You’re walking through the Undead Settlement, dodging giant arrows and trying not to get smashed by a big lady with a spiked mace, when you hear it. That deep, rumbling hum. It’s coming from a lift. You look up, and there he is—a man wearing armor that looks suspiciously like a vegetable. This is Siegward of Catarina, better known to the community as the Dark Souls 3 onion knight, and he’s probably the most human thing in a world that’s mostly just ash and despair.
He's a vibe. Honestly.
Most people see the round armor and the goofy helmet and think he’s a joke character. Big mistake. Siegward isn't just comic relief; he’s the emotional backbone of the entire game. While everyone else is busy going hollow or talking in cryptic riddles about the end of the world, Siegward is just out here trying to keep a promise. He wants to have a toast, take a nap, and maybe save your life a few times along the way. But if you don't follow his questline perfectly, things get dark. Fast.
The Problem With the Dark Souls 3 Onion Knight Quest
Let’s be real: FromSoftware hates you. They don't want you to finish quests. They want you to fail because you forgot to talk to a guy in a well or because you walked through a door too early. The Dark Souls 3 onion knight has one of the most notoriously finicky questlines in the series.
Miss one step? He’s gone. Or worse, he’s stuck.
The first time you meet him, he’s stuck on a lift puzzle. It’s classic Siegward. He’s "in a bit of a pickle," as he likes to say. You solve it by jumping off mid-ride, which leads to a fight with a Fire Demon. This is where most players fall in love with him. He doesn't wait for you to carry him; he charges in with a war cry. He’s brave, but he’s also a bit of a mess. That’s the charm.
But then comes the well. If you’ve played the game, you know the Well of Despair—not because of the enemies, but because of the sheer confusion it causes. You find Siegward trapped in a well outside the Cleansing Chapel in the Cathedral of the Deep. He’s been stripped of his armor by Patches. You have to go buy his armor back and throw it down to him. Why? Because he’s a man of honor who can’t bear to be seen naked? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just because the Catarina set is heavy enough to keep him grounded in a world that’s literally falling apart.
✨ Don't miss: Sex Fallout New Vegas: Why Obsidian’s Writing Still Outshines Modern RPGs
Why the Armor Matters (It's Not Just for Fashion)
The Catarina armor is iconic. It’s been in every Souls game in some form, usually worn by a "Sieg" (Siegmeyer, Sieglinde, Siegward). In Dark Souls 3, the onion knight's armor serves a very specific mechanical and narrative purpose.
It’s heavy. Really heavy.
If you try to wear it yourself without high Vitality, you’re going to be "fat rolling" all over Lothric. But for Siegward, it represents his resilience. It’s curved to deflect blows, which is why it looks like an onion. It’s practical, even if it looks ridiculous.
There’s a deep irony here. The most ridiculous-looking guy in the game is actually the most competent. When you finally reach the end of his journey—the fight against Yhorm the Giant—he shows up with a weapon called Storm Ruler. He isn't just there to help; he’s there to fulfill a "long-held promise" to an old friend. He’s the only NPC who feels like an equal to the player. He isn't a summons you call from a glowing sign on the floor; he’s a comrade who walks through the fog gate with you because he has a job to do.
The Yhorm Connection
Most players don't realize that Siegward and Yhorm were actually close. Yhorm gave Siegward the Storm Ruler specifically so that Siegward could kill him if Yhorm ever lost his way. That’s heavy. That’s some deep lore that the game barely explains unless you’re reading item descriptions like a madman.
When the Dark Souls 3 onion knight calls Yhorm "old friend," it hits different. He’s not just fighting a boss; he’s performing an act of mercy. He’s putting his friend out of his misery. And after the fight? If you talk to him, he shares one last toast.
🔗 Read more: Why the Disney Infinity Star Wars Starter Pack Still Matters for Collectors in 2026
"To your valour, my sword, and our victory together. Long may the Sun shine!"
Then he naps. If you leave the room and come back, you find his armor on the floor. Whether he died from his wounds, "completed" his purpose and let go of his life, or simply moved on, the game leaves it vague. But the emotional weight stays. You’re alone again.
How to Actually Complete the Quest Without Messing Up
If you want to see this through to the end, you have to be meticulous. It's not just about being "good" at the game; it's about being a good secretary for Siegward's life.
- Undead Settlement: Help him kill the Fire Demon. Talk to him until he falls asleep. Do not hit him. (Seriously, people do this).
- Cathedral of the Deep: Do NOT go to Rosaria’s Bedchamber before checking the well. If you trigger the Patches cutscene at the bridge first, it's easier. Buy the armor from Patches at Firelink Shrine later.
- Irithyll of the Boreal Valley: Find him in the kitchen. He made soup. Drink the Estus Soup, talk to him, and get the "Emit Force" miracle. This is a crucial "checkpoint" for his mental health.
- Irithyll Dungeon: This is where most people fail. He’s in a cell. You need the Old Cell Key. You have to find it in the Profaned Capital, then backtrack to the dungeon, jump across a gap from a roof, and unlock his door.
- The Yhorm Fight: If you did everything right, he will automatically join the fight. You don't need a summon sign.
The "Pickle" of Identity
Some lore hunters argue that Siegward is just a projection or a "memory" of the original Siegmeyer from the first game. I think that’s a bit of a stretch. Miyazaki (the game's director) loves recurring themes, and the Dark Souls 3 onion knight is less of a literal clone and more of a symbol of enduring humanity.
In a world where everyone is turning into beef jerky and trying to eat your soul, Siegward just wants to share a drink. He represents the "Sieg" spirit—bravery masked by bumbling, and a heart that doesn't harden even when the world freezes over.
Honestly, the most impressive thing about him isn't his combat skill. It's his kitchen. How does a guy in five hundred pounds of steel armor manage to cook a delicious Estus Soup in the middle of a frozen city infested with ghost knights and swamp monsters? We'll never know. Maybe it's in the seasoning.
💡 You might also like: Grand Theft Auto Games Timeline: Why the Chronology is a Beautiful Mess
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re heading back into Lothric, don't just treat Siegward as an equipment drop. His armor is great, sure, but his story is the reward.
- Prioritize the Old Cell Key: Don't fight Yhorm until you’ve checked the cell. If you kill the boss before freeing Siegward, he won't show up for the cutscene, and you miss the best moment in the game.
- Listen to the Music: During the Yhorm fight, the score shifts slightly when Siegward is present. It adds a layer of tragedy that you miss if you're soloing the giant with your own Storm Ruler.
- The Patches Interaction: Pay attention to what Patches says about the "onion." It reveals a lot about how other NPCs view Siegward’s perceived "naivety."
- The Final Toast: After the Yhorm fight, don't just warp out. Walk to the back of the room, get the items, and then walk back to Siegward. If you warp, you might miss the final piece of his gear spawning correctly.
The Dark Souls 3 onion knight reminds us that even at the end of the world, there’s time for a nap. And a drink. And a promise kept. Don't let him stay in that well. He's got work to do.
Key Takeaways for the Catarina Quest
To ensure you get the Storm Ruler and the Titanite Slab from Siegward, make sure you never skip the Irithyll kitchen dialogue. This is the "soft trigger" for his appearance in the dungeon. If you find yourself in the Profaned Capital and haven't seen him since the Fire Demon, you've likely missed a step in the Cathedral. Backtrack to the well immediately.
The reward for finishing this isn't just a trophy; it's the satisfaction of knowing that in a game famous for its loneliness, you didn't have to finish the hardest part alone.
Next Steps:
Go to the Undead Settlement and listen for the humming. If the lift is going up, go down. If it's going down, go up. Find the knight, kill the demon, and start the most rewarding friendship in gaming.