Phantom Solaire Down! What Happens When Our Jolly Friend Bites the Dust (Temporarily)?
The world of Dark Souls is unforgiving, and even the most stalwart companions aren’t immune to its dangers. If Phantom Solaire falls in battle while summoned to assist you, fear not! It’s crucial to remember that you’re summoning a spectral version of him, not the real deal. Therefore, his death as a phantom has no impact on his questline or his survival in his own world. His summon sign will reappear after refreshing the area, ready for another jolly cooperation.
Understanding Phantom Mechanics in Dark Souls
The Nature of Summons
In Dark Souls, summoning other players or NPCs involves pulling a phantom from their world into your own. This is a temporary connection, and anything that happens to the phantom doesn’t directly affect the character in their originating world. Think of it like a temporary echo. This applies to Solaire as well. Whether he falls to a stray hollow or a mighty boss, his true self is unaffected.
Consequences of Phantom Death
The primary consequence of Solaire’s phantom dying is that you lose his assistance in the immediate fight or area. You will have to clear it on your own. It might mean a restart, or at least a more difficult time getting through the encounter. While frustrating in the short term, this is merely a temporary setback. His summon sign will reappear as long as the conditions for his presence in that area are still met.
Refreshing the Area
To bring back Solaire’s summon sign, you generally need to reload the area. This can be done in several ways:
- Resting at a Bonfire: This is the most common and reliable method.
- Quitting and Reloading the Game: If you’re in a pinch, this forces a refresh.
- Warping to Another Location and Back: If you’ve unlocked fast travel, this is a quick way to reset the area.
Once you’ve refreshed the area, the summon sign should reappear where it was originally. Keep an eye out, and remember that you must be human to see summon signs.
Solaire’s Questline and Phantom Deaths
Does Solaire Need to Survive Every Boss Fight?
Absolutely not! Solaire’s survival as a phantom is irrelevant to his overall quest. The only thing that matters is that he lives to tell the tale in his world. His questline hinges on actions you take in your world to affect his destiny.
Saving Solaire from Hollowing
The key to ensuring Solaire’s “good” ending lies in preventing him from going Hollow in Lost Izalith. This involves:
- Defeating the Firesage Demon.
- Defeating the Centipede Demon.
- Opening the shortcut before Lost Izalith. This requires joining the Chaos Servant covenant and offering humanity to reach rank +2.
- Killing the Chaos Bug (Sunlight Maggot) in the shortcut. This bug drops the Sunlight Maggot helm.
If you accomplish this before entering Lost Izalith properly, you’ll find Solaire alive and well at the bonfire after the Centipede Demon. He will be sad, but not insane.
Summoning Solaire for Gwyn
One of the biggest rewards for saving Solaire is the ability to summon him for the final boss, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. This makes the fight significantly easier and provides a poignant conclusion to Solaire’s quest. If you haven’t saved him, you’ll instead find him Hollowed in Lost Izalith.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Solaire and Phantoms
1. Can I summon Solaire again if his phantom dies?
Yes! As long as you’re human and the conditions for his summon sign to appear are met, you can summon him as many times as needed. Remember to refresh the area after his phantom falls.
2. What happens if I don’t summon Solaire at all?
Not summoning Solaire doesn’t interfere with his quest. He might just be waiting for you at the Altar of Sunlight.
3. Is it worth it to save Solaire?
Absolutely! Besides having a powerful ally for the final boss, saving Solaire provides a more satisfying and hopeful ending to his story. He will also be a great companion throughout your playthrough if you choose to summon him for multiple boss fights.
4. How do I get the “good” Solaire ending?
Kill the Sunlight Maggot in the shortcut before Lost Izalith. Do this before entering Lost Izalith and finding him there, or it will be too late.
5. What’s the canon ending for Solaire?
While not explicitly stated, many believe the “good” ending, where Solaire survives and potentially links the fire in his own world, is the closest to a canon outcome. His impact can be felt throughout the sequels, adding weight to this theory.
6. Does killing Solaire break any covenants?
Killing Solaire will not remove you from any covenants. However, it’s a morally questionable act that may leave a stain on your conscience.
7. If I summon Solaire and I die, what happens?
If you die while Solaire is summoned, you’ll return to the last bonfire you rested at, and Solaire will return to his own world. You’ll need to re-humanize and summon him again if you want his assistance.
8. Where do I find Solaire’s summon sign for Gwyn?
After saving Solaire, his summon sign will be located just outside the fog gate leading to the Gwyn boss fight. Look for it on the steps leading up to the gate.
9. Why is Solaire so popular?
Solaire’s popularity stems from his optimistic personality, his iconic “Praise the Sun” gesture, and his willingness to help other players. He embodies the spirit of jolly cooperation that defines the Dark Souls community.
10. Does Solaire give any special items?
Solaire gives you the White Sign Soapstone early in the game, allowing you to be summoned into other players’ worlds as a phantom. He also drops his Sunlight Medal when killed, or when he turns hollow and you need to put him out of his misery.
11. What happens if I attack Solaire but don’t kill him?
Attacking Solaire will make him hostile. You can absolve your sins by paying Oswald of Carim, which will make him friendly again.
12. Is it possible to miss Solaire entirely?
Yes, it’s possible to miss Solaire. If you don’t talk to him at the Undead Burg bonfire, you won’t initiate his questline and may not encounter him later in the game.
13. Does Solaire ever find his sun?
While the game doesn’t explicitly state that Solaire finds his sun, saving him and summoning him for the final boss can be interpreted as him finding his purpose and achieving his goal. Whether or not this means he literally finds a sun is up for debate, as the narrative is heavily open to interpretation.
14. What weapons and armor does Solaire use?
Solaire wears the Sunlight Armor Set and wields the Sunlight Straight Sword and the Sunlight Shield. These items can be obtained after his death.
15. Are there any real-world studies about the popularity of Solaire?
While there are no dedicated academic studies specifically about Solaire, the broader appeal of Dark Souls and its community has been explored. The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) is a great place to explore these connections. You can learn more about how games like Dark Souls fosters online collaboration and community building at the Games Learning Society website.
In conclusion, while Solaire’s phantom death can be a temporary setback, it doesn’t affect his questline or overall fate. Focus on saving him from hollowing, and you’ll be rewarded with a powerful ally and a heartwarming conclusion to his story. Praise the Sun!