Welcome to the ultimate Dark Souls 3: NPC and Covenant Guide! In this comprehensive guide, you’ll dive deep into the intricate world of Dark Souls 3, unraveling the mysteries of vital NPCs and the powerful covenants they belong to. Whether you’re aiming to gain strategic advantages or avoid deadly conflicts, our guide has got you covered. Prepare to explore the following crucial subtopics: Meeting Characters, where you’ll learn to locate and interact with essential NPCs; Understanding Covenants, offering a detailed breakdown of each covenant’s lore and purpose; Quests for Covenants, guiding you through the critical tasks required to join and advance in each group; Covenant Benefits, highlighting the exclusive rewards and advantages of each allegiance; and NPC and Covenant Conflicts, providing essential tips to navigate and resolve inevitable tensions. Delve in to master the art of alliances and rivalries, ensuring your path through Lothric is as rewarding as it is challenging. Let’s get started!
Meeting Characters in Dark Souls 3
In Dark Souls 3, encountering various NPCs (Non-Playable Characters) can make your adventure a little bit easier and a lot more interesting. Each character you meet offers different items, quests, and even storylines, so it’s important to find them wherever you can. Here’s a guide to some key characters in the game and where you can meet them.
1. Firelink Shrine Residents
Firelink Shrine is your hub area, and it’s filled with important characters from the get-go.
The Fire Keeper
- Location: At Firelink Shrine, in front of the bonfire.
- Role: She helps you level up by channeling the souls you collect into your attributes.
Andre the Blacksmith
- Location: In one of the side alcoves in Firelink Shrine.
- Role: Andre upgrades and infuses your weapons. He’s essential for making your gear stronger.
The Shrine Handmaid
- Location: Near the stairs in Firelink Shrine.
- Role: She sells useful items like healing flasks, weapons, and armor. Hand in various ashes you find in the game to expand her inventory.
2. Key Characters Found in Early Game Areas
Yoel of Londor
- Location: Found at the Foot of the High Wall, near a collapsed bridge.
- Questline: If you accept his offer, he’ll move to Firelink Shrine and offer to “draw out your true strength” for extra levels.
- Tip: Using his services too much might come with a mysterious drawback!
Leonhard the Ringfinger
- Location: First appears in Firelink Shrine near the Handmaid after you get your first Pale Tongue.
- Questline: He offers a series of tasks for the Rosaria’s Fingers covenant, including finding a special ring.
- Rewards: Completing his quest can net you some powerful PvP items.
3. Important NPCs in Later Game Areas
Anri of Astora
- Location: Initially found in the Road of Sacrifices, Anri moves to various locations as you progress.
- Questline: Anri’s story is intertwined with your battle against Aldrich, one of the Lords of Cinder. Anri’s fate depends on choices you make throughout the game.
- Tip: Be sure to follow their storyline closely if you want to unlock specific game endings.
Eygon of Carim
- Location: Initially found guarding Irina of Carim in a cell in the Undead Settlement.
- Role: If you rescue Irina and agree to her service, Eygon will eventually aid you in battle.
4. Covenant Leaders
Covenants in Dark Souls 3 are alliances you can join for unique rewards. Many are led by special NPCs.
Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth (Rosaria’s Fingers)
- Location: Found in the Cathedral of the Deep.
- Role: Allows you to respec your character’s attributes and change your appearance.
- Warning: Joining Rosaria’s Fingers might make other NPCs react negatively toward you.
High Priestess of Lothric Castle (Blade of the Darkmoon)
- Location: In Anor Londo after getting the Darkmoon Loyalty gesture.
- Rewards: Joining this covenant offers various rewards for protecting other players from invaders.
General Tips for Meeting Characters
- Explore Thoroughly: Many NPCs are hidden off the beaten path. Look around every corner and complete optional areas.
- Speak Multiple Times: Characters often move locations after talking to them a few times.
- Listen Carefully: Pay attention to what characters say as it can provide clues about their quests and locations.
By meeting these characters and completing their quests, you’ll gain powerful tools and allies for your journey in Dark Souls 3. Good luck, Unkindled One!
Understanding Covenants in Dark Souls 3
Covenants in Dark Souls 3 are groups you can join that offer unique multiplayer experiences and rewards. Think of them as clubs with special rules and perks. You can switch them out whenever you want, and there are nine in total. So let’s break down how they work and what each one offers.
Joining a Covenant
To join a covenant, you need to find the NPC or specific item related to that group. Usually, this involves some exploration and talking to different characters. Once you’ve joined, you’ll get a covenant item that you can equip in your inventory. This activates the covenant and lets you participate in their activities.
Covenant Types and Their Roles
Covenants are split into three main types: PvE (Player vs Environment), PvP (Player vs Player), and a mix of both.
PvE Covenants
- Warriors of Sunlight:
- Found at: Lothric High Wall
- Goal: Help other players by being summoned to their worlds.
- Reward: Sunlight Medals, which can be traded for powerful miracles.
PvP Covenants
Watchdogs of Farron:
- Found at: The swamp in Farron Keep
- Goal: Guard the area from trespassers by invading their worlds.
- Reward: Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass, which can be traded for rewards.
Aldrich Faithful:
- Found at: Irithyll of the Boreal Valley
- Goal: Protect Aldrich’s domain by being summoned to invade trespassers.
- Reward: Human Dregs, traded for special items.
Rosaria’s Fingers:
- Found at: Cathedral of the Deep
- Goal: Invade other players’ worlds for invasions.
- Reward: Pale Tongues, used for reviving or respeccing stats.
Blue Sentinels:
- Found at: Halfway Fortress
- Goal: Protect other players from invaders.
- Reward: Proof of a Concord Kept, traded for items.
Blades of the Darkmoon:
- Found at: Anor Londo
- Goal: Protect other players and be summoned to help fight invaders.
- Reward: Proof of a Concord Kept.
Mixed Covenants
Mound-Makers:
- Found at: Undead Settlement
- Goal: Craft your world as you see fit, with the flexibility to invade or assist.
- Reward: Vertebra Shackles, traded for rewards.
Spears of the Church:
- Found at: Ringed City DLC
- Goal: Defend the church from trespassers in PvP battles.
- Reward: Filianore’s Spear Ornament, traded for special items.
Switching Covenants
You can switch covenants anytime by equipping a different covenant item. Keep in mind that leaving a covenant won’t lose your progress with them; you can always go back to collect rewards later.
Important Tips
- Covenants play a big role in multiplayer and can make the game experience different each time.
- Some covenants are set in places hard to reach early in the game, so plan your exploration.
- Equip the covenant item to activate your role. Don’t forget to re-equip if you change your gear.
- Helping and invading players can be a fun way to earn exclusive rewards and items.
Understanding covenants can enhance your Dark Souls 3 journey by offering new challenges, unique items, and fun multiplayer interactions. Happy hunting out there!
Quests for Covenants
Alright, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of covenants in Dark Souls 3. Covenants are like clubs in the game, joining one usually comes with specific quests or tasks. Here’s a breakdown of the major covenants and what you need to do to be a big shot in each club.
Warrior of Sunlight
How to Join: You’ll find the Warrior of Sunlight sigil early in the Undead Settlement. From the bonfire, head through the gate, defeat enemies, and look for a hole in the ceiling of a building. Drop down to find the sigil on a table.
Quest Tasks:
- Offer Sunlight Medals: You earn these by helping other players defeat bosses or by defeating bosses as a summoner.
- Rewards:
- 10 Medals: “Sacred Oath” miracle.
- 30 Medals: “Great Lightning Spear” miracle.
Blue Sentinels
How to Join: You can join the Blue Sentinels covenant very early at the Halfway Fortress bonfire in Road of Sacrifices. Talk to the NPC Anri of Astora.
Quest Tasks
- Help Others: Defend Way of Blue members when they are invaded by dark spirits.
- Rewards:
- Earn Proof of a Concord Kept.
- 10 Proofs: “Darkmoon Ring.”
- 30 Proofs: “Darkmoon Blade” miracle.
Rosaria’s Fingers
How to Join: Head to Cathedral of the Deep, make your way to Rosaria’s Bed Chamber. Speak with Rosaria to join.
Quest Tasks
- Collect Pale Tongues: Either invade other players and defeat them or find them in the game world.
- Rewards:
- 10 Tongues: “Obscuring Ring.”
- 30 Tongues: “Man-Grub’s Staff.”
Mound-Makers
How to Join: This one’s tricky. Find the Hollow Manservant (in a cage) in the Undead Settlement. If you miss this, you can still join by defeating the curse-rotted Greatwood and talking to Holy Knight Hodrick.
Quest Tasks
- Collect Vertebrae Shackles: Both from invading or helping via White Sign Soapstone.
- Rewards:
- 10 Shackles: “Bloodlust” Katana.
- 30 Shackles: “Warmth” pyromancy.
Aldrich Faithful
How to Join: Find the covenant in the water reserve bonfire at Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. Defeat the area’s boss, then proceed to the Pontiff Sulyvahn bonfire, and defeat the deacons to access the covenant.
Quest Tasks
- Collect Human Dregs: Invade other worlds and kill the host.
- Rewards:
- 10 Dregs: “Great Deep Soul.”
- 30 Dregs: “Archdeacon’s Great Staff.”
Watchdogs of Farron
How to Join: Discover this covenant at the Old Wolf of Farron bonfire in Farron Keep. Speak to the Old Wolf to join.
Quest Tasks
- Collect Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass: Invade or defend against invaders in the Farron area.
- Rewards:
- 10 Swordgrass: “Old Wolf Curved Sword.”
- 30 Swordgrass: “Wolf Knight’s Greatshield.”
Blade of the Darkmoon
How to Join: Head to Anor Londo and talk to the NPC by the rotating tower near the Darkmoon Tomb bonfire. You need to be part of the Way of Blue.
Quest Tasks
- Collect Proof of Concord Kept: Defend against invaders or farm from Silver Knights.
- Rewards:
- 10 Proofs: “Darkmoon Ring.”
- 30 Proofs: “Darkmoon Blade.”
The Pilgrims of Dark
How to Join: Find Darkdiver Grandahl in three different locations: Shaded Woods, Drangleic Castle, and Black Gulch.
Quest Tasks
- Complete Dark Chasm of Old: Complete three dungeon areas by lighting beacons and defeating enemies.
- Rewards:
- Access to Darklurker boss fight.
Phew, that’s a lot to cover! Whether you’re into helping fellow players or causing chaos, there’s a covenant for you. Happy questing, Ashen One!
Covenant Benefits
Dark Souls 3 features several unique Covenants that provide special benefits and can significantly impact your gameplay. Whether you’re looking for impactful PvP perks or helpful PvE advantages, understanding what each Covenant offers is essential for optimizing your journey through Lothric.
Way of Blue
- Purpose: Protection from invaders
- Benefit: When you’re a member, Blue Sentinels or Blades of the Darkmoon players will be summoned automatically to aid you if another player invades your world.
- Best For: New players or anyone who doesn’t want to deal with frequent invasions.
Blue Sentinels
- Purpose: Helping Way of Blue members
- Benefit: You’ll be summoned to assist Way of Blue members who are invaded. It’s PvP training wheels with a purpose!
- Best For: Those who want to dabble in PvP while helping out others.
Warriors of Sunlight
- Purpose: Cooperative play
- Benefit: Increased rewards for successful jolly cooperation! You’ll earn Sunlight Medals each time you help another player defeat a boss, which can be traded for powerful miracles and other goodies.
- Best For: Players who love co-op modes and want to help others (while earning rewards for themselves).
Mound-Makers
- Purpose: Chaotic invasions
- Benefit: This Covenant is for wild cards! You can invade and kill anyone, be it host or other invaders. Successful invasions grant you Vertebra Shackles, which can be traded for rewards.
- Best For: Those who enjoy the unpredictability and excitement of PvP with fewer rules.
Watchdogs of Farron
- Purpose: Protecting the swamps of Farron Keep
- Benefit: Automatically summoned to defend Farron Keep when an enemy enters the area. Victories mean you’ll earn Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass, used for rank up rewards.
- Best For: Players who want to protect their territory and enjoy sudden invasions.
Aldrich Faithful
- Purpose: Protecting Aldrich’s domain
- Benefit: You’ll be summoned to defend Anor Londo from intruders. Victory results in Human Dregs, which can exchange for rewards.
- Best For: Players who enjoy ambushing invaders and protecting sacred ground.
Blade of the Darkmoon
- Purpose: Hunting down sinners
- Benefit: Like Blue Sentinels, but with a spin—you’re summoned to help Way of Blue members and to hunt down players with high Sin. You’ll earn Proof of a Concord Kept to trade for rewards.
- Best For: Those who enjoy the dual role of protector and hunter.
Rosaria’s Fingers
- Purpose: Invasion, respec, and transformation
- Benefit: Invade other players’ worlds to earn Pale Tongues, or trade Tongues with Rosaria for rank ups. As an added perk, you can respec your character or change your appearance.
- Best For: Players who want flexibility in their builds and enjoy PvP diversions.
Each Covenant in Dark Souls 3 offers unique benefits and playstyles, catering to a range of preferences, from cooperative assistance to dangerous invasions. Try them out and see which one suits your needs best. Embrace the variety and turn it to your advantage as you journey through the dark and challenging world of Lothric.
NPC and Covenant Conflicts
Navigating the complex world of Dark Souls 3 isn’t just about slaying enemies and collecting loot. You also need to be mindful of the various NPCs (Non-Player Characters) and covenants you encounter. Sometimes, your actions can spark conflicts, making certain quests or services unavailable. Here’s a breakdown to help you avoid these pitfalls and make informed decisions.
Understanding NPC Loyalty
Many NPCs in Dark Souls 3 follow their own motives and agendas. While their quests offer great rewards, it’s important to remember that they can be easily offended or turned hostile by your actions. Be cautious when interacting with them.
- Gaining Trust: NPCs like Greirat and Sirris will only fully trust you if certain conditions are met. Make sure you complete their quests carefully and respect their requests.
- Offending NPCs: Attacking or killing NPCs can lock you out of their questlines or make their items unattainable. Always think twice before engaging an NPC in combat.
Key NPC Conflicts
Some key NPCs have specific conflicts related to your actions or allegiance to certain covenants. Here are a few notable examples:
- Anri of Astora and Yuria of Londor: Anri seeks to defeat Aldrich, while Yuria wants you to follow the path of the Lord of Hollows. Assisting one can lead to the other being unavailable.
- Greirat and Patches: Patches is infamous for his trickery, but he can save Greirat if you allow it. Be mindful of who you trust and let handle specific tasks.
- Sirris of the Sunless Realms and Rosaria’s Fingers: If you join Rosaria’s Fingers, Sirris will refuse to interact with you, ending her questline prematurely. Make sure to complete Sirris’s quest before pledging to Rosaria.
Navigating Covenant Conflicts
Joining and ranking up in covenants can sometimes cause conflicts with NPCs or other covenants. Here’s a simple guide to ensure you don’t miss out:
- Rosaria’s Fingers: This covenant is often in conflict with characters like Sirris and Leonhard. Complete Sirris’s questline before offering tongues to Rosaria.
- Aldrich Faithful vs. Blue Sentinels/Blades of the Darkmoon: These covenants are opposed by nature, representing opposing factions. Rank progression in one will hinder aiding the other.
- Mound-Makers: While mostly neutral, they can cause trouble if you mindlessly attack NPCs. Exercise caution when in this covenant to avoid accidental hostility.
Resolving Hostility
If an NPC turns hostile due to an accidental attack or other reason, you have limited but useful measures to take:
- Oswald of Carim: Located at the top of the Undead Settlement, Oswald offers absolution for your sins, resetting all hostile NPCs.
- Seek Forgiveness Early: The longer you wait, the harder it is to resolve hostility and the more chance you have of missing out on unique items or quest progression.
Strategic Interaction
To get the most out of NPCs and covenants, plan your actions:
- Sequential Quests: Follow NPC questlines sequentially without triggering conflicting covenant actions.
- Covenant Swapping: You can join multiple covenants but be strategic about which you rank up in first to avoid issues with NPCs tied to opposing factions.
Remember, every decision in Dark Souls 3 can shape your journey in meaningful ways. Be aware of the ripple effects of your actions within this complex and interconnected world, helping you achieve the best outcomes for your playthrough.