Since its initial release back in 2011, Dark Souls took the video game world by storm, and over 10 years later, it is a legendary game in its own right. FromSoftware's continuation of the Souls series led into a vast world full of lore and dangers, ripe for players to explore as they please, all while facing unforgiving and challenging bosses.
During their journeys, players could align themselves with one of nine Covenants, granting them special benefits, like powerful items and weapons. A Covenant is a concept that's important to the core gameplay of Dark Souls and, as with every other aspect to the beloved FromSoft title, is heavy on the lore.
Warrior of Sunlight
Warrior of Sunlight is the co-op Coverant of jolly cooperation pioneer Solaire of Astoria and the most popular covenant across the Dark Souls games, with it also being given the nickname 'Sun Bros.' Members of this Covenant harness the power of sunlight which manifests as lightning and are disciples of Lord Gwyn's Firstborn. The Covenant's symbol, the Sunlight Medal, is shared with Lord Gwyn's Firstborn, and it is said that the old God of War watches over the Warriors.
The old God of War inherited sunlight from his father, the Lord of Sunlight and Cinder, Gwyn – father to Gwynevere, Gwyndolin, and Filianore. It is said that the name of Lord Gwyn's Firstborn is unknown because he was stripped of his deific status as punishment for an unexplained 'foolishness.' Although his name has been forgotten throughout history, the Sun Bros still worship him and what he once was.
Princess Guard
The easiest covenant to join in the game, the only requirement is to defeat Dark Souls main boss Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough and rescue the Princess, the first daughter of the Great Lord Gwyn. Upon joining the ranks of the Princess Guard, players are granted some incredible benefits considering the nearly non-existent barrier of entry.
Gwynevere is highly cherished by Lord Gwyn and is seen as a symbol of bounty and fertility. Also known as the Covenant of Gwynevere, the Princess Guard's sole duty is to protect the Princess of Sunlight with their lives. Those who join the Princess Guard will be more easily matched up with Covenant members from other worlds, presumably in order to better protect the Princess together.
Way of White
The Way of White is considered the most useless Covenant in Dark Souls with the only perk being a reduced likelihood of their world being invaded by other players. Players who choose to be the Knight or Cleric starting class are automatically members of this Covenant, while interested players of another class will need to save Reah of Thorolund to join. According to this Church, the Dark Sign is accursed, and bonfires must be maintained to appease the gods.
This religious Dark Souls Covenant was founded by Allfather Lloyd, Lord Gwyn's uncle, who is the patron deity of Thorolund. Its head bishop, 'Lloyd's Apostle,' is said to be one of the great royals of Thorolung. Those who follow the Way of White and find themselves undead, such as Paladin Leroy, must go on the Undead Mission. Leroy was the first ever undead cleric of the Way of White, who had a blessed shield of a white flame.
Darkwraith
This covenant is the most difficult Covenant to join. By avoiding all direction provided by the game, players need to acquire the Covenant of Artorias ring by first defeating the Great Grey Wolf Sif before traversing to the Abyss and facing the Four Kings. After defeating the bosses, players will be graced by the presence of Darkstalker Kaathe, an ancient, evil serpent.
The covenant began as one of the most evil characters in Dark Souls, Darkstalker Kaathe corrupted a number of New Londo knights in order to fulfil the plan of the Furtive Pygmy – to herald the Age of Dark. The Furtive Pygmy had found the Dark Soul near the First Flame, which contributed to the defeat of the Dragons, ending the Age of Ancients and leading to beginnings of the Age of Fire. The Pygmy had foreseen that the Age of Dark would come at the end of the Age of Fire, causing Gwyn to sacrifice himself to rekindle the First Flame and prolong the Age of Fire.
Forest Hunter
Forest Hunters are sworn to defend the Darkroot Garden and can be joined by simply talking to the talking cat Alvina. The Darkroot Garden is said to be where the Knight Artorias is buried. Although the Forest Hunter leader doesn't seem to believe that Sir Artorias really existed by calling it "nothing but a fabrication," but it's a common Dark Souls misconception as she was one of two companions of Artorias.
Sir Artorias the Abysswalker was one of the Four Knights of Lord Gwyn. During his quest to save the Princess Oolacile, Artorias and his beast companion Sif were overwhelmed. In order to protect Sif, the knight sacrificed himself by using his Cleansing Greatshield. However, he was swallowed by the Dark and had become corrupted, but was eventually laid to rest within Darkroot Garden after being one of the best boss fights in Dark Souls. Alvina and her Forest Hunters protect Artorias' grave to prevent anyone from utilizing the Abyss.
Path of the Dragon
The path to joining this Covenant is concealed, making it one of the more illusive Covenants in Dark Souls. Players need to journey to the non-compulsory, hidden area of Ash Lake, past hydras and other dangers, to meet the Stone Dragon by praying to the Everlasting Dragons. This covenant worships the dragons of the past and seek to transform themselves into dragonkind.
The Stone Dragon is one of the last few living dragons in the world and a direct descendant of the Everlasting Dragons – who were the immortal rulers of the world during the Age of Ancients. They were said to be undefeatable until the Four Lords discovered the First Flame, giving them a means to challenge the mighty dragons. Ultimately, the dragons were defeated when Seath the Scaleless betrayed his own kind by siding with the Lords and revealing the dragon's one weakness.
Blade of Darkmoon
Players who join this Covenant act as executioner. Members of Blade of Darkmoon seek to rid the world of sin, under the leadership of Dark Sun, second son of Lord Gwyn.
Followers of Blade of Darkmoon are considered apostles of the Dark Sun Gwyndolin, and serve to hunt those guilty of sin. The primary committers of sin are said to be those who have either disrespected the Gods, broken their Covenant, or have had their sins reported by an Indictment. Thus, members of this Covenant can only invade other players who were guilty of committing these sins. Gwyndolin is closely aligned with Velka, the Goddess of Sin, and her Book of the Guilty is used to oversee those who have sinned.
Gravelord Servant
Members of this Covenant are servants to the Gravelord Nito, the First of the Dead and one of the Four Lords. Gravelord Servants are tasked to spread death and misery upon the worlds by using Eyes of Death to plague them with black phantoms. Players who want to join this Covenant need to have at least one Eye of Death in their inventory before hiding in a conspicuous coffin within the Catacombs, then praying to the Sarcophagus Gravelord.
Within the Dark Souls timeline, Nito's soul turned him into the physical manifestation of death and illness, embodied by a mass of skeletons held together by a mysterious glue. He was the one to unleash the killing blow, ultimately defeating the Dragons and ending the Age of Ancients. After the defeat of the Dragons, Nito fell into a deep slumber within the Tomb of the Giants. Despite his slumber, he still wields the power to administer death. Although similar in concept to the followers of Kaathe, Gravelord Servants do not profit from the death that they cause, unlike the Darkwraiths who seek to bring about the Age of Dark. All life will eventually end in death, and servants to Nito only assist in speeding up the process.
Chaos Servant
Players interested in taking the path of the Chaos Servant must first defeat the Chaos Witch Quelaag before moving onwards to find Quelaag's Sister, the Fair Lady. Chaos Servants dedicate their service to the Fair Lady – a Daughter of Chaos – by gathering humanity for her in order to alleviate her pain caused by her consuming the Blight pus-infected natives of Blighttown.
The sisters fled to Blighttown when their mother, the Witch of Izalith, and their other two sisters became the Bed of Chaos in a failed attempt to remake the First Flame. The Bed of Chaos is the mother of demons that devoured the Witch and her two daughters, and corrupted Quelaag and the Fair Lady for attempting to escape it along with an entourage of servants. Quelaag and the Fair Lady became fused at the waist with demon spiders, though they kept their sanity intact. Their servants became infected with a parasitic disease known as the Blight pus, and the Fair Lady sought to ease their plight by consuming them, causing her to weaken and become blind.
Dark Souls Remastered is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.
