Why 100% Completion Feels Like Forging Your Own Sword
Picture this: you’re deep in the fog-shrouded ruins of Lothric, every swing of your blade echoing with the weight of untold secrets. Dark Souls 3 isn’t just a game; it’s a relentless forge where players temper their skills against waves of enemies and hidden depths. For those chasing the elusive 100% completion—unlocking every boss, item, achievement, and secret—it becomes a personal odyssey, as satisfying as quenching a blade in cool water after the heat of battle. In this guide, we’ll navigate the bonfire-lit paths of DS3, drawing from years of exploration and the thrill of that final achievement pop, to help you claim every last ember.
Diving into 100% completion means tackling everything from slaying all 22 bosses to collecting obscure items tucked away in crumbling catacombs. It’s not for the faint-hearted; one wrong step can send you tumbling into a pit of regret, but the rush of piecing together the game’s intricate world is like assembling a mosaic from shattered glass. We’ll break it down into practical steps, with unique examples from my own runs, to turn your playthrough into a triumph rather than a trial.
Building Your Foundation: Gear Up Like a Nameless King
Before you set foot in Firelink Shrine, think of your character build as the core of your arsenal—much like a blacksmith choosing the right metal for a sword. Start by selecting a class that aligns with your playstyle; for instance, the Knight offers sturdy defense for newcomers, while the Deprived lets you mold a versatile fighter from scratch, perfect for those who relish the grind.
Actionable steps to get started:
- Focus on early leveling: Farm souls in the High Wall of Lothric until you’re at least level 20. I once spent an evening circling those ramparts, dodging hollow soldiers like a shadow slipping through alleyways, and emerged with enough points to boost my vitality and strength.
- Master your weapons: Experiment with infusions—say, turning a broadsword into a fire-infused beast for undead foes. In my first 100% run, swapping to a raw Astora Straight Sword turned a frustrating High Wall loop into a fluid dance of parries and counters.
- Stock up essentials: Grab the Estus Flask upgrades early from the shrine’s blacksmith. It’s a small detail, but forgetting this once left me gasping in the Undead Settlement, my health bar flickering like a dying candle in a storm.
Practical tip: Don’t overlook covenants; joining one early, like the Warriors of Sunlight, can yield unique rewards and make co-op invasions feel less like a curse and more like a strategic alliance. Remember, every build has its quirks—mine always includes a trusty shield, turning potential defeats into lessons learned.
Navigating the Realms: Charting Courses Through Ashen Lands
DS3’s world is a labyrinth of interconnected paths, where one wrong turn can lead to a boss fight you’re not ready for, or a hidden treasure that feels like stumbling upon a forgotten heirloom. To hit 100%, you’ll need to explore every area methodically, from the misty swamps of Farron Keep to the fiery depths of the Catacombs of Carthus.
Key Areas and Hidden Gems
Start with the High Wall and Undead Settlement; these are your training grounds. Use bonfires as waypoints, but venture off the beaten path— for example, in the Undead Settlement, climb the rooftops to find the Mortician’s Ashes, which unlock crucial items at the shrine. I recall the first time I did this; the view from those rickety eaves made the world feel alive, a vast canvas waiting to be painted with your victories.
Actionable steps for exploration:
- Map your route: Tackle areas in a non-linear fashion. After the High Wall, loop back through the Road of Sacrifices to access both Farron Keep and the Cathedral of the Deep. This nets you multiple boss souls early on, like the Deacons of the Deep, which I defeated by luring them into a tight corridor for easier crowd control.
- Seek out illusions: Some walls hide illusory secrets, such as the one in the Irithyll Dungeon leading to the Profaned Capital. Think of it as peeling back layers of an onion—each reveal brings tears of frustration and joy.
- Track side quests: NPCs like Anri of Astora have multi-step quests that tie into 100% completion. Follow their path diligently; missing a cue once cost me an entire achievement run, a setback that stung like a phantom’s blade.
Unique example: In the Painted World of Ariandel, I discovered that using a specific bow to snipe enemies from afar turned a chaotic snowstorm fight into a calculated hunt, shaving hours off my completion time.
Conquering Bosses: The Art of the Duel
Boss fights in DS3 are the game’s heartbeat, each one a storm you must weather. Achieving 100% means toppling giants like the Soul of Cinder, but it’s the nuances that separate victory from defeat—like timing a roll just as a flame erupts, turning defense into offense.
Strategies for Tough Encounters
For the Abyss Watchers, focus on their aggressive phases; I found that a quick weapon art from a straight sword disrupted their frenzy, much like interrupting a raging river with a well-placed dam. Practical tips include:
- Learn patterns: Spend time in boss arenas dodging without attacking to internalize movesets. Against Lothric and Lorian, I practiced parrying Lorian’s teleport until it felt instinctive, turning a daunting twin fight into a symphony of ripostes.
- Adapt your build: If a boss resists your primary damage type, switch infusions mid-fight. The Crystal Sage fell to my magic build after I upgraded my sorcerer’s staff, a shift that felt like swapping a blunt tool for a surgeon’s scalpel.
- Summon help wisely: Co-op can ease the burden, but for purists, going solo builds character. In my NG+ run, soloing the optional bosses like the optional ones in the Ringed City added a layer of pride, like forging a ring from pure estus.
Emotional low: There’s something raw about retrying a boss like the Nameless King for the dozenth time, the screen fading to black as your character slumps—yet that eventual win surges like adrenaline through your veins.
Gathering It All: Items, Secrets, and Achievements
No 100% run is complete without hoarding every ring, weapon, and gesture. Think of it as assembling a personal armory, where each piece tells a story of your journey.
Practical tips for collection:
- Prioritize rare drops: Farm enemies for items like the Dragon Torso stone; I used a specific route in Archdragon Peak to maximize efficiency, turning repetitive loops into meditative rituals.
- Unlock achievements last: Save the tricky ones, like completing the game without a shield, for a fresh character to avoid burnout. It’s a tip born from experience, where one misguided attempt left me questioning my resolve.
- Document your progress: Keep notes on missed secrets; in the Grand Archives, I nearly overlooked a hidden ladder that led to a covenant item, a mistake that taught me the value of patience.
Wrapping up this odyssey, 100% completion in DS3 isn’t just about the endgame—it’s about the echoes of every bonfire lit and enemy vanquished. From the highs of a perfect parry to the lows of a ill-timed death, it’s a testament to your growth. Now, go light your own path in Lothric; the ashes await.