As tends to be the case with FromSoftware’s brilliant-yet-brutal games, Dark Souls 3 isn’t a title that holds the player’s hand or pushes its finer points onto them. The difficulty of the game is really matched only by its inscrutability.
While players are battling those super tough bosses, they’ll also be trying to unravel the game’s compelling story. Investigating item descriptions and embarking on various side quests for NPCs is the best way to do this, with the Usurpation of Fire questline culminating in a completely different ending. There’s an intricate series of actions to perform in order to unlock this ending, which have been broken down step by step for fans in this guide.
10 Recruit Yoel Of Londor At The Undead Settlement
A number of the game’s fascinating NPCs will be pivotal to completing the steps required for the Usurpation of Fire Ending. The first of them is Yoel of Londor, who is encountered at the foreboding (though not as foreboding as some other areas in Dark Souls 3) Undead Settlement.
This enigmatic figure must be recruited before taking on the Abyss Watchers, or he won’t survive and the questline will stop before it began. If the player recruits him successfully, though, they can speak with him at the Firelink Shrine to kick things off.
9 Receive 5 Dark Sigils From Him
The next step is to select ‘Draw Out True Strength’ in conversation with Yoel. Leveling up in this fashion (once for every two deaths) will give the protagonist a Dark Sigil, and five of them are needed to progress.
There are some important things to keep in mind here: firstly, this can only be done if the player’s stats aren’t already maxed out. If they are, they’re locked out of this ending. The same applies if The Ashen One’s Hollow state is cured by the Firekeeper on obtaining their soul. Only the Velka Statue and Purging Stone are safe to use there, otherwise gamers will have to try again in new game plus or another save file. Players will have to remain Hollow throughout the whole questline. With the five Dark Sigils acquired, poor Yoel is doomed but the questline continues.
8 Talk To Anri Of Astora At The Road Of Sacrifices
The next NPC that will prove critical to achieving the Usurpation of Fire ending is Anri of Astora. They’re first found at the Road of Sacrifices (by the bonfire at the Foot of the High Wall).
Talk to them, learn of their plight, and perhaps get a bit of a handle on where this questline may be going (no potential spoilers here). Make sure they have nothing new to say, then proceed onwards in the main story and steel yourself: you’ve got a boss to defeat!
7 Defeat The Deacons Of The Deep
FromSoftware are notorious for crafting devious boss battles, and the encounter with the Deacons of the Deep is no pushover. The key here is crowd control: there are many foes to deal with at once here, so a weapon with a wide, effective arc will be a huge help.
This battle is mandatory for main campaign progress anyway, but for the purposes of the Usurpation of Fire questline, it’s also necessary to defeat them to move things along. After winning the battle, it’s time to return to the Firelink Shrine.
6 Speak To Anri (And Horace) Again At The Firelink Shrine, Then In The Catacombs Of Carthus
After a conversation with Anri (and Horace) again at the Firelink Shrine, Anri will next be found early in the Catacombs of Carthus area. They must be spoken to again here, but be sure to answer “no” to their question and do not tell them where Horace is.
These points are crucial as, again, the wrong response here will change the course of the pair’s story and prevent the rest of the Usurpation of Fire’s events from taking place. Eventually, Anri will meet a grim demise if these steps aren’t taken correctly (not the kind of demise the player needs for the ending).
5 Kill Horace At The Smouldering Lake, Then Find Anri Once More At The Church Of Yorshka
Proceeding onwards from the Carthus encounter (again, do not tell Anri where Horace is), you’ll soon catch up with Horace at the Smouldering Lake. It is possible to avoid killing the warrior if the player’s very careful, but there’s no real need to risk Anri, the protagonist’s future ‘betrothed,’ by doing so.
Take down the now Hollow Horace, then proceed to Irithyll. Here you’ll find Anri yet again in the Church of Yorshka. Allow them to talk until they’ve nothing new to say, then leave without causing any disturbances (there’s another NPC in the room you won’t be able to see, but will be very important to this quest later).
4 Speak To Yuria Of Londor At The Firelink Shrine
With Yoel of Londor now sadly dead, Yuria of Londor is to be found at the Firelink Shrine instead. If everything so far has gone smoothly with this questline, speaking to her there will trigger her dialogue about the upcoming ‘betrothal.’
Prepare yourself for a distinctly disturbing moment to come, then proceed onwards to Anor Londo. In between these steps, of course, there was the small matter of defeating Pontiff Sulyvahn to attend to, but players committed to the Usurpation of Fire questline are probably more than up to the task. With the powerhouse (though Dark Souls 3 has much worse to offer when it comes to bosses) slain, players are on their way to Anor Londo!
3 Perform The Grisly Ceremony At The Darkmoon Tomb
Before entering Anor Londo itself, players will come across a room with a mysterious statue inside. This statue can be removed in traditional Dark Souls meme-y fashion: attack it and it disappears like a trick wall.
Players must not attack the NPC they encounter here. This person was present at the Church of Yorshka earlier, and they’re also key to this questline. After the Pilgrim hands over the Sword of Avowal, the Ashen One can continue forwards to find Anri prone on the altar. After the player performs the grim (yet necessary for the ending) action in this room, they’re off back to the Firelink Shrine yet again!
2 Speak To Yuria Of Londor At The Firelink Shrine Once More
With the Ashen One having committed all manner of unsavory deeds in the pursuit of this ending, it’s about time for some payoff. Luckily, that’s all there is to do in terms of obscure hidden actions.
Now back at the Firelink Shrine, the player must approach their old friend Yuria of Londor. If these steps have been followed correctly, Yuria will offer some unique dialogue, giving The Ashen One the title that this mysterious trek had all been about: Lord of Hollows!
1 Defeat The Soul Of Cinder And Enjoy The ‘Best’ Ending
As the Lord of Hollows, there’s just one thing left to do: proceed as normal and defeat the Soul of Cinder. As one of the toughest foes in the game (heck, even regular enemies like the Giant Man-Serpents don’t mess around), this fight is no picnic, but it’s the culmination of everything the struggle’s been for.
Prevail over the Soul of Cinder (yep, still while Hollow) and the Usurpation of Fire questline is over and the secret ending will play. For many fans, this is considered the true or best ending, as it tie things together and expands on certain details that the other ending doesn’t. Quite right, too, as players definitely have to earn it! Time is a factor in each of these steps and some things can occur a little differently, but this is a highly efficient route. Just watch out for bosses along the way!
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