Secrets are a core part of the Souls franchise. From the original Demon's Souls to Bloodborne, each game in the franchise includes several secret mechanics and items for the community to uncover. Dark Souls 2 might lack the secret online components of the original title, but that doesn't mean it lacks secrets of its own.
Hidden enemy placements, progression requirements, and unique rings are just a few examples of what Dark Souls 2 brought to the table. As controversial as Dark Souls 2 might be amongst fans, there is no denying that some of the secrets in this game are the franchise's best. Here are ten secrets and subtleties that most players miss in Dark Souls 2.
10 The Shrine Of Winter's Unlock Requirements
For players to access Drangleic Castle, they must first pass through the Shrine of Winter. This small building will refuse to open unless players obtain all four Old Souls. Alternatively, players can actually pass through the door by obtaining a Soul Memory rating of 1,000,000. The requirement to open the gate this way will increase by 1,000,000 per New Game cycle.
What players might not know is that the means of opening this door changes based on which requirement the player fulfilled. Obtaining four Old Souls will cause the door to be automatically opened while obtaining 1,000,000 Soul Memory will require players to manually open the door. The Emerald Herald will also comment on this when players meet her in Drangleic. Opening the door manually will result in her telling the player that they're too weak to proceed, although she won't stop the player from pushing forward.
9 Destructible Walls
Image from IGN.com
Illusory walls are a staple in every Dark Souls title. These hidden walls will reveal a hidden path or room when stuck. However, not every hidden wall is an illusion in Dark Souls 2. Some must be physically destroyed.
While most of these walls are opened the same way as an illusory wall, others need to be blown open with explosives. For example, there is a destructible wall to the left of the pre-boss Pursuer fight in the Forst of Fallen Giants beside a bundle of barrels. Players must use Firebombs or pyromancies to detonate the barrels, revealing a shortcut back to the Cardinal Tower bonfire.
8 Alsanna, Silent Oracle
Before players face the Burnt Ivory King boss, they must first enter a throne room and descend a massive pit. Part of this room is a symmetrical staircase covered in ice. The ice isn't for show and can be destroyed.
To do so, players will need to please the NPC that prays atop the throne. Named Alsanna, she will destroy part of the path if players present her Loyce Knight Souls. When the player obtains 50 and kills the Burnt Ivory King, she will destroy the staircase entirely and grant the player her soul alongside pieces of the Loyce armor set. Alsanna's soul can be used to craft a unique curved sword named Eleum Loyce. She can also be sniped with a bow to obtain her soul earlier.
7 Majula Pigs Evolve
One of the toughest foes in Dark Souls 2 resides in Majula itself. Three absurdly tough pigs can be found to the right of the mansion building. Killing these enemies can be quite a challenge in the early-game.
Should players kill these three tough pigs 12 times, they will be replaced with two boars that are even tougher. If those two boars are killed 12 times, they will be replaced by a single, giant undead boar. Sadly, killing this final form of the three little pigs will drop a measly three Cracked Red Eye Orbs. At least Majula will be truly safe.
6 The Looking Glass Knight Summons Real Players When Possible
Partway during the Looking Glass Knight boss fight, it will begin to summon phantoms through its shield. If a player is trying to invade during that moment, the Looking Glass Knight will summon the invader instead of an NPC. This is denoted by a message stating the invader's name during the summoning animation.
Players that plant a Red Sign Soapstone near the last two bonfires of Drangleic Castle also have a chance of being summoned. As an ally to the Looking Glass Knight, players can use healing spells to heal the boss. Besides that unique interaction, invaders are still tasked with killing the host of the world.
5 Illusory Rings
Dark Souls 2 is the only Souls game that rewards players for completing challenge runs. There are two rewards exclusive to beating the game under certain conditions, both of which being Illusory Rings.
Illusory Rings make equipped weapons invisible. The Illusory Ring of a Conqueror makes the left-hand weapon invisible while the Illusory Ring of the Exalted makes the right-hand weapon invisible. Players earn the Illusory Ring of a Conqueror by beating the game without dying. The Illusory Ring of the Exalted is obtained after beating the game without resting at a bonfire. Using Homeward Bones, the Darksign, and lightning bonfires do not void a bonfire-free run.
4 Hidden Moths
Great Moths were added as hidden enemies in the Scholar of the First Sin edition of Dark Souls 2. Players can find these poisonous enemies in Huntsman's Copse, Lost Bastille, Earthen Peak, the Shaded Woods, the Gutter, Shrine of Amana, and Undead Crypt.
Excluding the moths in Huntsman's Copse, every moth killed will drop one of four items: a Radiant Lifegem, an Old Radiant Lifegem, one Twilight Herb, or one Wilted Dusk Herb.
3 Fume Knight Enrages Upon Seeing Velstadt
Fume Knight is one of the toughest bosses in the Dark Souls franchise. His flurry of projectiles during his second phase and healing totems make for an unforgettable fight. Should players find this tough boss too easy, they can make it much harder by wearing Velstadt's helmet.
No, seriously. Wearing Velstadt's helmet will cause the Fume Knight to enrage and immediately begin phase two of the fight. This is because, according to the game's lore, Fume Knight fought against Velstadt back when Fume Knight was known as the rebel Raime. He lost to Velstadt, causing Raime to migrate to Brume Tower and turn into the terrifying boss fans know today. It seems he still holds a grudge over that humiliating defeat.
2 Invisible Hollows
Some players might have noticed humanoid shadows in certain locations while exploring Dark Souls 2. These shadows aren't a glitch or some sort of rendering issue. There's a good chance the player saw an invisible hollow.
Invisible hollows are hidden enemies that can be slain to obtain a guaranteed reward. There are 33 invisible hollows in total. Most hollows will drop a Smooth & Silky Stone when killed, although some hollows have a chance to drop Petrified Somethings or herbs. These enemies can be easily seen by using a lit torch, the Cast Light sorcery, or by wearing the Moonlight Butterfly Wings since the poison effect will decloak the hollows.
1 Hidden Pickaxe
Image from Ray Dhimitri (YouTube)
Dark Souls 2 might not have Vagrants or similar obscure mechanics as Dark Souls does, but it makes up for this somewhat with some of the game's hidden weapons. Arguably the most hidden weapon in the entire trilogy belongs to Dark Souls 2's Pickaxe, obtained in the Brightstone Cove Tseldora after escorting a boar through most of the level.
To obtain this weapon, players must escort a boar from the outskirts of the zone into the cove, traverse through the various buildings, and lead it to the end of the level. When players enter the spider ambush room, lead the boar to a small cluster of mushrooms and grass. Instead of chasing the player, the boar will lose aggro and begin to eat the mushrooms. Walk up to the boar to obtain the Pickaxe weapon.