Unlocking the Secrets of the Mound-Makers Covenant in Dark Souls 3

So, you’re itching to join the Mound-Makers in Dark Souls 3, eh? You want to embrace the chaotic nature of this covenant, the thrill of helping and hindering, all in the name of… well, shackle collecting. I get it. The Mound-Makers offer a unique and unpredictable gameplay experience. Here’s the lowdown on how to get yourself properly shackled up:

The Mound-Makers covenant can be accessed via two primary methods. The first, and most common, is through the cage on the back of a Hollow found in the Undead Settlement. The second involves completing a portion of Sirris of the Sunless Realm’s questline, which will become relevant if you’ve already defeated the boss in the cage area or if the NPC carrying the cage isn’t present. Let’s dive into the details of each method.

Method 1: The Cage in the Undead Settlement

This is the intended way to discover and join the Mound-Makers. Follow these steps:

1. Reach the Undead Settlement: This is the area immediately after the High Wall of Lothric. Progress through the level until you reach the Undead Settlement bonfire.
2. Navigate to the Bridge: From the bonfire, head through the dark building and across the bridge to your right. You’ll be facing a group of enemies huddled around a fire.
3. Ascend the Rooftops: Instead of going straight into the group of enemies, turn right and follow the narrow path around the hill. You’ll eventually reach a series of rooftops where archers are taking potshots at you.
4. Locate the Cage Carrier: Carefully traverse the rooftops, dealing with the archers as you go. Eventually, you’ll come to a point where you can drop down to a lower area. Look for a large, hollow character lumbering around with a massive cage strapped to his back.
5. Enter the Cage: Approach the hollow and interact with the cage. You’ll be prompted to enter. Do so, and you’ll be whisked away.
6. Meet Holy Knight Hodrick: You’ll find yourself in a new area where you’ll encounter Holy Knight Hodrick. Speak to him, and he will give you the Mound-Makers covenant item. Equip this item in your covenant slot to officially join the Mound-Makers! Be warned, Hodrick will become hostile after your dialog and you will have to defeat him.

Method 2: Sirris of the Sunless Realms Questline

If you’ve already defeated the Curse-Rotted Greatwood before discovering the cage, or if the hollow carrying the cage is absent (this can sometimes happen due to glitches or specific player actions), you’ll need to rely on Sirris’ questline. This method unlocks the covenant later in the game.

1. Progress Sirris’ Questline: Sirris of the Sunless Realms is an NPC you’ll encounter early in the game. To progress her questline, you need to offer a Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass to the Old Wolf of Farron in Farron Keep. Do not join Rosaria’s Fingers covenant as this will automatically fail her questline.
2. Defeat the Curse-Rotted Greatwood: Make sure you’ve defeated this boss if you haven’t already.
3. Look for Sirris’ Summon Sign: After progressing her questline sufficiently and defeating the Curse-Rotted Greatwood, look for Sirris’ summon sign just outside the doorway where you fought the Greatwood. It should be a purple summon sign.
4. Join Her World and Defeat Holy Knight Hodrick: Interacting with the summon sign will transport you to Sirris’ world, where you’ll need to help her defeat Holy Knight Hodrick. This Hodrick is a phantom, not the same one you encounter in the cage area.
5. Receive the Mound-Makers Covenant Item: After successfully defeating Hodrick in Sirris’ world, you’ll receive the Mound-Makers covenant item. Equip it to join the covenant.

Understanding the Mound-Makers

The Mound-Makers are a unique covenant because their role in other players’ worlds is ambiguous. They can act as both helpers and invaders. When summoned as a Mound-Maker, you can choose to assist the host, attack the host, or even attack other invaders. Your primary goal is to collect shackles by killing other players, regardless of their allegiance. This makes playing as a Mound-Maker a truly chaotic and unpredictable experience. The philosophy behind the covenant, centered around the “Hollow” status of the mind rather than the body, opens fascinating doors to discussing themes relevant in psychological studies. Some research has shown the correlation between video games and the capacity to expand intellectual horizons, such as that exhibited in the Games Learning Society. GamesLearningSociety.org provides plenty of such literature.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions players have about the Mound-Makers covenant:

1. Can I join the Mound-Makers if I’ve already killed the Curse-Rotted Greatwood?

Yes, you can. If you’ve already defeated the Greatwood before discovering the cage, you’ll need to complete the Sirris of the Sunless Realms questline to gain access to the covenant.

2. Where exactly is the cage located in the Undead Settlement?

From the Undead Settlement bonfire, proceed through the dark building, cross the bridge to the right, follow the narrow path around the hill, climb the rooftops where archers are shooting, and then drop down to an area where a large hollow carries the cage on his back.

3. What happens if I kill Holy Knight Hodrick in the cage area before joining the Mound-Makers?

Killing Hodrick in the cage area doesn’t prevent you from joining the covenant. However, you’ll still need to complete the Sirris questline if the cage carrier is not present to obtain the covenant item.

4. How do I offer Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass to the Old Wolf of Farron?

To offer Wolf’s Blood Swordgrass, equip the Watchdogs of Farron covenant item and then defeat other players in the Farron Woods area. This will automatically give you the swordgrass. You can then travel to the Old Wolf of Farron bonfire in Farron Keep, climb the nearby ladder, and interact with the Old Wolf to offer the item. This is part of progressing the Sirris questline.

5. Can Mound-Makers help with bosses?

Generally, no. Mound-Makers are primarily focused on PvP (Player vs. Player) and co-op exploration with a chaotic twist. You typically can’t be summoned specifically to help with boss fights. However, a host can summon a Mound-Maker at the boss fog after a previous coop session.

6. What is the purpose of the shackles I collect as a Mound-Maker?

Shackles are the covenant item you collect by defeating other players while summoned as a Mound-Maker. You can offer these shackles to the covenant leader at the sacrificial altar beneath the Curse-Rotted Greatwood to rank up in the covenant and receive rewards.

7. How many shackles do I need to offer to max out the Mound-Makers covenant?

You need to offer a total of 30 shackles to reach the maximum rank in the Mound-Makers covenant.

8. What are the rewards for ranking up in the Mound-Makers covenant?

• Offering 10 shackles grants you the Bloodlust katana.
• Offering 30 shackles grants you the Vertebra Shackle gesture.

9. Does abandoning the Mound-Makers covenant reset my rank?

No, abandoning a covenant in Dark Souls 3 does not reset your rank. You can rejoin the covenant at any time and maintain your previous progress.

10. Can I join all covenants in Dark Souls 3?

Yes, you can join all covenants in Dark Souls 3. However, some covenants, like Rosaria’s Fingers, may affect other questlines, such as Sirris’. Be mindful of these potential conflicts.

11. What happens if I accidentally hit Sirris?

If you accidentally attack Sirris, she will become hostile. You can absolve your sins with Velka to make her friendly again. Just be sure to do so before progressing too far in her questline!

12. Is the Curse-Rotted Greatwood boss fight optional?

Yes, the Curse-Rotted Greatwood is an optional boss. However, defeating it is necessary for progressing the game and unlocking certain features, such as Soul Transposition. It also provides access to the sacrificial altar.

13. What is the lore behind the Mound-Makers covenant?

The Mound-Makers are a covenant of individuals who judge Hollow status by the mind rather than the body. They seek shackles, likely taken from the bodies of the dead, and are driven by a twisted sense of camaraderie and chaos. They see everyone as potential material for their “mound,” blurring the lines between friend and foe.

14. What does the sacrificial altar beneath the Curse-Rotted Greatwood do?

The sacrificial altar is where you offer shackles to rank up in the Mound-Makers covenant.

15. Can I still access the Mound-Makers covenant in later NG+ cycles?

Yes, you can access the Mound-Makers covenant in subsequent New Game Plus (NG+) cycles using either the cage method or the Sirris questline method. You’ll have to rediscover them each cycle, just like any other covenant.

Joining the Mound-Makers is a ticket to a unique brand of Dark Souls madness. Whether you embrace the chaos or seek to sow it, the Mound-Makers offer a distinctive and engaging experience. Good luck, and may your shackle collection be bountiful! Consider the pedagogical value behind this covenant, as explained by educational researchers and game enthusiasts at the Games Learning Society, to further delve into the psychological depths of the series.