The Ultimate Soul Farming Guide for Dark Souls 2: Where to Grind Effectively
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Best Soul Farming Spot in Dark Souls 2: Memory of Jeigh
The absolute best spot to farm souls in Dark Souls 2 is undoubtedly the Memory of Jeigh, accessible in the Forest of the Fallen Giants after acquiring the King’s Ring and Ashen Mist Heart. This memory, found at the fourth bonfire, “The Place Unbeknownst,” provides a significantly higher soul payout compared to other areas, making it the go-to for dedicated farmers. While some other spots can be valuable, none offer the combination of ease, speed, and sheer volume of souls that the Memory of Jeigh provides. Here you’ll find a large number of relatively weak enemies that can be quickly dispatched, resulting in a substantial soul haul every run.
Why Memory of Jeigh is Superior for Soul Farming
- High Enemy Density: The memory is densely populated with Soldiers of Drangleic, who are easily defeated even with basic weapons. This means you can kill them quickly and effectively.
- Repeatable: The memory can be repeated as many times as you want without using a Bonfire Ascetic, making it highly efficient for continuous farming. Once cleared, simply exit and re-enter the memory for another round.
- Proximity to Bonfire: The proximity of enemies to the bonfire means very little downtime between runs, maximizing your farming speed.
- Relatively Safe: Compared to other farming spots, the Memory of Jeigh is a fairly safe zone. The enemies are not very aggressive, and there are few dangers besides the standard soldiers.
- Scalability: As you level up, you will find this area remains efficient because you can one-shot most enemies quickly.
Optimizing Your Soul Farming in Memory of Jeigh
While the Memory of Jeigh is excellent on its own, you can maximize your soul gains by using the following gear:
- Soul-boosting Equipment:
- Tseldora Set: The Tseldora Cap, Tseldora Manchettes, and Tseldora Robes, all increase soul gains. While the Nahr Alma Robes are better (10% vs 4.75%), you might prefer the Tseldora items as they are easier to obtain. Mix and match for best results.
- Warlock Mask / Symbol of Avarice: Both offer a 2.5% soul bonus. The Symbol of Avarice can be a risky choice due to its health drain, but it gives a solid 2.5%.
- Jester’s Gloves: They add a 10% boost to soul acquisition.
- Nahr Alma Hood: Another excellent choice to increase souls by 2.5%.
- Rings:
- Covetous Silver Serpent Ring +1/+2: These rings provide a substantial increase to the amount of souls gained from enemies. The +2 version is most desirable.
- Weapon:
- Any quick or AoE damage weapon: The weapon itself won’t boost soul gain, but it can speed up kills. Greatswords or Spears are great.
- Optional Items:
- Bonfire Ascetic: If you want a greater soul yield, using a Bonfire Ascetic to increase difficulty may prove beneficial, however the enemies will become more aggressive.
By utilizing the Memory of Jeigh and the suggested gear, you can easily acquire a significant number of souls quickly and efficiently, making it the superior method for soul farming in Dark Souls 2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Soul Farming in Dark Souls 2
1. What is Soul Memory in Dark Souls 2?
Soul Memory is a mechanic unique to Dark Souls 2 that tracks the total number of souls a character has acquired. This system affects matchmaking, determining who you can play with online. It’s not the same as the souls you currently have in your inventory.
2. How do I farm Soul Memory in DS2?
You cannot directly “farm” Soul Memory as it’s cumulative. It is the total souls earned. However, any efficient soul farming will increase your soul memory. You do not lose soul memory when leveling up or dying.
3. Can I reset my Soul Memory in Dark Souls 2?
No, Soul Memory cannot be reset. It is a permanent record of your total soul acquisitions. This is why many players consider starting over with new characters to optimize online play.
4. Where is the best place to farm souls early in Dark Souls 2?
Early in the game, the Forest of Fallen Giants is a decent location. The area has easy enemies and can be repeated for quick soul gains. However, it will not be as efficient as late game areas such as the Memory of Jeigh.
5. Are there any infinite soul farming exploits in Dark Souls 2?
While not exactly infinite, the Memory of Jeigh allows for continuous farming with no limit other than your patience. Some players may find other areas more efficient depending on their builds.
6. How much of a difference does the Tseldora set make for farming souls?
The Tseldora set offers a combined bonus of about 15%, which is significant when combined with other soul-boosting items. If you want the absolute best, you may mix it with items such as Nahr Alma’s items.
7. Does the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring stack with other soul-boosting items?
Yes, the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring stacks additively with other soul-boosting equipment such as the Tseldora set, making it a crucial item for farming.
8. Can I farm the same boss repeatedly for souls?
While you can use Bonfire Ascetics to respawn bosses, they do not provide the same level of efficiency as the Memory of Jeigh due to their relative difficulty, long travel times and long fight times. They are best used to obtain unique items from boss battles.
9. Does using Bonfire Ascetics increase soul gains?
Bonfire Ascetics increase the game’s difficulty in an area, which subsequently increases the soul gains. However, this also significantly increases enemy strength. You may find that the increase is less efficient than simply farming an area such as Memory of Jeigh with optimal gear.
10. What are the best weapons for farming in Dark Souls 2?
Any weapon that allows you to dispatch enemies quickly is good for soul farming. Greatswords and Spears are popular choices, due to their range and AOE damage.
11. How do I maximize soul gains from bosses?
To maximize soul gains from bosses, use as many soul-boosting items as you can, including the Tseldora Set, Covetous Silver Serpent Ring, Symbol of Avarice and Jester’s Gloves. You may find a mix of these to be ideal for your playstyle.
12. Is it worth farming souls in Dark Souls 2?
Yes, farming souls can significantly accelerate your progress by allowing you to level up faster, purchase better gear, and strengthen your build. However, over-farming may detract from the challenge of the game.
13. Does the Shield of Want work on your back for a soul bonus?
Yes, the Shield of Want works on your back and provides a 20% increase to soul acquisition. It stacks well with Covetous Silver Serpent Ring. However, this is not found in Dark Souls 2, but Dark Souls 3.
14. Which is more important, soul farming or skill in Dark Souls 2?
While soul farming can give you an edge, player skill is more crucial in Dark Souls 2. Ultimately a combination of the two is required for a successful play-through.
15. How does Soul Memory affect online play in Dark Souls 2?
Soul Memory affects online matchmaking, limiting the player pool you can interact with. If your Soul Memory is significantly higher or lower than others, you might struggle to find players to cooperate or engage in PvP.