Arrival via The Eagle:

Your step-by-step guide to arriving via The Eagle in Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin. Learn enemy placements, item locations, and shortcuts.

Alright, so you've just arrived via The Eagle. First things first, let's get a checkpoint set up. Light the Bonfire right here – it's always good to have a safe spot.

Now, we need to move forward. Head through the path ahead and stick to the narrow ledge on your left. Keep following it, and you'll find a corpse. Make sure to loot it; it's got a Large Titanite Shard and a Radiant Lifegem, which will definitely come in handy.

Next, look for a way into the room through the windows on your right. Once inside, you'll have to deal with an arrow-shooting enemy. As soon as you've handled him, be ready for a bunch of hounds that'll come at you from below. Keep an eye out for those fire barrels down there – they can be super useful for clearing out the hounds quickly. You can also grab a gunpowder barrel from your current ledge and drop it down to take out enemies with the explosion. Just be sure to back away from the edge when you do it, so you don't get caught in the blast yourself!

After that, head down and open the door. Inside, you'll find a chest with an Antiquated Key and the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring. This ring is a lifesaver, as it increases the souls you get from defeated enemies. Quick tip: if you've already got the Antiquated Key and a Pharros Lockstone, you can actually use them here to skip the upcoming boss fight and come back later when you're a bit stronger.

Now, make your way towards the tower that has a black door. You'll see a gunpowder barrel nearby – blow it up to open the door. This door is a shortcut, only unlockable from this side, and it connects you to the docks. It's the same area you'd reach if you arrived by ship from No-Man's Wharf. Once you've opened it, climb back up and re-enter the tower through the door you just unlocked. You'll find Lucatiel here. It's a good idea to talk to her and exhaust her dialogue, especially since she's right next to the No-Man's Wharf Bonfire. You can even summon her later for help before the Lost Sinner boss fight.

Finally, you'll need to cross the broken pillar to your left and enter the door on the other side. This path will lead you straight to the Ruin Sentinels boss battle. If you're ready for them, skip ahead to the 'Continuing On to the Ruin Sentinels' section.