Unlocking Soul Abundance: The Ultimate DS3 Soul Farming Guide

So, you’re looking to maximize your soul gains in Dark Souls 3? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re leveling up for that perfect build, stocking up on consumables, or simply wanting to feel like a Lord of Souls, understanding the best farming spots is key. The answer to what enemy drops the most souls in DS3 isn’t as simple as one single enemy, but rather a combination of location and enemy type.

The Grand Archives reigns supreme for efficient soul farming. On the roof, you’ll find three Gold Winged Knights. While their individual soul drop isn’t the absolute highest from a single enemy, their density, relatively easy kill, and the fact that they often drop valuable Titanite Shards and Chunks make them the most effective soul farming method. Furthermore, the Soul of Cinder boss is the hardest boss to beat.

Top DS3 Soul Farming Locations and Strategies

While the Gold Winged Knights offer consistent results, understanding the nuances of soul farming in Dark Souls 3 will unlock even greater potential. Let’s dive into some key areas and strategies:

1. The Grand Archives Roof: Gold Winged Knights

• Location: Grand Archives, accessible after defeating the Twin Princes.
• Enemies: Three Gold Winged Knights.
• Souls Per Run: Approximately 30,000 – 45,000 souls (depending on item discovery and NG cycle).
• Strategy: Utilize backstabs and parries to quickly dispatch the knights. Equip items like the Symbol of Avarice, Silver Serpent Ring, and Shield of Want to maximize soul acquisition. The best way to get backstabs is to circle around to their backs.

2. Archdragon Peak: Drakeblood Knight

• Location: Archdragon Peak, summoned by the Man-Serpent Summoner near the beginning of the area.
• Enemies: Drakeblood Knight (constantly respawning).
• Souls Per Run: Approximately 4,000 souls per kill.
• Strategy: This knight presents a good source of souls. The Summoner will keep providing knights, making it a good source of souls.

3. Lothric Castle: Lothric Knights

• Location: Various points in Lothric Castle.
• Enemies: Lothric Knights.
• Souls Per Run: Varies.
• Strategy: Certain Lothric Knights can be easily backstabbed or parried, making them relatively simple to farm. Focus on those that respawn near bonfires.

4. Painted World of Ariandel: Corvian Knights

• Location: Painted World of Ariandel DLC.
• Enemies: Corvian Knights.
• Souls Per Run: Varies.
• Strategy: These enemies are susceptible to backstabs and are grouped together. This makes them easy to kill in high numbers.

Optimizing Your Soul Farming

The best location to farm souls is the Grand Archives. To really ramp up your soul income, consider these tips:

• Item Discovery: Increase your item discovery stat with items like the Crystal Sage’s Rapier, Symbol of Avarice, and Covetous Gold Serpent Ring. Higher item discovery increases the chance of enemies dropping more souls.
• Difficulty Scaling: Each New Game cycle (NG+) increases enemy health and damage, but also their soul yield. Soul farming becomes increasingly efficient in later cycles.
• Bonfire Ascetics: (If you want to artificially increase difficulty) Bonfire Ascetics can be used to respawn bosses and increase the difficulty of a specific area, thereby increasing soul gains. However, this is generally not recommended for pure soul farming as the increased difficulty might outweigh the soul gains.
• Weapon Choice: Use weapons with fast attack speeds or those that excel at crowd control to quickly eliminate enemies and maximize your efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the fastest way to level up in Dark Souls 3?

The fastest way to level up is to efficiently farm souls using the methods described above (Gold Winged Knights, Drakeblood Knight), while also utilizing soul-boosting items. You can farm souls from bosses or regular enemies. It’s also important to allocate your stat points efficiently based on your desired build.

2. How many souls do I need to max out a character in Dark Souls 3?

Reaching the maximum level (802) requires an astounding amount of souls – well over a billion. This is generally not a practical goal for most players, as it requires an immense time investment.

3. What is the best covenant for soul farming?

Covenants don’t directly affect soul farming. They are more related to online play.

4. Does the difficulty level (NG+) affect soul drops from bosses?

Yes, each NG+ cycle increases the amount of souls gained from defeating bosses.

5. Are there any glitches or exploits for soul farming?

Glitches and exploits exist, but they are often patched by FromSoftware. It’s generally safer and more reliable to use legitimate farming methods.

6. What is the Symbol of Avarice? How do I get it?

The Symbol of Avarice is a helmet that significantly increases soul acquisition but constantly drains your health. It is found as a rare drop from Mimics. Killing all Mimics in an area generally guarantees the drop of the Symbol of Avarice.

7. Is it worth using Bonfire Ascetics to farm souls?

Generally no. Bonfire Ascetics will increase the overall difficulty of the game to such a level as to not make it worth it.

8. What rings affect soul acquisition?

The Silver Serpent Ring increases souls gained from defeating enemies. There is also an upgraded version, the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring, which provides an even greater bonus.

9. Is the Scholar Ring helpful for soul farming?

The Scholar Ring increases Intelligence, which is useful for some builds.

10. What stats should I prioritize for efficient soul farming?

Luck increases item discovery, which leads to more soul drops. Intelligence and faith are relevant to specific builds.

11. What is the best early-game soul farming location?

Early game soul farming can be tricky due to low stats and limited access to powerful equipment. However, the High Wall of Lothric can be a decent place to farm early on, especially if you equip the Silver Serpent Ring as soon as you acquire it.

12. Do certain enemies have a higher chance of dropping souls than others?

The amount of souls an enemy drops is predetermined and consistent, but the item discovery stat can influence the quantity of soul items they drop.

13. Can I trade items for souls with other players?

Yes, you can trade items with other players in multiplayer. However, soul items are not tradable. Players often trade weapons and armor in exchange for other valuable items.

14. Are DLC areas better for soul farming than the base game?

DLC areas, such as the Ringed City and Painted World of Ariandel, tend to offer higher soul yields due to tougher enemies. The Corvian Knights within the Painted World of Ariandel are good for farming souls.

15. What should I do with excess souls after leveling up?

Once you’ve reached your desired level, excess souls can be used to purchase consumables, upgrade weapons, or simply store for emergencies.

By understanding the mechanics of soul farming and applying these strategies, you’ll become a true master of the Dark Souls 3 economy. Good luck, Ashen One, and may your journey be filled with plentiful souls!

If you’re interested in the educational aspects of gaming, consider exploring the resources available at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org.