The masterpiece that changed gaming and spawned countless easter eggs in other games, Dark Souls is a game all about secrets and hidden areas. From the vague storyline to the mysterious starter pendant, this game has a lot of things for players to explore and uncover that may or may not be real.
This list will explore some secrets many gamers may not be aware of even after all these years. From hidden covenants, other worlds, optional boss fights, and an entire lake hiding under our noses these are some of the more interesting hidden areas in the entire game.
Updated on September 9, 2021 by Ben Baker: There is a tremendous amount of secrets to this game, with players finding new things all the time. While this list is by no means comprehensive, it did leave out some valuable areas that players can discover. For instance, one of the best pyromancer merchants is tucked away in a hidden area. There is also the possibility to revisit the starter area, to obtain helpful items for future progress.
With that in mind, a few more entries have been added, as well as some of the rewards that can be found in each of optional areas. As a result, it may be in the player’s best interest to track down these hidden spots to see what valuable Dark Souls secrets lie there.
13 Northern Undead Asylum (Again)
- Stray Demon Drops
- Titanite Slab
- 20,000 Souls
- 1 Humanity
- 1 Homeward Bone
- Snuggly Merchant
- Crest Shield
- Rusted Iron Ring
- Peculiar Doll
After escaping prison, defeating the Asylum Demon, and hitching a ride with the Giant Crow, many players assume they’re done with this area. What many may not be aware of is that it is one of the optional areas they can return to.
Returning here has a number of benefits. Players can face the Stray Demon to get a Titanite Slab, among the other items listed above. What's more, the Peculiar Doll is needed for the Painted World of Ariamis. And of course, Snuggly can exchange items with the player.
12 Free Big Hat Logan
- Big Hat Logan Pyromancy Merchant
- Soul of a Hero
The royal member of Dragon School is encountered a number of times in the game. The first time he can be encountered is actually a secret Tucked away in Sen’s Fortress is a machine attached to a boulder, and using this will destroy a wall behind a sleeping Man-Serpent.
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Big Hat Logan will be in a cage that can be unlocked with the Cage Key or Master Key. Considering he’s a source of some of the most powerful spells in the game, it’s definitely worth finding and freeing him.
11 The Hidden Silver Pendant
- Silver Pendant
Tucked away in Oolacile is another Dark Souls secret This particular one is a Silver Pendant resting in a hidden area of the township. Following the steps down the firsts bonfire of the area, players will see a path to the right. After killing one of the townsfolk, the player should see an unreachable item on a ledge. Circle the building beneath the ledge to encounter an Orange Soapstone marking saying “Let There Be Light”.
Here the player should use a source of light such as the Skull Lantern, Cast Light, or Sunlight Maggot. This removes an illusory wall and reveals a chest. Inside the chest is the Silver Pendant that can repel dark magic.
10 Hidden Merchant
- Shiva Of The East As A Merchant
Shiva of the East can actually be encountered much sooner, at Alvina’s castle. But after joining the Forest Hunter Covenant, he will relocate with his bodyguard to the Blighttown Swamp, where he operates as a merchant.
He possesses a number of useful weapons like the Washing Pole or the Stone Greatsword, but the most interesting item in his collection is the East Wood Grain Ring. This ring will reduce the amount of weapon durability lost during use, which is handy for the weapons he sells as they all have low durability.
9 Oolacile
- Dusk of Oolacile As A Merchant
- Broken Pendant
Introduced as part of Dark Souls: Remastered, Dusk of Oolacile is a princess who has been kidnapped by a golem. Getting to her requires killing the Hyrda in Darkroot Basin and visiting the cave that stands where the Hydra used to be. Inside is the golem, and upon defeating it, the princess is freed.
But wait, there’s more. If the player travels to Duke’s Archive and kills the Crystal Golem there, it drops a Broken Pendant. Take this back to the Dusk of Oolacile and she’ll transport the character to her homeland. As a large hidden area with four separate bosses and lots of items to find, it's definitely endgame material, so go in prepared for a challenge.
8 Developer Message
A hidden area tucked inside of Oolacile includes a message from the developer. It’s located on the two-story structure where the Oolacile Sorcerer uses Dark Orb sorcery. When entering the walkway wielding a light source, a message from the developer will appear and a false wall will fade away.
To know what the message says, players should go check it out themselves. It’s worth the effort of fighting through Oolacile to read it.
7 Chaos Servant
- Eingyi As a Merchant
After killing the optional boss Quelaag in Blightown, return to her lair and strike the back wall to discover a secret room. Here is a hidden being covered in eggs known as Eingyi, who will ask if the player wants to join the Chaos Servant Covenant.
This individual tucked away in the depths of Blighttown is the only means of curing the player of the egg head parasite and, can teach the powerful Great Chaos Fireball and Chaos Storm. Just don’t expect life to be normal after joining this group.
6 Ash Lake
- Black Hydra Drops
- 10,000 Souls
- 2 Dragon Scales
- Miracle: Great Magic Barrier
- Dragon Greatsword
- Eye Of Death
- Dung Pie
- Prism Stone
- Copper Coin
- Gold Coin
- Silver Coin
That’s right, an entire lake is hiding in this game waiting to be discovered. After fighting through Blighttown, the player will encounter a large tree above Blighttown swamp with a false wall. Behind this wall is Great Hollow which winds its way down to Ash Lake.
This area contains the optional Black Hydra boss and the Everlasting Dragon. Talking to the latter allows the player to join the Path of the Dragon covenant, a PVP cult. Players can also chop off his tail to get the Dragon Greatsword — don’t worry, he doesn’t seem to mind.
5 Painted World Of Ariamis
- Crossbreed Priscilla Drops
- Soul of Priscilla
- 30,000 Souls
- 1 Twin Humanities
- Priscilla’s Dagger
- King Jeremiah Drops
- 1 Humanity
- 30,132 Souls
- Notched Whip
- Xanthous Set
- Undead Dragon Drops
- Dragon Scale
- Bloodshield
- Large Soul of a Proud Knight
- 3,956 Souls
- Pyromancy Scroll: Fire Surge
- Pyromancy Scroll: Acid Surge
- Miracle Scroll: Vow of Silence
- Black Set
- Velka’s Rapier
- Painting Guardian Set
- Bloodshield
- Ring of Sacrifice
- Souvenir of Reprisal
- Dried Finger
- Broken Straight Sword
- Short Bow
- Spear
- Large Leather Shield
- Bonewheel Shield
The Painted World is a large area found in Anor Londo, but only if the Peculiar Doll is in the player's possession (mentioned earlier). This new area is located in the massive painting at the bottom of the chapel.
This world is full of tough enemies, and an entirely optional final boss called Crossbreed Priscilla. This area is worth the trip for the Painting Guardian armor set, the bizarre Xanthous set, Velka’s dark clerical robes, and Priscilla’s Dagger (if the player fights her).
4 Five Chest Room
- Havel’s Set
- Dragon Tooth
- Havel’s Greatshield
- Occult Club
Another secret area located in Anor Londo is a veritable treasure trove, with one significant booby trap. At the main bonfire there’s a room filled with chests with a fireplace that hasn’t been lit. This is actually a false wall that reveals a secret path to a room containing five chests. Unfortunately, one of them is a mimic.
But inside the chests are useful and interesting items. The Havel’s Armor set has incredible poise and high defense at the cost of weight. Meanwhile, the Dragon’s Tooth is a powerful hammer, and the other items above are useful as well.
3 Rescue Sif
- Cleansing Greatshield
This interesting hidden area is located in the Chasm of the Abyss, which comes with the Artorias of the Abyss DLC or the Remastered edition. At the first fork is a floor that disappears if the player is wielding a light source of any kind.
After falling through the floor the player can follow a large cat named Alvina to a fake wall that also disappears with a light source. On the other side is a secret room where the Great Wolf Sif is bound by a seal. She can be released for a Cleansing Greatshield.
2 Darkwraith Covenant
- Membership to Darkwraith Covenant
This is another PVP-centric covenant hidden in a secret area of the game. To reach it, the player will need the ring Covenant of Artorias that Great Grey Wolf Sif drops, in order to access The Abyss. After defeating the Four Kings — a boss fight known for being a game breaker — communicate with Kaathe and join the Covenant.
It’s an interesting covenant with a Dark Hand. When equipped on the right hand, this item will absorb humanities from opponents; on the left, it will be a black hole shield.
1 Dark Sun Gwyndolin
- Dark Sun Gwyndolin Drops
- Soul of Gwyndolin
- 40,000 Souls
- Brass Armor
- Miracle: Sunlight Blade
- Dark Sun Gwyndolin’s Armor can be purchased from Domhnall of Zena
Perhaps the most interesting and game-changing hidden area in the game is an optional boss fight found in Anor Lando. There are two ways to reach it: either wear the Darkmoon Séance Ring in the Darkmoon Tomb to reveal stairs, or attack Gwynevere, who turns out to be an illusion and causes the sun to disappear over Anor Londo.
Both paths will take the player to Dark Sun Gwyndolin, the illegitimate son of Lord Gwyn and leader of the Blade of the Dark Moon covenant. Many fans believe Seath the Scaleless may be one of his parents, and that Gwyndolin had some hand in the Moon Presence of Bloodborne. Either way, it’s a tough fight that will make the player question everything they know about the story of Dark Souls.