Gami
DARK SOULS III cover
DARK SOULS III
Developer:FromSoftware
Publisher:Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform:PS4
Genre:Action RPG, Soulslike

Enter the fading kingdom of Lothric, where ancient lords have abandoned their thrones and the world teeters on the edge of darkness. Battle terrifying enemies, explore interconnected ruins, and master unforgiving combat in FromSoftware's dark fantasy action RPG.

Main Story40 Hrs
Platinum100 Hrs
Difficulty7/10
Playthroughs3 Playthroughs
Platinum1
Gold3
Silver13
Bronze26

DARK SOULS III Trophy Roadmap

EARLY GAME

Welcome to Lothric, Ashen One. Your first playthrough is about learning the combat, exploring every suspicious corner, and building the foundation for your Platinum. Take your time, experiment with weapons, and collect as many rings, gestures, sorceries, miracles, and pyromancies as possible. Keep boss souls instead of consuming them, since several are needed for special rings and spells. Collect Estus Shards and Undead Bone Shards as you explore, and remember that even the most ordinary-looking wall might be hiding something useful. Lothric isn't particularly generous with directions.

Pay special attention to NPC questlines, since several trophies can become unavailable if you advance too far. Recruit Yoel of Londor in the Undead Settlement and obtain all five free levels before defeating the Abyss Watchers if you want Yuria to appear. Meet Anri, Sirris, Siegward, and the other characters you encounter, exhausting their dialogue whenever possible. Prioritize Sirris's Darkmoon Loyalty gesture and Silvercat Ring before offering Pale Tongues to Rosaria, as advancing Rosaria's covenant can interfere with Sirris's quest. Also secure the Mound-makers covenant before defeating the Curse-rotted Greatwood, and collect the gestures tied to NPC summons before their associated bosses are defeated.

Aim for the To Link the First Flame ending during this first run. Before finishing, explore optional areas such as Smouldering Lake, Untended Graves, and Archdragon Peak, defeat their bosses, and gather as many remaining collectibles as possible. Start working on covenant rewards, especially those needed for exclusive rings, miracles, sorceries, and pyromancies. You can earn every Platinum-required covenant reward without online multiplayer, although some offline drops require considerable farming. Once you're satisfied with your progress, defeat the Soul of Cinder and interact with the bonfire to complete your first ending.

MID GAME

New Game+ is your chance to clean up unfinished business while collecting the rings that only appear in later playthroughs. Your character levels, equipment, and collected trophies carry forward, but enemies become tougher and the world resets. Search each area for its new +1 rings and any standard rings you missed, while continuing to purchase spells, complete infusions, and gather covenant rewards. There is no prize for rushing into another cycle with half your shopping list unfinished.

Use this playthrough to finish important NPC questlines, particularly Siegward's and Sirris's if you haven't already completed their rewards. Siegward's journey provides several gestures and the Emit Force miracle, while Sirris rewards you with the Silvercat Ring. Make sure you've also obtained the gestures associated with Patches, Orbeck, and other NPCs. Keep track of boss souls needed for transposition, since some provide multiple trophy-related rewards that must be obtained across different playthroughs.

For your second ending, work toward The End of Fire. Defeat Oceiros, enter Untended Graves, and find the Eyes of a Fire Keeper behind the hidden wall in the alternate Firelink Shrine. Give them to the Fire Keeper in your normal Firelink Shrine, then continue through the game. After defeating the Soul of Cinder, use the Fire Keeper's summon sign beside the bonfire instead of linking the flame. Let the ending play out without attacking her, and you'll secure another major step toward the Platinum.

LATE GAME

New Game++ should be your final required playthrough, provided you've handled your earlier collectibles and questlines carefully. The biggest remaining objective is gathering the rings exclusive to this cycle, including the +2 variants and Life Ring +3. You'll need all 107 base-game rings and their required upgraded variants for Master of Rings, so check your collection before leaving each area. Any missing gestures, spells, covenant rewards, or optional bosses should also be finished during this run.

Your final ending is The Usurpation of Fire, the most demanding of the three and one that deserves your full attention. Recruit Yoel of Londor and obtain all five Dark Sigils from his free levels before defeating the Abyss Watchers. Continue Yuria of Londor's questline while carefully following Anri of Astora's journey through the Road of Sacrifices, Catacombs of Carthus, and Irithyll. Keep the disguised pilgrim alive in the Church of Yorshka, complete the ceremony in the Darkmoon Tomb, and never heal your Dark Sigils before the ending. One poorly timed decision can send you back for another full playthrough, which is a punishment even by Dark Souls standards.

Before confronting the Soul of Cinder, make one final sweep of your remaining collection requirements. Confirm that you've acquired the necessary rings, gestures, spells, and covenant rewards, and that the Usurpation questline is complete. After defeating the final boss, interact with the bonfire to trigger The Usurpation of Fire ending. With all three endings secured, your remaining work should be limited to whatever collectible or covenant trophies you've yet to finish.

TROPHY CLEANUP AND EXTRA TIPS

The biggest Platinum time investment usually comes from collecting every ring, sorcery, miracle, pyromancy, and gesture. Covenant rewards are particularly demanding, with several requiring 10 or 30 offerings to unlock trophy-related items. Prioritize Sunlight Medals, Proofs of a Concord Kept, Vertebra Shackles, Wolf's Blood Swordgrass, Pale Tongues, and Human Dregs as needed. Online play can speed up certain rewards, but offline enemy farming remains an option. Improve your Item Discovery with equipment such as the Symbol of Avarice, Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, Crystal Sage's Rapier, and Rusted Coins. The enemies may not be particularly cooperative about dropping what you need.

Remember that DARK SOULS III has no chapter select, and entering another New Game cycle resets the world and NPC questlines. Keep all your rings until Master of Rings unlocks, and avoid spending boss souls before checking their transposition rewards. Finish upgrading a standard weapon to +10, perform every required infusion, and maximize your Estus capacity and bonfire strength using Estus Shards and Undead Bone Shards. Some missed materials can be collected again in later cycles, but careful exploration during your first run will save considerable time.

The Platinum requires at least three playthroughs, reaching New Game++ for the final ring variants, but there is no trophy requirement to complete the game at a specific difficulty setting or to defeat bosses without assistance. Summoning other players or NPCs is a perfectly valid way to handle difficult encounters. Focus on your remaining trophy requirements rather than completing every optional activity again. Once the final collectible or covenant reward is secured, The Dark Soul will be yours. Praise the Sun!