The lean second run: the Sunlight Spear, the six weapons that need a second boss soul, a few optional fights, and To Link the Fire.
The second run is short on extras: the Sunlight Spear that finishes Prayer of a Maiden, the six boss weapons that need a second soul, a second Gwyndolin, the other ending, and a handful of optional rows the first run left alone. You keep your level, gear, spells and covenant rank, but every key item stayed behind, the Lordvessel with it. The bosses and people are back, doors and shortcuts are shut, and the enemies hit much harder. Rest at each bonfire as you reach it; there is no warping until Gwynevere hands over the Lordvessel. As in the first run, Firelink's fire can go out once both bells have rung: a dead bonfire can be warped to but not away from, so the route never warps out of Firelink.
Optional rows this run: what each needs early
None of these count toward 100%, and each needs a step long before its row. Sunlight gear (Lost Izalith): talk to Solaire in the Undead Burg and again by the Anor Londo Residence bonfire, and leave the red-eyed Chaos Bug in the Demon Ruins shortcut alone. Blighttown swamp row: free Laurentius from his barrel in the Depths, and back at Firelink answer Yes when he asks where your pyromancy came from. Parish altar Pendant: in the pit Patches kicks you into in the Tomb of the Giants, talk to Rhea, beat the two knights who come at you nearby, talk to her again, and later leave part of her stock unbought. Shiva shows himself only to Forest Hunters. Never strike the Giant Blacksmith, Frampt, or the Fair Lady before the Demon Ruins door is open.
Bases for the six boss weapons
The Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo makes each boss weapon from this run's soul and a weapon at +10 on the standard path, for 5,000 souls. Use the bases Andre raised at the end of the first run: the curved sword (Scimitar or Falchion) for Quelaag's Furysword, the Caestus for the Dragon Bone Fist, the Warpick for Smough's Hammer, the Pike for the Moonlight Butterfly Horn and the Longsword for the cursed Greatsword of Artorias. The Tin Darkmoon Catalyst needs no upgrade: bring the spare Sorcerer's Catalyst from Rickert (any catalyst but the Demon's, Izalith and Manus ones works). Never hand over a weapon on the Knight's Honor list, the Broken Straight Sword or the Straight Sword Hilt. Never use a boss soul for souls: each run gives one.
Asylum Demon (NG+)BossNG+1
Location
Northern Undead Asylum · Balcony fog – Take the key from the body dropped into your cell, light the courtyard bonfire and open the great doors; when the demon drops in, run through the gate in the left wall to the next bonfire. Follow the corridor and stairs to the room the iron ball smashes open, talk to the knight there for the F2 East Key, open the third-floor balcony gate and go through the fog. Drop from the ledge onto the demon for a plunging attack and stay behind its legs.
Firelink Shrine · Bonfire – Open the big door with the Big Pilgrim's Key the demon dropped, climb the cliff path and step into the giant crow's nest. The crow leaves you beside the Firelink bonfire: rest there.
Undead Burg · Bonfire room – From Firelink, climb past the dead tree and the aqueduct into the Burg, cross the little bridge on the left and take the fog gate on the right. Up the stairs inside and out onto the outdoor stairs (shield up when the dragon lands overhead), past the hollows behind the barriers and the archer: the bonfire room is at the top on the left.
Undead Burg · Castle wall – From the bonfire, cross the firebomb bridge on the left, go through the building and up the stairs on the right, past the small archer tower, to the tower's fog. On the wall, kill the two archers up the ladder on the right, then walk on until the demon drops in; leap onto him from the ladder for a plunging attack. Out of the next tower, Solaire stands on the right if you want the Sunlight gear row.
Undead Burg · Sunlight Altar – Through the fog where the demon's wall ends and down the stairs, the long bridge is on the left. Shelter in the stairway halfway along if the dragon sweeps it with fire; when it lands, sprint under it into the doorway behind it and turn sharp right. Light the bonfire and pull the lever beside it.
Sunlight Altar: offer the Soul of GwynHidden spoiler – activate to revealQuest stepNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Undead Burg · Sunlight Altar balcony – Rest at the Sunlight Altar bonfire, then step out onto the balcony beside it, under the dragon's bridge, and kneel at the broken statue. You should still be a Warrior of Sunlight at rank +1, as the first run ended; pick the Soul of Gwyn from the list and give it up.
As a Warrior of Sunlight at rank +1, the first run's Soul of Gwyn can be offered at the Sunlight Altar for the Sunlight Spear. This soul goes here; the one Gwyn leaves at the end of this run makes the Great Lord Greatsword in the next.
The strongest lightning miracle, and the last of the 23 that Prayer of a Maiden needs. Leaving the Warriors of Sunlight later only stops you casting it.
Prayer of a MaidenHidden spoiler – activate to revealAchievementNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Undead Burg · Sunlight Altar balcony – It pops as the Sunlight Spear arrives at the statue. If it doesn't, one of the first run's miracles is missing from your list.
Undead Parish · Front of the church – From the Sunlight Altar, go through the opened gate into the courtyard. Where the boar stands at its far end, take the stairs down on the right through the cellar, climb both ladders and go through the fog onto the walkway. Go left at its fork, past a spear soldier, and at the next fork turn left down the wide stairs to the front of the church: the key is on one of the two corpses by the lever there.
Undead Parish · Old church – From the key, climb back to the fork above the wide stairs, cross the short wooden bridge, pass the church's side door and keep right down the steps to the old church: the bonfire is down its stairs.
Activate the Firelink elevator (NG+)Quest stepNG+1
Location
Undead Parish · Church elevators – From the Parish bonfire, go in through the church's side door (lure the heavy knight by the altar out first). With your back to the altar, the two elevators are on the right: ride one down to Firelink and back up, and the link works both ways.
Undead Parish · Church roof – From the elevators, take the stairs up on the right to the church's upper floor, get past the Hollows in its big room and climb the ladders to the roof's fog gate. Kill the first gargoyle fast, before the second joins; lightning hurts them badly.
Open the Basement Key door into the Lower Undead Burg (NG+)Quest stepNG+1
Location
Undead Burg · Burg end of the bridge – Climb down from the bell tower to the Parish bonfire, then walk back through the courtyard and the gate to the Sunlight Altar bonfire and rest. Cross the dragon's bridge back toward the Burg the same way you came, sheltering in the halfway stairway from its fire, to the locked tower door at the bridge's Burg end: the Basement Key opens it. Go down the stairs and the long ladder.
Lower Undead Burg · Capra Demon's arena – From the foot of the ladder, follow the Lower Burg's main alley past its two ambushes to the fog gate at its end. The dogs attack as you enter: run up the stairs on your left to the narrow ledge and kill them there, then drop down to the demon and dodge its overhead swing.
The Depths · Rat stairs – Below the Capra Demon's fog, the curving path ends at a locked door: the Key to the Depths opens it. Go down through the hall of Hollows and the kitchen to the barrel room (roll into the barrel in its corner to free Laurentius, for the Blighttown swamp row), then down into the sewer water. Follow it to the corridor on the right with Slimes on its ceiling, take the passage beside the locked door at its end, past the Giant Rat's fence, and go left at the junction: the key is on a corpse among rats down the stairs on the right.
The Depths · Gaping Dragon arena – From the bonfire, take the passage beside its room past the Giant Rat's fence, go left at the junction and down the rat stairs, then turn back along the walkway under them to the drain hole near the end of the passage on its right. Drop into the tunnels, go down the stairs by the little waterfall, turn left at the junction and climb into the Slime room; the passage on its left leads right and down two flights to the fog. Keep away until it charges, then run to its side and strike after the charge.
Blighttown · Stone bridge – Climb back from the fog to the Slime room, where the great doors stand past the broken gate of bars, and open them with the Blighttown Key. Go round the left side of the great hole and down the ladders, along the walkways to two small bridges; cross the second, climb down the ladder, take the ramp on the left and turn back along the narrow walkway to the ladder on its left. At the bottom, walk left to the bonfire.
Blighttown · Swamp tunnel – From the Catwalk bonfire, cross the brick bridge beyond the ladder and keep going down the ladders and scaffolding, past Cragspiders, mosquitoes and a Blowdart Sniper and through a fog gate with no boss behind it, to the swamp. Turn sharp right and follow the wall on your right to a tunnel: the bonfire is inside.
Chaos Witch Quelaag (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Quelaag's Domain · Quelaag's lair – From the Swamp bonfire, follow the wall on your right past the torch-lit ramp to the mound at the far end of the swamp, hugging the right side away from the boulder throwers. In the cave beyond, leave the Egg Carriers alone and go through the fog. Stay at her side or back, roll sideways from her thrusts, and back off when she crouches.
The witch below Blighttown who guards the second bell. This run's Soul of Quelaag makes Quelaag's Furysword at the Giant Blacksmith. Keep it: never use it for souls.
Ring the second Bell of Awakening (NG+)Quest stepNG+1
Location
Quelaag's Domain · Bell room – From her arena, climb the stairs she came down and follow the hall to a round room with a hole in the floor. Pull the lever on its far side to ring the bell.
Bonfire: Daughter of Chaos (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealAreaNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Quelaag's Domain · Behind the illusory wall – From the bell lever, take the doorway on the right and go down the stairs. Cross the room past the round platform and strike the wall opposite: it is an illusion. Answer Yes to Eingyi behind it, then light the bonfire beyond him.
Rejoin the Chaos Servants (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealQuest stepNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Quelaag's Domain · Daughter of Chaos bonfire – Talk to the Fair Lady beside the bonfire and join her covenant again; leaving the Warriors of Sunlight costs nothing now that the Sunlight Spear is yours. Stay a Chaos Servant until that door is open.
As a Chaos Servant you can open the door in the Demon Ruins later in this run, the way to the Bed of Chaos that skips the Demon Firesage, the Centipede Demon and the lava field.
Blighttown · Top of the ladders – From the Daughter of Chaos bonfire, go back past Eingyi to the bell's round room, along the hall and down through Quelaag's arena and the Egg Carriers' tunnel to the swamp. Ride the waterwheel up from the torch-lit ramp and climb every ladder to the very top: the chest there holds the key.
Back to Firelink through the Valley and New Londo (NG+)Quest stepNG+1
Location
New Londo Ruins · Lift to Firelink – Through the cave at the top, cross the small wooden bridge and turn left: the key opens the locked door. Take the spiral stairs down into New Londo, follow the left-hand wall into a doorway and climb two flights to a lift (if it isn't there, pull the lever left of the shaft and wait), then ride up to Firelink. Talk to Laurentius at the shrine if you are taking the Blighttown swamp row.
Sen's Fortress · Roof – From Firelink, ride the elevator up to the Parish and cross the bridge beside its bonfire into Sen's Fortress, open now that both bells have rung. Climb it as in the first run, past the blade bridges, the boulder slope and the boulder machine room, to the roof fog. Turn left up the stairs, running between the firebomb blasts, climb the second flight and drop through the gap in the railing on the right to the bonfire.
Sen's Fortress · Golem's arena – From the bonfire, climb past the roof fog gate and the third flight, take the stairs on the left onto the high walkway and turn right through the room with two hanging cages, then hurry along the narrow walkway to the fog. Bait a swing, roll in under it to hit its legs, and go all in when it staggers.
Bonfire: Anor Londo (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealAreaNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Anor Londo · Bonfire room – Step into the ring of light in the Golem's arena; the winged demons carry you up. From the landing, take the stairs down past a Sentinel, the door on the left and then the one on the right into the great courtyard: the bonfire is in the big doorway on the left.
Anor Londo · Darkmoon Tomb – Ride the elevator in the small tower across the courtyard and go down the spiral stairs. At their foot, walk up the narrow flying buttress, roll onto the balcony, go in through the broken window and cross the rafters, hitting the chandelier's chain, to the fog and the lever on the spiral tower. Turn it counter-clockwise, beat the Gargoyle that swoops in, turn it once more and walk down to the bonfire.
Anor Londo · Cathedral corridor – From the Tomb, climb to the lever and turn it clockwise once (the Painted World can wait for another life), go down onto the chapel floor and out up the stairs to the cathedral front. Go through the small door right of the great doors, down to the Batwing Demons' ledge and up the flying buttresses on the left to the two Silver Knight archers. Past the right-hand archer, follow his ledge right, drop to the balcony below and go through the fog: the bonfire is behind the first door on the left.
Giant Blacksmith (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealNPCNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Anor Londo · Blacksmith's workshop – From the Residence bonfire, climb the spiral stairs, take the corridor's left door into a bedroom and its stairs up to a rooftop courtyard. Through the archway at its far end, go down the long spiral stairs and up the long stairway to the great hall's side balcony, then the stairs on its left to a broken window. Climb out, follow the ledge right to a fenced platform, drop in, and drop again through the gap in its fence among Batwing Demons (heal first): the doorway beside you leads to the smith.
Anor Londo · Blacksmith's workshop – At the anvil, give the Giant Blacksmith this run's Soul of Quelaag with the curved sword Andre raised to +10 on the standard path, and pay his fee.
Smough's Hammer needs the Soul of Smough, and only the one of the pair who dies second leaves his soul. So this run, bring Ornstein down first and finish Smough last, the opposite of the first run. If Smough is about to die first, quit to the title screen and reload: you start again outside the fog. If Ornstein outlives Smough, there is no Soul of Smough in this run.
Ornstein and Smough (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Anor Londo · Great hall arena – From the Giant Blacksmith, climb the long stairs beside him to the great hall's side balcony, go down to the hall's floor and through the fog at the far end from the main doors. Stay on Ornstein until he falls; Smough then heals and takes his power, so finish him last.
The pair guarding the princess again. This run, the Soul of Smough is the one to win: it makes Smough's Hammer at the Giant Blacksmith. Keep it: never use it for souls.
Get the Lordvessel againHidden spoiler – activate to revealQuest stepNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Anor Londo · Chamber of the Princess – Ride a lift in a far corner of the arena up to the Chamber of the Princess bonfire, rest, and talk to Gwynevere behind the doors beside it until she gives you the Lordvessel.
Placing the Lordvessel with Frampt sends Kaathe away for the rest of this run, and with him his covenant and its ranks. Nothing on this run's list needs him: the Darkwraith trophy and his rewards were the first run's. Once you hold the Lordvessel, don't drop into Frampt's hole on your own and never strike him: either sends him away.
Place the Lordvessel at the Firelink Altar with FramptHidden spoiler – activate to revealQuest stepNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Firelink Altar · The altar – Warp from the Chamber of the Princess to Firelink Shrine. Frampt, the great serpent, rests in the drained ruin beside the bonfire: talk to him while you carry the Lordvessel, accept his offer to take you to the altar, and place it there. Rest at the altar before he carries you back.
Frampt carries you down to the Firelink Altar to set the Lordvessel in place. That clears the golden fog from the way to the Duke's Archives and the way into Lost Izalith, and the altar becomes a bonfire.
Firelink Shrine · Below the aqueduct – From the Firelink bonfire, head toward the aqueduct up to the Undead Burg: once both bells have rung, Domhnall sits on its lower level by the corpse where the Ring of Sacrifice lay. If he isn't there yet, he is still in the Depths. Buy the set from him.
Summary
Gwyn's armor. Domhnall stocks it from the second run on, after the first run's Gwyn fell, and no one else has it.
The Catacombs · Vamos's corridor – Back at Firelink, walk through the flooded ruin and down into the graveyard, then take the long stairway at its far end. Follow the first run's way: the Entrance bonfire by the lever, the spiked bridges you turn with levers, the bonfire behind the black wall beside the ladder, then all the way down the spiral stairs and from ledge to ledge to the hole above Vamos. Drop through it: the bonfire is at the other end of his corridor.
Hammer of Vamos (kill Vamos after all smithing)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealWeaponNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
The Catacombs · Vamos's corridor – From the Catacombs (Vamos) bonfire, walk down the corridor to Vamos and attack him. With him gone, there are no Fire or Chaos upgrades for the rest of this run.
A hammer only Vamos carries; he drops it, with the Royal Helm, if you kill him. This run needs no Fire or Chaos smithing, so his death costs nothing on the list.
The Catacombs · Pinwheel's room – From the Catacombs (Vamos) bonfire, leave the corridor through the hole Vamos broke into the ravine. Keep near the walls so the rolling Bonewheel Skeletons crash into the rock, go on to the fog gate and drop down the gap. Rush the real Pinwheel before he makes more copies.
Gravelord Nito (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Tomb of the Giants · Nito's arena – Climb the ladders at the end of Pinwheel's room into the Tomb of the Giants. Bring light: the Cast Light sorcery, or the Skull Lantern lying again among the corpses in the pit Patches kicks you into past the first Tomb bonfire. Follow the first run's way past both Tomb bonfires to the room beyond the second, climb the ramp on its left and break the wood on the slope to uncover the fog. The drop into the arena hurts: be ready to heal as you land.
The second Lord Soul is the Bed of Chaos's. Warp from the Altar of the Gravelord to the Daughter of Chaos bonfire.
Blighttown swamp encounter (after a Yes at Firelink)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossMissablePoint of no returnNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Blighttown · Swamp near the bonfire tunnel – From the Daughter of Chaos bonfire, walk back past Eingyi to the bell's round room, along the hall and down through Quelaag's empty lair and the Egg Carriers' tunnel into the swamp, and make for the Blighttown Swamp bonfire's tunnel: he is on the dry ground near it, among the mosquitoes. Walk back the same way to the Daughter of Chaos bonfire.
Why you can lose it
He comes here only if you freed him from his barrel in the Depths this run and answered Yes at Firelink; a No keeps him there and the encounter never happens.
Point of no return
Beating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, then lighting the bonfire in his arena (or walking out of it): either ends this run at once and starts the next one.
Demon Ruins · Below the cliff – From the Daughter of Chaos bonfire, leave the round-platform room by the broken gap near the foot of the stairs, walk down past the Egg Carriers to the Demon Ruins Entrance bonfire and rest. Take the long stone path down, turn right through the big arch and cross the stone bridge to the fog. Wake him with an arrow, then stand against the fog: he clings to the edge by one arm, and that arm is the target.
Demon Ruins · Ruined wall – Back at the foot of the long stone path, keep right and climb the crumbling stairway, then follow the cliff path. Just before the pack of Capra Demons, drop off the side of the path to the level below: the bonfire is on the ruined wall there, beside a Burrowing Rockworm to kill from range.
Open the Chaos Servant door to Lost Izalith (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealQuest stepNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Demon Ruins · Shortcut door – From the Central bonfire, walk back along the balcony, down the wide staircase and up the steps toward the Demon Firesage's fog. Go through the gap in the wall right of that fog and climb down the roots to the large door at the bottom, and open it. The corridor beyond, crawling with Chaos Bugs (one has red eyes: see the callout at the start), runs to a huge door that sinks into the floor, and on to a bridge held by a Titanite Demon; down its stairs is a junction. There is no bonfire on this road: if you die, you start again from the Central bonfire.
The sealed door below the Demon Firesage's ledge opens for a Chaos Servant: the road to the Bed of Chaos that skips the Firesage, the Centipede Demon and the lava field.
Solaire (near the Bed of Chaos fog)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Major spoiler
Location
Lost Izalith · Near the Bed of Chaos's fog – Only if you talked to him in the Undead Burg and by the Anor Londo Residence bonfire this run, and left the red-eyed bug in the shortcut corridor alive. From the junction past the bridge, head up toward the Bed of Chaos's fog: he comes at you on the way, or back at the shortcut.
If Solaire reaches Lost Izalith while the red-eyed Chaos Bug still lives, he loses his mind and attacks you near the Bed of Chaos's fog. His sword, shield, talisman and armor come only from this fight; saving him gives his help against Gwyn instead, which no trophy needs.
Sunlight Straight SwordHidden spoiler – activate to revealWeaponMissablePoint of no returnNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Lost Izalith · Near the Bed of Chaos's fog – Dropped where the fight in the row above ends.
Why you can lose it
These come only from the optional Lost Izalith row above: talk to Solaire in the Undead Burg and by the Anor Londo Residence bonfire this run, and leave the red-eyed Chaos Bug in the Demon Ruins shortcut alone, or he never comes.
Point of no return
Beating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, then lighting the bonfire in his arena (or walking out of it): either ends this run at once and starts the next one.
Sunlight ShieldHidden spoiler – activate to revealWeaponMissablePoint of no returnNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Lost Izalith · Near the Bed of Chaos's fog – Dropped with the Sunlight Straight Sword.
Why you can lose it
These come only from the optional Lost Izalith row above: talk to Solaire in the Undead Burg and by the Anor Londo Residence bonfire this run, and leave the red-eyed Chaos Bug in the Demon Ruins shortcut alone, or he never comes.
Point of no return
Beating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, then lighting the bonfire in his arena (or walking out of it): either ends this run at once and starts the next one.
Sunlight TalismanHidden spoiler – activate to revealWeaponMissablePoint of no returnNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Lost Izalith · Near the Bed of Chaos's fog – Dropped with the Sunlight Straight Sword.
Why you can lose it
These come only from the optional Lost Izalith row above: talk to Solaire in the Undead Burg and by the Anor Londo Residence bonfire this run, and leave the red-eyed Chaos Bug in the Demon Ruins shortcut alone, or he never comes.
Point of no return
Beating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, then lighting the bonfire in his arena (or walking out of it): either ends this run at once and starts the next one.
Iron and Sun SetHidden spoiler – activate to revealArmorMissablePoint of no returnNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Lost Izalith · Near the Bed of Chaos's fog – Dropped with the Sunlight Straight Sword.
Why you can lose it
These come only from the optional Lost Izalith row above: talk to Solaire in the Undead Burg and by the Anor Londo Residence bonfire this run, and leave the red-eyed Chaos Bug in the Demon Ruins shortcut alone, or he never comes.
Point of no return
Beating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, then lighting the bonfire in his arena (or walking out of it): either ends this run at once and starts the next one.
Bed of Chaos (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Lost Izalith · Beyond the fog – From the junction past the bridge, climb the stairs and go through the fog on the left at the top. Break its two living roots, one on each side (a broken root stays broken if you die), then drop into the hole that opens in front of it, follow the root in and strike the bug at the centre.
Fire Keeper Soul (Quelaag's Sister)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealUpgradeNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Quelaag's Domain · Daughter of Chaos bonfire – Warp from the Heart of Chaos to the Daughter of Chaos bonfire and attack the Fair Lady beside it. Her bonfire can't be warped from afterwards, so leave on foot: past Eingyi to the bell room, through Quelaag's lair into the swamp, then up the waterwheel and the ladders, over the small bridge and down through New Londo to the lift up to Firelink.
The Fair Lady holds a Fire Keeper Soul. Killing her is a free choice: it puts out her bonfire for the rest of this run, turns Eingyi hostile and ends the Chaos Servant covenant, none of which this run needs once the Demon Ruins door is open.
Warp from the Heart of Chaos to the Undead Parish bonfire (from Firelink, if you walked out there, ride the church elevator up instead).
Pendant (Undead Parish altar)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealConsumableMissablePoint of no returnNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Undead Parish · Church altar – Only if, this run, you talked to Rhea in the Tomb's pit, beat the two knights near her and spoke to her again, and later left part of her stock at this church unbought: after two more bosses fall (Nito and the Bed of Chaos count), the items lie at the altar. From the Undead Parish bonfire, go up and along the narrow path to the church's side door; the altar is on your right. If the armored knight by the altar still stands, beat him, rest and come back.
Why you can lose it
Leave part of Rhea's stock unbought at the church and never attack Petrus, or these never appear this run.
Point of no return
Beating Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, then lighting the bonfire in his arena (or walking out of it): either ends this run at once and starts the next one.
A Pendant and some Humanity that can turn up by the Parish church altar late in this run, on one branch of Rhea's story. Snuggly trades a Souvenir of Reprisal for a Pendant.
Undead Parish · Andre's forge – From the Undead Parish bonfire, go down the stairs below it to Andre's anvil and buy the Crest of Artorias from him again.
Darkroot Garden · Crest door – Past Andre, the Titanite Demon stands in the doorway on to Darkroot Garden; it can be run past. Take the path to the left and keep on it, past the turning down the cliff and a few Ents, to the stone door glowing with a seal. Strike the wall on the left of the rubble beside it: it vanishes, and the bonfire is behind it.
Darkroot Garden · Tower walkway – From the Darkroot Garden bonfire, go through the fog gate and keep the left wall all the way round the clearing to the tower with a sleeping Great Stone Knight at its door; deal with him and climb to the fog at the top. Dodge or block its shots while it hovers, and hit it hard when it lands on the walkway.
The glowing butterfly at the top of the Garden's tower. This run's soul makes the Moonlight Butterfly Horn at the Giant Blacksmith. Keep it: never use it for souls.
Shiva of the East and his bodyguardHidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Darkroot Garden · Alvina's ruin – From the Darkroot Garden bonfire, open the Crest door and walk through the woods to the ruin where Alvina, the great cat, sits, and answer yes to both of her questions to join the Forest Hunters again (the Demon Ruins door is behind you, so leaving the Chaos Servants costs nothing now). Shiva then stands just outside the ruin's entrance, his bodyguard in the gap between the cliff and the wall behind him. Attack them there; never strike Alvina.
Shiva and his masked bodyguard appear only to Forest Hunters. Killing them is a free choice and breaks that covenant: Shiva drops the Murakumo, the bodyguard the Dark Wood Grain Ring, which no one else carries.
Great Grey Wolf Sif (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Darkroot Garden · Sif's clearing – From the Darkroot Garden bonfire, open the glowing door with the Crest, go down the stairs and keep to the left side of the woods to a ruined stone building. Cross the bridge out of its back to the next tower and take its stairs down into a misty wood, then head for the bright light and follow the path down to a long bridge and the shining door beyond. Touch the sword before the great gravestone and roll under Sif's swings to strike from below.
The second Soul of Sif makes the cursed Greatsword of Artorias at the Giant Blacksmith; the ring Sif drops opens the way to the Four Kings. Keep it: never use it for souls.
The Duke's Archives · Lift room – Walk back through the woods and the Crest door to the Garden bonfire, up past Andre to the Undead Parish bonfire, and warp to the Anor Londo bonfire. Go out of its doorway and left into the building ahead, past the Sentinels and up the stairs on its right to the tunnel where the golden fog stood; two boars charge down it. The bonfire is in the big room at its end.
Seath's first meeting and capture (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealQuest stepNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
The Duke's Archives · Top of the Archives – From the entrance bonfire, ride the lift up, cross the first library room, climb the grand staircase to the inside balcony and ride the lever lift at its far end. Go through the tunnel past the Crystal Knight and up the crystal stairs to the fog, step through and let the battle end (a Ring of Sacrifice keeps your souls). You wake by a bonfire in a cell: rest.
The Duke's Archives · Prison tower – A Serpent Soldier sleeps outside the cell door next to the bonfire: hit it through the bars, then take the key from its body.
The Duke's Archives · Prison tower – Leave your cell and work down the spiral stairs that line the tower: the key is on a corpse in one of the cells on the way down.
The Duke's Archives · Prison balcony – Climb back to your cell, unlock the door at its back with the Extra Key and drop from the right side of the ledge, then again onto a balcony guarded by a Serpent Mage and two Serpent Soldiers. The key is in the chest at the back, beside the alarm lever.
The Duke's Archives · Outdoor balcony – Climb back up the tower and open the big double doors at its top with the key, back into the library. Take the stairs that climb on past the first library room, pull the lever halfway up to turn the staircase, climb to the top and follow the walkway until you can drop onto the second staircase. Go halfway down it, pull its lever to turn it back and walk down to the doorway near its foot. Outside, climb down the ladder by the archer's balcony and pull the lever in the floor at the bottom: the passage leads into the second library room, and the bonfire is out on the balcony to the left.
Seath the Scaleless (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Crystal Cave · Seath's chamber – From the balcony bonfire, go back through the passage to the foot of the ladder and into the larger room of the secret library; the lever in its back left corner reveals the stairs down to the garden. Go down the slope past two Crystal Golems into the cave and cross it on its hidden walkways (walk only where the snow lands) to Seath's chamber, pulling the Man-Eater Shells before it one at a time. Break the tall crystal at the back before anything else, then attack from his side.
Dark Sun Gwyndolin (second soul for the other Darkmoon weapon)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Anor Londo · Gwyndolin's hallway – Warp from the Crystal Cave to the Darkmoon Tomb bonfire. Put on the Darkmoon Seance Ring and walk up to the great statue at the back of the room: it vanishes, and stairs lead down to the fog. Step through. He fights from the far end of a long hall of pillars and teleports away as you close in: hide behind the pillars from his homing orbs, keep moving toward him and strike when you reach him.
This run's Soul of Gwyndolin makes the Tin Darkmoon Catalyst for Knight's Honor; the first run's made the Darkmoon Bow. Walking into his fog turns the Darkmoon Knightess hostile, so the first Anor Londo bonfire is lost for the rest of this run, after the route is done with it.
Anor Londo · Blacksmith's workshop – Warp back to the Chamber of the Princess, ride a lift down into the arena and walk out into the great hall; climb to its side balcony and take the long stairs down to the Giant Blacksmith. Give him the Soul of Smough (it dropped only if Smough was the second to fall) with the +10 Warpick, and pay his fee.
Anor Londo · Blacksmith's workshop – At the same anvil, give him this run's Soul of Sif with the +10 Longsword (any dagger, straight sword or greatsword at +10 works). Not the Broken Straight Sword or the Straight Sword Hilt: those make the first run's sword again.
The second of the two greatswords the Soul of Sif makes; Knight's Honor wants both. The first run's soul made the one from the Straight Sword Hilt; making that one again is the usual reason the trophy doesn't pop.
Anor Londo · Blacksmith's workshop – At the same anvil, give him this run's Soul of Gwyndolin with the spare Sorcerer's Catalyst from Rickert, or any other catalyst except the Demon's, Izalith or Manus catalysts; it needs no upgrade.
New Londo Ruins · Ingward's roof – Warp from the Chamber of the Princess to Firelink Shrine and ride the lift below it down into New Londo Ruins, carrying Transient Curses for the ghosts. Cross the two wooden bridges, go through the first square tower and along the catwalk to the second, and climb the ladder in its fireplace room to the roof, where Ingward hands over the key when you speak to him.
Drain New Londo at the floodgate (NG+)Quest stepNG+1
Location
New Londo Ruins · Floodgate – Climb down from the roof and go all the way down the spiral staircase tower to the locked gate beside a lever: the Key to the Seal opens it, and the big round lever beyond drains the water. Pull the lever by the shaft to bring up the lift and ride it down.
Four Kings (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
The Abyss · The Abyss – In the drained city, cross to the second tower's ground floor and leave it by the door opposite its corner chest; a walkway leads to the fog. Wear the Covenant of Artorias, walk down the spiral stairs inside until they end and drop. Stay close, hit hard and kill each king fast, so you never face two at once.
Collect the four Lord Souls againHidden spoiler – activate to revealQuest stepNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Firelink Altar · The altar – Warp from the Abyss bonfire to the Firelink Altar; if it isn't in the list, warp to Firelink Shrine and drop down the hole in the drained ruin beside the bonfire. Offer the souls to the Lordvessel: the locked stone door at the altar opens onto the Kiln.
With this run's four Lord Souls (Nito's, the Bed of Chaos's, and the shards from Seath and the Four Kings), the Lordvessel opens the stone door at the altar onto the Kiln.
Through the door, the Kiln is as before: down the lit stairs and the ashen slope, along the narrow stone beams and down the broken stairs to the fog at the bottom, with five Black Knights on the way. Nothing this run needs their drops, so fight or slip past them.
Pack for the third run
The third run is short: Sif and the Giant Blacksmith, for the Greatshield of Artorias (from the third Soul of Sif) and the Great Lord Greatsword (from the Soul of Gwyn this fight leaves). Carry the last two bases Andre raised to +10 at the end of the first run into it: the shield for the Greatshield, and the Broadsword (any dagger, straight sword or greatsword at +10) for the Great Lord Greatsword. Keep this run's Soul of Gwyn unused: don't offer it or use it for souls.
Before you walk through the last fog
Beating Gwyn and lighting the bonfire in his arena ends this run at once and starts the third, short one. It closes the optional rows still open: the four Sunlight items (the Sunlight Straight Sword, Sunlight Shield, Sunlight Talisman and Iron and Sun Set), the Blighttown swamp encounter and the Pendant at the Parish altar. Check this run's list too: the Sunlight Spear (Prayer of a Maiden popped) and the six boss weapons (Quelaag's Furysword, Dragon Bone Fist, Smough's Hammer, Moonlight Butterfly Horn, Tin Darkmoon Catalyst and the cursed Greatsword of Artorias). A boss soul still in your pack carries over, but make the weapons now while the smith's door is open. If anything is undone, turn back: the altar is up the stairs.
Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (NG+)Hidden spoiler – activate to revealBossNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Kiln of the First Flame · Beyond the last fog – From the altar, walk down through the Kiln past the five knights to the foot of the stairs and through the fog gate. Gwyn is the run's final fight.
The last boss of this run. Keep the Soul of Gwyn he leaves: the next run's Giant Blacksmith makes the Great Lord Greatsword from it for Knight's Honor. Never use a boss soul for souls: each run gives one.
To Link the FireHidden spoiler – activate to revealEndingNG+1Minor spoiler
Location
Kiln of the First Flame · Gwyn's arena – When Gwyn falls, a bonfire appears in his arena: walk up to it and light it. The ending plays and the trophy pops; after the credits the third run starts in the Asylum cell.