You’re going to die. It’s the first thing anyone tells you about this game, and honestly, it’s the least helpful advice ever given. Death in Lordran isn't a fail state; it's a progress bar. But if you’re looking for a dark souls remastered walkthrough that doesn't just tell you to "get good," you’re in the right place. Most people quit before they even see the Gaping Dragon because the game’s internal logic feels like a brick wall. It’s not. It’s a puzzle.
The biggest mistake? Treating this like Skyrim. You can't just wander into a group of hollows and swing wildly. You'll get parried, shanked, and sent back to a bonfire with zero souls and a bruised ego.
The Asylum and the First Real Choice
Your journey begins in the Northern Undead Asylum. It's basically a tutorial, but even here, the game tries to trick you. When that massive Asylum Demon drops from the ceiling, don't fight him with a broken straight sword. Look left. Run. There's a small door that lets you circle around, grab your actual gear, and perform a plunging attack that takes off half his health.
Once you hit Firelink Shrine, the world opens up. This is where most players ruin their first run. Do not go down into the graveyard. The skeletons there will ruin your day, and you won't be able to kill them permanently without a divine weapon anyway. Also, avoid the New Londo Ruins for now. Those ghosts are untouchable unless you’re "cursed" or using a Transient Curse item. Instead, look for the stairs built into the cliffside leading up. That’s the path to the Undead Burg.
The Stats That Actually Matter
I see people dumping points into Resistance all the time. Stop doing that. Resistance is a "trap stat." It provides negligible benefits compared to literally anything else. If you want to survive, focus on Vitality and Endurance. More HP means you can survive a boss's grab attack, and more stamina means you can block more hits or roll more often.
If you’re going for a melee build—which I highly recommend for a first-timer—pick either Strength or Dexterity. Don't try to be a jack-of-all-trades. You’ll end up being a master of none who hits like a wet noodle. For magic users, Intelligence or Faith are your bread and butter, but keep in mind that Sorceries (Intelligence) are generally easier for PvE than Miracles (Faith).
Bell Gargoyles and the Reality Check
The Undead Parish is where the game truly starts. You’ll meet Andre of Astora, the blacksmith. He is the most important NPC in the game. Seriously. Upgrading your weapon is far more important than leveling your character. A +5 Longsword will carry you much further than five extra points in Strength.
✨ Don't miss: Is Stellar Blade Good? Why This Stylish Action Game Won Over Players in 2026
The Bell Gargoyles are your first "skill check." They’re fast, they fly, and halfway through, a second one joins the fray to breathe fire on you. If you’re struggling, make sure you’re "Human" by using a Humanity item at a bonfire. This allows you to summon Solaire of Astora. His golden sign is right outside the fog gate. Solaire is a tank and will distract one gargoyle while you whale on the other.
Why the Drake Sword is a Bait
You might hear people talk about the Drake Sword. You get it by shooting the tail of the red dragon on the bridge with about 30 arrows. It’s powerful early on. It feels like a cheat code. But here’s the catch: it doesn't scale with your stats. By the time you reach Blighttown, it’ll be useless, and you won't have practiced using a weapon that actually rewards your build. Skip it. Use a Claymore or a Balder Side Sword instead.
The Depths and the Horror of Blighttown
After ringing the first bell, you head down. The Depths are cramped, slimy, and full of Basilisks that can inflict "Curse." If you get cursed, your health bar is halved until you find a Purging Stone. It’s devastating. Move slowly. Keep your shield up.
Then comes Blighttown. In the original version, this place was a frame-rate nightmare. In Dark Souls Remastered, it’s much smoother, but the level design is still intentionally cruel. You’ll deal with toxic blowdart snipers, giant mosquitoes, and rickety platforms.
Pro tip: Bring Purple Moss Clumps. You can farm these from the tree enemies in Darkroot Garden. You’re going to get poisoned; it’s just a fact of life in the swamp. Just accept it, keep your health topped off, and push through to the bonfire at the bottom in the stone tunnel.
Sen’s Fortress: The Funhouse of Death
If you thought the bosses were the hard part, welcome to Sen’s Fortress. It’s a vertical gauntlet of swinging blades, pressure plates, and lizard-men who love to lightning-bolt you off a ledge.
- Watch the floor. If a tile looks slightly raised, it’s a trap.
- Listen for the "whish" of the blades. They move in a predictable rhythm.
- Don't rush. The Fortress punishes impatience more than anything else.
At the top, there’s a hidden bonfire. You have to drop off a specific ledge near where the giant is throwing firebombs. Finding this bonfire is the difference between a 10-minute run back to the boss and a 30-second stroll. The Iron Golem boss at the end is a pushover—just stay between his legs and hack at his ankles until he falls over.
Anor Londo and the Infamous Archers
Reaching the city of the gods is a breath of fresh air after the filth of Blighttown. It’s gorgeous. It’s golden. And it has the hardest non-boss encounter in the series: The Silver Knight Archers.
✨ Don't miss: Secret of the Forest: Why Chrono Trigger Fans are Still Obsessed 30 Years Later
You’ll find yourself on a narrow buttress with two knights shooting umbrellas at you from afar. The trick? Sprint. Don't try to block the arrows while moving; the knockback will send you into the abyss. Run straight up, turn right toward the knight on the ledge, and get in his face. Usually, he’ll pull out a sword and accidentally fall off while trying to hit you.
Ornstein and Smough: The Wall
This is the peak of the dark souls remastered walkthrough. O&S are legendary for a reason. One is fast and hits with lightning; the other is a mountain of meat with a hammer.
Who do you kill first? Most people kill Ornstein (the skinny one) first because he’s easier to catch. However, if you want the Leo Ring or Ornstein’s cool armor, you have to kill him last. In their second phase, the survivor grows to giant size and regains all their health. Be patient. Use the pillars to separate them. Never swing more than twice, or Smough will flatten you.
The Mid-Game Grind and the Lordvessel
Once you have the Lordvessel, you can fast travel between certain bonfires. This is a godsend. Now you need to collect the four Lord Souls to open the way to the final boss. You have choices:
- The Duke’s Archives: Magic-heavy, full of crystal enemies.
- New Londo Ruins: You’ll need to kill the Four Kings (a pure DPS race).
- The Abyss/Lost Izalith: Lava, dragon butts, and the Bed of Chaos (the worst boss in the game).
- Tomb of the Giants: Pitch black. Bring a Skull Lantern or the Sunlight Maggot helm.
Each area has its own gimmick. In the Duke’s Archives, you’re forced to lose to Seath the Scaleless once. Don't panic; it’s scripted. You’ll wake up in a prison cell.
In the Tomb of the Giants, the skeletons are massive and can kick you off cliffs you can't even see. Move an inch at a time. If you see two glowing white dots in the dark, that’s an eye. Shield up.
The Final Stretch: Kiln of the First Flame
Once the Lordvessel is full, the door to the Kiln opens. This area is hauntingly beautiful—ash-covered ruins of a once-great civilization. The Black Knights here are tough but drop great gear and upgrade materials.
Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, is the final boss. If you try to fight him "fairly," he’s a nightmare. He’s aggressive, he jumps, and his flaming sword has massive reach. But Gwyn has one fatal flaw: he can be parried. If you’ve practiced your parrying throughout the game, this fight becomes a cakewalk. Equip a small shield or the Target Shield, wait for his mid-speed swing, and riposte him into oblivion.
Things You Probably Missed
Dark Souls is famous for its secrets. Did you find the Great Hollow inside a tree in Blighttown? Did you return to the Asylum to get the Peculiar Doll? If you have that doll, you can enter the Painted World of Ariamis by touching the giant painting in Anor Londo. It’s an entirely optional, massive snowy level with some of the best lore in the game.
Then there's the DLC, Artorias of the Abyss. Accessing it is a convoluted mess involving killing a hydra, saving a princess, killing a crystal golem in the library, and then going back to the hydra’s lake. It contains the best bosses in the game—Artorias, Kalameet, and Manus. Don't skip it.
Your To-Do List for Success
To wrap this up, let’s look at what you should actually be doing right now if you’re stuck.
- Check your equip load. If you’re over 50%, you’re "fat rolling." It’s slow and gets you killed. Try to stay under 25% for the fast roll, or at least under 50% for a decent mid-roll.
- Kindle your bonfires. Spend a humanity to kindle important bonfires. This gives you 10 Estus Flasks instead of 5. It makes a world of difference during boss fights.
- Talk to everyone. NPCs like Crestfallen Warrior or Siegmeyer of Catarina give you hints and items. Just keep talking until they start repeating themselves.
- Upgrade your armor. Everyone remembers weapons, but reinforcing your favorite armor set can shave off a lot of damage from basic enemies.
- Don't hoard items. Fire bombs, throwing knives, and resins are there to be used. If a boss is weak to fire, slather that Charcoal Pine Resin on your blade and go to town.
The beauty of Lordran is that it doesn't care if you succeed. The world exists with or without you. That makes the eventual victory feel earned in a way few other games manage. Keep your shield up, watch your stamina, and remember: every death is just a lesson you haven't learned yet.
✨ Don't miss: Hysilens Honkai Star Rail: Why This Nihility Unit Is Changing the DoT Meta
Now, go find Andre and get that weapon to +10. You're going to need it for the fortress.
Next Steps for Your Journey
- Locate the Large Ember in the Depths to unlock weapon upgrades up to +10.
- Farm the Blighttown leeches for Large Titanite Shards if you're short on materials.
- Head to Darkroot Basin to defeat the Hydra and unlock the path to the DLC content.