Online

Co-op

FoldUnfold Table of Contents Introduction Co-op Goals and Rewards Reduced Soul Rewards Co-op Time Limit Soul Memory Ranges

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:

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:

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.

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

FoldUnfold Table of Contents What is PvP? What happens in PvP? How Do I Invade or Get Summoned? Covenant PvP Where Can I Invade? Is it Working? Arena Dueling PvP Rewards PvP Tips Avoiding Unwanted PvP Setting up a Duel PvP Hotspots Notes

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.

Where Can I Invade? Is it Working?


Arena Dueling


PvP Rewards


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.

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.

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


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.