Online
Co-op
Introduction
Co-op is an important component of the online interaction available in Dark Souls 2. Other human players and a few specific NPCs can be summoned for cooperative play. A host can summon a maximum of two friendly phantoms from either white or gold summon signs. These signs are placed by other players using a White Sign Soapstone or Small White Sign Soapstone.
Co-op Goals and Rewards
After being summoned, players can fulfill their duty by helping the host defeat a boss, or by simply surviving long enough before the session times out.
Summoned players will receive a reduced amount of souls from slain enemies, and occasional item drops like Lifegems, regardless if the session ends in success. These rewards are not taken away from the host and are generated for the co-op phantoms. The following rewards are also obtained for completing a successful session:
- Regaining human status and max HP if hollowed
- 1x Token of Fidelity is rewarded to a player summoned through the White Sign Soapstone (when not belonging to the Heirs of the Sun covenant)
- 1x Sunlight Medal is rewarded to all members of the party when a player belonging to the Heirs of the Sun covenant is summoned through the White Sign Soapstone
- 1x Smooth & Silky Stone is rewarded to a player summoned through the Small White Sign Soapstone
Reduced Soul Rewards
During co-op, both the host and phantom(s) receive less souls from bosses. The following amounts are obtained, regardless of the number of phantoms summoned:
- The Host receives 75% of what the boss normally drops
- A Phantom receives 25% of what the boss normally drops
Regular enemies drop 100% of their normal soul amount for both host and summoned phantoms.
Co-op Time Limit
Dark Souls 2 introduces a time limit on summons, meaning a phantom can no longer remain in a host's world indefinitely. Further testing is required to be certain of the exact time limits, which is reduced as more enemies are defeated. A phantom's body will darken as they get closer to the end of their available summon time.
- The regular White Sign Soapstone allows for a longer period of summoning, and is typically recommended for those who prefer to play through an area and help defeat a boss
- The Small White Sign Soapstone allows for a shorter period of summoning, which is typically recommended for helping with either the area or the boss, but not both
One unique aspect to the Small White Sign Soapstone is that it allows hosts to find and summon their signs in areas where the boss has already been defeated. Where the goal in previous Souls games was to primarily help hosts defeat bosses, players using the small soapstone may opt to briefly assist hosts that are farming enemies in areas they've already cleared.
Soul Memory Ranges
Matchmaking in Dark Souls 2 is based purely on Soul Memory ranges. This means that two players can pair if they're close enough to each other in Soul Memory, regardless of their level. The Name-Engraved Ring expands the viable range.
See Online Matchmaking for more information.
Dark Souls 2 PvP
What is PvP?
PvP stands for Player Versus Player, as distinct from PvE or Player Versus Environment; that is, normal, storyline play against the AI.
PvP is accomplished by using one of several online-only items to "invade" another player's world, or to lay down a challenge which another player can either accept or ignore. The specifics of the various methods of initiating PvP are detailed below.
What happens in PvP?
Two or more players fight to the death. The winner receives different rewards depending on their method of invasion. These rewards are gifted to the winner by the game, and are not removed from the defeated player's inventory.
The defeated player is usually sent to the last Bonfire they used. The host will have to reclaim lost souls from their bloodstain as usual, as a host dying in PvP is the treated the same as any other death. Depending on the type of invasion or summon made for PvP, the invader will either lose nothing, or have to reclaim a bloodstain as well.
During an invasion, the area is locked; the host cannot exit the area, though they may still initiate a boss fight by passing through a boss' fog gate, which will immediately send the invader home. If two opposing hostile phantoms invade the same world and one kills the other, the winner will obtain souls but their ultimate goal remains unfinished; killing the host.
How Do I Invade or Get Summoned?
In the early-game, the player can find access to some Cracked Red Eye Orbs, which are used to invade but consumed upon use. They do not require being a member of any specific covenant. Another item that works without belonging to a covenant is the Red Sign Soapstone, though it is only made available mid-game. As the player progresses, more options for PvP open up as more covenants are encountered.
Covenant PvP
There are multiple ways to PvP, depending on which covenant you join.
- The Blue Sentinels covenant allows you to be summoned to assist members of the Way of Blue covenant, when a hostile invader enters their world. Equipping the Guardian's Seal ring will automatically summon you when the right circumstance occurs. Additionally, Blue Sentinels can also invade players who have Sin by using Cracked Blue Eye Orbs, or use a dedicated arena to battle other covenant members in duels.
- The Brotherhood of Blood allows you to duel other members of the covenant in a dedicated arena. Victors are rewarded with a Cracked Red Eye Orb, which can then be used to conduct standard invasions. The covenant leader also sells the Red Sign Soapstone, and an infinite supply of Cracked Red Eye Orbs in NG+.
- Bell Keepers conduct area-specific invasions in the Belfry Luna and Belfry Sol. Equipping the Bell Keeper's Seal ring summons you automatically as other players trespass upon the area.
- Rat King Covenant members conduct area-specific PvP in the Grave of Saints and Doors of Pharros. Instead of invading like the Bell Keepers though, you act as a host and other players trespassing the same area are unwittingly pulled into your world as a hostile phantom. Even as a host, the area enemies are on you side and act as enemies to the summoned player.
- Members of the Dragon Remnants covenant use a Dragon Eye to lay down a summon sign, just like the Red Sign Soapstone. Hosts who see your sign can interact with it to summon you, making it a consensual type of PvP.
Where Can I Invade? Is it Working?
- Items like the Cracked Red and Cracked Blue Eye Orbs can invade players in any area where the item is usable and not "greyed out" in the HUD. The red orbs will attempt to invade a player in that area only, while the blue orbs will give priority to that area but allow invasions in other areas as well. The player will spawn at one of several randomized locations in a level. Make sure the conditions to use the items in the first place are also being met.
- PvP rings like the Bell Keeper's Seal, Guardian's Seal and the Crest of the Rat will cause the player's Covenant Icon (to the left of the health bar) to glow if it is actively searching for connections. If it isn't glowing, make sure the specific conditions for use are being met.
- Items like the Red Sign Soapstone and Dragon Eye can also be used in any area where co-op or PvP is possible. The Red Sign Soapstone's sign will spawn you it at a nearby spawn location when summoned, while the Dragon Eye sign will cause the player to spawn exactly where the sign was dropped.
Arena Dueling
- The Brotherhood of Blood covenant allows for infinite dueling of fellow covenant members by resting at one of three statues that are nearby Titchy Gren. There is no cost to participate in these duels.
- The Blue Sentinels covenant also allows for dueling of fellow covenant members through statues (near "The Blue Cathedral" bonfire). However, each duel costs one Token of Fidelity, which is obtained through helping another player in co-op.
PvP Rewards
- Consult the "Covenant PvP" list above for links to the various covenants and invasion items for more information on rewards.
- Souls awarded to the victor in PvP are a fixed amount based on the opponent's level and the connection type. Consult the PvP Soul Value page for more information, as well as a way to tell players' levels based on the amount of souls dropped.
- A victory that results in a player being sent back to their world causes HP, Estus, and Spell Casts to be refilled upon respawning.
PvP Tips
Avoiding Unwanted PvP
Asides from the option of playing offline, there are a couple things that can be done to drastically reduce the chance of invasions.
- Selecting the option to burn a Human Effigy while resting at a bonfire will drop you towards the bottom of an invasion-priority list. Bear in mind that it also prevents co-op for the given area as well, though.
- While it is possible to be invaded while Hollow in Dark Souls 2, your chances are lower than that of a human player and invasions should not be frequent asides from in a few specific zones (the Bell Keepers areas).
Also consider joining the Way of Blue covenant. It's possible that you get a Blue Phantom to help you ward off an invader.
Setting up a Duel
Setting up PvP with a specific person can be difficult, due to the way the series was designed to primarily facilitate connections between strangers. You need to make sure you and your partner are within the appropriate Soul Memory range of each other.
- Methods where you connect by consensual summoning, as opposed to invading, are generally recommended. Using an item like the Red Sign Soapstone or Dragon Eye offers the chance for a host to summon a player based on their sign, which will display the player's name and confirm who they are beforehand. Otherwise, a random invasion or arena duel carries no guarantee that the invader will target their PvP partner.
- The player who wishes to be summoned should place their sign somewhere that is less likely to be found by other random players. Hiding your sign around a random corner or underneath breakable objects increases the chances that your PvP partner will be the only person to find your sign. Also the usage of the Name-engraved Ring hinders random people that isn't set to the god you choose, while it makes it easier and quicker to find the person you are looking for, as long as they are set to the same god.
PvP Hotspots
Attempting to invade in almost any area with a Cracked Red Eye Orb or Cracked Blue Eye Orb is likely to yield positive results frequently, though there are various zones that become known as PvP hotspots. Currently the opening bridge in the Iron Keep, Heide's Tower of Flame, Forest of Fallen Giants and the second bonfire in Huntsman's Copse are popular PvP locations.
Most people finalize their builds at soul level 150 for arena PvP, and in the range of 150 to 200 for soul memory matched PvP.
Others prefer to keep leveling as no in-game mechanic stops them from doing so.
Notes
- Soul Level does not matter for PvP outside of Arena matchmaking. See PvP Soul Memory ranges here: Online Matchmaking
- Depleting an enemy's stamina while they are blocking will send them into a stun that allows you to riposte. Get close and use a light attack.
- If you are looking to apply Poison or Bleed debuffs on, its better to use fast attacking weapons rather than heavier weapons which are going to consume more stamina per strike. In addition, wearing the Crest of the Rat increases poison buildup bonus by 50 and wearing the Crest of Blood increases bleed bonus by 50.
- When fighting someone who is hiding behind a shied, instead of trying to drain their stamina with successive attacks to get them to drop their shield, you can shield bash by performing a guard break up close. This will throw them into a helpless state in which you can quickly riposte for massive damage. Be careful though, an experienced PvPer may likely suspect this and get a free hit on you.
- If you're feeling a bit reckless , try parrying. You may find it more effective and easier to parry those wielding large weapons as they can be easier to predict. It's also generally a good idea to start off by practicing parrying on weaker enemies (like Hollow Soldiers) if you're still new to it.
- Red Sign Soapstone generally offers fast PvP when placed near bonfires.
- See the Game Mechanics page for more information.
PVP Tournaments
We need PvP Tournaments
A popular PVP tournament in the Dark Souls community is simply creating a new character and wearing the agape ring, throughout game unless your battling one of the four Old ones. (absorbing each of the four old ones, Nashandra DOES NOT COUNT) Therefore each player has the same soul memory for leveling up and are all in the same matchmaking tier making it easy to be paired with like minded players with interesting builds.