Can You Summon NPCs for Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls 3? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you absolutely can summon NPCs to aid you in the epic battle against the Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls 3. This final boss is notoriously challenging, and having a friendly phantom by your side can significantly increase your chances of victory. However, summoning NPCs requires meeting specific conditions and completing certain questlines. Let’s dive into the details of who you can summon and how to make it happen!

Summonable NPCs for the Soul of Cinder

There is only one NPC that can be summoned to aid you in the fight against the Soul of Cinder.

• Yuria of Londor: To summon her, you must have successfully completed Anri of Astora’s questline and followed it to the point where Anri is located in the Darkmoon Tomb. Crucially, you must not have attacked or made Yuria hostile at any point during your playthrough. Yuria’s summon sign will appear just before the boss fog, assuming you meet all the requirements.

Conditions for Summoning NPCs

• Being Embered: This is the most fundamental requirement. You must be in Ember Form to see summon signs. Use an Ember to restore your Embers, or successfully defeat a boss.
• Boss Must Be Alive: Obviously, you can only summon help if the Soul of Cinder is still breathing (or whatever it is that the Soul of Cinder does).
• No Covenant Restrictions: Avoid being in the Covenant of Champions, as this covenant increases difficulty and disables summoning in Dark Souls 1. It also disables multiplayer features in Dark Souls 2. Dark Souls 3 does not include a Covenant of Champions, but be aware of covenant restrictions that might affect summoning.
• Meeting Questline Requirements: As demonstrated by the example with Yuria, certain NPCs have specific questlines that must be completed to unlock their summon signs.

Understanding Summoning Mechanics in Dark Souls 3

Dark Souls 3’s summoning system allows players to call upon the aid of both other players and NPC phantoms to tackle challenging areas and bosses. This mechanic is crucial for players who find themselves struggling or who simply prefer a cooperative experience.

Summon signs, typically white or gold for cooperative play, will appear on the ground in areas where summoning is possible. Interacting with these signs will bring the summoned player or NPC into your world to assist you.

The game balances this system by requiring the host player to be in Ember Form, making them vulnerable to invasions by hostile players. This risk-reward system adds another layer of depth to the gameplay experience.

Troubleshooting Summoning Issues

If you are unable to see summon signs, consider the following:

• Check Your Ember Status: Are you Embered?
• Network Settings: Ensure your network settings are configured correctly.
• Boss Status: Is the boss of the area still alive?
• Location: Are you in an area where summoning is allowed? Some areas are restricted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t I see any summon signs in front of the Soul of Cinder’s fog gate?

This usually means you haven’t met the summoning conditions, such as being Embered, having a completed questline for the NPC you wish to summon, or the boss is already dead. Double-check these requirements.

2. Does it matter if a summoned NPC dies during the Soul of Cinder fight?

No, it does not. If an NPC phantom dies during the boss fight, it doesn’t affect your ability to summon them again on subsequent attempts, as long as you meet all the requirements to summon them. You can repeatedly summon them for each attempt. However, if you kill an NPC in the game world, you won’t be able to summon them at all.

3. Is summoning help considered “cheating” in Dark Souls 3?

Absolutely not. Summoning is an intended game mechanic. Dark Souls games are challenging by design, and the developers included the summoning system as a way for players to overcome difficult obstacles. Use it if you want to! The game has many levels of difficulty.

4. Can I summon multiple NPCs for the Soul of Cinder fight?

Unfortunately, no. You can only summon one NPC phantom for the Soul of Cinder fight. However, you can summon other players in addition to the single NPC summon, if you are using the Dried Finger item.

5. What happens if I kill Yuria of Londor? Can I still summon her for the Soul of Cinder?

If you kill Yuria, you will not be able to summon her. Doing so will prevent you from summoning her for the Soul of Cinder fight, regardless of whether you have followed Anri’s questline.

6. Does my level affect my ability to summon or be summoned?

Yes, level does matter. Dark Souls 3 uses a level-based matchmaking system. This means players within a certain level range of each other are more likely to see each other’s summon signs.

7. Is the Soul of Cinder weak to any particular element?

Yes. The Soul of Cinder is highly resistant to fire attacks, but is weak to lightning and dark based attacks. Consider equipping weapons or spells that deal lightning or dark damage.

8. What are some general tips for the Soul of Cinder fight?

• Learn the attack patterns. The Soul of Cinder mimics previous Lords of Cinder, so anticipate a variety of movesets.
• Use stamina wisely. Don’t exhaust yourself needlessly.
• Consider your build. Optimize your equipment and stats to exploit weaknesses.
• Cooperate with summons. Communicate and coordinate your attacks.

9. Can I summon for other difficult bosses in Dark Souls 3?

Yes, you can summon for many bosses, provided you meet the necessary conditions. Some examples include Dragonslayer Armour (where you can summon Sirris of the Sunless Realms and Eygon of Carim) and Lothric, Younger Prince (where you can summon Sirris of the Sunless Realms).

10. How do I become Embered without using an Ember?

You can become Embered by successfully defeating a boss. This is a good way to conserve Embers for when you really need them.

11. What if I’m having trouble finding the summon signs?

Make sure you are in an area where summoning is allowed. Summon signs typically appear near bonfires or boss fog gates. If you still don’t see any, try restarting your game or checking your internet connection.

12. Does cross-region play affect summoning in Dark Souls 3?

Yes, cross-region play can affect summoning. Make sure your cross-region play settings are turned on in the game options to increase the pool of available summon signs.

13. Why can’t I summon anyone even though I’m Embered and the boss is alive?

There could be several reasons:

• Level difference: Your level might be too far apart from other players.
• Internet connection: Your internet connection might be unstable.
• Server issues: The Dark Souls 3 servers might be experiencing problems.
• Area restriction: You might be in an area where summoning is restricted.

14. Can I respec my character in Dark Souls 3 if I messed up my build?

Yes, you can respec your character in Dark Souls 3 by visiting Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth in the Cathedral of the Deep. You’ll need a Pale Tongue to respec.

15. What is the best way to improve my Dark Souls 3 skills?

Practice, practice, practice! Watch videos, read guides, and experiment with different builds and strategies. Don’t be afraid to die – it’s part of the learning process. Consider engaging with the community such as the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to improve your gaming skills through knowledge sharing and collaborative learning.

We hope this guide helps you conquer the Soul of Cinder and emerge victorious! Good luck, Ashen One!