Do You Lose Covenant Rank in Dark Souls? A Deep Dive
Yes, the consequences of leaving a covenant in Dark Souls vary depending on the specific game in the series. In Dark Souls Remastered, abandoning a covenant will result in a loss of rank. This means you’ll descend one rank within that covenant and may need to offer additional items (like Humanity) to regain your former standing. Let’s explore this mechanic across different Dark Souls titles and related FAQs.
Covenant Mechanics Across the Dark Souls Series
Understanding how covenants work in each game is crucial. Covenants provide different gameplay experiences, rewards, and even alter the story. Each game handles the consequences of joining and leaving them differently.
- Dark Souls Remastered: Leaving a covenant incurs a rank penalty. You will drop one rank within the covenant, potentially losing progress and requiring further offerings to regain your standing.
- Dark Souls 2: This title is much more lenient. You do not lose progress on any covenants when you abandon them, join a new one, or even progress to a new game cycle (NG+). The only exception is the Brotherhood of Blood covenant, where you lose rank for losing in the Arena.
- Dark Souls 3: Covenant allegiance is permanent across playthroughs, meaning you retain your rank and rewards into NG+. However, the act of switching covenants itself might still incur penalties or require re-earning favor with the new covenant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Covenant Level Reset?
In Dark Souls Remastered, your covenant level does not entirely reset, but you lose rank when swapping covenants. This means you drop one rank and have to re-earn the progress to achieve your previous standing.
2. Does Covenant Rank Carry Over in Dark Souls 3?
Yes, a key feature of Dark Souls 3 is that covenant rank carries over into New Game Plus (NG+). This allows players to maintain their progress and rewards without having to start from scratch.
3. Do You Lose Covenant Progress in Dark Souls 2?
Generally, no. Dark Souls 2 is the most forgiving in this aspect. You retain your covenant progress even when abandoning a covenant, joining a new one, or starting a new game cycle. The exception is the Brotherhood of Blood covenant, where arena losses decrease your rank.
4. Can I Join More Than One Covenant in Dark Souls?
No, you can only be a member of one covenant at a time in the Dark Souls series. Joining a new covenant will automatically overwrite your current allegiance.
5. Do I Need to Finish a Covenant Campaign?
This depends on the game and specific covenant. Some covenants offer questlines or campaigns that, while not strictly necessary, provide significant benefits and rewards. In some MMO based games there is the option to skip ahead in the questline if you have already finished it once, but this doesn’t apply to the Dark Souls series.
6. Does Leaving a Covenant Reset Your Rank in Dark Souls 2?
No, leaving a covenant in Dark Souls 2 does not reset your rank. There’s no penalty for joining a new covenant without leaving your previous one at Shalquoir.
7. What Is the Easiest Covenant to Rank Up?
The difficulty of ranking up varies between covenants and games. Some are easier due to readily available items or frequent opportunities for online interactions. Here are some commonly cited as easier to rank up in Dark Souls 2:
- Way of the Blue
- Heirs of the Sun
- The Bell Keepers
8. Do Covenants Matter in Dark Souls 1?
Yes, covenants are significant in Dark Souls. They offer unique gameplay experiences, rewards, and alter the game world. For example, the Chaos Servants covenant provides access to powerful pyromancies and unlocks a shortcut.
9. What Happens If You Join Another Covenant in Dark Souls?
Joining a new covenant immediately replaces your current covenant allegiance. In Dark Souls Remastered, this also results in a loss of rank within your previous covenant.
10. Is It a Sin to Abandon a Covenant?
Abandoning a covenant itself is not considered a sin in Dark Souls. However, actions you take while aligned with a covenant, such as betraying its principles, may incur sin. You can check with Oswald to Request Absolution and see if you have sinned.
11. What Level Should I Choose My Covenant?
There is no set level at which you must choose a covenant. You can join a covenant as soon as you meet its requirements. Level often impacts your build, which in turn might make certain covenants more appealing due to their associated rewards or playstyles.
12. Can You Rejoin a Covenant?
Yes, you can rejoin a covenant after leaving. However, be mindful of any rank penalties associated with leaving, as you’ll need to rebuild your standing within the covenant.
13. What Is the Best Covenant for Co-op?
The Way of Blue covenant is ideal for players seeking cooperative play and protection from invaders. Members of this covenant are automatically defended by Blue Sentinels and Blades of the Darkmoon. The Warrior of Sunlight is another great choice for co-op, as it encourages players to assist others.
14. What Is the Best Covenant in Dark Souls 1?
“Best” is subjective and depends on your playstyle. Here are a few popular choices:
- Darkwraith: Focused on PvP and invading other players’ worlds.
- Forest Hunter: Protects the Darkroot Garden from invaders.
- Blade of the Darkmoon: Punishes players who have committed sins.
- Warrior of Sunlight: Emphasizes cooperative play and assisting others.
15. Does Switching Covenants Cancel Missions?
There are no traditional “missions” in the Dark Souls series in the way they exist in many MMOs or RPGs. However, swapping covenants can certainly impact your progress toward covenant-specific rewards or goals. You may lose access to certain areas, NPCs, or items associated with your previous covenant.
Conclusion: Covenant Choices and Consequences
Covenants are an integral part of the Dark Souls experience, offering unique challenges, rewards, and gameplay styles. Understanding the implications of joining and leaving covenants, especially the rank penalties in some games, is essential for making informed decisions. Before committing to a covenant, research its benefits and potential drawbacks to tailor your experience. You can find more information and resources on gaming and learning at the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.