Exploring the Forest of Fallen Giants
The Forest of Fallen Giants is likely the first major area you'll explore in Drangleic, serving as an excellent introduction to Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin's combat, exploration, and environmental storytelling. This guide will walk you through every significant encounter, item, and secret, ensuring you leave no stone unturned and are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Accessing the Forest and Initial Steps
From the central hub of Majula, locate the path leading away from the monument, past the large stone sword. Follow this winding path, which will eventually lead you to a large, crumbling archway marking the entrance to the Forest of Fallen Giants. As you enter, you'll immediately encounter several Hollow Infantry. These enemies are slow but can be dangerous in groups. Take them out carefully.
Continue straight until you reach a small courtyard with more Hollows. To your left, you'll see a ladder leading down. Descend it to find the first bonfire of the area, the Forest of Fallen Giants bonfire. Light it and rest. This bonfire is crucial for respawning and managing your Estus Flasks.
Path to the Cardinal Tower
From the Forest of Fallen Giants bonfire, head back up the ladder. Proceed through the courtyard, dealing with any remaining Hollows. You'll soon come across a large, broken wall with a gap you can walk through. On the other side, you'll face more Hollow Infantry, including some with shields. use guard breaks (forward + R1/RB) or circle around them for backstabs.
As you move forward, you'll notice a large, burning tree stump. Be wary, as a Hollow Archer often guards this area from a higher ledge. Take him out with ranged attacks or close the distance quickly. Continue along the main path. You'll pass through a narrow corridor and emerge into a larger area dominated by a massive, ruined tower. This is the Cardinal Tower. The bonfire is located inside.
Before entering the tower, explore the immediate vicinity. To your right, near the base of the tower, you'll find a corpse with a Soul of a Lost Undead. To your left, there's a small alcove with another Hollow. Defeat him and collect the Lifegem from the corpse.
Enter the Cardinal Tower. The Cardinal Tower bonfire is directly ahead, to your left. Light it immediately. This bonfire is a central hub for the early parts of the area.
NPC Encounters and Key Items
Near the Cardinal Tower bonfire, you'll find Merchant Hag Melentia. Speak to her repeatedly until she exhausts her dialogue. She sells essential items like Lifegems, Arrows, and the all-important Pharros' Lockstone. After exhausting her dialogue, she will relocate to Majula, becoming a permanent vendor there. purchase anything you need before she moves.
From the Cardinal Tower bonfire, head up the stairs. You'll encounter a new enemy type: the Hollow Royal Soldier. These are tougher than the standard Hollow Infantry, often wielding larger weapons and shields. They can also perform a powerful overhead smash. Deal with them one at a time if possible.
At the top of the stairs, you'll find a room with a large hole in the floor. This leads to a lower section. For now, ignore the hole and proceed across the wooden planks. You'll find a corpse with a Small White Sign Soapstone, allowing you to be summoned by other players.
Continue along the ramparts. You'll face more Royal Soldiers and Archers. Be cautious of ambushes around corners. Look for a ladder leading down. Descend it to a lower level. Here, you'll find a door that requires the Soldier's Key to open. Remember this location.
Instead of going through the locked door, continue along this lower path. You'll eventually reach a large, open area with a giant tree root forming a bridge. Cross this root. On the other side, you'll find a corpse with the Soldier's Key. This key is vital for unlocking many doors in the area, including the one you just passed.
Secrets and Optional Paths
With the Soldier's Key in hand, backtrack to the locked door near the ladder you descended. Open it. Inside, you'll find a room with a chest containing a Fire Longsword. This is an excellent early-game weapon for many builds, especially if you have some points in Faith or Intelligence, as it scales with both.
From the Fire Longsword room, you can proceed further. You'll encounter more Hollow Royal Soldiers. This path eventually leads to a large, open area with a water wheel and a small cave. Inside the cave, you'll find a corpse with a Human Effigy.
Another important secret path: From the Cardinal Tower bonfire, go up the stairs and across the wooden planks. Instead of going down the ladder to the Soldier's Key area, look for a broken section of the rampart where you can drop down to a lower ledge. This path leads to a small room with a chest containing a Green Blossom and a Large Soul of a Lost Undead. Be careful of the Hollows in this area.
Enemies and Their Locations
- Hollow Infantry: Found throughout the initial areas, especially near the Forest of Fallen Giants bonfire and the path to the Cardinal Tower.
- Hollow Archer: Often positioned on ledges or behind cover, providing ranged support. Examples include near the burning tree stump and on the ramparts.
- Hollow Royal Soldier: More heavily armored and aggressive, found on the ramparts, inside the Cardinal Tower, and in areas unlocked by the Soldier's Key.
- Giant Basilisk: (Optional) In the area accessed by dropping down near the Cardinal Tower bonfire, there's a small cave with these petrifying creatures. Be cautious of their mist attack.
- Turtle Knight (Old Knight): (Optional) After defeating The Last Giant, a path opens up to a small area with a single Turtle Knight. These are slow but hit very hard.
Path to The Last Giant (Boss)
From the Cardinal Tower bonfire, go up the stairs and across the wooden planks. Continue past where you found the Small White Sign Soapstone. You'll eventually reach a fog gate. This is the entrance to the boss arena for The Last Giant.
Before entering, ensure you are fully healed, have enough Estus Flasks, and consider summoning an NPC phantom if available (e.g., Pate, if you've found him and exhausted his dialogue in this area). The Last Giant is a relatively straightforward boss, but his attacks hit hard.
The Last Giant Strategy:
- Weakness: His head and ankles are vulnerable.
- Attacks: He has wide sweeps, stomps, and an overhead smash. When he rips off his arm, his reach increases significantly.
- Strategy: Stay close to his ankles and attack. Roll through his stomps and sweeps. When he rips off his arm, be prepared for longer-reaching attacks. If you have ranged attacks, targeting his head can deal significant damage.
Upon defeating The Last Giant, you will receive the Soul of the Last Giant and a Soldier Key (if you haven't already found it). A new bonfire will appear in the boss arena.
Path to The Pursuer (Optional Boss)
After defeating The Last Giant, return to the Cardinal Tower bonfire. Go up the stairs and across the wooden planks, then descend the ladder to the area where you found the Soldier's Key. Continue through the door you unlocked with the Soldier's Key (the one leading to the Fire Longsword). Proceed through this area, past the water wheel. You'll eventually find a large, open area with a ballista trap.
In this area, you will encounter The Pursuer. This encounter is optional at this point, but defeating him here grants you access to a shortcut and a valuable ring. The Pursuer is a much tougher fight than The Last Giant, especially early in the game.
The Pursuer Strategy (Early Game):
- Ballista Cheese: The most common early-game strategy is to use the ballistas in the arena. Lure The Pursuer in front of a ballista, then quickly run to operate it. Two or three direct hits from the ballista will often defeat him. Be careful, as the ballistas can also hit you.
- Melee Strategy: If you choose to fight him legitimately, focus on dodging his attacks (especially his charge and dark magic attacks). He is vulnerable after his combos. Circle strafe to his shield side and attack. He has a grab attack that is very damaging.
Defeating The Pursuer here will reward you with the Ring of Blades +0 and the Soul of the Pursuer. A new bonfire will appear, and a path will open up, leading to the Lost Bastille via the Eagle. This provides a significant shortcut for later progression.
Important Item Checklist
- Forest of Fallen Giants Bonfire: First bonfire in the area.
- Cardinal Tower Bonfire: Central hub bonfire.
- Soul of a Lost Undead: Various locations.
- Lifegem: Various locations.
- Small White Sign Soapstone: Allows co-op.
- Soldier's Key: Unlocks many doors.
- Fire Longsword: Excellent early-game weapon.
- Human Effigy: Restores humanity.
- Green Blossom: Boosts stamina recovery.
- Pharros' Lockstone: From Merchant Hag Melentia.
- Soul of the Last Giant: Boss drop.
- Ring of Blades +0: Pursuer drop.
- Soul of the Pursuer: Pursuer drop.
By following this comprehensive guide, you should have thoroughly explored the Forest of Fallen Giants, defeated its bosses, and collected all essential items, setting you up for success in the challenging lands of Drangleic.