Summary: The Dark Souls 3 Cheat Sheet is a comprehensive, quick-reference guide designed to help players optimize their gameplay with essential tips on builds, bosses, progression, and more.
Dark Souls 3 is a challenging action RPG known for its punishing combat and deep lore. Whether you’re a new player stepping into the unforgiving world of Lothric, a speedrunner aiming to shave seconds off your run, or a casual returning after a break, having a cheat sheet can drastically improve your experience. This guide serves as a fast-reference summary packed with essential info on builds, bosses, progression paths, and more — designed to optimize your gameplay and help you conquer the game with confidence.
Table of Contents
- Character Builds Cheat Sheet
- Boss Order & Progression Path
- Important Bonfires and Shortcuts
- Weapon & Upgrade Cheat Sheet
- Covenants and Farming Spots
- NPC Questlines Simplified
- Quick PvP & Co-op Tips
- Free Modding Tools & Trainers
- Conclusion
A Cheat Sheet for Character Builds
Best Starting Classes
- Knight – High survivability, great for melee builds
- Mercenary – Dual-wielding and strong Dexterity growth
- Pyromancer – Ideal for hybrid magic/fire builds
- Cleric – Great for miracle-focused Faith builds
Recommended Builds (Summary)
Build Type | Key Stats | Suggested Weapons |
Strength | STR, VIG | Great Club, Ledo’s Great Hammer |
Dexterity | DEX, END | Sellsword Twinblades, Sharp Uchigatana |
Faith | FTH, VIG | Sunlight Straight Sword, Lightning Blade |
Pyromancer | INT, FTH | Chaos Bed Vestiges, Demon’s Scar |
Quality | STR, DEX | Hollowslayer Greatsword, Claymore |
Leveling Priorities
- Melee: VIG > END > Primary Stat (STR or DEX)
- Caster: ATT > FTH/INT > VIG
Weapon Scaling Chart (Quick View)
- S Scaling: Exile Greatsword (Heavy), Sharp Crow Quills (DEX)
- A Scaling: Lightning Lothric Knight Sword (Faith), Chaos Longsword (Pyro)
The Recommended Boss Order and Progression Path
Recommended Boss Order
- Iudex Gundyr
- Vordt of the Boreal Valley
- Curse-Rotted Greatwood (Optional)
- Crystal Sage
- Deacons of the Deep
- Abyss Watchers
- High Lord Wolnir
- Pontiff Sulyvahn
- Aldrich, Devourer of Gods
- Yhorm the Giant
- Dancer of the Boreal Valley
- Oceiros, the Consumed King
- Champion Gundyr
- Lothric, Younger Prince
- Soul of Cinder
Core Progression Path
Firelink Shrine → High Wall → Undead Settlement → Road of Sacrifices → Cathedral → Farron Keep → Catacombs → Irithyll → Anor Londo → Grand Archives → Kiln
Key NPC Questlines to Consider
- Anri of Astora – Leads to alternate endings
- Siegward of Catarina – Assists in boss fights, especially Yhorm
- Yoel/Yuria – Unlocks “Usurpation of Fire” ending
Important Bonfires You Should Unlock and Useful Shortcuts
Must-Unlock Bonfires
- Dilapidated Bridge (Undead Settlement)
- Keep Ruins (Farron Keep)
- Church of Yorshka (Irithyll)
- Anor Londo (Main hub for Aldrich & PvP)
- Grand Archives (Critical late-game access)
Best Shortcuts
- Cathedral of the Deep: Elevator + Ladder from Giant’s room
- Irithyll: Sewers to Water Reserve bonfire
- Grand Archives: Central elevator and side wing ladders
A Cheat Sheet for Weapons and Upgrades
Best Weapons by Game Stage
- Early Game: Longsword, Raw Astora Sword, Uchigatana
- Mid Game: Black Knight Sword, Lothric Knight UGS, Great Scythe
- Late Game: Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords, Twin Princes’ Greatsword
Infusion Guide
Build | Infusion |
Strength | Heavy |
Dexterity | Sharp |
Pyromancer | Chaos / Dark |
Faith | Lightning / Blessed |
Quality | Refined |
Titanite Upgrade Path
- +1 to +3: Titanite Shards
- +4 to +6: Large Titanite Shards
- +7 to +9: Titanite Chunks
- +10: Titanite Slab
- Special weapons use Twinkling Titanite or Titanite Scales
An Overview of Covenants and Best Farming Spots
Covenant | Location | Rewards |
Warriors of Sunlight | Undead Settlement | Lightning Spear, Sunlight Medals |
Rosaria’s Fingers | Cathedral of the Deep | Re-spec & Appearance change |
Aldrich Faithful | Anor Londo | PvP rewards |
Mound-Makers | Undead Settlement (early) or Smouldering Lake (late) | PvP hybrid rewards |
- Souls: Lothric Castle (Knights), Archdragon Peak (Man Serpents)
- Titanite: Cathedral Slimes (Large), Grand Archives (Chunks)
- Covenant Items: Silver Knights (Proofs), Ghrus (Wolf’s Blood)
Simplified NPC Questlines You Need to Know
Important NPCs shape your game’s ending and rewards:
- Anri of Astora: Follow her quests carefully for unique weapons and story impact.
- Siegward of Catarina: Helps in critical boss fights if assisted properly.
- Yoel and Yuria of Londor: Their choices affect your hollowing and ending paths.
Make sure to complete their quests to unlock the best outcomes.
Quick Tips for PvP and Co-op Gameplay
Multiplayer Overview
- Use Embers to summon help or enable invasions
- Use White Sign Soapstone for co-op
- Use Red Sign Soapstone or Cracked Red Eye Orbs for PvP
Best PvP Zones
- Pontiff Sulyvahn Bonfire (PvP hotspot)
- Kiln of the First Flame (end-game duels)
- Anor Londo bridge (organized duels)
Meta PvP Gear
- Weapons: Washing Pole, Dark Sword, Gotthard Twinswords
- Rings: Ring of Favor, Prisoner’s Chain, Hornet Ring
- Spells: Great Chaos Fire Orb, Lightning Stake
How to Enhance Dark Souls 3 Gameplay Experience with Xmod
If you want to take your single-player experience in Dark Souls 3 to the next level, consider using Xmod. This tool allows you to access cheats and trainers that can help you experiment with different builds, explore hidden areas, or simply enjoy a more relaxed playthrough.
Here’s how to use Xmod with Dark Souls 3:
- Download and install the Xmod app.
- Search for Dark Souls 3 within the app’s supported game list.
- Launch the game directly through Xmod.
- Activate your preferred mods or cheats to customize your gameplay experience.
Whether you’re testing a new weapon build or revisiting the game casually, Xmod makes it easier to tailor the game to your style—just be sure to use it in offline mode only to avoid violating online play policies.
Conclusion
This Dark Souls 3 cheat sheet covers everything from character builds and boss orders to important bonfires and PvP tips—perfect for players of all levels. Whether you’re aiming to master the game’s brutal combat or explore every corner of Lothric, this guide will help you navigate efficiently and maximize your experience. Prepare yourself, Ashen One, and step boldly into the fire.