Cleansing Your Soul: A Comprehensive Guide to Removing Sin in Dark Souls 1
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The world of Dark Souls 1 is unforgiving, and mistakes can easily lead to consequences, including the accumulation of sin. But fear not, weary traveler, as there is a way to atone for your misdeeds. This article delves deep into the mechanics of sin removal in Dark Souls 1, providing a comprehensive guide to help you return to the light.
How to Remove Sin in Dark Souls 1
The primary method for removing sin in Dark Souls 1 is through Absolution, a service provided by Oswald of Carim. This enigmatic NPC appears in the Belltower of the Undead Parish after you have defeated the Bell Gargoyles. Once you’ve rung the bell, simply descend the ladder back down to the base of the tower, and you will find Oswald standing there, ready to hear your confession and accept your payment.
Absolution is not free. The cost is 500 souls per level. This means that a level 20 character would pay 10,000 souls, while a level 50 character would be looking at a hefty 25,000 soul fee. Once you pay, your sin will be cleared, and you can interact with certain NPCs who may have turned hostile due to your actions.
What Constitutes Sin?
It is crucial to understand what actions constitute sin in the world of Dark Souls 1. These include:
- Attacking Friendly NPCs: Aggressing against or killing friendly NPCs, such as blacksmiths, merchants, or quest givers, is a surefire way to incur sin. This usually results in them becoming hostile.
- Joining Covenants: Betraying or leaving a covenant can result in negative consequences that require absolution.
What Absolution Does Not Fix
It’s important to note that absolution is not a cure-all for every misdeed. Specifically, absolution cannot remove sin incurred from player indictments. If another player has indicted you for invading and killing them, you will remain in the “Book of the Guilty,” and Oswald’s service will not be effective against this specific kind of transgression.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where can I find Oswald of Carim?
Oswald of Carim appears in the Belltower of the Undead Parish after you’ve defeated the Bell Gargoyles. You must ring the bell at the top of the tower, then descend the ladder. He will be standing at the bottom.
2. How much does Absolution cost?
The cost of Absolution is 500 souls per level. For example, a level 30 character will need to pay 15,000 souls, and a level 75 would be looking at 37,500 souls.
3. What happens if I attack an NPC?
Attacking a friendly NPC will incur sin and cause them to become hostile. Absolution from Oswald can restore their friendliness.
4. Can Absolution fix sin caused by other players?
No, Absolution cannot remove sin resulting from player indictments. These sins are permanent and cannot be removed via this method.
5. Can I rejoin a covenant if I’ve been kicked out due to sin?
Yes, after paying for Absolution, you should be able to rejoin covenants that previously refused you due to your accumulated sin.
6. What happens if I leave a covenant?
You can leave a covenant without penalty, provided you have not donated anything to the covenant. Betraying a covenant will reset your rank in the old covenant and cause any associated NPCs to disappear.
7. Is it possible to join every covenant in one playthrough?
No, you can only join one covenant at a time. Joining a new covenant will overwrite your previous one.
8. What is a Purging Stone, and how does it relate to sin?
A Purging Stone cures Curse status, which is different from sin. Purging Stones can be purchased from Oswald of Carim or the Undead Merchant and are used to remove the curse status, which greatly reduces your HP.
9. What level should I be to fight the Bell Gargoyles?
The average level is around 20 for the Bell Gargoyle fight. Do not worry if you are a little higher or lower, but going much lower than level 15 may make the fight more difficult.
10. How do I get summoned for the Bell Gargoyles?
Summoning for the Bell Gargoyles can be difficult, as the level range is narrow (10%). If you are level 11, you’ll only be summoned by players within the 10-12 level range. This can cause significant waiting time, so consider other areas for summoning.
11. What is the weakness of the Gaping Dragon?
The Gaping Dragon is weak to lightning damage. Using Gold Pine Resin on your weapon can help significantly in this fight. The Gaping Dragon drops the key to Blighttown after it has been defeated.
12. What is the Spell Swap glitch?
The Spell Swap glitch in Dark Souls allows you to combine the animation of one spell with the effect of another, potentially enabling the use of otherwise unusable spells.
13. What are some of the best sorceries in Dark Souls?
Some of the top sorceries include Homing Crystal Soulmass, Soul Arrow, Dark Bead, Crystal Magic Weapon, Great Heavy Soul Arrow, Crystal Soul Spear, White Dragon Breath, and Aural Decoy.
14. Where is the boss in The Depths?
The boss in The Depths is the Gaping Dragon. Defeating it grants you access to Blighttown.
15. Can I summon Solaire for the Bell Gargoyles?
Yes, you can summon Solaire for the Bell Gargoyles fight as long as you are in human form. His summon sign will appear in front of the fog gate before the rooftop arena. You also need to speak with him by the Sunlight Altar just before the bridge with the dragon in order for his sign to appear.
Final Thoughts
Navigating the intricacies of sin in Dark Souls 1 can be daunting, but with the knowledge of how to seek Absolution from Oswald of Carim, you can clear your slate and continue your journey. Remember to manage your actions carefully, especially around friendly NPCs, as incurring too much sin can be costly and time-consuming to rectify. Armed with this guide, may your path through Lordran be a little less treacherous and a lot less sinful.