Dark Souls 3 Platinum Guide: An Overview
Embark on a challenging journey! This comprehensive Dark Souls 3 platinum guide details trophy acquisition, NG cycles, and essential farming strategies for 100% completion.
The Dark Souls 3 platinum trophy represents a significant accomplishment, demanding dedication and mastery of the game’s intricate systems. Achieving this coveted reward requires completing all available trophies, encompassing story progression, challenging boss encounters, and often, extensive farming for specific items.
Players should anticipate multiple playthroughs, known as NG (New Game) cycles, to unlock all endings and covenant-related trophies. Understanding missable trophies is crucial; failing to obtain them during a cycle necessitates restarting. This guide will meticulously detail each step, ensuring a smooth path to platinum glory, even for newcomers to the Souls series.
Understanding NG Cycles and Missable Trophies
New Game (NG) cycles are integral to platinum completion in Dark Souls 3, as certain trophies, particularly those tied to endings, require subsequent playthroughs. Each NG cycle increases difficulty while allowing access to upgraded items and enhanced character builds. However, efficient planning minimizes repeated grinding.
Missable trophies pose the greatest challenge. The hidden ending and “Master of Expression” are easily overlooked. Covenant trophies, like “Mound-makers,” can also be missed if specific conditions aren’t met before key boss fights. Thorough research and careful attention to detail are vital to avoid frustrating setbacks and ensure a complete trophy collection.
Character Creation and Early Game (Build Planning)
Strategic build planning is crucial! Optimize your starting class and stats for efficient trophy hunting, focusing on vigor, endurance, and damage output for early success.
Choosing a Starting Class
Knight is a popular, forgiving choice for newcomers, offering balanced stats and solid armor. Pyromancer provides early offensive power, though requires stat investment later; Warrior excels in strength-based builds, ideal for heavy weapons. Herald offers a blend of healing and combat, suitable for support roles.
Thief and Deprived present unique challenges; Deprived demands expert knowledge, while Thief focuses on dexterity. Consider your preferred playstyle – melee, magic, or a hybrid. Starting class impacts early game, but stat allocation allows for build flexibility. Don’t overthink it; experimentation is key!
Essential Stats and Build Considerations
Vigor is crucial for survivability, boosting HP. Endurance governs stamina, vital for attacks and dodging. Vitality impacts equip load, allowing heavier armor. Strength and Dexterity scale weapon damage. Intelligence, Faith, and Attunement fuel magic.
Prioritize stats based on your chosen build. Quality builds balance Strength and Dexterity. Pure magic builds focus on Intelligence or Faith. Consider weapon requirements and scaling. Don’t neglect Endurance; stamina management is key. Optimize for your playstyle, and respec using Rosaria if needed.
Trophy Walkthrough: Areas & Bosses
Progress systematically! This section details boss strategies and trophy locations for each area, from the Cemetery of Ash to Kiln of the First Flame.
Cemetery of Ash to Cathedral of the Deep
Begin your ascent! The initial areas demand cautious exploration and mastering fundamental combat mechanics. Focus on defeating the Curse-rotted Greatwood, ensuring you don’t miss any crucial items. Prioritize leveling Vitality and Endurance for survivability.
Navigate the High Wall of Lothric, defeating Vordt of the Dank Crystal. Then, venture into the Undead Settlement, tackling the Crystal Sage. Finally, conquer the Deacons of the Deep within the Cathedral of the Deep. Remember to thoroughly explore each location for hidden passages and valuable resources, aiding your progression.
Road of Sacrifices & Farron Keep
Embrace the challenge! The Road of Sacrifices presents aggressive enemies and a challenging descent. Prepare for ambushes and utilize firebombs effectively. Proceed to Farron Keep, a swampy area requiring careful navigation and strategic combat against the Abyss Watchers.
Mastering parrying is crucial here. Explore thoroughly for hidden paths and the Undead Bone Shard. Don’t neglect upgrading your Estus Flasks. Defeating the Abyss Watchers unlocks progression. Remember to collect all available items and engage with any NPCs encountered along the way for potential questlines.
Cathedral of the Deep to Irithyll of the Boreal Valley
Prepare for a shift in atmosphere! Cathedral of the Deep demands cautious exploration, battling grotesque creatures and navigating treacherous pathways. The boss, Deacons of the Deep, requires strategic targeting of the glowing deacon to progress.
Transitioning to Irithyll of the Boreal Valley introduces a visually stunning, yet perilous, frozen city. Beware of the hostile NPCs and the powerful Pontiff Sulyvahn. Utilize quicksteps and ranged attacks effectively. Thoroughly explore the Profaned Capital for valuable items and shortcuts before confronting Sulyvahn.
Irithyll of the Boreal Valley & Anor Londo
Mastering Irithyll’s challenges is key! After Pontiff Sulyvahn, delve deeper into Irithyll, uncovering hidden areas and facing the formidable Dancer of the Boreal Valley. This boss demands precise timing and understanding of her erratic movements.
Next, journey to the iconic Anor Londo, a visually breathtaking but deadly locale. Prepare for a nostalgic experience filled with silver knights and the challenging Aldrich, Devourer of Gods. Utilize fire damage and exploit his weaknesses. Careful exploration reveals shortcuts and valuable loot within this majestic city.
Profaned Capital & Lothric Castle
Prepare for a vertical ascent! The Profaned Capital presents a unique challenge with its intricate, multi-layered design and aggressive enemies. Mastering the jumping mechanics is crucial for navigating this area and defeating the Profaned Flame boss, a formidable winged demon requiring strategic attacks.
Following this, Lothric Castle awaits, a sprawling fortress brimming with knights and secrets. Face Dancer of the Boreal Valley (again!) and ultimately confront Lorian, Elder Prince and Lothric, Younger Prince. This dual boss fight demands patience and precise timing to overcome their combined power.
Grand Archives & Untended Graves
Knowledge and decay intertwine! The Grand Archives present a labyrinthine challenge, filled with scholars driven mad and powerful sorcerers. Careful exploration is key to uncovering hidden paths and defeating the Librarian, a formidable foe guarding ancient knowledge. Prepare for intense magical combat and swift enemy attacks.
Descending into the Untended Graves, you’ll encounter a desolate landscape overrun with decaying creatures. This area culminates in a battle against the Champion Gundyr, a relentless and aggressive opponent. Mastering parrying and dodging is essential for survival and progression.
Farming & Covenant Trophies
Grind time begins! Efficiently farm Sunlight Medals, Swordgrass, and Pale Tongues. Covenant completion, like Mound-makers, demands dedication and strategic gameplay.
Farming Sunlight Medals
Sunlight Medal acquisition is notoriously time-consuming. The most effective method involves repeatedly invading other players’ worlds in the Road of Sacrifices. Successfully invading and assisting a host in defeating a boss yields multiple medals per attempt.
Alternatively, co-op play offers a more consistent, albeit slower, method. Helping hosts defeat bosses also rewards Sunlight Medals. Prioritize bosses known for quick matchmaking to maximize efficiency.
Be mindful of the drop rate; it isn’t guaranteed. Equipping the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring +3 boosts item discovery, increasing your chances. Patience and persistence are key to accumulating the required 30 Sunlight Medals.
Farming Swordgrass
Swordgrass is crucial for upgrading certain weapons and is a significant farming commitment. The best location for consistent Swordgrass harvesting is the area surrounding the Old Demon Ruins in Smouldering Lake. Specifically, focus on the patches of grass near the Demon Prince boss arena.
Equip the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring +3 to maximize item discovery. Repeatedly harvesting the Swordgrass patches, then resting at a bonfire and returning, will respawn them.
This method, while repetitive, provides the most reliable yield. Be prepared for a lengthy grind, as a substantial amount of Swordgrass is needed for full weapon upgrades.
Pale Tongue & Shackle Acquisition
Acquiring Pale Tongues and Shackles is vital for progressing the Slave Knight Gael covenant and obtaining related trophies. Pale Tongues are dropped by the Corvians – the strange, bird-like enemies – found predominantly in the Untended Graves area. Focus farming efforts here for efficient collection.
Shackles are obtained by trading 10 Pale Tongues to the Slave Knight Gael at his location within the Untended Graves. Continue trading Pale Tongues for additional Shackles as needed for covenant progression.
Remember to exhaust Gael’s dialogue after each trade to ensure proper quest advancement.
Covenant Completion: Mound-makers
The Mound-makers covenant requires offering 30 Pale Shackles to the Mound-maker located near the Profaned Capital. This unlocks the Darkmoon Blade miracle and associated trophy. However, this covenant is notoriously time-consuming due to the limited availability of Pale Shackles;
Efficiently farm Pale Tongues from the Corvians in the Untended Graves, then trade them to Slave Knight Gael for Shackles. Be aware that offering all 30 Shackles can take considerable dedication and patience.
Completing this covenant before defeating the Curse-rotted Greatwood is recommended to avoid potential issues.
Endings and Missable Trophies
Secure all endings! The Master of Expression trophy and the hidden ending are easily missed; careful planning and thorough exploration are crucial for platinum.
Achieving the True Ending
Unlocking the “Usurpation of Fire” ending requires specific actions throughout your playthrough. First, you must have given Rosaria’s Fingers to at least three NPCs, becoming their benefactor. Then, after defeating the Soul of Cinder, instead of linking the fire, you must choose the “Usurp the Flame” option.
This ending is vital for platinum completion, as it’s tied to a trophy. Be mindful of covenant choices, as they can influence your ability to achieve this outcome. Prioritize Rosaria’s covenant and fulfilling the requirements before the final boss to avoid needing a second playthrough. Careful planning ensures you don’t miss this crucial step!
Master of Expression Trophy Guide
The “Master of Expression” trophy is notoriously missable, demanding precise timing and location. You must interact with the small shrine located in the Profaned Capital, specifically within the room before the Profaned Flame boss. Equip the “Small Doll” gesture and use it directly in front of the shrine.
This must be done before defeating the Profaned Flame. Failing to do so necessitates a New Game+ cycle. Many players overlook this, so mark your map and prioritize this task during your Profaned Capital exploration. Don’t risk a second playthrough – get the gesture and shrine interaction done immediately!
Avoiding Missable Trophy Pitfalls
Careful planning prevents frustration! Several trophies demand attention before specific boss encounters. The “Master of Expression” requires the Small Doll gesture before the Profaned Flame. Covenant trophies, like Mound-makers, are best secured before Curse-rotted Greatwood, though research suggests flexibility.
Don’t progress too far without confirming completion of these tasks. Always check trophy lists and guides before major boss fights. A single oversight can force a New Game+ cycle. Prioritize thoroughness and utilize online resources to ensure a smooth platinum run, minimizing wasted time and maximizing enjoyment.
Kiln of the First Flame & Final Boss
Prepare for the ultimate test! This area houses the final boss and confirms platinum eligibility, demanding strategic preparation and skillful execution for victory.
Preparing for the Final Encounter
Strategic preparation is paramount for the Kiln of the First Flame. Ensure your character is appropriately leveled, ideally around SL120-130, with a well-optimized build. Reinforce your weapon to its maximum potential, and stock up on Estus Flasks – both regular and Ashen.
Consider equipping rings that boost damage output, stamina recovery, or offer defensive benefits. Familiarize yourself with the Soul of Cinder’s diverse attack patterns; it cycles through various combat styles.
Having a reliable summon can alleviate pressure, but soloing is achievable with patience. Prioritize dodging and learning the timing of attacks. Don’t underestimate the importance of understanding the arena’s layout for optimal positioning.
Platinum Trophy Confirmation
Congratulations, Ashen One! After defeating the Soul of Cinder and witnessing the chosen ending, return to the main menu. The game will automatically begin the process of trophy verification with PlayStation Network.
Ensure a stable internet connection during this phase to prevent any interruptions. A successful synchronization will unlock the coveted Dark Souls 3 Platinum trophy, signifying your mastery of Lothric.
Relish this achievement – it represents dedication, perseverance, and skillful navigation of a truly challenging action RPG. You’ve conquered the darkness!