Farming is a term used to describe repeating an activity repeatedly to obtain a certain item or quantity of items. It's considered by some a boring way to earn rewards, but farming for items is a necessary evil in most RPGs. Though the world of FromSoft's Dark Souls 3 is absolutely massive, players may occasionally feel the need to backtrack and scout for necessary upgrade items.

Dark Souls 3 especially rewards farming by having a plethora of ways to influence item drops, as well as many good farming locations. For a franchise known for its tough fights, players will need every advantage they can get. With diligent Titanite Shard farming DS3 becomes a fair bit easier.

Updated January 11, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: In Dark Souls 3 Titanite farming can be difficult, especially once a player has cleared new zones of world loot and are reliant on defeating enemies and buying them at Firelink for far too many Souls. By giving the Shrine Handmaiden various Ashes, she will begin to sell various Tiers of Titanite, but never the highest tier. Players can of course kill specific enemies for a chance at getting more Titanite, but this can be dangerous, especially in the endgame. There is a third method, though, and that's to trade with the Crow atop Firelink Shrine. This guide has been updated to give some more details on Pickle-Pee and Pump-a-Rum, how to find them, and what exactly they require from the player to give them Titanite.

Dark Souls 3 Titanite, Explained

Titanite is not just one item, it's a set of six different items that all reinforce weapons at different points in weapon upgrading. It's a substance found throughout the game in its various forms, but some are used for specific Boss and Soul weapons.

In previous Dark Souls games, weapons like Chimes and Pyromancy Flames needed different upgrade materials than typical weapons. When it comes to DS3 Titanite Shard farming, it's important because just about everything is upgraded through the system, except for armor which cannot be upgraded.

Types of Titanite

There are six types of Titanite found throughout Dark Souls 3 and each serves to reinforce the player's weapons in some way. In DS3 Titanite Shards, Large Titanite Shards, Titanite Chunks, and Titanite Slabs are all used for normal weapons, Twinkling Titanite only works on unique weapons, while Titanite Scales only work on soul-transposed weapons.

• Titanite Shards: Reinforces normal weapons to +3, found throughout the early game until the Catacombs of Carthus.
• Large Titanite Shards: Reinforces normal weapons to +6, found throughout the middle of the game until Lothric Castle.
• Titanite Chunk: Reinforces normal weapons to +9, found in end-game areas like Archdragon Peak and the Consumed King's Garden.
• Titanite Slabs: Reinforces all weapons to their highest level (+10 for normal weapons and +5 for unique and soul-transposed weapons), found in endgame areas or from NPCs
• Twinkling Titanite: Reinforces unique weapons to +4, drops from Crystal Lizards and can be bought from the Shrine Handmaid
• Titanite Scale: Reinforces soul-transposed weapons to +4, found in mid to late game areas like Farron Keep and the Grand Archives or from NPCs

Titanite Independent Upgrades

While Dark Souls 3's weapon upgrading system is nearly completely Titanite-dependent, there are other upgrades to weapons that players can find. These take the form of Gems, which infuse weapons with elemental powers or alter their stats in some way.

The Fire Gem, for example, creates fire weapons, while the Heavy Gem makes weapons do more damage based on the player's Strength. Many of these upgrades are locked behind a set of four Coals throughout the game. Finding the Farron Coal, for example, lets players use the Heavy, Sharp, and Poison infusions, which aren't available until that point.

General Tips for Farming Titanite in Dark Souls 3

Thoroughly Explore Each Zone

One thing to consider when hunting down Titanite is that new zones, and exploring the reaches of older ones, is arguably the easiest way to get Titanite. Titanite Shards, Large Titanite Shards, and even Chunks can be obtained in large quantities by looting new zones for the first time. The game provides more than enough Titanite as world loot to upgrade a weapon or two up to maximum, but after collecting these Titanites, they won't re-appear.

Titanite Shards are given in large quantities after the High Wall of Lothric while Large variants begin to drop heavily around the Irithyll portion of the game, while Chunks are plentiful towards Lothric Castle and The Ringed City DLC locations. Make sure each zone has been thoroughly looted before making a time commitment to farming.

Boost Item Discovery With Gear, Stats, & Consumables

Before you decide to farm for any item, they should first invest in the Item Discovery stat. Item Discovery directly correlates to an enemy's drop rates. The higher a player's Item Discovery, the more likely an enemy will drop items from their loot pool. This is especially handy for farming upgrade materials such as Titanite.

Common Item Discovery increases stem from the Luck stat, the Symbol of Avarice helmet that drops from Mimics, the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, along with its upgraded variants, the Crystal Sage's Rapier, and Rusted Coins, all contribute towards this stat heavily. Using a combination of these items will yield significantly more items.

Titanite Farming In DS3: Shards, Large Shards, & Chunks From Enemies

Farm Regular Titanite Shards from Silver Knights in Anor Londo

Arguably the fastest way of obtaining standard Titanite Shards DS3 has to offer (and even Large Titanite Shards) is to kill the Silver Knights in Anor Londo. Three are always found outside of the building from Anor Londo's first bonfire.

Killing these enemies and then resting at a bonfire will yield a large number of shards. The Silver Knights on the flying buttresses at Irithyll just before the Anor Londo elevator also make for a solid farm.

Farm Large Titanite Shards from Serpent Men in Archdragon Peak

For farming Large Titanite Shards DS3 has a few options, but there is no better farm than killing the Serpent Men at Archdragon Peak. Head to the Archdragon Peak bonfire and run to the right towards the zone's entrance. There, four Serpent Men can be killed that each have a high chance of dropping Large Titanite Shards. Rest at the bonfire and repeat until enough have dropped.

Farm Titanite Chunks from Ringed Knights in the Ringed City DLC

Players that own The Ringed City DLC should head to the Ringed City if they need Titanite Chunks. Ringed Knights each have a high drop chance for this precious resource. As for a dedicated farm, you should travel to the Ringed City Streets bonfire. Equip all Item Discovery items and head outside of the building towards the exterior bridge.

Drop down to the right of the bridge and plunge attack the Ringed Knight. Rest at the bonfire and repeat, preferably using a Homeward Bone or Coiled Sword Fragment to make backtracking non-existent. This is also a great farm for Embers.

Farm Large Titanite Shards and Chunks from Ascended Winged Knights

Since Titanite can be both farmed and purchased, why not double-dip on earning them? Ascended Winged Knights in Lothric Castle make for one of the best late-game Titanite and Soul farms in the game. To find them, head to the Grand Archives bonfire and use the elevator. Run right to reach the exterior of the castle then hang a left towards a set of stairs. Once up, run straight towards the rounded roof.

Three Ascended Winged Knights will patrol the area. Kill them quickly to prevent potential stun-locking and death. Each knight has a high chance of dropping Large Titanite Shards, Titanite Chunks, as well as Blessed Gems. Better yet, each Ascended Winged Knight will drop 13,000 Souls on death. Backstab them or use the Rapport pyromancy to make this farm much easier. Rest at a bonfire and repeat until enough upgrade materials or Souls have been earned.

The Best Place to Farm Titanite Shards in DS3: Outside The Dancer's Room

As for players that need Titanite Shards early-game, the best location to farm Titanite Shards DS3 offers is the High Wall of Lothric. At the Vordt of the Boreal Valley bonfire, run straight towards the Dancer's arena and kill the Lothric Knights patrolling the area. Each have a good chance of dropping Titanite Shards while the red-eyed variant can drop Large Titanite Shards.

To make this farm even better, skilled players should fight Dancer of the Boreal Valley early by killing Emma. Defeat Dancer and climb the ladder to face more red-eyed Lothric Knights, which each have a high chance of dropping Large Titanite Shards.

Buy Titanite After Offering Specific Ashes To The Shrine Handmaid

How To Get The Dreamchaser's Ashes (& Buy Titanite Shards)

Souls can also be spent on Titanite upgrade materials. Upgrading weapons with Titanite Shards is trivial if players obtain the Dreamchaser's Ashes. To find them, head to Farron Swamp and climb the ladder that leads to the Watchdogs of Farron Covenant. Wrap around outside and roll into the building until an illusory wall breaks. The corpse will have the ashes.

Bring these back to Firelink Shrine and talk to the Shrine Handmaiden. Once the Dreamchaser's Ashes have been traded to the Shrine Handmaiden, you will be able to purchase an infinite supply of Titanite Shards for 800 Souls apiece, making for one of the easiest ways to farm Titanite Shards DS3 has.

How To Get The Easterner's Ashes (& Buy Large Titanite Shards)

Large Titanite Shards can be purchased if the player has given the Shrine Handmaiden the Easterner's Ashes. Retrieving these ashes will require players to reach Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. From Pontiff Sulyvahn's bonfire, head left and run past the group of giants towards the building. Run up and follow the path until you come across a Silver Knight on a flying buttress. Run past the knight and climb up the buttress.

Instead of going left, go right and run down the set of stairs. A nearby corpse will hold the Easterner's Ashes. Bring these back to Firelink Shrine and talk to the Shrine Handmaiden.

Turning in these ashes to the Shrine Handmaiden will allow players to purchase Large Titanite Shards for 4,000 Souls each. The supply is infinite.

How To Get The Dragon Chaser's Ashes (& Buy Titanite Chunks)

Finding the hidden Archdragon Peak will allow players to purchase an infinite supply of Titanite Chunks after obtaining the Dragon Chaser's Ashes. Finding these ashes requires players to reach the Great Belfry bonfire near Nameless King's arena. Head left of the bonfire and follow the path.

When you reach a battle axe-wielding Serpent Man guarding a passageway, head left and down a small path. A rock lizard will be guarding a corpse, which is holding the Dragon Chaser's Ashes. Bring these back to Firelink Shrine and talk to the Shrine Handmaiden.

Upon turning in the ashes, the Shrine Handmaiden will sell Titanite Chunks in infinite supply for 13,000 Souls each.

Trading For Titanite With The Crow

The famous "pickle-pee" and "pump-a-rum" crow on the roof of the Firelink Shrine offers a unique service to players: the ability to barter one item for another. Several gestures and emotes are only available through this system, but players can also pick up a variety of Titanite shards, chunks, and others through the crow too.

You can get to Pickle-Pee and Pump-a-Rum's nest as soon as you reach Firelink Shrine after beating Iudex Gundyr – jump towards a low-hanging part of the roof while sprinting across a rock to the right of the Firelink entrance (opposite the tree where a Seed of a Giant Tree can be found). The player will glitch and jump higher than normal, allowing them to reach the roof. Players can also unlock the Tower in the same area, traverse to its top, and jump off a bridge above Firelink to reach the roof.

Dropping an item on the ground in the crow's nest will initiate a short dialogue sequence, after which another item replaces it. This can be picked up, and if you left the right item for the crow, you'll get what you expect back. When it comes to where to farm Titanite Shards, this method lets players get Titanite over and over again.

• Avelyn (the crossbow) can be traded for three Titanite Scales
• The Blacksmith Hammer can be traded for a Titanite Scale
• Prism Stones can be traded for Twinkling Titanites
• The Large Leather Shield can be traded for a Twinkling Titanite
• Black Firebombs can be traded for Titanite Chunks
• Regular Firebombs can be traded for Large Titanite Shards