Should I Give Andre Embers in Dark Souls? A Blacksmithing Masterclass
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Yes, absolutely! Giving Embers to Andre, the blacksmith in Dark Souls, is crucial for weapon progression and unlocking powerful upgrades. By entrusting him with these essential items, you’ll gain access to a wider range of weapon modification options, allowing you to create more powerful and specialized builds. Andre is the most versatile blacksmith in Dark Souls and the only one able to ascend weapons down the Standard, Raw, Divine, and Occult paths.
Understanding the Importance of Embers
Embers are not just random items; they are keys to unlocking a blacksmith’s true potential. Each Ember empowers a specific blacksmith, allowing them to perform more advanced weapon modifications. Think of them as crafting recipes that enable new tiers of weapon upgrades and imbue weapons with unique properties. Without giving Andre the appropriate Embers, you’ll be severely limited in your ability to strengthen your arsenal. In short, not giving Andre Embers will make the game unnecessarily difficult.
Andre’s Unique Role
Andre is the most important blacksmith because he can modify weapons down the standard, raw, divine and occult paths. If you want to beat the game and create the best weapons possible, it is vital that you give Andre Embers as the game progresses.
The Specific Embers for Andre and Their Effects
Here’s a breakdown of the key Embers you’ll want to give Andre and the benefits they provide:
- Large Ember: Found in the Depths. This is the first ember you will likely find. Gives Andre the ability to modify +5 normal weapons to +10, and +5 raw. You have to modify equipment with Andre to boost +5 to +6, then you reinforce weapons to upgrade from +6 to +10.
- Divine Ember: Found in the Darkroot Garden. This ember allows Andre to upgrade +5 normal weapons to Divine weapons, imbuing them with faith scaling and the ability to damage skeletons permanently. This is invaluable for areas like the Catacombs. This enables Andre the Blacksmith to infuse heavy, sharp, and poison infusion.
- Very Large Ember: Found in the New Londo Ruins. This is an essential ember. This ember allows Andre the Blacksmith to modify +10 normal weapons to +11, and then +11 to +15
- Dark Ember: Found in the Painted World of Ariamis. This ember allows you to make occult weapons out of divine weapons.
Why Andre Over Other Blacksmiths?
While Dark Souls features other blacksmiths like Vamos, Rickert of Vinheim, and the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo, Andre’s versatility makes him the primary choice for most players. He’s accessible early in the game, located near the Undead Parish bonfire, and his ability to upgrade weapons along multiple paths is unmatched. The other blacksmiths each have their unique specializations and are important for certain niche builds.
The Consequences of Not Giving Embers
Holding onto Embers serves absolutely no purpose. They don’t grant you any personal benefits, and they won’t magically upgrade your weapons on their own. The only way to unlock their power is to hand them over to the appropriate blacksmith. By refusing to give Andre Embers, you’re essentially crippling your character’s potential. You’ll be stuck with weaker weapons, unable to access crucial scaling options, and ultimately, making your journey through Dark Souls significantly harder.
Tips for Ember Management
- Prioritize Andre: Focus on obtaining and delivering Embers that benefit Andre first. This will give you the most immediate and versatile upgrades.
- Explore Thoroughly: Embers are hidden throughout the game world, often in dangerous locations. Explore every nook and cranny to ensure you don’t miss any.
- Consult Guides: If you’re having trouble finding a specific Ember, don’t hesitate to consult online guides. Knowing where to look can save you a lot of time and frustration.
- Talk to Andre: After acquiring an Ember, immediately return to Andre and speak to him. He will usually acknowledge that you have the ember and ask you for it. Giving it to him lets you upgrade your weapons more.
- Don’t Worry About Wasting Embers: Each ember can be used as many times as you want. You only need one ember to do the unlock the ability to level up any weapon.
Embracing the Craft
Ultimately, mastering the blacksmithing system is essential for success in Dark Souls. Understanding the importance of Embers and knowing which blacksmith to give them to is a crucial part of that process. So, when Andre asks for an Ember, don’t hesitate – give it to him and unlock the full potential of your weapons.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I give the wrong Ember to Andre?
Andre will simply refuse it. Each Ember is specifically designed for a particular blacksmith, so there’s no risk of accidentally giving the wrong one. He’ll usually have a unique line of dialogue indicating that he can’t use it.
2. Can I get Embers back after giving them to Andre?
No, once you give an Ember to Andre (or any blacksmith), it’s gone for good. However, this isn’t a problem, as the Ember’s effect is permanently unlocked.
3. Do I need multiple copies of the same Ember?
No, you only need one copy of each Ember. Once you give it to the appropriate blacksmith, they can use its effects on an unlimited number of weapons.
4. Does the order in which I give Embers matter?
Not necessarily, but giving Andre the Large Ember early on is highly recommended, as it allows you to upgrade your weapons beyond +5, which is a significant power boost.
5. Are there any Embers I shouldn’t give to Andre?
No, any Ember that Andre requests should be given to him. There are no downsides to giving him the Embers he needs.
6. How do I know which Ember to give to which blacksmith?
The game usually provides subtle hints, and online guides can offer specific information. Generally, each blacksmith’s dialogue or location suggests their specialty.
7. What if I accidentally sell an Ember?
Embers are key items and cannot be sold.
8. Can I still beat the game without giving Andre Embers?
While technically possible, it will be significantly more challenging. Upgrading your weapons is crucial for dealing with tougher enemies and bosses.
9. Does giving Embers affect Andre’s storyline or dialogue?
Giving embers to Andre may lead to additional lines of dialogue. But it does not affect his storyline.
10. What are the most important Embers to prioritize?
The Large Ember, Divine Ember, Very Large Ember and Dark Ember are the ones you will want to prioritize giving to Andre as early as possible.
11. Can I give Andre Farron Coal?
No. Andre the Blacksmith from Dark Souls 1 is not able to use Farron Coal. Andre the Blacksmith from Dark Souls 3 can be given the Farron Coal to enable him to do new gem infusions.
12. What should I do after giving Andre an Ember?
After giving Andre an Ember, explore his upgrade options to see the new modifications available. Experiment with different weapon paths to find what suits your playstyle best.
13. Where is the very large ember in Dark Souls?
The Very Large Ember can be found in the New Londo Ruins.
14. Who is better Andre or Vamos?
Andre is better because he is able to do more things that allow you to defeat the game. However, it is also important to give Vamos the proper items as well so that you can do fire weapon builds.
15. Should I give an ember to Mcduff?
McDuff is not in Dark Souls 1, so you will not be able to find him.