he is pretty helpful. The Knight himself is pretty tough. He has high armour and will do rapid combos as well as using lightning attacks when he starts to lose health. When he gets down under 50% he will also summon a phantom ally from his shield, so try and take them out ASAP if you can. With an ally this fight is much easier as you can tank him early on, then retreat to get back health/stamina while he focuses on your ally. Once he dies the achievement will unlock.
Vendrick 50g - Defeat VendrickOptional. King Vendrick is found at the end of the Undead Crypt after you defeat the boss there. He is not hostile to the player and will only attack if you do enough damage to him. The problem is that he has a ludicrously high defence UNLESS you seek out the five Giant Souls, which will reduce his defence by degrees until it is normal. Even then he can do a lot of damage with his physical attacks most of which are unblockable, or do a ton of stamina damage, so be on your toes. YOU NEED TO KILL HIM BEFORE FIGHTING THE FINAL BOSS. To get the five souls you need to do the following (once you have the Ashen Mist Heart):
•Dragon Shrine - Drop from Ancient Dragon.
•Memory of Orro - On the body of a Giant past two giants and two knights on Ballistae.
•Memory of Vammar - At the end guarded by a giant
•Memory of Jeigh - On a body of the giant after Giant Lord boss.
•Black Gulch - Requires defeating two giants in a hidden cave, reached by dropping down two more levels from the Forbidden Door that leads to Darkdiver Grandahl.
Now his defence will be normal and he only does four different attacks. If you are far away he will try and do a running leap to attack you, this is easily dodged and his sword gets stuck in the floor. He will sometimes shoot a cursed orb from his ring that can do massive damage, as well as cursing you (just for fun) but this can be rolled away from. His other attacks are either a large overhead smash or a horizontal attack that can be 1/2/3 hits. Stay close to his left leg and roll right when he attacks, then quickly hit him. Repeat until he is dead but don’t get overzealous. If you are human you can now open the locked door in the Shrine of Amana to get his soul and armour.
Brilliant Covenant 10g - Discover a most brilliant covenantPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: Examine the broken Sunlight shrine in Harvest Valley, hidden to the left side of the large building with windmill on it (Earthen Peak) along a small path that is over the poison mist pit with two Dark Giants in it. Watch out for the sickle enemy on your way there. You will need to get Rank 3 in this covenant for a spell and can also learn a gesture here.
Protector Covenant 10g - Discover the covenant of the protectorsPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: Defeat the Old Dragonslayer in the Blue Cathedral (part of Heide's Tower of Flame) then speak to Targray on the balcony here. You must have at least one Token of Fidelity in your inventory to join (can find one on a ledge just below the bridge leading to The Undead Purgatory or by helping other players with the White Soapstone).
Sanguinary Covenant 10g - Discover the covenant of the bloodthirstyPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: Speak to Titchy Gren in the Undead Purgatory, available after the Chariot boss fight. You need to have one Token of Spite to join (acquired from a chest at the bottom of the ladders leading to The Gutter or from invading and killing another player via a Cracked Red Orb).
Covenant of the Meek 10g - Discover the covenant of the meekPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: Repeatedly speak to Crestfallen Saulden who is sat on the monument in Majula to be offered the chance to join, he will also teach you a gesture,
Gnawing Covenant 10g - Discover the covenant of rodentsPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: Found in two places. The small room after you defeat the Royal Rat Vanguard boss in the Grave of Saints or a similar room after the Royal Rat Authority boss in the Doors of Pharros (he is optional). You get a Rat Tail for each of these bosses, which is required to join.
Clangorous Covenant 10g - Discover the clangorous covenantPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: Speak to the Bell Keeper either at Belfry Luna (Lost Bastille) or Belfry Sol (Iron Keep) both of which require a Pharros Lockstone to access. For Belfry Luna, go to the bonfire in the Servants Quarters in the Lost Bastille (after Ruin Sentinel fight) then down the ladder in that room. There is a Lockstone contraption in the room at the bottom, use it and hit the glowing face to gain access to Luna and this Covenant. You need to get this covenant to at least Rank 2 in order to acquire a spell.
Covenant of Ancients 10g - Discover an ancient covenantPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: You first need to get the Petrified Egg from the Dragon Shrine, from the bonfire there go up the first two flights of steps until you see a broken path with boxes at the end (on your right at the top of the steps). Break them and drop down onto a hidden ledge with two chests (one a mimic) follow this hidden route up a tall tower where you will be attacked by an NPC invader. Kill him and grab the egg from this room. Then go to the Iron Keep. From the Threshold Bridge Bonfire, go into the keep and immediately go right and find the merchant Magerold. Speak to him with the egg in your possession to join.
Covenant of the Fittest 10g - Discover the covenant of the fittestPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: Examine the stone tablet in Majula, up the cliff on the far left side (if entering from Things Betwixt). You'll be given the Champion's Tablet. Joining this Covenant WILL make the game much harder for you - it will be as though you are playing NG+ from the off, so be warned.
Abysmal Covenant 10g - Discovery the abysmal covenantPLEASE NOTE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JOIN A COVENANT TO GET THE ACHIEVEMENT – JUST HAVE THE OPTION TO: You need to talk to Darkdiver Grandahl in three different locations to join the Pilgrims of Dark. They can be done in any order. After the third one he will let you join. He will give you the Abyss Seal and you can then offer an Effigy to open a portal (in each area you found him) leading to the Dark Chasm of Old. You need to get Rank 3 in this covenant for a spell, so offer an Effigy at each place you found him to open a portal, you then have to defeat the phantoms in each area and light the beacon (take Flame Butterflys to light your torch) before falling into the mist at the end. After clearing the third area you will not be returned straight away but instead have to face the Darklurker boss. Be warned that if you die you have to offer ANOTHER effigy to redo the area.
Shaded Ruins - To the right of the ramp that leads up to the scorpion boss you will find a hidden wooden floor to fall through by some trees. He is at the bottom.
Black Gulch - Behind the Forgotten Key Door. Accessed via a hidden ledge near the pools with burrowing worms and hand monsters. Dropping down two levels has a large arch door that is locked. The next ledge down has a tunnel leading to a large room with two faceless giants. Killing both giants yields a Forgotten Key and Soul of a Giant. This key can be used on the previously found door to access a small chamber containing Grandahl.
Drangleic Castle - Behind the Soul-Activated door in the far left of the corner of the large room adjoining the King's Gate Bonfire. The room has two torch bearing giant statues at the end, and a Ruin guardian behind each door. You will need to drop through the floor in the required room to find him.
Curious Map 30g - Light all flames on the map in MajulaAfter you find the Cardinal Tower bonfire go down the ladder in that room (the following areas have plenty of enemies but this is the route you need). At the bottom head left and through the door at the end, you’ll be facing a fallen tree that makes a ramp upwards. About halfway up you can drop onto a doorway on the left, do so and then turn around drop to the ground. Run across to the ladder down here and climb up it. At the top cross the wooden ramp on your left and make your way to the roof of the house, from here do a running jump to the wooden platform in the corner. Then go right and drop down to the next platform. There is a cave on the left side, so head in slowly, a boulder should roll down so be careful. Once it passes go up the ramp and speak to Cale. He will give you the mansion key and you should only leave when he starts to repeat himself. Once you have defeated the Last Giant he will be back in Majula, in the mansion by the stone map. You now need to do the following to light the fires (be sure to light all nearby bonfires):
Defeat the Last Giant - Forest of Fallen Giants
Defeat the Lost Sinner - Sinner's Rise
Defeat the Old Iron King - Iron Keep
Defeat the Rotten - Black Gulch
Defeat the Duke's Dear Freja - Brightstone Cove Tseldora
Obtain the King's Ring - Undead Crypt
Obtain the Ashen Mist Heart from the Ancient Dragon - Dragon Shrine
Defeat Nashandra - Drangleic Castle
DO NOT CHOOSE NG+ straight away after beating the last boss. Instead head back to Majula and speak to Cale to get his gear and the achievement.
Change of Clothes 30g - Give Rosabeth of Melfia something to wearShe is the statue blocking the path to the Shaded Woods and you need a Fragrant Branch of Yore to free her. They can be found in a number of places:
Lost Bastille - in a chest after the Lost Sinner fight.
The Gutter - on a corpse just before entering the Black Gulch.
Harvest Valley/Earthen Peak - can find two/three from a number of chests/corpses.
Iron Keep - purchase for 7,500 souls from Magerold.
Once she is free you need to give her some items from you inventory (helmet, armour, gloves and boots) and you will then get the achievement and she will move to Majula. BE WARNED: anything you give her cannot be taken back so make sure it’s something you aren’t bothered about.
Gathering of Exiles 30g - Increase the population of MajulaYou need to get the following NPC characters to appear in Majula (speak to Sualden after you do so for a bonus item):
Merchant Hag Melentia - found in Cardinal Tower by the bonfire. Speak to her after you have killed the Last Giant and she will move to Majula.
Cale the Cartographer - found in the Forest of Fallen Giants. From the Cardinal Tower Bonfire go down the ladder and left at the bottom. Through the door at the end and halfway up the sloping tree, drop onto a lower wooden ledge from here and then again to the floor. Go up the ladder on the building nearby and then over the wooden bridge to a roof - from here you can do a running jump to a wooden platform ahead, and then drop down to another wooden platform that has the cave entrance. Watch out for the boulder trap and then speak to Cale at the top of the slope until he says he will go back to Majula.
Rosabeth - she is blocking the entrance to the Shaded Wood initially. Needs to be freed using a Fragrant Branch of Yore. Then speak to her until she repeats herself, and be sure to give her some new clothes and she will then move to Majula, at the bottom of the memorial near the bonfire.
Carhillion - found in No-Man's Wharf, on the docks by the ship you summon. You need at least 8 Int to speak with him, do so repeatedly and he will then move to Majula (under a tree looking out to sea).
Licia - found after the Dragonrider fight at the top of Heide's Flaming Tower. If you exhaust all conversation she will then move next to the contraption in the tunnels by Majula (same tunnel that led to Heide).
Stone Trader Chloanne - found sat on a rock as soon as you enter Harvest Valley. Speak to her until she says it is time for her to move on and she will go to Majula the next time you rest at a bonfire.
Laddersmith Gilligan - located on a ledge in Earthen Peak. From the second bonfire (the one behind a mist door) go up the stairs and smash the wooden railing in front of you. The go along the left hand ledge to find him. Buy his ladder here for 2,000 souls and make sure to exhaust all conversation. After the boss fight at the top of Earthen Peak (Mytha) he will then move to Majula.
Once ALL of the above are in Majula you should get an achievement the next time you warp there from another bonfire.
Moonlight Greatsword 30g - Inherit Benhart of Jugo's equipment.This achievement needs some planning to make it as easy as possible so try to do things in the order I list them in order to make life easier on yourself. For more information on specific bosses/locations my walkthrough is here.
You first find Benhart sat on the path leading to the Shaded Woods, before the door blocked by the petrified Rosabeth. Speak to him here until he repeats himself and then un-petrify Rosabeth with a Fragrant Branch of Yore. Then head back to Benhart to speak to him again and learn a gesture, make sure he repeats himself.
Once you get to Brightstone Cove you will find his summon sign in one of the tents in the Royal Army Campsite (same tent that has a suit of armour stood in it) but don’t call him yet. Instead follow the path past the boulders and into the church, kill all the peasants and spiders leading up to the fog gate in there and THEN head back to summon him. This means he’ll have full health for the boss. Take him back there and kill the Prowling Magus and his Congregation – MAKE SURE THAT BENHART SURVIVES THE FIGHT OR IT WILL NOT COUNT. He needs to survive 3 of the 4 available boss fights for you to get his equipment. To make things easier you can buy the Redeye Ring from the cat in Majula for 6,700 souls as this will force the enemies to focus on you rather than the NPC.
After that you will meet him again by the Central Castle bonfire in Drangleic Castle (just before the platform that takes you up to King’s Passage). Speak to him until he repeats himself and then continue onwards. Once you access Kings Passage clear out all of the enemies and find his summon sign to the left of the fog gate leading to the Looking Glass Knight, it helps to summon a second player if you can as the Knight can do severe damage. Ensure he survives the fight and continue.
Once you have the Ashen Mist Heart (from the Ancient Dragon) go back to the birds nest in the Forest of Fallen Giants (just past where The Pursuer fog gate fight was) and speak to him there until he repeats himself. You can now use the Ashen Mist Heart to enter the Memory of Jeigh, his summon sign is straight ahead of you and down some steps (be sure to call him rather than Drummond) and have him help you defeat the Giant Lord.
Once that is done you can speak to him in the Memory of Orro in order to get his equipment and the achievement. If he died on one of the fights you can also summon him at the Throne of Want to assist you with the last boss, then head back to the Memory of Orro afterwards (DO NOT START A NG+ IF YOU ARE DOING THIS) as he will be there permanently. If you missed a fight or he died (if he dies before the boss is dead then you can let it kill you and summon him again, though obviously you need to use an Effigy or Life Protection Ring to be human again) you have two options. Either try again on NG+ OR use a Bonfire Ascetic at the relevant bonfire (Royal Army Campsite, Central Drangleic Castle, Place Unbeknownst, Kings Gate) to make the boss respawn and attempt the fight again. If you do the latter the boss will be tougher and (in some cases) have allies. You can theoretically use this method to get all three boss wins on ONE fight if you feel like it (so defeating the Prowling Magus three times on one playthrough via Ascetic use would be fine). But you still HAVE TO speak to him in the required places and have the wins before talking to him in the Memory of Orro (though he will stay there indefinitely so you can use the Ascetic method at your leisure).
Holder of the Fort 30g - Inherit Captain Drummond's equipment.Once you have spoken to the Ancient Dragon and acquired the Ashen Mist Heart you can enter the Memory of Vammar via the slumbering giant near the ballista room in the Forest of Fallen Giants. This is where Drummond is, you can speak to him now to learn a gesture but to get his equipment you need to kill the Giant Lord in the Memory of Jeigh (through the King’s door in the Forest of Fallen Giants). The Giant Lord is similar to the Last Giant and you can adopt almost the same tactics, plus you can summon Benhart in the memory to help you out. Once he is dead return to the Memory of Vammar again and speak to Drummond to get his helmet and the achievement.
Lucatiel 30g - Inherit equipment from Lucatiel of Mirrah.This achievement needs some planning to make it as easy as possible so try to do things in the order I list them in order to make life easier on yourself. For more information on specific bosses/locations my walkthrough is here.
You can talk to her in ANY order, but you need to speak to her at the bonfire in No Mans Wharf and in the hidden tunnel at the start of Black Gulch to make her available for boss fights. Her last spot is ALWAYS Aldia's Keep and she needs to have survived three fights BEFORE you speak to her here. This has to be done in ONE playthrough.
In No Mans Wharf (past Heide’s Tower of Flame) and she will be at the bonfire just before that area so speak to her until she repeats. Now you can work through No Man’s Wharf but don’t enter the fog gate on the ship at the end. Instead go back up the stone steps that led down to wharf the ship arrives at and into the wooden door on the left, go up the stairs in this building and you should find a summon sign for Lucatiel on the floor in this room (by a door that you can only open from this side). It’s better to kill all other enemies before the boss to make your life easier. Now take her to the Flexile Sentry boss fight and kill him – MAKE SURE SHE SURVIVES THE FIGHT OTHERWISE IT DOESN’T COUNT, this holds true for every time you summon her. She needs to survive 3 fights out of the four available. To make things easier you can buy the Redeye Ring from the cat in Majula for 6,700 souls as this will force the enemies to focus on you rather than the NPC.
After you kill the Last Giant you will get the Soldiers Key, you can use this to access a door behind the Ironclad Solder opposite the ballista room. Up here you will find the fog gate leading to The Pursuer. You need to defeat him and then go into the room behind him to find a birds nest, examine it to be taken to the Lost Bastille. From where you land you need to head to the tower opposite to find Lucatiel. Talk to her until she repeats herself. You can also reach her if coming via No Mans Wharf. From the Exile Cells come onto the battlements, down the ladder near the Heide Knight and then left to a pull switch that opens a gate. Through the gate and up the stairs will get you to her tower.
Be sure to summon her for the Lost Sinner fight in Sinners Rise (her summon sign is in the same room that the elevator stops in on your way down, again kill the enemies leading to the fog gate before activating her).
You will find her again in the bonfire room in Earthen Peak (just after the Covetous Demon fight and assuming you spoke to her in the other two places). So talk to her until she repeats herself again.
You can summon her for the Smelter Demon fight in Iron Keep (it’s an optional boss just after the bridge you can lower) and her sign is right outside. This is a tough one to get her to survive but it can be done, I especially recommend summoning another player to help out to make things easier.
Next you will find her in the Black Gulch. When you enter, go left into the bonfire room and light a torch. Now go back out and edge along the cliff right outside until you see a platform you can drop down to (near a cluster of three poison spitting statues). Do so and you will find Lucatiel leaning against the wall in this passage, talk to her repeatedly. Then continue onwards but DO NOT go in the fog gate, you need to find the hidden bonfire. If you hug the wall to the left (if your back is to the fog gate) and follow it until you reach the cliff edge, you can then go left on a narrow path to the bonfire room and Lucatiel’s summon sign. Now you can fight The Rotten and make sure she survives.
Continue with the game until you reach Aldia’s Keep and she will be in the first little hut by the bonfire. DO NOT SPEAK TO HER UNLESS SHE HAS SURVIVED THREE BOSS FIGHTS as she will vanish after your conversation is done. If you found her and she survived the required number of fights you will get her equipment and the achievements.
If you missed a fight or she died (if she dies before the boss is dead then you can let it kill you and summon her again, though obviously you need to use an Effigy or Life Protection Ring to be human again) you have two options. Either try again on NG+ OR use a Bonfire Ascetic at the relevant bonfire (No Mans Wharf, Threshold Bridge, Sinners Rise, Hidden Bonfire – Black Gulch) to make the boss respawn and attempt the fight again. If you do the latter the boss will be tougher and (in the case of the Sinner and Flexile Sentry) have allies. You can theoretically use this method to get all three boss wins on ONE fight if you feel like it (so defeating the Flexile Sentry three times on one playthrough via Ascetic use would be fine). But you still HAVE TO speak to her in the required places and have the wins before talking to her in Aldia’s Keep.
Smith for Life 30g - Inherit Steady Hand McDuff's equipment.McDuff can be found in the Lost Bastille (from the tower where Lucatiel is found just go straight ahead down the steps and his cell is at the bottom on the right) either by using the Bastille Key (found in Belfry Luna) to open his cell or by using the explosive barrel at the top of the stairs nearby to blow open the wall to get in. Once there speak to him repeatedly and light the torch in here to get him to move off the chest he is sat on. You now need the Dull Ember from Iron Keep.
To get it (no enemies are listed here, so be careful) go to the Threshold Bridge bonfire at the Iron Keep and cross over it. Enter the building and go up the small stairs ahead and then the larger ones in the right corner. Go through another small room that has three foes in it and out into a large area with lava. Go down the path on the left until you get to some steps going down. Head down and pull the lever here to partially lower the bridge above (don’t open the door). Go back up and cross the bridge. At the end drop off and go right, jump a gap that leads to a chest but look right before reaching it. You’ll see a corpse with an item that you can jump to. This is the ember.
Take it back to McDuff and he will then be able to infuse your weapons (if you have the correct stones). You then need to spend at least 14k worth of souls with him (I chose to use it all on infusion which some people state is required, but equally people have had it unlock by just buying items/arrows) and then chose the regular talk option. He will give you a Titanite Slab and the achievement is yours.
Garrulous Miser 30g - Inherit Laddersmith Gilligan's equipment.Find him first of all located on a ledge in Earthen Peak. From the second bonfire (the one behind a mist door) go up the stairs and smash the wooden railing in front of you. Then go along the left hand ledge to find him. Buy his ladder here for 2,000 souls and make sure to exhaust all conversation. After the boss fight at the top of Earthen Peak (Mytha) he will then move to Majula. Now be sure to buy all three of his ladders down the Pit and then speak to him repeatedly until he gives you his item for the achievement.
Reflections on Disembodiment 30g - Inherit equipment from the head of Vengarl.You need to access the Shaded Woods, by using a Fragrant Branch of Yore to unpetrify Rosabeth. From the bonfire at the Ruined Fork Road in the Shaded Woods go through the right hand exit (the one shrouded in fog) and hug the wall to your left as you enter. Follow the way up and around to a clearing with some ruins and a pile of bones. Speak to the helmet here to find Vengarl – continue talking to him repeatedly to get his helmet and this achievement.
STARTER GUIDE
Starting Class - Class is fairly important as it will also have an impact on what items are available in the various stores. For example I chose a Knight and found that, even if I bought spells and increased my INT and ATT stats no shops had ANY staffs for me to buy. Meaning I couldn't cast spells anyway. This changes the further you get into the game as you start to find items for other classes and can then buy them from various vendors. But early on in the game (first ten-twenty hours depending on how you play) you want to pick a class you are going to stick with and invest your upgrades on skills purely for that class, as multi-classing isn't easy.
Be aware the IDEAL class in terms of levelling is the Deprived one - as you start with a clean slate and can go in any direction, it also makes re-specing via a Soul Vessel a much better option. But it is probably not a class for newcomers as you will struggle to use even basic weapons/armour for a good amount of time.
When it comes to levelling up this costs souls and the amount of souls increase for every level (usually by a few hundred a time to begin with). So if levelling up one attribute costs 2500 souls, the next level will likely be 2700 and so on. Certain attributes are useful for ALL characters and can be upgraded at regular intervals as and when you have the souls. Examples are stamina, health and agility – which boost how many actions you can perform, how much damage you take and how fast you can move/resistances accordingly.
If you are focusing on a melee fighter then Strength is your priority, along with points for Dexterity (useful for a lot of weapons) and obviously points for health. It is also worth having some points into increasing your equipment load so you can use the better armour sets as they come along.
For ranged combat then Dexterity is the one to go with as well as agility for keeping range from your opponent. Some bows also have a strength requirement so be sure to keep the odd level for that. Most enemies, especially bosses are tough to keep at range, so try and have a melee weapon as a solid backup.
Magic comes in four main forms: sorcery, pyromancy, hexes and miracles. The first two require you to focus on high intelligence while the latter requires high faith, and hexes require both. All of them require you to spend levels on Attunement as well – as this will determine how many spells you can equip at one time (starting with ONE at Level 10 Attunement). To change your equipped spells you will have to go to a bonfire.
Attributes:
Vigor - points put into here will directly increase your health by 30 points (up to level 20) then 20 points (up to level 50) and then 5 points thereafter. Note that putting points into all other attributes will increase your health by 2 points (up to level 40 in those stats).
Endurance - putting points into this increases your stamina (which is used up in all actions) by 2 points (up to level 20) and then 1 point per level after that. Your poise will also increase for every level that this stat MATCHES Adaptability.
Vitality - this purely impacts on your equipment load, and will increase it by 1.5 up to level 20. Not that in order to have the fast roll you need an equipped percentage of less the 70% (check this in the bottom right of your player stats screen). Though you can roll faster and further if it is even lower.
Attunement - points put here will alter the number of spell slots you have available (starting with 1 at level 10) and also increase your casting speed and agility. The number of slots will also depend slightly on your Int/Fai. Plus higher levels of attunement will increase the number of uses for each spell you can cast.
Strength - impacts on the damage you do with relevant weapons and increases by 2 points up to level 40 and then 1 point thereafter. Very useful alongside any weapon that has a C or higher grade for strength.
Dexterity - impacts on the damage you do with relevant weapons and increases by 2 points up to level 40 and then 1 point thereafter. Very useful alongside any weapon that has a C or higher grade for dexterity.
Adaptability - this statistic will alter all of your non-magic resistances and increase your poise (which is how easily you are staggered by attacks). Your poise gain will ONLY increase for every level matched by your Endurance stat so be careful. Bear in mind that poise is more easily gained from armour/shields and rings can improve your resistances much easier. It also improves your roll speed/distance and invincibility frames during a roll. Handy to upgrade in a pinch.
Intelligence - required for sorceries, pyromancy and hexes, their damage also scales to this stat. It also increases your fire and magic defence. Most spells need at least level 10 and you can only buy items from the magic vendor in No-Mans Wharf (and later Majula) with that level.
Faith - required for miracles and hexes, their damage also scales to this stat. It also increases your lightning and dark defence. Most spells need at least level 10 and you can only buy items from the magic vendor in Heide's Flaming Tower (and later Majula) with a level of at least 5.
Warrior
Starting level: 12
7 Vigor
6 Endurance
6 Vitality
5 Attunement
15 Strength
11 Dexterity
5 Adaptability
5 Intelligence
5 Faith
Items: 10 Lifegems, Broken Straight Sword, Iron Parma Shield. Standard Helm, Hard Leather Armor, Gauntlets and Boots.
Knight
Starting level: 13
12 Vigor
6 Endurance
7 Vitality
4 Attunement
11 Strength
8 Dexterity
9 Adaptability
3 Intelligence
6 Faith
Items: Broadsword, Falconer Armor, Gloves and Boots, 10 Lifegems.
Swordsman
Starting level: 12
4 Vigor
8 Endurance
4 Vitality
6 Attunement
9 Strength
16 Dexterity
6 Adaptability
7 Intelligence
5 Faith
Items: Scimitar, Shortsword, Wanderer Hood, Coat, Manchettes, and Boots, 10 Lifegems.
Bandit
Starting level: 11
9 Vigor
7 Endurance
11 Vitality
2 Attunement
9 Strength
14 Dexterity
3 Adaptability
1 Intelligence
8 Faith
Items: Short Bow, Hand Axe, Spiked Bandit Helm, Bandit Armour, Gauntlets and Boots, 10 Lifegems and 25 Wood Arrows.
Cleric
Starting level: 14
10 Vigor
3 Endurance
8 Vitality
10 Attunement
11 Strength
5 Dexterity
4 Adaptability
4 Intelligence
12 Faith
Items: Mace, Sacred Chime, Archdrake Robes, 10 Lifegems and Heal Spell.
Sorcerer
Starting level: 11
5 Vigor
6 Endurance
5 Vitality
10 Attunement
3 Strength
7 Dexterity
8 Adaptability
14 Intelligence
4 Faith
Items: Dagger, Staff, Robes, Soul Arrow Spell, 10 Lifegems.
Explorer
Starting level: 10
7 Vigor
6 Endurance
9 Vitality
7 Attunement
6 Strength
6 Dexterity
12 Adaptability
5 Intelligence
5 Faith
Items: 20 Lifegems, 8 Witching Urns, 4 Aromatic Oozes, 5 Prism Stones, 2 Rusted Coins, 1 Repair Powder, Pharros Lockstone, Spell Quartz Ring, 20 Wood Bolts, and Dagger.
Deprived
Starting level: 1
6 Vigor
6 Endurance
6 Vitality
6 Attunement
6 Strength
6 Dexterity
6 Adaptability
6 Intelligence
6 Faith
Items: NOTHING! But be aware that this is the best PURE levelling class as you can go in any direction and is also handy if you plan on using a Soul Vessel to redistribute the points you've earned while levelling.
Special Gifts
Here are the extra items you can pick, be aware that they can ALL be found in game.
Life Ring - Increases overall HP while equipped but can be found fairly early on.
Human Effigy - Restores humanity or can be burnt at a bonfire to stop invasions. This is a handy choice as this item is pretty rare in game.
Healing Items - various herbs that can heal, stop poison etc. Rather a waste of a choice as they are all easily found/bought.
Homeward Bone - sends you back to the last bonfire you used, handy in a pinch but you can find/buy plenty.
Seed of a Tree of Giants - when used, local enemies will attack invaders instead of ignoring them. Can be found randomly on some of the trees you can examine in the Forest of Fallen Giants and isn't vital.
Bonfire Ascetic - burn at a bonfire to increase the difficulty (health and damage dealt) of nearby enemies to NG+ levels. Also causes enemies to respawn if you have farmed them to extinction for souls.
Petrified Something - best choice. Use it on the bird nest in the tutorial area and get a random item in return, some of which can ONLY be found this way. Can include various weapons, rings and even titanite slabs. Good luck.
Death - The first time you die you will get an achievement. Be aware that if you die you will lose all souls you have and then spawn at the last bonfire you activated. Your death will leave a bloodstain, either where you died or nearby if you fell from somewhere, and to reclaim your souls you have to walk up to the blood and hit A. If you die again before doing so then all of those souls are gone for good. Also, every time you die your overall health will go down slightly - all the way to 50% if you are reckless. The only way to fix this is by using a Human Effigy which, as you can imagine, are fairly rare - to do so just use them as you would any other item.
You can also equip a Ring of Binding to slightly negate this loss (so the max you can lose is 25%) - this item is found just outside the Cathedral of Blue in a chest. Alternatively you can wear a Ring of Life/Soul Protection that will prevent you from losing souls and going hollow when you die, it then breaks but only costs 3,000 (6,000 for Soul rings) souls to repair at a Blacksmiths, so is a cheap insurance policy. You can find them in a few places:
No Mans Wharf
Shaded Woods
Felkin the Outcast (Huntsmans Copse - need 8 Faith to talk to him)
The Gutter (Soul Protection)
Vengarl (Shaded Woods - Soul Protection)
Please do not try to trick the game by hard resetting when you die. It will STILL know you are dead when you load it back up. Also be aware that you are less likely to be invaded by other players (if online) while you are hollow (the state you enter after dying but BEFORE using an Effigy) though it can still happen. So there is no real need to be fully human all of the time. Though if you are NOT human then you also cannot summon other players to help you.
The best advice would be to spend all/as many souls as you can on upgrades/equipment before entering any mist areas you come across. 90% of the time there will be a boss on the other side and death is always a possibility. Having to then worry about grabbing the souls you lost while fighting a boss is one hassle too many.
Boss fights - if you are human (i.e not zombie looking and with max health after using an Effigy) you can usually summon other players or an NPC to help you in pretty much every boss fight. This is amazingly helpful and can make things a lot easier than they would have been otherwise, so I'd certainly recommend it. The NPC summon signs are not always directly next to a boss though, so be sure to search around.
Bonfires - can fulfil a number of functions. To activate them you have to light them first, this DOESN'T count as resting at them unless you choose to select them again afterwards.
If you do choose to rest there are various benefits/drawbacks. First of all you get all of your health back and refill your Estus Flask to its maximum limit. Your weapons will be "healed" too (unless broken) and you can use a bonfire to attune spells (if you have at least 10 ATT and the required INT/FAITH for a spell, plus a staff/chime to cast them) and store items. The item box here seems to hold as many things as you like, so go crazy. You can also travel between bonfires from the get go which makes getting around easier.
You can also burn certain items at a bonfire to either upgrade your flask (Sublime Bone Dust) or prevent invasion (Human Effigy - but this will NOT make you human, use them via your inventory for that). The third item that can be burnt is the Bonfire Ascetic and it has a number of useful properties. First of all it will replenish nearby enemies if you killed enough of them to make them vanish as well as making nearby boss fights reappear BUT they will all be at NG+ level. If you then start an actual NG+ any bonfires you strengthened in this way will go up another level (so they will be level 3, or NG++ while everywhere else is level 2 or NG+ difficulty, and so on). Another handy effect is that all items on corpses or in wooden chests will reappear. It's a good way of farming certain foes, bosses or items - assuming you can deal with the extra difficulty and potential new enemies that crop up.
As soon as you choose to rest ALL enemies (barring rare ones) that you have killed will respawn. Frankly this may well be a perk as we can abuse it to a point, meaning you can kill a bunch of foes, rest, and then go and kill them again to farm souls. One thing to note is that, unlike Dark Souls, enemies in this game will only respawn a finite number of times (roughly 12) so you cannot farm them for souls forever. So if you choose to farm make sure you spend the souls you get wisely - as the only way for them to come back after that is to use a Bonfire Ascetic which will ramp up the difficulty.
Souls – every enemy you kill will give you souls, more if you find and equip the Covetous Serpent Ring (found in the Lost Bastille or given my the merchant Melentia if you spend over 10k souls). There are also various forms of armour that can boost the number of souls received.
These can then be spent on items/equipment or used to upgrade your level via the lady at the Majula bonfire. The only other way to get souls is via items that you can collect. You can find a host of regular Soul items that give souls (for Hollows, Soldiers, Knights, Heroes etc) but it is best NOT to use these unless you need the souls for something right away. The reason for this is that the souls are “safe” in your inventory as items, so won’t be lost if you die.
Also, all major bosses will drop a unique soul item. You can either use it to get a massive boost OR you can save it. When you get to Sinner’s Rise you will find a wizard that has been petrified, free him and he will trade you these souls for unique weapons, armour and spells that are pretty powerful. If you free Ornifex in the Shaded Ruins she will offer a similar service in Brightstone Cove. Choice is yours.
Healing - the main healing options you have are either returning to the Bonfire to rest, drinking from the Estus Flask or using the items you find. You can upgrade your Estus Flask to have more charges by taking Estus Shards to the Emerald Herald at the Mjaula Bonfire (same lady that levels you up) or by burning Sublime Bone Dust there. The shards can give you up to 12 uses of the flask while the Bone Dust can upgrade it to +5 in terms of healing - you can find enough of both in one play through to max the flask out or grab the same items in NG+ if you missed some.
You can use items from the menu (be aware that the game NEVER pauses in the menus) or, better yet, go into your equipment screen (Press Start and select the first option) and put them into one of the slots at the bottom. You press down on the d-pad to cycle through items equipped this way and then X to use them. Be aware that NO item gives you instant health recovery, so try and find a safe spot before you use them.
It's worth noting that if you are hit while recovering health you will not get the full benefit, so only use health when you can avoid damage. For this reason the Estus Flask can actually be a liability in certain boss fights, as it stops you moving and leaves you exposed for a few seconds. In some cases it is actually better to have Lifegems equipped, as you can still move (albeit slowly) while using them and, once used, they will give you health for a few seconds afterwards. Handy in a pinch and against very mobile bosses.
Weapons/Armour - As you use weapons/armour they degrade. Use them enough and you will get a warning on screen that they are AT RISK. At this point you should switch to another item if possible. As if you flat out break anything you will need to repair it at a blacksmiths first which costs a lot of souls. Whereas resting at a bonfire will repair all damage done to your unbroken weapons/shields. So it's the cheaper/safer option.
You can wear/use ANYTHING as long as you have the right attributes. Most melee weapons require and get a bonus from Strength and Dexterity. Whereas most ranged weapons require Dexterity only. Staffs are needed to cast spells, and a chime is needed for miracles. But bulky armour makes it harder to cast spells, dodge and use ranged weapons effectively so magic/ranged classes should stick to lighter gear and it is also recommended for certain bosses too.
Upgrading weapons and armour requires Titanite (or Petrified Dragon Bone for super rare items) which you find in various forms. You can also buy very limited quantities of certain Titanite from some of the blacksmiths and shops. Be very careful about upgrading armour/shields as you get better ones naturally as you progress, so you may want to save your titanite for when you feel you really need it. You will need to find a certain Ember to upgrade the actual properties of your weapons, and give it to the relevant smith to do the work.
In terms of upgrade costs (weapons/armour can only be upgraded via blacksmith):
Titanite Shard - can upgrade a weapon to +3
Locations: Plentiful in the early game, and ten can be bought from Blacksmith Lenigrast in Majula. When you find Chloanne she has an unlimited supply to purchase.
Large Titanite Shard - can upgrade a weapon to +6
Locations: Plentiful drops from enemies and can be bought in unlimited supply from McDuff in the Lost Bastille (once you give him the DUll Ember from Iron Keep).
Titanite Chunk - can upgrade a weapon to +9
Locations: Can be farmed from the Gyrm enemies in the Doors of Pharros and found in a number of other places. Chloanne sells an unlimited supply AFTER you beat the final boss and end up back in Majula, so level up for NG+.
Titanite Slab - can upgrade a weapon to +10
Locations: Chest behind Lockstone door in Forest of Fallen Giants, McDuff - if you infuse over 14k souls worth of stones onto weapons, one sold by Chloanne in late game, drop from Stone Spear Soldiers in Drangleic Castle, potential item for trading Smooth and Shiny Pebbles at Bird's Nest in Things Betwixt.
Twinkling Titanite/Petrified Dragon Bone - used to reinforce rare weapons and armour up to +5. Can be found in various locations as well as being a limited purchase from Chloanne and a rare drop from various enemies like the titanite creatures (Crystal Lizards) that are found in a number of places but have to be killed rapidly.
Covenants guide/locations
Here is everything you need to know about Covenants but were afraid to ask.
It will take a lot of time and effort to get max rank in some of them which will be needed to snag some of the rare spells for the associated achievements. However, be aware that a lot of the spells/items CAN be bought/found later in the game, for all those that DON'T want to max out rank in every covenant for the spells they can be bought - but not until NG++ so you would need to complete the game again twice. I believe the merchant that will then sell them is Chancellor Wellager (ghost in Drangleic Castle entrance). So you'd obviously have to get as far as that.
Please Note: You do NOT have to join every Covenant to get the achievements, you just have to get to the point where an offer is made - which you can then decline. It is wise to pick a Covenant and stick with it until you have maxed it out for the respective achievement or for certain spells etc.
Way of the Blue
How to join: Speak to Saulden who is sat on the monument in Majula. He will give you a Blue Seal, wear this to get help from Blue Sentinels when you are invaded. Level by killing invaders - the A.I. red phantoms you meet also count for this.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (Defeat 1 invading phantom): Bloodbite Ring
Rank 2 (Defeat 5 invading phantoms): Hush (can be found in Lost Bastille)
Rank 3 (Defeat 10 invading phantoms): Blue Tearstone Ring
Company of Champions
How to join: examine the stone tablet in Majula, up the cliff on the far left side (if entering from Things Betwixt). You'll be given the Champion's Tablet. Joining this Covenant WILL make the game much harder for you - it will be as though you are playing NG+ from the off, so be warned. Awestones can be dropping by invading Red Phantoms or by killing certain NPC's.
Rank 1 (Offer 10 Awestones): Great Magic Weapon
Rank 2 (Offer 25 Awestones): First Dragon Ring
Rank 3 (Offer 50 Awestones): Vanquisher's Seal
Heirs of the Sun - NEED TO GET TO RANK 3 FOR SPELL ACHIEVEMENT
How to join: Examine the shrine in Earthen Peak, hidden to the left side of the large building with windmill on it. Will be given Sun Seal which you can wear to assist other players. Get medals by helping others defeat bosses. You need the White Soapstone (acquired from Pate in the Forest of Giants) and then use if in front of boss mist doors (or where they were) to be summoned. You get one medal per successful boss killed as long as you are in the Covenant (you get a Token of Fidelity if not) - the host MUST survive. You also get a medal if you summon someone in this Covenant to help you in a boss fight and they survive. You can also farm these as a VERY rare drop from the Dark Giants in Harvest Valley and the Falconers in Things Betwixt on NG+.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (Offer 10 Sunlight Medals): Sunlight Parma
Rank 2 (Offer 20 Sunlight Medals): Sun Sword
Rank 3 (Offer 30 Sunlight Medals): Sunlight Spear
Brotherhood of Blood
How to join: Speak to Titchy Gren in the Undead Purgatory, available after the Chariot boss fight. You need to have one Token of Spite to join (acquired from a chest at the bottom of the ladders leading to The Gutter or from invading and killing another player). Gives you Crest of Blood. Level by invading others or fighting them in duels.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (50 deaths of Host or Blue Phantom during invasion, or victories in deathmatches): Curved Twinblade.
Rank 2 (150 deaths of Host or Blue Phantom during invasion, or victories in deathmatches): Crescent Sickle.
Rank 3 (500 deaths of Host or Blue Phantom during invasion, or victories in deathmatches): Great Chaos Fireball
Bell Keepers - NEED TO GET TO RANK 2 FOR SPELL ACHIEVEMENT
How to join: Speak to the Bell Keeper either at Belfry Luna (Lost Bastille) or Belfry Sol (Iron Keep) both of which require a Pharros Lockstone to access. You are given Bell Keeper's Seal. Wear it when in the Bell areas to be summoned to defend them against other players. You can also level this by killing a constantly respawning Red Phantom at Belfry Sol. From the bonfire head up the ladder, run straight ahead to the ballista and then left to the bell tower. He should be here - if not rest at the bonfire and try again.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (Defeat 10 Hosts when invading as a Grey Phantom or 10 Black Phantoms that invade the Belfries): Titanite Slab x1.
Rank 2 (Defeat 30 Hosts when invading as a Grey Phantom or 10 Black Phantoms that invade the Belfries): Hidden Weapon (spell that cannot be bought ANYWHERE else)
Rank 3 (Defeat 100 Hosts when invading as a Grey Phantom or 10 Black Phantoms that invade the Belfries): Bell Keeper Helmet, Bell Keeper Bellyband, Bell Keeper Cuffs, Bell Keeper Trousers.
Blue Sentinels
How to join: Defeat the Old Dragonslayer in the Blue Cathedral (part of Heide's Tower of Flame) then speak to Targay on the balcony here. You must have at least one Token of Fidelity in your inventory to join (can find one on a ledge just below the bridge leading to The Undead Purgatory or by helping other players with the White Soapstone). He will give you the Guardians Seal which you can wear to be summoned to help Way of the Blue members you can also offer Tokens of Fidelity at the statue in the Cathedral to duel other players.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (50 deaths of invading Black Phantoms during co-op/host when invading as Revenge Phantom, or victories in training matches): Spirit Tree Shield.
Rank 2 (150 deaths of invading Black Phantoms during co-op/host when invading as Revenge Phantom, or victories in training matches): Wrath of the Gods.
Rank 3 (500 deaths of invading Black Phantoms during co-op/host when invading as Revenge Phantom, or victories in training matches): Bountiful Sunlight.
Rat King Covenant
Join Location: Found in two places. The small room after you defeat the rat boss in the Grave of Saints or a similar room after the rat boss in the Doors of Pharros. You get a Rat Tail for each of these bosses, which is required to join. You get further Rat Tails by defeating other players when they are summoned (against their will) while they are in the Rat Kings realms.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (Offer 10 Rat Tails): Smooth & Silky Stone x10
Rank 2 (Offer 20 Rat Tails): Smooth & Silky Stone x10
Rank 3 (Offer 35 Rat Tails): Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring
Dragon Remnants
How to join: You first need to get the Petrified Egg from the Dragon Shrine (found later in the game) and then go to the Iron Keep. From the Threshold Bridge Bonfire, go into the keep and immediately go right and find the merchant Magerold. Speak to him with the egg in your possession to join. Once in the Covenant you can leave a summon sign so that other players can call you for a duel, the winner will get a scale.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (Offer 10 Dragon Scales): Dragon Head Stone
Rank 2 (Offer 20 Dragon Scales): Dragon Torso Stone
Rank 3 (Offer 30 Dragon Scales): Black Dragon Greatsword
Pilgrims of Dark - NEED TO GET TO RANK 3 FOR SPELL ACHIEVEMENT
How to join: You need to talk to Grandahl in three different locations to join the Pilgrims of Dark. They can be done in any order. After the third one he will let you join. He will give you the Abyss Seal and you can then offer an Effigy to open a portal (in each area you found him) leading to the Dark Chasm of Old and fights with many familiar characters.
Shaded Ruins - To the right of the ramp that leads up to the scorpion boss you will find a hidden wooden floor to fall through by some trees. He is at the bottom.
Black Gulch - Behind the Forgotten Key Door. Accessed via a hidden ledge near the pools with burrowing worms and hand monsters. Dropping down two levels has a large arch door that is locked. The next ledge down has a tunnel leading to a large room with two faceless giants. Killing both giants yields a Forgotten Key and Soul of a Giant. This key can be used on the previously found door to access a small chamber containing Grandahl.
Drangleic Castle - Behind the Soul-Activated door in the far left of the corner of the large room adjoining the King's Gate Bonfire. The room has two torch bearing giant statues at the end, and a Ruin guardian behind each door. You will need to drop through the floor in the required room to find him.
Ranks:
Rank 1 (Successfully clear one area of the Dark Chasm): Resonant Soul.
Rank 2 (Light all three Braziers in the Dark Chasm): Great Resonant Soul.
Rank 3 (Defeat the Boss of the Dark Chasm): Climax, Xanthous Crown, Xanthous Overcoat, Xanthous Gloves, Xanthous Waistcloth.
These are the Covenants you will HAVE to level up in order to get all of the spells for the various achievements. If anyone finds these spells elsewhere then let me know and I will remove them from the list. The other Covenant spells CAN be bought from the Chancellor (ghost at the start of Drangleic Castle) on NG++.
Bell Keepers
Rank 2 (Defeat 30 Hosts when invading as a Grey Phantom or 10 Black Phantoms that invade the Belfries - can also kill respawning Red Phantom NPC, see above) - Hidden Weapon (spell that cannot be bought ANYWHERE else)
Heirs of the Sun
Rank 3 (need to successfully help defeat 30 bosses in co-op) - Sunlight Spear (spell that cannot be bought ANYWHERE else)
Pilgrims of Dark
Rank 3 (Defeat the Boss of the Dark Chasm) - Climax (hex spell)
NPC, Spell + Gesture locations/requirements
In order to get all of the achievements you are going to need all of the spells. You merely have to have them in your inventory, rather than be able to use them. However, in order to speak to a number of NPC's that will help you out you will need Intelligence of at least 8 (DOES NOT INCLUDE BONUSES FROM ITEMS) and a Faith of at least 8 (DOES NOT INCLUDE BONUSES FROM ITEMS).
You will also get an achievement for getting all relevant NPC characters to move Majula, so you may as well do that as soon as possible. Be sure to speak to ALL characters until they repeat themselves. The NPC characters you need are as follows:
Majula
Merchant Hag Melentia - found in Cardinal Tower by the bonfire. Speak to her after you have killed the Last Giant and she will move to Majula.
Cale the Cartographer - found in the Forest of Fallen Giants. From the Cardinal Tower Bonfire go down the ladder and left at the bottom. Through the door at the end and halfway up the sloping tree, drop onto a lower wooden ledge from here and then again to the floor. Go up the ladder on the building nearby and then over the wooden bridge to a roof - from here you can do a running jump to a wooden platform ahead, and then drop down to another wooden platform that has the cave entrance. Watch out for the boulder trap and then speak to Cale at the top of the slope until he says he will go back to Majula.
Rosabeth - she is blocking the entrance to the Shaded Wood initially. Needs to be freed using a Fragrant Branch of Yore (see below for locations). Then speak to her until she repeats herself, and be sure to give her some new clothes and she will then move to Majula, at the bottom of the memorial near the bonfire.
Lost Bastille - in a chest after the Lost Sinner fight.
Manscorpion Tark - speak to him with the Ring of Whispers equipped and agree to kill his better half, then speak to him again afterwards.
The Gutter - on a corpse just before entering the Black Gulch.
Shaded Ruins - in a chest behind a petrified Lion Man (near arch leading to scorpion boss), you also get armour in the chest so this is a handy first use.
Harvest Valley/Earthen Peak - can find two/three from a number of chests/corpses.
Iron Keep - purchase for 7,500 souls from Magerold.
Carhillion - found in No-Man's Wharf, on the docks by the ship you summon. You need at least 8 Int to speak with him, do so repeatedly and he will then move to Majula (under a tree looking out to sea).
Licia - found after the Dragonrider fight at the top of Heide's Flaming Tower. If you exhaust all conversation she will then move next to the contraption in the tunnels by Majula (same tunnel that led to Heide).
Stone Trader Chloanne - found sat on a rock as soon as you enter Harvest Valley. Speak to her until she says it is time for her to move on and she will go to Majula the next time you rest at a bonfire.
Laddersmith Gilligan - located on a ledge in Earthen Peak. From the second bonfire (the one behind a mist door) go up the stairs and smash the wooden railing in front of you. The go along the left hand ledge to find him. Buy his ladder here for 2,000 souls and make sure to exhaust all conversation. After the boss fight at the top of Earthen Peak he will then move to Majula.
Once ALL of the above are in Majula you should get an achievement the next time you warp there from another bonfire.
Spell sellers (also includes Licia, Carhillion, Rosabeth and Melentia from above)
Straid - found in the Lost Bastille but is initially petrified. You need a Fragrant Branch of Yore to free him (see above locations). Quickest route to him is to warp to the Sinners Rise bonfire, go back across the stone bridge, into the building and up the steps on your left as you enter. Watch out for the room full of prisoners guarding him. Once he is freed you can access his bonfire directly. IMPORTANT: Some of the boss souls you trade to him can be used for EITHER a spell or a weapon, so make sure you choose the spell or you'll have to kill that boss again in NG+.
Titchy Gren - in Undead Purgatory, up the stairs after the boss fight. You require a Token of Spite to speak with him, you can get one for free in a chest just before entering The Gutter (after climbing down the wooden platforms) or by invading other players.
Magerold - found in Iron Keep. Cross the bridge when you enter and, in the first room, go all the way right to find his shop.
Grave Warden Agdayne - found in Undead Crypt. NO NOT approach him with a lit torch, or light the ones nearby, or he will not speak to you.
Darkdiver Grandahl - you need to find him in three places to get him to speak to you fully. First drop through a hidden wooden floor to the right of the arch leading to the Scorpioness Boss in Shaded Ruins. Next, in Black Gulch, drop to a hidden platform in the spot between the two large worms. The door here is locked so drop down again to find some giants to fight, they give you the key to open this up and find him. Finally, in Drangleic Castle, there is a room with doors you can activate by killing nearby enemies - behind most doors is another Ruin Sentinel. You want to open the far left door (if facing into this room). Then enter it and fall through the floor. You can then give him a Human Effigy to open a portal to the Abyss in each area, you need to complete all three.
Royal Sorceror Navlaan - In Aldia's Keep. If you speak to him while human he will sell you items. If you speak to him while Hollow he will ask you to kill other NPC's and return their items to him, though in most cases you can get the items via other means. You can also release him and he will invade you at numerous points.
Cromwell - found in Brightstone Cove. After the Prowling Magus fight look in the nook immediately to your left as you exit the church. Head up the ladder here to find him.
Blue Sentinel Targay - Found after the Old Dragonslayer fight in the Blue Cathedral. You need at least one Token of Fidelity in order for him to speak to you, one can by found in Huntsmans Copse (by dropping off the bridge leading to the Undead Purgatory) or attained by helping other players kills bosses.
Chancellor Wellagar - found in the entrance to Drangleic Castle up the steps as you go in, he is a ghost so hard to spot at first.
Felkin - found sat on a chair in a small nook to your right as you first go into Huntsmans Copse, you need at least 8 Faith to speak to him.
Weaponsmith Ornifex - to get her you need to do the following. Depetrify and kill the Lion man that is stood on his own near the Shaded Ruins bonfire - he will drop the Fang Key. Now drop down into the nearby basilisk lair (either via the breakable floor with the curse pot on it, or the floor leading to Darkdiver). Kill the enemies and unlock the wooden door here. Speak to her until she says she will meet you ahead. She now moves to Brightstone Cove, in the room next to the lower bonfire (just in front of the swirling sand pit).
You will also need to get to maximum rank with the Heirs of the Sun Covenant (found in Earthen Peak) by joining it and then helping at least 30 other players defeat bosses. You then need to be at least Rank 2 with the Bell Keeper Covenant to acquire Hidden Weapon. Finally you need to fully finish off the Pilgrims of the Dark sidequest to get the Climax spell. All other Covenant spells can be found or bought from Chancellor Wellagar on NG++.
Pyromancy Spells
Fireball - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) - 1,200 souls
- Dropped by Salamander in Forest of Fallen Giants
- Found in No-Man's Wharf
Fire Orb - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 3,400 souls
- Dropped by Salamander in Forest of Fallen Giants
Great Fireball - Dropped by Salamander in Forest of Fallen Giants
- Found in Brightstone Cove Tseldora
Great Chaos Fireball - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in Brotherhood of Blood Covenant
- Chancellor Wellager (New Game ++) – 17,400 souls
Firestorm - Titchy Gren (Undead Purgatory – need 1 Token of Spite to speak with him) – 4,500 souls
- Dropped by Poisonous Horn Beetle in The Gutter
- Found in Drangleic Castle
Fire Tempest - Dropped by Guardian Dragon in Dragon Aerie
- Found in Shrine of Amana
Chaos Storm - Found in chest on flaming platforms in Iron Keep (use flame resist, orange burr, Flash Sweat and water to reach)
Combustion - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 1,500 souls
- Found in Huntsman's Copse
Great Combustion - Titchy Gren (Undead Purgatory – need 1 Token of Spite to speak with him) – 4,800 souls
- Found in Drangleic Castle
Fire Whip - Titchy Gren (Undead Purgatory – need 1 Token of Spite to speak with him) – 3,800 souls
- Dropped by Bell Keeper Phantom in Belfry Sol
Poison Mist - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 3,400 souls
Toxic Mist - Trade Royal Rat Vanguard Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Acid Surge - Trade Royal Rat Authority Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Lingering Flame - Straid of Olaphis – 6,700 souls
- Dropped by Undead Jailer in Lost Bastille
Flame Swathe - Straid of Olaphis – 9,500 souls
- Dropped by Bell Keeper Phantoms in Belfry Sol
Forbidden Sun - Received from Royal Sorcerer Navlaan after giving Sunset Staff for third assassination
Flame Weapon - Trade Old Witch Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 5,000 souls
Flash Sweat - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) – 2,300 souls
Iron Flesh - Rosabeth of Melfia (after moving to Majula) - 3,500 souls
Warmth - Grave Warden Agdayne (Undead Crypt) - 5,200 souls
- Dropped by Corpse Rat in Grave of Saints
Immolation - Found in Iron Keep (Belfry Sol)
(The following are only required if you have the Scholar of the First Sin version of the game):
Outcry - Crown of the Old Iron King DLC. Acquired from Straid by trading Soul of Nadalia and 45,000 souls. To get the soul you need to destroy 11 Ashen Idols in Brume Tower AND defeat the Fume Knight.
Dance of Fire - Crown of the Old Iron King DLC. From the first bonfire go down a series of ladders to a room with an Ashen Idol and some enemies, this spell is in a small room attached to that area.
Fire Snake - Crown of the Old Iron King DLC. Go into the room to the left of the Foyer bonfire, it's in a metal chest here.
Hexes
Dark Orb - Felkin the Outcast - 600 souls
- Straid of Olaphis - 600 souls
- Darkdiver Grandahl – 600 souls
Dark Hail - Darkdiver Grandahl – 1,500 souls
- Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir – 1,500 souls
Dark Fog - Straid of Olaphis – 5,200 souls
- Found in the Gutter
Affinity - Straid of Olaphis – 11,500 souls
- Dropped by Kobold of Aldia's Keep
Dead Again - Stone Trader Chloanne - 4,000 souls
Dark Weapon - Felkin the Outcast – 2,700 souls
Whisper of Despair - Found in Grave of Saints
Repel - Trade Giant Lord Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 5,000 souls
Twisted Barricade - Found in Doors of Pharros
Numbness - Trade Old Dead One Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 5,000 souls
Scraps of Life - Cromwell the Pardoner - 2,200 souls
- Found in Black Gulch
Darkstorm - Darkdiver Grandahl – 4,700 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir - 4,700 souls
Resonant Soul - Reward for reaching Rank 1 in Pilgrims of Dark Covenant -
- Felkin the Outcast - 1,100 souls
Great Resonant Soul - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in Pilgrims of Dark Covenant
- Felkin the Outcast – 3,400 souls
Climax - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in Pilgrims of Dark Covenant
Resonant Flesh - Felkin the Outcast – 3,400 souls
Resonant Weapon - Felkin the Outcast – 4,000 souls
Profound Still - Darkdiver Grandahl - 13,000 souls
Lifedrain Patch - Trade Darklurker Soul with Straid of Olaphis - 5,000 souls
(The following are only required if you have the Scholar of the First Sin version of the game):
Promised Walk of Peace - Crown of the Sunken King DLC. Just before second bonfire are some red eyed statues you can destroy to reveal a pillar, hit that to move another platform, use this to enter a cave and grab the spell.
Dark Greatsword - Crown of the Sunken King DLC. Activate the pillar near the third bonfire here, and ride the activated elevator halfway down then jump onto a ledge then head outside over a small platform to find this spell.
Recollection - Crown of the Iron King DLC. In the room directly above where you get the Smeltor Sceptre, in one of the small rooms attached, found on a corpse.
Dark Dance - Crown of the Ivory King DLC. Just after second bonfire. Kill the enemies in the first area then head right before climbing the stairs along a snowy cliff to find this spell on a corpse.
Sorcery
Soul Arrow - Merchant Hag Melentia – 1,500 souls
- Carhillion of the Fold – 1,500 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir – 1,500 souls
Great Soul Arrow - Carhillion of the Fold – 3,000 souls
- Magerold of Lanafir – 3,000 souls
- Found in the Forest of Fallen Giants
Heavy Soul Arrow - Magerold of Lanafir – 2,000 souls
- Carhillion of the Fold – 2,000 souls
Great Heavy Soul Arrow - Magerold of Lanafir – 4,500 souls
- Carhillion of the Fold – 4,500 souls
- Found in Earthen Peak
Homing Soul Arrow - Straid of Olaphis – 6,500 souls
- Weaponsmith Ornifex – 6,500 souls
Heavy Homing Soul Arrow - Trade a Ruin Sentinel Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Homing Soulmass - Weaponsmith Ornifex – 6,000 souls
- Found in Shaded Woods
Homing Crystal Soulmass - Found in Shrine of Amana (on corpse in area with NPC invader after tunnel with large poison tick)
Soul Spear - Grave Warden Agdayne – 12,000 souls
- Found in Hunstman's Copse
Crystal Soul Spear - Trade Old Paledrake Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 10,000 souls
Shockwave - Carhillion of the Fold – 1,800 souls
Soul Spear Barrage - Carhillion of the Fold – 2,500 souls
Soul Shower - Trade Scorpioness Najka Soul with Straid of Olaphis – 1,500 souls
Soul Greatsword - Found in Drangleic Castle
Soul Vortex - Grave Warden Agdayne – 10,400 souls
- Found in The Pit
- Found in BrightstoneCove Tseldora
Soul Bolt - Found in Drangleic Castle (King's Passage)
Soul Geyser - Found in Aldia's Keep
Magic Weapon – Carhillion of the Fold – 2,000 souls
Great Magic Weapon - Reward for reaching Rank 1 in the Company of Champions Covenant
- Royal Sorcerer Navlaan – 6,000 souls
- Found in Black Gulch
Crystal Magic Weapon - Found in Dragon Shrine
Strong Magic Shield - Straid of Olaphis – 6,300 souls
- Royal Sorcerer Navlaan – 6,300 souls
- Found in Drangleic Castle
Yearn - Carhillion of the Fold – 3,000 souls
Hush - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in Way of the Blue Covenant
- Found in Lost Bastille (hidden passage in Ruin Sentinel boss room, press A on the walls)
Fall Control - Magerold of Lanafir – 4,800 souls
- Weaponsmith Ornifex - 4,800 souls
Hidden Weapon - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in the Bell Keeper Covenant. To do so easily, go into Offline mode by just starting a Party Chat, then go to Belfry Sol. Head up the ladder from the bonfire and go straight towards the ballista ahead. Once there look left, if you see a Red Phantom then this is the guy you need to kill 30 times. He has a roughly 20% chance of spawning every time you rest at the bonfire (even after you permanently cause the other enemies here to disappear by killing them) and will do so infinitely though it will still take a couple of hours of farming.
Repair - Found in Shrine of Winter, go through the Shrine and drop down the path then head right to find a dead end with a corpse. The spell is here. (Location has altered in Scholar of the First Sin - it is in a chest behind a petrified Lion Warrior in the Shaded Woods area).
Cast Light - Straid of Olaphis – 3,000 souls
- Darkdiver Grandahl – 3,000 souls
Chameleon - Found in Harvest Valley, on a corpse in the poison mist pit with two Dark Giants just before you enter Earthen Peak.
Unleash Magic - Received from Royal Sorcerer Navlaan after giving Aged Feather for fourth assassination. You can get the Feather by either killing the Emerald Herald in Majula (NOT RECOMMENDED) or she will give it to you when you speak to her after reaching the Dragon Aerie.
(The following are only required if you have the Scholar of the First Sin version of the game):
Focus Souls - Crown of Sunken King DLC. You'll come to a point where a dragon is hooting fireballs, ignore the bridge and go past the urns next to it on the right.
Soul Flash - Crown of the Ivory King DLC. Pull the lever at the upper floor in the room after the first bonfire to access a chest with this spell.
Miracles
Heal - Merchant Hag Melentia – 1,500 souls
- Licia of Lindelt – 1,500 souls
Med Heal - Licia of Lindelt – 3,000 souls
Great Heal Excerpt - Licia of Lindelt – 4,500 souls
Great Heal - Cromwell the Pardoner – 8,000 souls
- Found in the Grave of Saints
Soothing Sunlight - Invade and defeat Licia of Lindelt (you will find a Crushed Orb in the Undead Crypt, take this back to where Lydia is standing in Majula and use it to invade and kill her. WARNING: Make sure you have bought everything you want from her as she will be permanently gone until NG+)
Replenishment - Licia of Lindelt – 3,000 souls
- Cromwell the Pardoner - 3000 souls
Resplendent Life - Licia of Lindelt – 4,500 souls
- Straid of Olaphis – 4,500 souls
Bountiful Sunlight - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in Blue Sentinels Covenant
- Chancellor Wellager (New Game ++) – 11,000 souls
Caressing Prayer - Licia of Lindelt – 2,000 souls
- Cromwell the Pardoner – 2,000 souls
Force - Licia of Lindelt – 1,800 souls
- Cromwell the Pardoner – 1,800 souls
Wrath of the Gods - Reward for reaching Rank 2 in Blue Sentinels Covenant
- Chancellor Wellager (New Game ++) – 8,200 souls
Emit Force - Cromwell the Pardoner – 4,200 souls
- Blue Sentinel Targray – 4,200 souls
- Found in No-Man's Wharf (top ledge as you go to ring the bell, on a corpse)
Heavenly Thunder - Cromwell the Pardoner – 3,300 souls
- Blue Sentinel Targray – 3,300 souls
Lightning Spear - Licia of Lindelt – 6,000 souls
- Found in Earthen Peak
Great Lightning Spear - Straid of Olaphis (after clearing the Undead Crypt/defeating Velstadt) – 13,000 souls
- Found in The Pit
- Found in Undead Crypt
Sunlight Spear - Reward for reaching Rank 3 in the Heirs of the Sun Covenant (need to assist 30 players with boss fights successfully AFTER joining the covenant OR be assisted by other covenant players when fighting a boss).
Soul Appease - Stone Trader Chloanne – 8,800 souls
- Grave Warden Agdayne – 8,800 souls
Blinding Bolt - Trade Old King Soul with Straid of Olaphis (New Game +) – 10,000 souls
Magic Barrier - Head of Vengarl – 2,700 souls
- Felkin the Outcast – 2,700 souls
Great Magic Barrier - Chancellor Wellager – 9,300 souls
- Found in Aldia's Keep
Homeward - Licia of Lindelt – 2,400 souls
Guidance - Licia of Lindelt – 3,700 souls
Sacred Oath - Trade Soul of Velstadt with Straid of Olaphis – 3,000 souls
Unveil - Straid of Olaphis – 2,200 souls
Perseverance - Cromwell the Pardoner – 3,500 souls
Sunlight Blade - Straid of Olaphis (after defeating Velstadt) – 12,400 souls
- Found in Shrine of Amana
(The following are only required if you have the Scholar of the First Sin version of the game):
Denial - Crown of the Sunken King DLC. Need to shoot arrows into a switch near the end of the area (on a bridge where a Priestess was found) to open a room with this inside.
Splintering Lightning Spear - Crown of the Ivory King DLC. After the second bonfire there is tower next to the point where you drop down to grab the Eye of the Priestess, this tower has an invisible ladder you can climb to get this spell (ladder becomes visible if you come back holding the Eye).
Gestures
You start the game with a number of gestures, but will need to learn the following for the achievement (note: you do not need to actively USE them in any way, but if you are doing jolly co-op then why not?):
Welcome – Speak to Crestfallen Saulden, who is sat on the stone monument in Majula go through all his dialogue to learn this.
Duel Bow – Speak to Blue Sentinel Targray in the Cathedral of Blue (found in Heide’s Tower of Flame area) after acquiring a Token of Fidelity, you can find one on aledge just under the bridge leading to the Undead Purgatory in Huntsmans Copse OR acquire by helping other players via the White Soapstone. You HAVE to join the covenant for him to give you the option of learning the gesture (but you can leave after).
Fist Pump – In Huntsman's Copse, after you lower the huge iron bridge cross it to come to a bonfire behind a locked door, take the Cliffside path nearby (rather than the caves) and follow it to another small cave that has some enemies and the Lockaway key. Return to the locked room and speak to Creighton the Wanderer to learn this. (In Scholar of the First Sin the key location has changed slightly, it is now on the large open ledge, directly above the small cave it was previously in).
Joy – From Majula head back towards Things Betwixt but take the right hand cave instead. Speak to Benhart (with the blue sword) and then examine the statue up ahead. You need a Fragrant Branch of Yore to un-petrify Rosabeth of Melfia here, once you have done so go back and speak to Benhart again to learn this gesture.
Warmup – First purchase the Ring of Whispers from the cat in Majula (costs 5,800 souls) then speak to Manscorpion Tark in the Shaded Ruins (he is at the bottom of the left hand building as you face the giant basilisk in this area) after defeating Scorpioness Najka (you may need to rest first if you summoned him to help in the fight).
Hurrah! – Can only be acquired AFTER speaking to the Ancient Dragon and getting the Ashen Mist Heart. Then go to the Forest of Fallen Giants and access the Memory of Vammar (tree that looks like a giant near the ballista room). Speak to Captain Drummond in the memory to learn the gesture.
This one's me – When you first get to Castle Drangleic go up the stairs ahead and speak to Chancellor Wellager (the ghost) repeatedly until he teaches you the gesture.
Have mercy! – Shortly into the Undead Crypt (after the first rooms with the ghouls and spellcasters) someone will call out to you. DO NOT HAVE A LIT TORCH OR SORCERY AT THIS POINT. Follow the path and speak to Grave Warden Agdayne to learn the gesture.
Prostration – In Earthen Peak, after the second bonfire that is behind a fog gate, go up the stairs outside that room and smash the wooden fencing ahead of you. Go along the ledge to the left to meet Laddersmith Gilligan, pay him 2000 souls for a ladder to reach a Lockstone and he will teach you this. If you miss him he will move to Majula AFTER you defeat the area boss and be sat by the pit near the mansion.
Decapitate – From the Ruined Fork Road in the Shaded Woods enter the foggy door and stick to the left hand wall, follow it up to a ruined circle and speak to the Head of Vengarl repeatedly to learn.
Mock – In the Lost Bastille, just before the bridge to Sinners Rise, you can go up some stairs to some cells with a petrified wizard. Use a Fragrant Branch of Yore to free Straid of Olaphis then speak to him repeatedly to learn this gesture.
Praise the Sun – Just before you enter the large building (Earthen Peak) via the door with all of the poison pots in Harvest Valley, there is a small path that runs across to the left above the poison smog with the two Dark Giants. Follow this to the Alter of Sunlight and you can learn this without having to rank up in the Covenant.
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