What Does Soul of an Undead Do? A Comprehensive Guide to Souls in Dark Souls
In the perilous world of Dark Souls, souls are the lifeblood of progression. They are not merely a currency; they represent the very essence of life, power, and the ability to grow stronger. Among the many types of souls encountered, the Soul of an Undead—in its various forms—plays a crucial role in the early stages of the game and beyond. But what exactly do these souls do, and how can you best utilize them? Let’s delve into the details.
What Does a Soul of an Undead Actually Do?
At its most basic, a Soul of an Undead is a consumable item that grants the player a specific amount of souls when used. Souls, as the game’s primary currency, are used to:
- Level up: Increase character stats at bonfires, making your character more powerful.
- Purchase items: Buy weapons, armor, consumables, and more from merchants throughout the game.
- Repair equipment: Keep your gear in good condition to maximize its effectiveness.
The most common form of the Soul of an Undead is the Soul of a Lost Undead. When consumed, this item provides a relatively small amount of souls, usually 200 souls on a standard playthrough. However, there’s more to these souls than meets the eye.
Feeding Souls to Kingseeker Frampt
A key aspect of using Soul of Undead items effectively is understanding the role of Kingseeker Frampt. This giant, serpentine creature resides in Firelink Shrine and acts as a unique vendor. Instead of simply consuming your souls, feeding them to Frampt offers a significant benefit.
When you feed a Soul of a Lost Undead to Kingseeker Frampt, you receive 500 souls instead of the usual 200. This nearly triples the value of the soul and highlights the importance of saving them to feed them to Frampt whenever possible. This is especially helpful for early game progression.
Different Varieties of Undead Souls
The Soul of an Undead is not a monolithic item. As you progress, you’ll encounter different versions, each providing a different amount of souls when consumed or fed to Frampt.
- Large Soul of a Lost Undead: This is a more potent version of the standard soul. When consumed, it grants 400 souls. When fed to Frampt, it awards 500 souls. Note that there is no increase in value when you feed it to Frampt, in contrast to the regular Soul of a Lost Undead.
- Soul of a Nameless Soldier: These souls are obtained from various defeated enemies and are another common item in the early to mid-game. While the article did not give an amount for feeding it to Frampt, when consumed they provide a variable amount of souls. Another soul type that you may see often is a Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier which will give you 1000 souls when used.
Understanding the different values for these soul types and how to utilize them is crucial for resource management throughout your journey in Dark Souls.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Souls of Undead
Here are some frequently asked questions to further illuminate the uses and importance of the Soul of an Undead and related soul items:
1. Should I Use Souls of Lost Undead Early On?
It depends on your immediate needs. Early on, 200 souls might seem significant, but the return of 500 souls by feeding them to Kingseeker Frampt is far more valuable. Therefore, save your Soul of a Lost Undead if possible to obtain more souls from Kingseeker Frampt.
2. What is the Best Time to Use Soul Items?
It’s best to only use soul items when you plan to spend them soon. This prevents you from losing accumulated souls should you die, or fall into a hazard. It’s advisable to use them just before a level-up or purchase. This ensures that you don’t lose them while traversing dangerous areas.
3. What is the Difference Between Soul of a Lost Undead and Large Soul of a Lost Undead?
The Large Soul of a Lost Undead is a more powerful version that grants more souls. When consumed, it provides 400 souls, and when fed to Kingseeker Frampt, it provides 500 souls.
4. How Many Souls Does a Soul of a Nameless Soldier Give?
The Soul of a Nameless Soldier gives a variable amount of souls when used. Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier provides 1000 souls when used.
5. Why Should I Feed Souls to Kingseeker Frampt?
Frampt provides a significant boost to the soul value of Soul of a Lost Undead, giving you 500 souls per item, compared to the 200 souls you’d get for consuming them. This makes it a very efficient way to gather souls.
6. Are All Hollows Undead?
Yes, in the context of Dark Souls, Hollows are undead people who have lost their sanity. They are victims of the Undead Curse and pose a constant threat.
7. What is the Undead Curse?
The Undead Curse is a divine punishment inflicted upon humanity by the Gods. It’s the reason why characters can revive from death, becoming undead in the process. The curse is a prominent aspect of the game’s lore.
8. Are Ashen Ones Also Undead?
Ashen Ones are also tied to the undead fate, specifically those who attempted to rekindle the First Flame but failed. They were burned to ash, making them undead, but with specific powers.
9. Is the Nameless King a God?
The Nameless King was indeed a very powerful and revered god of war. He is an optional boss in Dark Souls 3 and is considered one of the most challenging encounters in the game.
10. What Should I Do With the Soul of the Nameless King?
After defeating the Nameless King, you obtain his soul which can be used to craft powerful equipment. You can choose to get the Storm Curved Sword, Dragonslayer Swordspear, or Lightning Storm Miracle. Additionally, you can also obtain the Dragonslayer Set.
11. What is the Soul of a Giant?
The Soul of a Giant is a special soul that enhances your damage against King Vendrick. The more Giant Souls you have when you fight Vendrick, the more damage you’ll inflict. Holding all 5 giant souls will allow the player to do normal damage to Vendrick.
12. How Many Giant Souls Do I Need to Fight Vendrick?
You can fight King Vendrick with zero Giant Souls, but you’ll inflict significantly less damage. Each Giant Soul doubles the damage you deal, so you will need to obtain all 5 to deal full damage.
13. Where Can I Get Giant Souls?
In a single playthrough, you can obtain 5 Giant Souls. Three are obtained by delving into the Memories of the Giants with the Ashen Mist Heart. One is from killing the giants in the Black Gulch and one is from killing the Ancient Dragon.
14. What is an Ancient Dragon Soul For?
Ancient Dragon Souls are used to unlock/upgrade Ancient Dragon companions and to unlock the Ancient Dragoncrown Hat Style. They are not generally used to obtain souls in the conventional way.
15. Is the Nameless King the Hardest Boss?
Many consider the Nameless King to be the most challenging boss in Dark Souls 3 due to his speed, unpredictability, and the two-stage battle.
Conclusion
The Soul of an Undead, in all its forms, is a fundamental element of the Dark Souls experience. Understanding how to best acquire and utilize these souls—whether by consuming them for a quick boost or by trading them to Kingseeker Frampt for maximum benefit—is essential for success. Remember to strategically manage your souls, save those of the Lost Undead for Frampt, and make informed decisions about how and when to spend them. As you delve deeper into the world of Dark Souls, mastering the use of souls will be crucial to your survival and triumph.