Can You Bonfire Ascetic Chancellor Wellager? A Deep Dive into Dark Souls 2 Mechanics
The short, definitive answer is no, you cannot use a Bonfire Ascetic to directly respawn Chancellor Wellager. This frustrating reality is a common point of confusion for Dark Souls 2 players, particularly those aiming to acquire his coveted inventory items or progress certain quests. While Bonfire Ascetics are powerful tools for resetting areas and boss encounters, their functionality is specific and does not extend to this particular NPC. Let’s explore why this is the case and what alternative methods you can use to access Wellager’s inventory and rewards.
Why Bonfire Ascetics Don’t Work on Chancellor Wellager
Bonfire Ascetics are primarily designed to reset enemy encounters and item placements within a defined area. By burning an Ascetic at a bonfire, you are effectively increasing the area’s game cycle difficulty, making it harder and respawning all enemies, including the boss. This doesn’t apply to NPC vendors like Chancellor Wellager. He is not a boss, and his inventory and progression are tied to specific player achievements rather than environmental resets.
Chancellor Wellager’s availability and inventory are governed by your progress through the game and your performance in specific covenants. Specifically, obtaining certain high-value items from Wellager requires progressing to New Game Plus (NG+) or achieving milestones within the Blue Sentinels Covenant. These are independent of bonfire intensity adjustments, rendering Bonfire Ascetics irrelevant in this context.
Alternative Methods to Access Wellager’s Inventory
Since Bonfire Ascetics are ineffective, what are your options for obtaining Chancellor Wellager’s rare items and unlocking his dialogue? Here are the two primary methods:
Progressing to New Game Plus (NG+) and Beyond
The most straightforward method is to simply complete the game and start a New Game Plus cycle. Wellager’s inventory expands with each subsequent playthrough, offering increasingly potent spells and equipment. Specifically, to get his items, you need to beat the game, move to NG+ and to get all of his item, to NG++. This method guarantees access to all his wares, but it requires significant investment of time and effort. It is important to note that burning a bonfire ascetic does NOT affect which items he sells, only entering new game cycles does.
Achieving Blue Sentinel Covenant Victories
The second method, less commonly used but a possible alternative to entering NG++, focuses on the Blue Sentinels Covenant. To access one particular spell from Wellager, the Wrath of the Gods Miracle, you must achieve 150 victories as a Blue Sentinel. These victories can be attained by:
- Being summoned to aid Way of the Blue players who have been invaded.
- Using Cracked Blue Eye Orbs to invade and defeat guilty players.
This method is often time-consuming and relies on co-op play and player activity, but it offers a different route to obtaining one particular reward from him.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the mechanics of Bonfire Ascetics and their limitations with Chancellor Wellager:
1. Do Bonfire Ascetics respawn bosses?
Yes, burning a Bonfire Ascetic at a bonfire will respawn the area boss and permanently increase the game cycle difficulty for that specific area.
2. Can you farm Bonfire Ascetics?
Yes, you can farm Bonfire Ascetics from enemies in the Dark Chasm of Old covenant areas.
3. Does a Bonfire Ascetic reset chests?
Yes, items in chests will respawn after using a Bonfire Ascetic, along with enemies and the area boss.
4. Can you reverse the effects of a Bonfire Ascetic?
No, the effects of a Bonfire Ascetic are permanent and cannot be reversed once burned.
5. Where is Chancellor Wellager located?
Chancellor Wellager is found in Drangleic Castle, near the main entrance stairs.
6. How do you get to the Sunken King DLC?
To access the Sunken King DLC, travel to the Black Gulch area, defeat The Rotten, and find the entrance to Shulva.
7. Is using Bonfire Ascetics worth it?
Bonfire Ascetics are worth using if you’re looking to farm for specific items, souls, or boss encounters. However, they should be used carefully because difficulty is permanently increased.
8. What is the max Bonfire Ascetic level?
There is no max level for bonfire intensity. You can increase it up to 999, though the soul reward cap out at a certain point.
9. Does a Bonfire Ascetic affect the entire game world?
No, Bonfire Ascetics only affect the area between the bonfire where it’s used and the next bonfire.
10. Where is a good place to farm upgrade materials with Bonfire Ascetics?
The Dragon Aerie is an excellent place to farm upgrade materials using Bonfire Ascetics, as it provides chunks, Twinkling Titanite, and Petrified Dragon Bones.
11. Does burning an Ascetic reset all enemies?
Yes, burning a Bonfire Ascetic respawns most enemies and items within the specific area.
12. Does the Naga boss respawn?
No, the Naga bosses do not respawn with Bonfire Ascetics.
13. Can you buy Bonfire Ascetics?
Yes, you can purchase one Bonfire Ascetic from Stone Trader Chloanne for 7,500 souls.
14. Which bonfire to use to respawn the Dragonrider?
The Heide’s Ruin bonfire will respawn the Dragonrider.
15. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using Bonfire Ascetics?
Advantages: Farming souls, items, and boss drops. Disadvantages: Difficulty of the area is permanently increased, can potentially make areas too challenging.
Conclusion
While it can be disappointing, understand that Bonfire Ascetics do not impact Chancellor Wellager’s inventory or availability. To access his full selection of items, you need to either progress through the game to NG+ and beyond, or grind victories in the Blue Sentinel Covenant. Knowing this distinction is crucial for efficient and effective progression through Dark Souls 2. Understanding the mechanics of Bonfire Ascetics and their limitations will empower you to make informed decisions on your playthrough.