How to Obtain the Ancient King’s Armor in Demon’s Souls

The Ancient King’s Armor set is a highly sought-after set in Demon’s Souls, renowned for its excellent balance between weight and defense. If you’re looking to acquire this powerful armor, you’ll need to face a formidable foe: Old King Doran. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to get the Ancient King’s Armor:

The Path to the Mausoleum

To obtain the Ancient King’s Armor, you must first reach Old King Doran within the Mausoleum of Boletarian Palace 1-1. Here’s how to get there:

• Progress through Boletarian Palace 1-1: This is the starting level of the game, and you’ll need to make your way through it until you reach the point where you would normally face the Phalanx boss.
• Locate the locked gate: Instead of heading towards the boss arena, look for a set of large metal doors on the left side of the courtyard, before the stairs leading to the Phalanx.
• Acquire the Mausoleum Key: To open this door, you’ll need to rescue Ostrava, of Boletaria, who is located within this level. After saving him a couple of times, he will eventually give you this key.
• Open the Mausoleum doors: With the key in hand, you can now open the Mausoleum doors, granting you access to the area where Old King Doran resides.

Confronting Old King Doran

Once inside the Mausoleum, you will find Old King Doran. This is no ordinary NPC; he is a powerful, non-boss enemy that requires careful tactics and patience. Here’s what you need to know about facing him:

• Doran is incredibly powerful: He has high health, high defense, and can deal devastating damage. He is not to be taken lightly.
• Prepare your gear: Ensure you have a weapon that can do good damage. Greatswords or weapons with high knockdown potential, like the Dragon Bone Smasher (DBS) are recommended. Additionally, make sure you have enough healing items.
• Utilize the environment: The Mausoleum isn’t huge, but using the pillars to your advantage for spacing can be crucial in the fight.
• Exploit weaknesses: Doran is vulnerable to poison and plague. You can utilize spells or items to inflict these statuses to whittle down his health.
• The cheese option: If you are struggling, a common tactic is to use Death Cloud or Poison Cloud and then wait.
• The riposte method: A popular and effective method is to parry and riposte him using a +5 Fatal Weapon and the Dark Silver Shield. This will greatly shorten the fight.
• Defeat him: Once Old King Doran is defeated, he will drop the Ancient King’s Armor set.

The Ancient King’s Armor Set

The Ancient King’s Armor is a four-piece set consisting of:

• Ancient King’s Helm
• Ancient King’s Armor
• Ancient King’s Gauntlets
• Ancient King’s Leggings

It is considered one of the best armor sets in the game due to its excellent balance between weight and defense. Remember that the Ancient King’s set is only wearable by male characters in Demon’s Souls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to provide more insight into the Ancient King’s Armor and related topics:

Is Ancient King’s Armor the Best in Demon’s Souls?

The Ancient King’s Armor is widely regarded as one of the best armor sets in Demon’s Souls, not because it has the highest defense, but because it provides an excellent balance between defense and weight. It allows for good protection without hindering your character’s mobility and stamina regeneration.

Where Exactly is Old King Doran Located?

Old King Doran can be found inside the Mausoleum located within Boletarian Palace 1-1. You’ll need to obtain the Mausoleum Key from Ostrava, of Boletaria to access this area.

Does Killing Old King Doran Affect Tendency?

Yes, killing Old King Doran will affect your World Tendency in a negative way. It does not affect Character Tendency in any way.

What is the Best Weapon Against Old King Doran?

Greatswords and weapons with a high knockdown effect, such as the Dragon Bone Smasher (DBS), are excellent choices. The weapon range advantage is key. Another viable option is to use poison and plague effects via spells or items.

Does Black Tendency Make Bosses Harder?

Black Tendency does not directly make bosses harder. Instead, Black Tendency increases the difficulty of standard enemies in an area and improves their item drop rates and soul value. Conversely, White Tendency makes enemies easier but reduces soul and item drops.

What is the Best Armor for Royalty in Demon’s Souls?

For Royalty builds, which often focus on magic, light armor like the Leather Armor Set is usually recommended. However, the Ancient King’s Set is also a viable option if you can manage the required endurance to wear it without hindering your stamina regeneration.

Can You Summon Help for the Old King Doran Fight?

You cannot summon other players for the fight with Old King Doran in the Mausoleum because he is not a boss. He is considered to be an NPC in a single-player area, and once that area has been completed it’s no longer possible to be summoned. It is possible to face him earlier in the stage but it would involve killing Ostrava early in the game before beating the level’s boss.

Why Can’t I Wear the Ancient King’s Armor?

The Ancient King’s Armor Set is only wearable by male characters in Demon’s Souls. This is a game design limitation of the original game and remains in the remake.

Is Ancient Armor Better than Barbarian Armor?

The Ancient Armor provides 28 defense per piece, while the Barbarian Armor provides 20 defense per piece. The Ancient Armor provides a +80% attack bonus to Ancient and Guardian Weapons, whereas Barbarian Armor provides a +50% attack bonus to all weapons. The Ancient King’s set has better base defense, but it is only useful for those who plan on using Ancient and Guardian weapons.

What is the Highest Defense Armor in Demon’s Souls?

The Brushwood Armor is the heaviest and has the highest physical defense in Demon’s Souls. However, its high weight may be a hindrance for many players.

How Do You Get the Scaled Armor Set?

The Scaled Armor Set is obtained in Elden Ring by killing Old Knight Istvan, not Demon’s Souls.

What is the Most Powerful Weapon in Demon’s Souls?

The Northern Regalia is widely considered the most powerful weapon in Demon’s Souls. It is obtained by combining the Demonbrandt and Soulbrandt swords, along with the False King’s Demon Soul.

What is the Strongest Starting Class in Demon’s Souls?

The Barbarian class is often considered one of the strongest starting classes due to its high starting Strength.

What is the Hardest Boss in Demon’s Souls?

While difficulty is subjective, Flamelurker is often cited as one of the most difficult bosses in Demon’s Souls.

What Happens if You Get Pure Black Character Tendency?

Pure Black Character Tendency affects your health in Soul Form and allows Mephistopheles to appear in the Nexus. This is only if you’ve already killed Yurt, the Silent Chief.

Conclusion

Obtaining the Ancient King’s Armor in Demon’s Souls is a significant achievement, requiring players to overcome a challenging encounter with Old King Doran. The armor is a testament to the game’s rewarding difficulty and provides a valuable edge for the rest of your journey. Understanding how to navigate the Mausoleum, and prepare for this tough battle is essential for any player aiming to acquire this valuable armor set. Good luck, Slayer of Demons!