How to Farm the Lothric Knight Sword in Dark Souls 3: A Comprehensive Guide
The Lothric Knight Sword in Dark Souls 3 is a highly sought-after weapon due to its excellent scaling, versatile moveset, and relatively early availability. Farming it effectively can be crucial for certain builds. Here’s the direct answer: the Lothric Knight Sword is primarily farmed from Lothric Knights found in the High Wall of Lothric and Lothric Castle. The most efficient farming location is the High Wall of Lothric, specifically the area around the Tower on the Wall bonfire, where multiple knights spawn close together. Maximizing your Item Discovery stat through items like the Symbol of Avarice, Crystal Sage’s Rapier, Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, and consuming a Rusted Coin is essential for increasing your chances of obtaining the sword.
Understanding the Lothric Knight Sword
The Lothric Knight Sword is a straight sword renowned for its quality scaling in Strength and Dexterity, making it a formidable weapon for quality builds. Its reach is also noteworthy, allowing for effective spacing in both PvE and PvP scenarios. Furthermore, it can be infused and buffed, adding another layer of customization to its utility.
Why Farm the Lothric Knight Sword?
- Excellent Scaling: Scales well with both Strength and Dexterity, ideal for “quality” builds.
- Versatile Moveset: A standard straight sword moveset, easy to learn and effective.
- Early Availability: Can be farmed relatively early in the game.
- Infusible and Buffable: Allows for further customization with infusions and buffs like resins or spells.
- Good Range: Has a slightly longer reach than some other straight swords, advantageous in combat.
Optimizing Your Farming Run
To maximize your efficiency while farming the Lothric Knight Sword, consider the following:
Item Discovery: Your Best Friend
The higher your Item Discovery, the better your chances of acquiring the sword. Stack these items to significantly increase your Item Discovery:
- Symbol of Avarice: Found as a random drop from Mimics. Provides a significant boost but drains health continuously.
- Covetous Gold Serpent Ring: Found in the Profaned Capital. Offers a substantial increase in Item Discovery.
- Crystal Sage’s Rapier: Acquired by transposing the Soul of the Crystal Sage. Must be equipped to gain its Item Discovery bonus, even if it’s not your primary weapon.
- Rusted Coin: Consumable item that temporarily boosts Item Discovery. Can be purchased from Greirat of the Undead Settlement after sending him to pillage.
Choosing the Right Location
The High Wall of Lothric, specifically near the Tower on the Wall bonfire, is the optimal location for farming. There are several Lothric Knights in close proximity, allowing for quick and efficient runs. Alternatively, Lothric Castle contains numerous knights but is a more challenging area overall.
Combat Strategy
- Backstabs and Parries: Lothric Knights are vulnerable to backstabs and parries. Use these techniques to quickly dispatch them.
- Exploit Weaknesses: If you know their elemental weaknesses, use appropriate weapons or spells.
- Efficient Route: Develop a consistent route that allows you to quickly kill the knights and return to the bonfire.
- Patience: Farming requires patience. Don’t get discouraged if the sword doesn’t drop immediately. Persistence is key.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the drop rate for the Lothric Knight Sword?
The base drop rate is relatively low, estimated to be around 2% to 4%. Increasing your Item Discovery significantly improves your odds.
2. Can I farm the Lothric Knight Sword offline?
Yes, you can farm the Lothric Knight Sword offline. Item Discovery boosting items will still work.
3. Does increasing my Luck stat affect the drop rate?
Yes, increasing your Luck stat directly increases your Item Discovery, thereby increasing the drop rate of items.
4. Which Covenant is best for farming?
Covenants don’t directly affect item drop rates. Focus on maximizing your Item Discovery through gear and consumables instead.
5. Is it worth using the Symbol of Avarice even with the health drain?
Yes, the Symbol of Avarice offers a significant boost to Item Discovery. The health drain can be mitigated with healing spells or items. Just be aware of its drawback.
6. Can I use a bonfire ascetic to respawn the knights?
No, Bonfire Ascetics do not work in Dark Souls 3. They increase the difficulty of an area in earlier Dark Souls games, but they are not present in DS3. You simply rest at the bonfire to respawn enemies.
7. What’s the best weapon to use while farming?
A weapon with high damage output and quick attacks is ideal. Raw ASS (Astora Straight Sword) at early game or a weapon you are already comfortable with are both great options.
8. Should I focus on killing all the knights in the area or just a few?
Focus on a consistent route with a manageable number of knights. Killing all the knights in the area may take too long, reducing your overall efficiency. Two or three knights close to the Tower on the Wall bonfire is generally considered optimal.
9. What level should I be to start farming?
You can start farming at a relatively low level, even at the beginning of the game. Focus on survivability and damage output.
10. Is there a difference in drop rate between different Lothric Knights?
No, all Lothric Knights have the same chance to drop the sword, assuming they are capable of dropping it (some enemies can drop specific gear).
11. What is the maximum Item Discovery I can achieve?
The maximum Item Discovery is 499. This requires high Luck, the Symbol of Avarice, Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, Crystal Sage’s Rapier, and a Rusted Coin.
12. What other items can the Lothric Knights drop?
Besides the Lothric Knight Sword, they can also drop Lothric Knight Shield, Lothric Knight Armor Set, Titanite Shards, and other common items.
13. Is it better to farm in NG+ (New Game Plus)?
No, while enemies are stronger in NG+, the drop rates remain the same. It’s more efficient to farm in your initial playthrough.
14. What should I do if I’m having trouble surviving while farming?
Level up your Vitality and Vigor to increase your health and equip armor with good physical defense. Using a shield can also improve your survivability.
15. Is the Lothric Knight Sword worth the effort to farm?
Yes, the Lothric Knight Sword is widely considered one of the best straight swords in the game due to its excellent scaling, versatile moveset, and early availability. If you plan on using a quality build or simply want a reliable weapon, it’s definitely worth the effort.
By following these tips and strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of obtaining the Lothric Knight Sword and enhance your Dark Souls 3 experience. Good luck, and may the flames guide thee!