DARK SOULS™ III

DARK SOULS™ III

86 ratings
The Basics of Multiplayer
By Wormling59mep
When you first purchase the game, it seems like there's a thousand menus and mechanics that are impossible to comprehend. In reality, the mechanics of the game are much less difficult than it may seem. This guide, as the same implies, is about the basics of Multiplayer.
   
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Starting Out: Passwords
In the Settings menu, find the Multiplayer tab. Everything here is pretty self explanitory, but the most important thing to notice is the tab labeled "Password Matchmaking". Basically, when two or more people have the same password, they can see each other's signs, but only each other's signs; all others without the same password will disappear. Passwords bypass weapon upgrades and level locks, meaning that you can see their sign regardless of all restrictions.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544543068

For instance:

If you are lvl 125 with a +10 weapon and your friend is lvl 20 with a +2 weapon, you may still see each other's summon signs.
Summoning: Co-op
In Dark Souls 3, you have the ability to summon your friends or random people as helpful phantoms. In order to be summoned yourself, you must have an item called the White Sign Soapstone. This item can be purchased at the Shrine Handmaiden, and has unlimited uses. In order to see white soapstone signs, you must:

*Be embered.
*Have no password on (Unless you are planning to utilize it)
*Be in a multiplayer area (Very rarely, there are no summon zones, like the Road of Sacrifices)
*Have the area boss still alive
*Not be banned
*Not have your own sign placed (Can't see other signs if your sign is down)
*The phantom limit has not been reached. (The limit of phantoms is 2, but will rise to 3 if you use the Dried Finger, purchasable at the Shrine Handmaiden)
Summoning: Co-op - Covenant Signs
So, now that you know what conditions must be met in order to play co-op, I will now show you the different co-op covenants and the role they play in the game.

The Warriors of Sunlight

The Warriors of Sunlight show up as a golden sign with white and black letters on the ground.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544552123

When summoned, this phantom can help you kill enemies and invading phantoms. When you kill a boss with a Warrior of Sunlight, both the phantom and the host gain an item called the Sunlight Medal. These medals can be traded in at a shrine in an area later in the game to unlock some miracles.

The Moundmakers

The Moundmakers show up as a purple sign with white and black letters on the ground.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544552462

When summoned, you will get a warning message, and a white puff of smoke will pop up from the ground. These phantoms can hurt enemies and other invaders, but can also hurt the Host of Embers and other phantoms. It is best not to trust these phantoms. Unless you want to PVP, it is best to leave these alone.

All Other Covenants

Any covenant that I have not mentioned up to this point will just have a white sign on the ground, with black letters.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544552301

These people function exactly like the Warriors of Sunlight, except that neither you nor the phantom gain a Sunlight Medal once a boss is killed.
Summoning and Invading: Invaders
As you have previously seen, there is an item called the White Sign Soapstone. This is used for co-op play. There is also an item called the Red Sign Soapstone, and this is used to willingly let an invader into your world. Additionally, a Cracked Red Eye Orb or a Red Eye Orb can be used to forcefully invade someone's world.

Requirements:

*Don't need to be embered to see signs
*Can still be summoned, even if the area boss is dead.
* The maximum number of phantoms must not be met. (2 phantoms with the Dried Finger, about 5 phantoms in an area near a boss, using the dried finger)
*Must be embered in order to be randomly invaded.
*Must be in a multiplayer zone


Notes:

*The number of friendly phantoms and the number of invading phantoms don't affect each other.
*Invaders can hurt you, your friendly phantoms, and even other invaders, but not enemies, in most circumstances.
*The spell Rapport and the item Giant Tree Seed will make an enemy/enemies target invading phantoms for a short period of time.
*May appear as the Host of Embers if they are wearing the Untrue Dark Ring, or they may look like a White Phantom if wearing the Untrue White Ring.
Summoning and Invading: Phantoms and their Signs
Warriors of Sunlight

Not to be confused with the friendly Warriors of Sunlight's white soapstone signs. Has red and black letters. When the host dies, all of the invaders get a Sunlight Medal.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544587381

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544571637

Moundmakers

When a Moundmaker kills a certain number of phantoms or the host, they gain a vertebra shackle, which can be used to buy the spell Warmth and the katana Bloodlust. Additionally, when a host, phantom, or invader kills an invading Moundmaker, they also get a vertebra shackle, though they may need to kill more than one.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544588688

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544575568

Misc Covenants

When a Red Phantom kills a Host, they get a Pale Tongue. This can be used to continue Ringfinger Leonhard's quest, to change your appearance/stats, and to purchase the Obscuring Ring and the Man Grub's staff.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544589193

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544589318
Miscellaneous Phantoms
Blue Sentinels/Blade of the Darkmoon

These phantoms are summoned in when a person with the Way of Blue covenant is invaded. These blue phantoms can kill enemy phantoms and enemies. When the Host gets to a boss fight, or the invader dies, the Blue Sentinels/Blades of the Darkmoon get an item called the Proof of Concord Kept. These can be traded in for, in my opinion, the best covenant items in the game: the Darkmoon Ring and the Darkmoon Blade miracle.

Blade of the Darkmoon:

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544569502

Blue Sentinel:

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544598777

Aldrich Faithfuls

These phantoms invade if the host is embered in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley, after Pontiff Sulyvahn's boss room. These phantoms can injure other invaders, the host, and phantoms, but cannot injure other Aldrich Faithfuls and enemies. These phantoms look identical to the Watchdogs of Farron. When these invaders kill the Host of Embers, they gain a Human Dreg, which can be traded for the Great Soul Dreg hex and the Archdeacon's Staff.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544607359

Watchdogs of Farron

These invaders appear in the Crucifixion Woods area.They function exactly as the Aldrich Faithfuls, except for the area they are summoned in. When they kill the host, they get Wolf's Blood Swordgrass. This can be used to buy the Old Wolf Curved Sword and the Wolf Knight's Greatshield, as well as the Wolf Ring.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544602659
Spear of the Church [Ringed City DLC]

The Spear of the Church has the purple tint of the Watchdogs of Farron/Aldrich Faithfuls. It is summoned in by Judicator Argo to defend Princess Filianore. When the Host kills the Spear of the Church, they gain a Filianore's Spear Ornament, and likewise the Spear gets the ornament when the Host dies. These can be traded in for the Young Dew Grass and the Divine Spear Fragment, but these items can only be used while playing as the Spear of the Church.
Miscellaneous Mechanics
Ghosts

You cannot interact with these ghosts at all. These are other players in other worlds. Beware, though, as you can make yourself look suspiciously like a ghost if you use the Untrue White Ring and the sorcery Hidden Body, with the Sleeping Dragoncrest Ring for good measure, so if you see a ghost and it doesn't seem to be going away, just give it a smack, just to make sure.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544612314

Way of White Circlet

When the player gets softbanned, they can use this once to be unbanned. This can only be used for minor offences, like Alt F4ing too much, but cannot be used for major offences, like cheating. Can be found in your inventory at the start of the game, and once you are banned, it can be found in the coffin that you start the game in.

Messages

These messages are left by other players. You can leave them too, by opening your menu (Esc on keyboard), and clicking the Messages tab. When a message is rated "good", then the person who wrote it will get a little bit of health restored. If a player uses a Gesture in the message, a transparent purple player will appear momentarily over the message. These messages cannot be typed, but instead pre chosen words and phrases can be strung together into two sentences.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544604337

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544619992


Bloodstains

When a player dies, a bloodstain appears where they were killed. You can touch the bloodstain to see a ghost appear, that replays the player's demise. This can be used to signal imminent danger ahead. For instance, if there is a bloodstain in front of a chest, and the ghost is being chewed up, it is safe to assume that it is a mimic.

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1544621907
Conclusion
I hope you found this guide helpful. If I missed anything or you think I should add something, please comment, and I will see if I can fix it.
19 Comments
sunzew 19 Oct, 2019 @ 8:24am 
@ Wormling59mep. i want to correct you. you can still summon if you are banned but you can only summon other people who are banned.
sunzew 19 Oct, 2019 @ 8:21am 
i need help i am penalized. lvl 45 on pc. anor londo bonfire. help plz.:estusempty:
if you want we can do a password but dont friend me in steam.
Psicraft 5 Dec, 2018 @ 2:49am 
I am basing this only on the fact that I saw two very-much related messages in front of the grand archives - one in front of each statue either side of the steps between the grand archives and dragonslayer armour bonfires.
Wormling59mep  [author] 3 Dec, 2018 @ 12:01pm 
Really?
Psicraft 3 Dec, 2018 @ 5:20am 
Interesting fact that seems to be true but I can't be sure.

Anyone that can see a message from you can see ALL your messages.
So feel free to write multi-part messages if your advice won't fit in one.
ManiacJack 28 Nov, 2018 @ 4:45am 
Very good guide!
Nadine Mouque 25 Nov, 2018 @ 1:05pm 
very gu :praisesun:
Burger Beers 23 Nov, 2018 @ 5:23pm 
Nice
Psilocybin 19 Nov, 2018 @ 1:20am 
Nice
halanaur 16 Nov, 2018 @ 7:13am 
excellent guide for new players, really amazing. would've heped me a lot if there was something like this in my starting days. Good work.