Can You Summon Shira After Gael in Dark Souls 3? A Comprehensive Guide
The short and direct answer is: No, you cannot summon Shira for the Darkeater Midir boss fight if you have already defeated Slave Knight Gael. This limitation is tied to the intricate questline involving Shira, Knight of Filianore, and the progression of your game within the Ringed City DLC of Dark Souls 3. This article will delve into the specifics of this mechanic, explain why it occurs, and answer other frequently asked questions surrounding Shira’s summon availability.
Shira’s Summon Availability Explained
Shira, Knight of Filianore, is a valuable NPC summon for the challenging fight against Darkeater Midir. However, her presence is contingent upon your progression through the Ringed City DLC, specifically concerning your interaction with Filianore’s Chamber and your battle with Slave Knight Gael. The game sets specific conditions that govern whether Shira will appear or not.
The key to understanding why you can’t summon Shira after Gael lies in the narrative and the sequence of events:
- Filianore’s Chamber: Shira’s quest is initiated by encountering her before venturing into Filianore’s Chamber. If you have not accessed or completed Filianore’s Chamber, and you haven’t beaten Gael, Shira’s summon sign is available near the entrance to the Midir boss fight area.
- Gael’s Defeat: Once you’ve defeated Slave Knight Gael, the game flags this as a major story progression point. After this point, Shira will no longer appear, and her summon sign will disappear. This is because the game assumes that, having witnessed the end of the age and the events that follow, the need for Shira’s intervention at Midir is no longer pertinent.
The Significance of Story Progression
This mechanic is designed to reinforce the narrative flow of the game. Shira is positioned as an ally helping you to maintain the order, an order disrupted by the events surrounding Filianore. By removing her summon option after defeating Gael, the game highlights the permanent change in the world, suggesting the player should move on and face the challenges as a lone Ashen One.
Where to Find Shira’s Summon Sign
Before delving further into the “after-Gael” scenario, it’s crucial to pinpoint where Shira’s summon sign typically appears. If you meet the pre-requisite criteria – that is, you have not yet entered Filianore’s Chamber or defeated Gael – you’ll find her summon sign in the room where you drop down to Midir.
Specifically, it’s located in the preparation area, near the statue farthest to the left when facing the drop-off point. You will not find her summon sign at the Midir boss fog. Remember, this sign will disappear once you’ve progressed too far into the Ringed City’s end-game state and defeated Gael.
Detailed FAQ’s: Shira, Midir, and the Ringed City
To provide a more comprehensive understanding, here are some frequently asked questions regarding Shira, her questline, and the Darkeater Midir fight:
1. Can I still fight Midir if I’ve already killed Gael?
Yes, absolutely. Midir is an optional boss and can be fought regardless of whether you’ve killed Gael or not. He is available as long as you haven’t started New Game +. The questline with Shira changes what happens after Midir, but it does not prevent you from accessing or defeating Midir.
2. Can I get Shira’s armor if I can’t summon her for Midir?
Yes, you can still obtain Shira’s armor set regardless of whether you summon her. After you defeat Midir, go to the building behind the Ringed City bonfire and interact with Shira. She will attack. Defeat her to obtain the armor.
3. Who else can I summon for the Midir fight?
Shira is the only NPC you can summon for Darkeater Midir. There are no other NPC summon options available for this fight, only other players. This makes the fight more challenging, especially if you are soloing it.
4. What are Midir’s weaknesses and resistances?
Midir is weak to lightning attacks. He is also susceptible to damage from the Farron Greatsword and Wolf Knight’s Greatsword. He also has large health pool, and is therefore very vulnerable to Pestilent Mist. Conversely, Midir resists magic, fire, and dark damage. He is completely immune to bleed, poison, toxic, and frost.
5. Is Midir harder than Gael?
This is debatable and depends on player experience. Midir is often considered harder in early playthroughs due to his large health pool and erratic movements. However, many players find Gael more challenging in later NG+ cycles.
6. Does Midir have to be killed to complete the game?
No, Darkeater Midir is an optional boss. You do not need to defeat him to complete the main game or even the Ringed City DLC. He can be engaged at any point.
7. Can you summon for Sister Friede after killing Gael?
Yes, you can summon for Sister Friede even after defeating Gael. This is a separate boss fight in the Ashes of Ariandel DLC and is not affected by your progression in the Ringed City.
8. What is Friede’s weakness?
Friede is weak to bleed, dark, and lightning damage. She’s also particularly vulnerable to strike damage, making weapons like hammers and great hammers very effective against her.
9. Can I summon Gael for the Friede fight?
Yes. You can summon Gael for the fight against Sister Friede, but he will not have the normal UI, his name and HP bar won’t appear. He does, however, provide helpful assistance.
10. Who is Shira related to?
While not explicitly stated, many speculate that Shira is the daughter of Seath the Scaleless and Gwynevere, Princess of Sunlight. Her appearance and role in the narrative support this theory.
11. Does Shira have any weaknesses?
Shira is more susceptible to frost and poison damage than other elements. However, she is a competent fighter, able to handle Midir.
12. What kind of damage is Gael weak to?
Gael is weak to strike damage, frostbite and poison/toxic damage. He is resistant to bleed and slash damage throughout the whole fight. During his 2nd and 3rd phases he also becomes resistant to Dark Damage.
13. What is Filianore the Goddess of?
Filianore is the goddess of new life, and was confined to the Ringed City to contain the Abyss upon which the City was built.
14. Is Gael considered one of the hardest bosses?
Many consider Slave Knight Gael to be one of the most difficult bosses in Dark Souls 3, particularly in later NG+ cycles due to his increased health and damage. He is often cited as one of the game’s most challenging encounters.
15. Is there a specific reason I can’t summon Shira after killing Gael?
Yes, it is a design choice. The developers deliberately make Shira unavailable after you defeat Gael to reflect the story’s progression and the permanent changes it brings to the Ringed City. This means the player must confront Midir without her aid if they choose to defeat Gael first.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, summoning Shira for the Darkeater Midir fight is tied to your progression in the Ringed City DLC and specifically, your interaction with Filianore’s Chamber and your battle against Gael. You cannot summon Shira after defeating Gael. However, you can still fight Midir. Her questline is an integral part of the Ringed City’s narrative, with this limitation adding depth and consequence to player choice. By understanding these mechanics, you can better navigate the challenging encounters within the DLC, and ultimately, earn the many secrets and rewards it contains.