Dark Souls III
Dark Souls III

Summoning & Co-op — Dark Souls III Guide

Join forces with other Ashen Ones using summoning and co-op mechanics in Dark Souls III to conquer Lothric or face its brutal challenges together.

·Multi-source verified (152/152)

Summoning & Co-op

Venturing through Lothric can be a lonely and brutal experience. Thankfully, Dark Souls III offers robust co-operative play options, allowing you to summon fellow Ashen Ones to aid you in your journey, conquer challenging bosses, or simply explore together. This guide will walk you through the intricacies of summoning and being summoned.

How to Summon Other Players (Host)

To summon other players into your world, you must first be in an Embered state. This grants you increased maximum HP and allows you to see summon signs left by other players.

  1. Become Embered: Use an Ember from your inventory. You automatically become Embered after defeating a boss.
  2. Locate Summon Signs: Once Embered, look for glowing white or gold symbols on the ground. These are summon signs. White signs indicate a friendly player, while gold signs indicate a player from the Warriors of Sunlight covenant, who will also be friendly.
  3. Interact with the Sign: Approach the summon sign and interact with it (usually 'A' on Xbox, 'X' on PlayStation, or 'E' on PC).
  4. Confirm Summon: A prompt will appear asking if you wish to summon the player. Confirm your choice.
  5. Wait for Summon: The summoned player will begin to appear in your world. This process can take a few moments.

Important Considerations for Hosts:

  • Boss Alive: You can only summon players in areas where the boss is still alive. Once the area boss is defeated, you can no longer summon phantoms there.
  • Invaders: Being Embered also makes you susceptible to invasions from hostile players. Summoning friendly phantoms can help you deal with invaders.
  • Summoning Limits: You can typically summon up to two friendly phantoms. Using the Dried Finger item (found in the Undead Settlement, near the Dilapidated Bridge bonfire) allows you to summon an additional friendly phantom, but also increases the chance of being invaded.
  • Area Restrictions: Summon signs are typically only visible within the immediate area where they were placed.

How to Be Summoned by Other Players (Phantom)

If you wish to assist other players, you'll need to leave your own summon sign. This allows hosts to call upon your aid.

  1. Obtain the White Sign Soapstone: This essential item is given to you by the Hawkwood at Firelink Shrine after you speak with him for the first time.
  2. Use the Soapstone: Select the White Sign Soapstone from your inventory or quick-slot menu and use it. This will place a white summon sign on the ground at your current location.
  3. Wait to Be Summoned: Once your sign is placed, you'll need to wait for a host to interact with it. You can continue to move around your world while waiting, but be aware that if you enter a boss fog gate or use a Homeward Bone, your sign will disappear.
  4. Successful Summon: If a host summons you, your screen will fade, and you'll be transported to their world as a friendly phantom.

Important Considerations for Phantoms:

  • Covenant Items: As a phantom, you have the opportunity to earn covenant items. For example, members of the Warriors of Sunlight covenant earn a Sunlight Medal for successfully helping a host defeat a boss.
  • No Estus Usage: While in another player's world, your Estus Flask uses are halved. However, defeating enemies or bosses will often replenish a portion of your Estus.
  • Rewards: Successfully helping a host defeat a boss will grant you souls and an Ember.
  • Disconnection: If the host dies, disconnects, or you die, you will be returned to your world.

Password Matching for Co-op

To ensure you connect with specific friends, Dark Souls III offers a password matching system. This bypasses the usual soul level and weapon upgrade matchmaking restrictions.

  1. Set a Password: Go to the game's System menu, then Network. Here you can set a "Password Matching" string.
  2. Share the Password: All players wishing to co-op together must enter the exact same password.
  3. Leave/Look for Signs: Once the password is set, the host should be Embered and look for summon signs, and the phantom should place their White Sign Soapstone.

Benefits of Password Matching:

  • Guaranteed Connection: As long as the password is correct and both players are in the same general area, you will see each other's signs.
  • Level Discrepancy: Password matching scales down higher-level phantoms to match the host's level, ensuring a balanced challenge.

Tips for Effective Co-op

  • Communication: While in-game communication is limited, using gestures can convey basic intentions. For more complex strategies, external voice chat is highly recommended.
  • Area Knowledge: If you're summoning for a boss, it helps if your phantom is familiar with the boss's moveset and the area leading up to it.
  • Enemy Aggro: Pay attention to enemy aggro. Sometimes it's best for one player to draw attention while the other attacks from behind.
  • Healing: Hosts have more Estus Flasks. Phantoms should be mindful of their limited healing and rely on the host for critical healing if necessary.
  • Don't Rush: Dark Souls III is a game of patience. Rushing into encounters often leads to unnecessary deaths.