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How to Get Greirat to Scavenge in Dark Souls 3: A Complete Guide

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Greirat of the Undead Settlement is a valuable NPC in Dark Souls 3. He’s a merchant who offers useful items, but his true potential lies in his ability to scavenge for additional goods that significantly enhance your playthrough. Getting him to scavenge requires specific actions and can lead to different outcomes, including his death if you’re not careful. This guide will walk you through the process, covering everything you need to know to maximize Greirat’s usefulness.

First and foremost, to get Greirat to scavenge, you need to free him from his cell in the High Wall of Lothric. Then, after speaking with him, agree to return a Blue Tearstone Ring to Loretta. Return to Greirat, hand over the Bone Ash, and he’ll offer to come to Firelink Shrine. Once he’s at Firelink Shrine and you’ve progressed to certain areas, you can send him out on scavenging runs by speaking to him and selecting the “Send Greirat to scavenge” option.

Unlocking Greirat’s Scavenging Potential

Before Greirat can scavenge, you have to take a few crucial steps. Failing to complete these steps prevents you from accessing his scavenging services.

Freeing Greirat

Location: Greirat is imprisoned in a cell in the High Wall of Lothric.
Key Location: The cell key is found on a hanging corpse in the area patrolled by the Winged Knights. This is directly before the boss fight with Vordt of the Boreal Valley. Head down the stairs and look up and right – the corpse with the key hangs here.
Liberation: Obtain the key, return to Greirat’s cell, and unlock it. Talk to him to initiate the next steps.

The Loretta Quest

The Ring: Greirat asks you to return a Blue Tearstone Ring to a woman named Loretta.
Loretta’s Corpse: You’ll find Loretta’s corpse hanging from a set of gallows in the same area. She’s near where you found the key that unlocked Greirat’s cell.
Bone Ash: Instead of the ring, you’ll find Loretta’s Bone Ash near her body.
Return to Greirat: Return to Greirat after finding the Bone Ash.

Inviting Greirat to Firelink Shrine

Handing Over the Bone Ash: When you speak to Greirat after finding Loretta’s Bone Ash, he will become saddened and offer to join you at Firelink Shrine.
Confirming His Arrival: Travel to Firelink Shrine and find Greirat near the bonfire. He will become a merchant and offer his basic wares.

Sending Greirat to Scavenge: Triggering the Expeditions

Once Greirat is at Firelink Shrine, you can send him out on scavenging runs. Each run expands his inventory and provides you with access to better items. However, these expeditions are not without risk.

First Scavenging Trip: The Undead Settlement

Trigger: Defeat the Curse-rotted Greatwood boss in the Undead Settlement.
Action: After defeating the boss, speak to Greirat at Firelink Shrine. He will now have the option to “Send Greirat to scavenge”. Choose this option.
Returning: Explore a new area or defeat a boss, then return to Firelink Shrine. Speak to Greirat to receive news of his scavenging trip. His inventory will now be updated with new items.

Second Scavenging Trip: Irithyll of the Boreal Valley

Trigger: Reach Irithyll of the Boreal Valley.
Action: Before entering Irithyll Dungeon, speak to Greirat at Firelink Shrine and send him out to scavenge. This is a crucial step.
Saving Greirat (Part 1): There are two primary ways to save Greirat from certain death during this run. You must do one of the following BEFORE defeating the area boss:
- Siegward of Catarina’s Intervention: If Siegward is in Irithyll, and you have followed his questline by helping him defeat the Fire Demon and rescuing him from the well in Irithyll Dungeon, Siegward will save Greirat.
- Patches’ Intervention: If you haven’t given the Catarina Armor to Siegward and have met Patches in the Cathedral of the Deep and later Firelink Shrine, you can tell Patches about Greirat’s scavenging. Patches will then save Greirat, provided you haven’t triggered Siegward’s rescue.
Returning: After progressing through Irithyll of the Boreal Valley and defeating a boss, return to Firelink Shrine. Greirat’s inventory will be further expanded.

Third Scavenging Trip: Lothric Castle

Trigger: Reaching Lothric Castle.
Action: Send Greirat to scavenge BEFORE defeating any bosses in Lothric Castle (Dragonslayer Armour and the Twin Princes).
Consequences: If not properly saved during his second scavenging run, Greirat will die during this third outing. Even if he was saved during the second run, sending him to Lothric Castle is extremely risky if you don’t know what to expect.
Finding His Ashes: If Greirat dies, his ashes can be found in Irithyll, near the Distant Manor bonfire. A thief-like enemy carrying the ashes will be in the kitchen area close to the bonfire.
Handmaid: Give the ashes to the Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine to access his final inventory.

Ensuring Greirat’s Survival: A Note of Caution

Greirat’s survival is not guaranteed! His scavenging runs are dangerous, and certain actions, or inactions, will lead to his death.

Second Scavenging Trip: As mentioned above, this is the riskiest run. Ensure either Siegward or Patches saves him.
Third Scavenging Trip: Sending Greirat to Lothric Castle after his survival in Irithyll will ALWAYS result in his death. Only do this if you’re going for the items in his inventory and are okay with him dying.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What items does Greirat sell after his first scavenging run?

After the first scavenging run, Greirat adds items like Exploding Bolts, Fire Arrows, various Throwing Knives, and additional armor pieces to his inventory. He also increases his stock of basic consumables.

2. What items does Greirat sell after his second scavenging run (Irithyll)?

Following his second scavenging run (assuming he survives!), Greirat’s inventory expands to include various types of arrows (including the coveted Splintering Arrows), more advanced armor sets, and a wider selection of Throwing Knives and Bombs. This run unlocks some of the most useful items in the game for certain builds.

3. What items does Greirat sell after his third scavenging run (Lothric Castle)?

If you choose to send him to Lothric Castle (knowing he will die), his final inventory includes end-game armor sets and a very high quantity of various arrow types. These are only available after finding his ashes and giving them to the Shrine Handmaid.

4. What happens if I progress too far in Irithyll before sending Greirat to scavenge?

If you defeat the area boss, Pontiff Sulyvahn, before sending Greirat to scavenge in Irithyll, Siegward will no longer be able to save him. Patches might still be able to if you have not completed Siegward’s questline.

5. Can I complete Siegward’s questline and still have Patches save Greirat?

No. If you have given the Catarina Armor to Siegward and have followed his questline through Irithyll, he will inevitably save Greirat. Patches will no longer have the option to save him if Siegward is present and able to do so.

6. How do I know if Siegward is in Irithyll and able to save Greirat?

After defeating the Fire Demon with Siegward, find him trapped in a well in Irithyll Dungeon, near the Distant Manor bonfire. Talk to him. This must be completed before sending Greirat to Irithyll. Also, talking to Siegward in the Kitchen, just before Pontiff Sulyvahn, and defeating Pontiff with him will allow him to save Greirat.

7. What are the benefits of having Patches save Greirat?

There are no specific benefits to having Patches save Greirat over Siegward, except for the narrative role-playing. Both rescues achieve the same outcome: Greirat survives.

8. Can I prevent Greirat from going to Lothric Castle and dying?

Yes, you can. Simply do not talk to him after sending him to Irithyll and defeating a boss. If you never speak to him again, he will not mention Lothric Castle, and he will remain in Firelink Shrine, continuing to sell his Irithyll inventory indefinitely.

9. Is it worth it to send Greirat to Lothric Castle?

It depends on your priorities. If you need a large quantity of specific arrows or want access to particular armor sets and are willing to sacrifice Greirat, then yes. However, it’s generally not recommended unless you’re specifically building a character around those items and don’t mind the permanent loss of a useful merchant.

10. Where exactly do I find Greirat’s ashes if he dies in Lothric Castle?

Greirat’s ashes are located near the Distant Manor bonfire in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. They’re held by a thief-like enemy (a Deep Accursed) in the kitchen area near the bonfire. Be prepared for a tough fight, as these enemies are fast and aggressive.

11. Does it matter which order I do the areas in Dark Souls 3 regarding Greirat’s quest?

Yes, the order is crucial for his survival and the availability of certain items. Make sure to defeat Curse-Rotted Greatwood before venturing anywhere else; it is essential to send him to Undead Settlement first. The second and third scavenge trips must also be completed in the correct order, as previously mentioned.

12. Will Greirat’s inventory reset if I go into New Game Plus (NG+)?

Yes, Greirat’s inventory resets in NG+. You will need to repeat the entire process to unlock his scavenging runs and expand his inventory again.

13. I accidentally killed Greirat! Can I revive him somehow?

Unfortunately, no. If you kill Greirat, he is permanently dead for that playthrough. You’ll have to wait until NG+ to bring him back. This is why it’s important to avoid attacking him accidentally.

14. Does Greirat’s questline affect any other NPC’s quests?

Yes, it affects Patches’ questline and possibly Siegward’s depending on if Patches steals Siegward’s armor or not. This also means that it is important to follow their questline and send Greirat on his journey at the opportune moments.

15. What is the optimal strategy for maximizing Greirat’s benefits and minimizing risks?

The optimal strategy is to send him to scavenge in the Undead Settlement and Irithyll of the Boreal Valley, making sure that either Siegward or Patches saves him in Irithyll, and then never send him to Lothric Castle. This allows you to access his most useful items (especially the Splintering Arrows) without permanently losing him. Consider buying everything you need from him before progressing too far, as his untimely demise may occur.