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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

\_/ |_| |_|\___| \____/|_|\__,_|\___|_|\_\ \____/\__,_|_|\___|_| |_| [TBG02]

Navigate Black Gulch in Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, dealing with poisonous enemies and finding the Forgotten Key.

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Navigate Black Gulch in Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, dealing with poisonous enemies and finding the Forgotten Key.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Upon entering the Black Gulch, proceed to the cave on the left. Light the bonfire inside.
  2. 2
    Prepare to face poisonous enemies ahead. Smash poisonous statues as you progress to prevent them from firing venom. Use Common Fruit to slow poison effects and Poison Moss to heal damage after fights.
  3. 3
    Approach the first set of black holes with extreme caution. Throw Firebombs into the center and right holes to damage hidden enemies. Be ready to fight them when they emerge.
  4. 4
    To the left of the first set of dark holes, find a cave. Kill the poison-spitting statue at the entrance, then enter to find a chest containing a Great Magic Weapon and a Shotel.
  5. 5
    As you exit this cave, an enemy is hiding in the first hole on your left; defeat it. If you lack ranged weapons, proceed cautiously due to more statues on the upper ledge to your left.
  6. 6
    Past these statues, approach the cave on your left. Inside, fight a unique worm creature. Dodge its lunge attack by quickly jumping back, then dart in to attack when it misses. Repeat this until it is defeated.
  7. 7
    Smash the pottery near the cave to loot Scraps of Life, a Torch, and a Soul of a Nameless Soldier. Be ready to fight another creature emerging from the darkened hole on the left wall.
  8. 8
    Ignore the hole in the floor ahead, but be aware of the trio of holes behind it. Firebomb the creatures in the two right holes. If out of bombs, lure them out by inching close and quickly retreating.
  9. 9
    In the next row of black holes, prepare to fight the creature in the central hole.
  10. 10
    Smash the next set of pottery to find a Radiant Lifegem. After defeating nearby enemies, enter the cave to your left.
  11. 11
    Inside this cave, destroy all statues, including the one behind the chest, then take the Divine Blessing from the chest.
  12. 12
    Exit the cave and kill the creature in the dark hole on the other side of the area.
  13. 13
    Before proceeding through the fog door, face away from it and follow the left wall to the far corner of the Black Gulch area, beyond the black holes. Carefully look over the edge to find a small path leading up the cavern wall. Follow it to a bonfire, useful if you die before the boss.

Optional: The Forgotten Key

  1. From the first bonfire, walk downwards until the first worm attacks from the wall.
  2. Walk off the cliff on the right side to land on a ledge with a door. This door requires the Forgotten Key.
  3. Look for a corpse underneath this ledge and drop down towards it. From there, drop to an even lower ledge with a cave entrance.
  4. Inside this cave, you will find three Elite Giants. The second one will always drop the Forgotten Key and a Soul of a Giant.
  5. These giants are difficult. Poison arrows can help, and luring them away from each other may make the fight easier.

Uses for the Forgotten Key:

  • Opens a door in Black Gulch, above the cave entrance to the two Great Giant Warriors that drop the key, leading to Darkdiver Grandahl.
  • In Majula, after dropping down the giant hole or climbing down the ladder bought from Laddersmith Gilligan (costing 12000 Souls), an iron ladder leads up to a door. Through this door are three metal chests containing the Witchtree Branch and Witchtree Bellvine, Soul Vortex, and Great Lightning Spear.
  • In The Gutter, take a left from the first bonfire, jump onto a lower building with two hollows (one with a torch), then take a ladder up to a room filled with Poison Maiden Statues. Another door is found here.
Tips
  • Smash all poisonous statues to prevent them from attacking you.
  • Use Common Fruit to mitigate poison buildup and Poison Moss to heal.
  • Firebombs are effective against enemies in the black holes.
  • The worm creature in the cave can be defeated by dodging its lunge and attacking when it misses.
  • A hidden bonfire is located by following the left wall to the far corner and looking for a path down the cavern wall.
  • Poison arrows can be helpful against the Elite Giants.
  • Luring the Elite Giants away from each other can make the fight more manageable.

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