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Which Covenant Reigns Supreme in Dark Souls 2? A Definitive Guide

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The question of which covenant is “best” in Dark Souls 2 isn’t straightforward. It hinges entirely on your playstyle, goals, and tolerance for risk. There isn’t a single, universally superior option. However, for a balanced blend of PvE benefits, unique rewards, and a manageable difficulty curve, the Heirs of the Sun often come out on top. It offers incredibly useful miracles, encourages cooperative play, and its requirements are achievable for most players. Ultimately, the “best” covenant is the one that most aligns with your vision of the game. Let’s delve deeper into each covenant’s strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.

Understanding Covenants in Dark Souls 2

Covenants in Dark Souls 2 are factions that players can join, each offering different gameplay experiences, rewards, and sometimes, distinct challenges. They affect both PvP and PvE aspects of the game, influencing how you interact with other players and even the world itself. Joining a covenant often unlocks unique items, spells, and changes the rules of engagement in multiplayer. Deciding which covenant to join is a critical choice that can significantly shape your Dark Souls 2 journey.

Ranking the Covenants: A Deep Dive

Here’s a more detailed look at the covenants, considering their rewards, ease of access, and overall impact on the game:

Heirs of the Sun: As mentioned, this covenant centers around cooperation and sunlight miracles. Joining rewards you with the Sun Seal ring, increasing faith scaling on miracles. Ranking up, achieved by offering Sunlight Medals, grants access to powerful miracles like Sunlight Spear. This covenant is ideal for players who enjoy helping others in co-op and want to bolster their faith-based builds.
Pilgrims of Dark: This PvE-focused covenant delves into the Dark Chasm of Old areas, providing significant challenges but also rewarding powerful dark spells and items. It’s a good choice for those who enjoy exploring challenging dungeons and embracing dark magic. Completing all three Dark Chasms unlocks the coveted Climax spell.
Dragon Remnants: Focusing on honorable PvP duels, the Dragon Remnants allow players to leave their summon signs using the Dragon Eye. Winning duels earns Dragon Scales, which can be traded for unique armor and weapons. This covenant appeals to players who relish skill-based combat and collecting distinctive gear.
Brotherhood of Blood: The antithesis of the Heirs of the Sun, the Brotherhood of Blood thrives on unrestricted PvP. Members can invade other players freely, earning tokens of spite for successful kills, which can be traded for items and spells. This covenant is suitable for aggressive players who enjoy disrupting other players’ games.
Blue Sentinels: Designed to protect members of the Way of Blue, the Blue Sentinels automatically get summoned to help those being invaded by players who have sinned (killed NPCs or other players). Ranking up earns you the ability to duel other Blue Sentinels and rewards you with useful utility miracles. It is a good choice if you seek honorable PvP engagements as a protector.
Bell Keepers: This covenant focuses on defending the Belfry Luna and Belfry Sol areas from intruders. Members are automatically summoned when other players enter these areas. Ranking up provides unique equipment and spells. It provides instant PvP action at lower levels.
Rat King Covenant: This covenant lets players make specific areas toxic with Pharros Lockstones, and it summons other players into their world. Ranking up provides unique items, and it can be a fun, albeit somewhat niche, experience.
Company of Champions: This covenant dramatically increases the game’s difficulty by boosting enemy stats and disabling online co-op features. While it doesn’t offer exclusive rewards, it’s a challenge for veteran players seeking a new experience.
Way of Blue: This covenant is designed for novice players. When invaded, members of this covenant are more likely to summon help from Blue Sentinels. There are no specific rewards for joining, making it the most accessible covenant for beginners.

Making the Right Choice

When selecting a covenant, consider these factors:

Your Playstyle: Do you prefer PvE or PvP? Are you a solo player or do you enjoy co-op? Your preferred playstyle should be the primary driver behind your decision.
Your Build: Some covenants synergize better with certain builds. For example, Heirs of the Sun is ideal for faith-based builds, while the Pilgrims of Dark works best for those embracing dark magic.
The Rewards: Each covenant offers unique rewards. Examine the rewards carefully to determine if they align with your goals.
The Challenges: Some covenants, like the Company of Champions, significantly increase the game’s difficulty. Assess your skill level and willingness to face challenges before joining.

Covenant Loyalty: Can You Change Your Mind?

Yes, you can change covenants at any time by speaking to Shalquoir in Majula. Leaving a covenant will decrease your progress in the previous covenant by one rank, but will not reset it. Joining a new covenant after leaving the old will allow you to level up in the new covenant right away, provided that you have reached the required milestones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do covenants matter in Dark Souls 2?

Yes, covenants significantly impact your Dark Souls 2 experience. They offer unique gameplay opportunities, rewards, and challenges that shape your interaction with both the game world and other players. The benefits each covenant provides can drastically alter your approach to combat, exploration, and cooperation.

2. What is the easiest covenant to max in Dark Souls 2?

The easiest covenant to rank up (but not necessarily “max”) initially is the Way of Blue, as you passively benefit from it whenever you’re invaded. However, the fastest to actively max, in terms of dedicated effort, might be the Heirs of the Sun if you’re consistently helping others beat bosses through co-op.

3. What is the hardest covenant in Dark Souls 2?

The Company of Champions makes the game significantly harder by increasing enemy stats and disabling co-op. While not technically “hardest” to join or rank up in, it offers the most challenging gameplay experience.

4. What happens if you join the Blue Sentinels in Dark Souls 2?

Joining the Blue Sentinels allows you to be automatically summoned to protect members of the Way of Blue who are being invaded. It fosters cooperative gameplay and allows you to earn rewards for defending other players from invaders.

5. Can I join all the covenants in Dark Souls 2?

Yes, you can join all covenants. However, you can only be actively aligned with one covenant at a time. You can switch between them at will, but leaving a covenant will incur a rank decrease.

6. Should I join the Covenant of Champions in Dark Souls 2?

Only join the Covenant of Champions if you’re seeking a significantly more challenging Dark Souls 2 experience and are comfortable playing solo. It is not recommended for new players.

7. How many covenants are in Dark Souls 2?

There are nine covenants in Dark Souls 2: Heirs of the Sun, Pilgrims of Dark, Dragon Remnants, Brotherhood of Blood, Blue Sentinels, Bell Keepers, Rat King Covenant, Company of Champions, and Way of Blue.

8. Which covenant has the best rewards?

This is subjective. Many players covet the Sunlight Spear miracle from the Heirs of the Sun, while others prefer the unique gear from the Dragon Remnants. It depends on your build and playstyle.

9. What covenant is best for survival?

There isn’t a single covenant that guarantees survival. However, the Way of Blue can provide extra help through Blue Sentinel summons, increasing your chances of surviving invasions.

10. Should I join the Rat King Covenant?

Joining the Rat King Covenant is fun if you enjoy unconventional PvP and manipulating the environment to your advantage. It’s a niche experience that some players find highly rewarding.

11. Do covenants reset in Dark Souls 2?

No, your covenant progress does not fully reset when you leave a covenant and rejoin it later. You only lose one rank in the covenant you are leaving.

12. Do you lose rank if you leave a covenant?

Yes, leaving a covenant will reduce your rank within that covenant by one level.

13. Can I join more than one covenant at a time?

No, you can only be actively aligned with one covenant at a time. You can switch between them by speaking to Shalquoir in Majula.

14. What level should I choose my covenant in Dark Souls 2?

There’s no specific level requirement. You can join a covenant as soon as you find its representative or meet its entry requirements. It is recommended to explore different covenants and align yourself with the covenant that is most suitable for your build and playstyle.

15. Which covenant is best for PvP?

The Brotherhood of Blood for unrestricted invasions, the Dragon Remnants for honorable duels, and the Bell Keepers for area defense are all great choices for players who enjoy PvP.

Ultimately, the “best” covenant in Dark Souls 2 is the one that provides you with the most enjoyable and rewarding gameplay experience. Experiment, explore, and find the faction that best suits your style. For further exploration of games and their educational aspects, consider visiting the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The Games Learning Society is a great resource for understanding the deeper aspects of gaming.