Slaying the Great Grey Wolf: What Do You Get From Killing Sif in Dark Souls?

The mournful howl echoes through the Darkroot Garden, a testament to the tragic choice every Dark Souls player must eventually make. The confrontation with Great Grey Wolf Sif is not just another boss fight; it’s an emotionally charged encounter that carries significant weight within the game’s lore. Beyond the emotional toll, however, lies a tangible reward. What exactly do you get for killing Sif? The answer is two-fold: you receive Sif’s Soul and the essential Covenant of Artorias.

Understanding the Rewards

Let’s break down each reward and its implications for your journey through Lordran.

Sif’s Soul

Sif’s Soul is a powerful and versatile item that can be used in a couple of ways:

• Consuming it for Souls: The simplest option is to consume Sif’s Soul directly. Doing so grants you 16,000 Souls. This is a substantial amount, especially in the mid-game, and can be used to level up your character, upgrade equipment, or purchase valuable items from merchants.

• Transmuting it into a Unique Weapon: The far more interesting use of Sif’s Soul is to transmute it into one of three unique greatswords at the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo. To do this, you’ll need a +10 greatsword of a specific type as a base:

  • Greatsword of Artorias (Cursed): Requires a +10 broken straight sword, straight sword, or hilt. This weapon deals physical and magic damage, scales with Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith, and is required to damage the ghosts in New Londo Ruins before draining the water.
  • Greatsword of Artorias: Requires a +10 greatsword. This version scales predominantly with Strength and Dexterity and deals pure physical damage. Note: This is not the same as the Cursed version.
  • Greatsword of Artorias (Greatsword of Artorias): Requires a +10 greatsword. This version scales predominantly with Strength and Dexterity and deals pure physical damage. Note: This is not the same as the Cursed version.
    • Greatsword of Artorias (Greatsword of Artorias): Scales with Str, Dex, Int and Fth.

The choice of which greatsword to create depends heavily on your character build and playstyle. The Cursed Greatsword is a strong option for hybrid builds, while the other Greatsword scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity.

Covenant of Artorias

The Covenant of Artorias is arguably the more crucial reward. This ring is absolutely essential to progress through the game. Its sole purpose is to allow you to traverse the Abyss and confront the Four Kings boss fight. Without the Covenant of Artorias, you will be instantly killed upon entering the Abyss. Therefore, defeating Sif is mandatory to complete the game.

The weight of the Covenant is heavy, as it represents the ultimate sacrifice of Artorias, and now Sif.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sif

Here are some frequently asked questions surrounding Sif, the Great Grey Wolf, to provide further clarity and insights:

1. Is Sif an Optional Boss?

No, Sif is not an optional boss. You must defeat Sif to obtain the Covenant of Artorias, which is required to access the Four Kings boss fight and ultimately complete the game.

2. At What Level Should I Fight Sif?

A recommended level for facing Sif is around Level 40-50. However, skilled players with optimized builds can tackle Sif at lower levels, such as Level 30, especially if they’re proficient at dodging attacks and using effective weapons. A Black Knight Sword +5 is a great option at this stage of the game.

3. What Happens if Sif is Reduced to Low Health?

When Sif’s health is low, it begins to limp in pain. Its movements become sluggish, and its attacks are visibly strained. This adds to the emotional impact of the fight, highlighting the wolf’s determination to protect Artorias’s grave even in its weakened state.

4. What Do I Do After Killing Sif?

After defeating Sif and obtaining the Covenant of Artorias, exit the arena and head left, following the cliff edge. You’ll cross a small stone bridge. On your right, you’ll find a ladder leading down to the lake where the Hydra was previously located. From there, you can progress to the Darkroot Basin and eventually reach the Abyss.

5. Can Sif Help Me Fight Manus?

Yes, Sif can be summoned to help you fight Manus in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, if you rescue Sif in the DLC before fighting him in Darkroot Garden. While Sif’s damage output isn’t significant, its presence can distract Manus and provide you with opportunities to heal or deal damage.

6. Is There a Way to Save Sif?

While there’s no way to permanently save Sif from the tragic fate of having to be slain, there is a narrative element in the DLC, Artorias of the Abyss, where you can rescue him before the boss fight in Darkroot Garden. Saving Sif in the DLC results in a unique cutscene before the boss fight, where Sif recognizes you and hesitates to attack.

7. What’s the Significance of Artorias’s Broken Arm?

Artorias’s left arm was broken during his battle with Manus, Father of the Abyss. In his final act, before succumbing to the Abyss’s corruption, Artorias used his greatshield to protect Sif from the darkness, explaining why Sif can be found in the Abyssal Chasm.

8. Can I Get Sif’s Sword?

Yes, you can obtain weapons that resemble Sif’s greatsword by transmuting Sif’s Soul with a +10 greatsword at the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo. This creates the Greatsword of Artorias.

9. How Early Can I Fight Sif?

Sif can be fought relatively early in the game. After escaping the Undead Asylum and reaching Firelink Shrine, you can navigate to the Darkroot Garden and face Sif. Some players have managed to fight Sif within 15 minutes of starting a new game by rushing through the initial areas and making a beeline for Darkroot Garden.

10. Why is Sif Guarding Artorias’s Grave?

Sif is guarding the grave of Artorias the Abysswalker out of loyalty and devotion to its fallen master. It is protecting the Covenant of Artorias, preventing anyone unprepared from facing the horrors of the Abyss, just as Artorias would have wanted.

11. Is Sif Male or Female?

Sif’s gender is never explicitly stated in the game. However, the name Sif has Norse origin, which is often associated with a female name. But to keep neutral in this area, players use the name Sif, therefore leaving the gender of the great wolf neutral.

12. What Happens if I Save Sif Before Fighting Him?

If you save Sif from the Abyss in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC before fighting him in Darkroot Garden, a special cutscene plays before the boss fight. Sif recognizes you as the one who saved it and is visibly hesitant to engage in combat, adding a layer of tragedy to the encounter. However, you still have to kill Sif for the Covenant of Artorias to finish the game.

13. Can I Summon Sif After Killing Him?

Yes, you can still summon Sif to help fight Manus in the DLC, even if you have already killed Sif in Darkroot Garden. The events in the DLC are set in the past, so saving Sif in the DLC makes him available as a summon, regardless of your actions in the present timeline.

14. Can Sif Be Poisoned?

Yes, Sif can be poisoned using weapons like Poison Arrows. This can be a viable strategy for players who struggle with the fight, allowing them to inflict damage over time while maintaining a safe distance.

15. Is Artorias Harder Than Manus?

Generally, Manus is considered a more challenging boss than Artorias. While Artorias requires learning his attack patterns, Manus is known for his unpredictable combos and powerful dark magic spells. However, both bosses present unique challenges that require different strategies to overcome.

The True Cost of Progress

Ultimately, the rewards for killing Sif – Sif’s Soul and the Covenant of Artorias – are instrumental to completing Dark Souls. However, they come at a steep price. The fight itself is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in the fight against the encroaching darkness. It’s a moment that resonates deeply with players, highlighting the moral complexities and emotional depth that define the Dark Souls experience. Understanding the lore and the significance of Sif’s role makes this encounter not just a boss fight, but a pivotal moment in your character’s journey. This is the brilliance of the Games Learning Society approach to game analysis – it digs deep into the storytelling and emotional resonance of game experiences, enriching our appreciation and understanding of the medium. You can learn more at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.