Maxing Out Your Estus: Understanding Flask Limits in Dark Souls 3
The burning question for any Ashen One venturing through Lothric is, “What is the max number of flasks in Dark Souls 3?” The answer is multifaceted, involving a combination of Estus Shards, bonfire kindling, and even a touch of multiplayer magic. In essence, the *absolute maximum number of Estus Flasks you can *carry* at any given time is 15, regardless of bonfire status or other factors. However, the number of times you can use your Estus Flasks can increase beyond this limit, reaching a theoretical maximum of 20, depending on how much you kindle and interact with other players in a region. Let’s dive deeper into the details.
The Core Mechanics: Estus Shards and Fire Keeper Upgrades
Your journey begins with a modest 3 Estus Flasks and 1 Ashen Estus Flask. To increase the total number of flasks, you need to collect Estus Shards, scattered across the world of Lothric. Each shard, once given to the blacksmith Andre at Firelink Shrine, will increase the maximum number of flask uses. There are 11 Estus Shards hidden throughout the world, allowing you to reach the maximum of 15 flasks (a combination of regular Estus and Ashen Estus) at any given time. This means you can balance how many regular or ashen flasks you have. For instance, you could have 10 regular Estus and 5 Ashen, or 12 regular and 3 ashen, etc. However, the total number will never exceed 15.
Kindling Bonfires for More “Swigs”
While Estus Shards determine the number of flasks you can carry, kindling bonfires determines how many times you can use those flasks before needing to rest again.
Default Bonfire State
When you first encounter a bonfire with a Fire Keeper, it’s already kindled by default, providing you with 10 flask uses. This is a boon, effectively doubling your initial flask uses.
Rite of Kindling and Subsequent Kindling
By acquiring the Rite of Kindling, you gain the ability to further kindle bonfires. The first time you kindle a bonfire it grants you 5 more “swigs”. After kindling a bonfire for a third time, your total potential uses after resting at that bonfire will be increased to 20. The more you kindle, the more flask uses you’ll have.
Multiplayer and Extra Flask Uses
Here’s where things get interesting. If another player kindles a bonfire in the same area as you, you gain an additional Estus charge after resting at that bonfire. The amount of extra estus depends on the level of kindling. However, this is not a permanent effect and you will not be able to carry more than 15 flasks at any given time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estus Flasks
Here are some frequently asked questions related to Estus Flasks in Dark Souls 3:
1. What is the absolute max number of Estus Flasks I can carry at any time?
The absolute maximum number of Estus Flasks you can carry at any given time is 15, a combination of regular and ashen.
2. How many Estus Shards are there in Dark Souls 3?
There are a total of 11 Estus Shards hidden across the various areas of the game.
3. Where can I find all of the Estus Shards?
Estus Shards are located in the following areas:
* Firelink Shrine
* High Wall of Lothric
* Foot of the High Wall
* Road of Sacrifices
* Cathedral of the Deep
* Farron Keep
* Catacombs of Carthus
* Irithyll Dungeon
*The exact locations within each area are often tucked away, requiring some exploration.*
4. What is the maximum number of times I can use my flasks after resting at a bonfire?
The maximum number of times you can use your flasks after resting at a bonfire is 20, achievable by kindling a bonfire a third time. Additional charges can be randomly given by multiplayer interaction.
5. What does kindling a bonfire do?
Kindling a bonfire increases the number of times you can use your flasks after resting at that bonfire. The first time a bonfire is kindled it will grant 5 charges, the second will grant 5 more for 10, and the third grants 5 more for 15. All bonfires with a firekeeper present are kindled by default, starting you off with 10 uses per rest.
6. What is the Rite of Kindling?
The Rite of Kindling is a key item needed to further kindle bonfires beyond their default state, allowing for more flask uses.
7. How does multiplayer affect my Estus Flask charges?
If another player kindles a bonfire in the same area as you, you can gain extra Estus charges upon resting at a bonfire in that region.
8. Can I have more than 20 flask uses?
While you can have more than 20 charges after resting at a bonfire due to multiplayer interaction, you cannot carry more than 15 flasks at any given time.
9. What is the difference between Estus Shards and Undead Bone Shards?
Estus Shards increase the number of Estus Flasks you can carry, while Undead Bone Shards increase the healing power of your Estus Flasks when burned at the bonfire in Firelink Shrine.
10. What does the Fire Keeper Soul do?
The Fire Keeper Soul can be consumed to restore full health and grant 5 units of Humanity, but it is highly recommended to reinforce your Estus Flask instead for permanent benefits.
11. Can I upgrade my Estus Flask?
Yes, you can upgrade your Estus Flask by burning Undead Bone Shards at the bonfire in Firelink Shrine, increasing their healing power.
12. Does kindling a bonfire have a permanent effect?
Yes, the effect of kindling a bonfire is permanent for that character.
13. Why do I sometimes get random extra Estus charges after resting?
Random extra charges are awarded when another player kindles a bonfire in the same area that you are currently in. This is a random multiplayer interaction.
14. Does the game force you to carry a minimum amount of Estus or Ashen Estus?
No, you can choose to have as many of either Estus or Ashen Estus, as long as you have enough total uses available for allocation and as long as your maximum amount does not exceed 15. For example, you could have 15 regular Estus and 0 ashen, or 12 regular and 3 ashen, or any combination of the two that adds up to no more than 15.
15. How do the limits work for invasions/co-op?
When participating in multiplayer as an invader or a phantom, the number of Estus Flasks is halved from the hosts. For example, if the host has 10 estus, an invader would have 5 available to them.
Conclusion
Mastering the Estus Flask system in Dark Souls 3 is crucial to surviving the unforgiving world of Lothric. By understanding how Estus Shards, bonfire kindling, and multiplayer interactions work, you can maximize your survivability and face even the toughest challenges the game throws your way. Remember that while your Estus charges can surpass the initial 15, you’ll only ever be able to carry a maximum of 15 flasks at once. Now, go forth, Ashen One, and rekindle the flame.