Dark Souls 3 is a humongous game rich with huge areas and rewarding secrets. Not all secrets are made equal, and a few of Dark Souls 3's are easy to miss.
In this guide we'll go over 10 of the most commonly overlooked secrets in Dark Souls 3.
1. Undead Settlement Elevator Area
While many players have figured out the tricky two-level elevator in Undead Settlement, most haven't noticed that there is a hidden drop-off point halfway between the middle and top levels. If you drop off at the right time and avoid dying from falling damage, you will be able to walk into a moderately sized secret area.
This secret area has several special things of note. For one, there's a demon mini-boss in the area. He's tough early on in your adventure, but is made easier by Siegward helping you out. Additionally, if you clear through the buildings on the far side of this hidden area you will find multiple items to loot, and after a quick transition off the roof you will find the two ultimate prizes for your exploration: a Chloranthy Ring and the Mirrah Set. The Chloranthy Ring provides slight bonus Stamina regeneration when equipped. Meanwhile, the Mirrah Set is an attractive upgrade for many players.
2. Smouldering Lake
The most commonly overlooked optional boss is Old Demon King, who resides in a hidden area connected to Catacombs of Carthus. When you reach the old wooden bridge in Catacombs of Carthus, simply hit one of the rope supports to make it dismantle, and transition into a ladder leading below. Descend the ladder and kill the mini boss in the next room. You can then proceed to Smouldering Lake, which has plenty of loot scattered around the floor, but be sure to avoid the massive crossbow bolts that are sent toward you.
Proceed into the next area to the left to face Old Demon King. His lair is guarded by a massive worm that is cumbersome to fight. Successful defeat of the worm will reward you an Estus Bone Shard. It is recommended that you are at least soul level 40 before fighting Old Demon King, although he is made substantially easier with the help of co-op partners.. If you manage to defeat him you will gain access to his soul, which can be traded in for a powerful pyromancy or a great hammer.
Smouldering Lake is also home to the largest optional dungeon in the game: Old King's Antechamber. You can access this to the right of the Old Demon King boss entrance, or by having one of the massive crossbows launch a bolt into the destructible floor near the center of the lake. Old King's Antechamber houses a wide array of challenging enemies, an Estus Shard, an Estus Bone Shard, Izalith Pyromancy Tome, Fume Ultra Greatsword, and more.
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3. Firelink Shrine Rooftop Secrets
The first time you accumulate 20,000 souls you might want to think about purchasing the Tower Key from the main vendor in Firelink Shrine. If you do, you will gain access to the rooftop where multiple secrets are ready to be discovered.
The first secret requires that you carefully drop down off the left side of the broken bridge. Once you're on the roof of the building, simply go to the other side, drop down one level, and there should be an illusory wall nearby. Once you find the illusory wall, proceed forward through the rafters to find a Covetous Silver Serpent Ring, which allows you to acquire more souls per kill. This is a must-have for grinding soul levels.
Another secret is hidden after the bridge you dropped down to find the illusory wall. Cross the bridge, and fall downward to the right before the elevator, landing on each coffin sticking out of the wall. At the bottom lies an Estus Ring, which increases the HP restored by your Estus Flasks. You can then open the cell gate ahead, and arrive at the area where a Samurai drops an Uchigatana.
4. Picklepum the Crow
Another secret that you gain access to on the rooftop of Firelink Shrine is one familiar tomany Dark Souls fans. An crow NPC named Picklepum the Crow, or Snuggly the Crow, will collect certain items from a crow nest located on the top of Firelink Shrine.
There are several noteworthy items to be gained from placing items in the nest. For example, you can earn Titanite upgrade items, a Ring of Sacrifice, as well as several one-of-a-kind items such as the Armor of the Sun and carvings.
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5. Hidden Undead Settlement Path
Shortly after you arrive in Undead Settlement you will enter an open area with several enemies worshipping a bonfire. To the right is a bridge that leads to an unopened shortcut. While this area might not seem to have anything special, there's a hidden path just to the right of the far side of the bridge.
Upon entering this hidden area you will be ambushed by several creatures. If you manage to slay them all, you'll have some loot to pick up in the area. After a little more exploration you'll find an inconspicuous enemy with a cage on his back. What might not be obvious is if you sneak up behind him and enter the cage, you will be teleported to a new area where you can join a covenant called Mound-Makers. This covenant specializes in neutral multiplayer mechanics, allowing you to co-op and PvP as a purple phantom.
Note that the cage trick only works if you haven't already killed the optional Curse-Rotted Greatwood boss. If you have, you'll need to kill 3 Lords of Cinder and then visit Sirris of the Sunless Realms to help her fight a knight and then join the Mound-Makers.
6. Irithyll Illusory Wall
After defeating Pontiff Sulyvahn in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley, proceed forward and to the left. After entering the building straight ahead after, go to the left and hit the wall in front of you. You will reveal a ladder that leads into a large basement.
Inside the basement are two very difficult creatures as well as a variety of items. If you manage to defeat the two creatures, you can visit Archdeacon McDonnell and join the Aldrich Faithful covenant. This covenant specializes in protecting players in the Anor Londo area, a very popular PvP and invasion location.
7. Saving Karla
When you first arrive in Profaned Capital you will have the option of heading to an optional area to the right, which is full of spiders and a couple unique enemies. In this area you will find a Jailer's Key Ring, which will allow you to save a sorceress in Irithyll Dungeon.
Head back to the entrance of Profaned Capital back into the ground level of Irithyll Dungeon where several hags are present. Go to the left and head to the end of this platform where you will encounter Karla's cell. After a brief word, she will teleport to Firelink Shrine.
Karla accepts the Izalith Pyromancy Tome and the Grave Warden Pyromancy Tome, allowing players to gain access to several exclusive spells including Firestorm, Dark Edge, and Vow of Silence. She can also be murdered to acquire Karla's Set, a very attractive set of light armor.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Dark Souls 3 Weapons
8. Early Armors
If you're playing as a heavily armored class, you might struggle to find a new set of armor to equip early in your adventure. One option you have is to murder Siegward of Catarina after meeting him at the elevator in Undead Settlement. He will drop his entire armor set, which is funny looking but has great stats. Just be sure to start the fight with a backstab, as Siegward is no pushover.
Other attractive early options require you to farm enemies, one of which are the Irithyll Knights in High Wall of Lothric for the Irithyll Knight Set. Shortly after when you visit Farron Keep, you can kill a couple of Darkwraiths guarding the Abyss Watchers fight to acquire a set of Dark Armor and a Dark Sword. My personal favorite of the early armors is the Fallen Knight Set, which is available in the crab-infested waters of Road of Sacrifices.
9. How to Respec
Reallocating stats requires you to join a covenant called Rosaria's Fingers. To join this covenant, you will need to have unlocked the left shortcut in the Cleansing Chapel of Cathedral of the Deep. Enter this area, head up the ladder nearby, enter the hole in the wall, and then drop down. From here, follow the supports and arches and drop down a few times to find Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth.
By trading Pale Tongues, you can completely respec your character with all the soul levels you have acquired. This is particularly attractive to PvP players who enjoy experimenting with builds to see what is effective and enjoyable in competitive environments.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Exotic Armor Sets In Dark Souls 3
10. True Ending
There are several endings for Dark Souls 3, only one of which is called the "True Ending". Unlocking this ending requires you to acquire a hidden item called the Eyes of a Fire Keeper.
Finding the Eyes of a Fire Keeper first requires you to defeat Oceiros, The Consumed King in an area below the left elevator of Lothric Castle. After defeating him, hit an illusory wall at the middle front of the next area to enter Untended Graves.
Untended Graves is a dark version of the Cemetary of Ash starting area. You will encounter a new boss, called Champion Gundyr. Killing him will allow you to proceed to a dark version of Firelink Shrine. By hitting an illusory wall where Irina usually sits, which is to the far right passage of where the Blacksmith usually is, you will find the Eyes of a Fire Keeper. By bringing this item back to the Fire Keeper in the normal Firelink Shrine before defeating the final boss, you will be rewarded with the game's True Ending.
