One of the most important aspects of Dark Souls is staying alive. While this is true in virtually every game, Dark Souls punishes players for dying by dropping all of their Souls and Humanity on death. If players can't reach their bloodstain when they die, they lose everything.

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This is why having ample Estus Flasks and healing methods is critical to surviving the game's tougher zones. Besides Kindling with a bonfire, players can find extremely rare Fire Keeper Souls to improve their Estus Flasks, although these souls also keep bonfires lit. For those looking to make the game a little easier, here is a complete guide to Fire Keeper Souls in Dark Souls. This article contains NPC quest spoilers.

8 What Are Fire Keeper Souls?

Dark Souls Bonfire

Fire Keeper Souls are rare consumable items in Dark Souls that can be used to enhance Estus Flasks. Bringing a Fire Keeper Soul to a bonfire will allow players to infuse that soul into their Estus, making every Estus Flask permanently heal for a greater amount. Alternatively, players can use the Fire Keeper Soul to gain five Humanity and fully restore their health. While there are only seven Fire Keeper Souls in Dark Souls, three of them are aligned with Fire Keepers, so killing any of them will disable a bonfire until they are either resurrected or players start a new game cycle.

7 Fire Keeper Soul 1: Undead Parish

Dark Souls Undead Parish Fire Keeper Soul

In order to ring the first Bell of Awakening, players must carve a path through the Undead Parish. When players get towards the church that houses the Bell Gargoyle fight, they might notice a hollow corpse lying beside a statue. Interact with the corpse to obtain a Fire Keeper Soul. Players can take the elevator right next to the corpse to head straight down to Firelink Shrine and upgrade their Estus Flasks.

6 Fire Keeper Soul 2: New Londo Ruins

Dark Souls New Londo Ruins Fire Keeper Soul

Image from Dr. Nagi (YouTube)

At any point during a Dark Souls playthrough, players can take the stairs down in Firelink Shrine to reach the New Londo Ruins elevator. Once in the ruins, players can find a Fire Keeper Soul if they follow the main path that leads deeper into the ruins.

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While crossing the wooden passage that leads to the ruins themselves, look to the right for a corpse inside a small building. Once the wooden platform ends and players are standing in water, head directly right and swing around the corner. Run down the narrow passage to obtain a Fire Keeper Soul on a corpse. Be ready to use a Homeward Bone as three ghosts will spawn when players get near the body.

5 Fire Keeper Soul 3: Blighttown

Dark Souls Blighttown

One Fire Keeper Soul can be found in Blighttown. From the Valley of Drakes, head towards the entrance of Blighttown and slowly descend. About halfway down, players should be able to run into a sewer system. Run inside and look for a body guarded by two dogs. Drop down, kill the dogs, then loot the corpse behind bars to obtain a Fire Keeper Soul.

4 Fire Keeper Soul 4: Duke's Archives

Dark Souls Duke's Archives

The Duke's Archives has a Fire Keeper Soul that requires an extensive amount of backtracking to obtain. Before players can obtain the soul, they must first progress through the Duke's Archives and obtain the Archive Tower Giant Cell Key near the top of the building.

Once players have the key, head back to the prison cell tower and descend to the lower set of jail cells. Fight the octopus-headed enemies that guard one of the cells. Kill them then open the cell. At the end of the cell is a Fire Keeper Soul. This is by far the easiest Fire Keeper Soul to miss in the game, so make sure to obtain this one before starting NG+.

3 Fire Keeper Soul 5: Daughter of Chaos

Dark Souls Daughter of Chaos

Players are going to need to kill the Daughter of Chaos to obtain the next Fire Keeper Soul. After defeating Chaos Witch Quelaag, head down the stairs past the second Bell of Awakening. When players enter a room with a circular platform, run straight across strike the wall to reveal a hidden room. Kill the egg NPC, Eingyi, and walk up to the Daughter of Chaos.

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Killing her will grant a Fire Keeper Soul. Note that killing her will lock players out of the Chaos Servant Covenant and disable the bonfire in this room permanently.

2 Fire Keeper Soul 6: Darkmoon Knightess

Dark Souls Darkmoon Knightess Anor Londo

Just as players reach Anor Londo and find the first bonfire, they will meet a Fire Keeper that guards the bonfire and the Darkmoon Covenant. Darkmoon Knightess will become hostile if players either attack her or Gwynevere. In either event, take the Darkmoon Knightess out to obtain an additional Fire Keeper Soul. Killing her will disable the first bonfire in Anor Londo for the rest of that playthrough cycle.

1 Fire Keeper Soul 7: Anastacia of Astora

Dark Souls Anastacia Fire Keeper

Obtaining the last Fire Keeper Soul in Dark Souls is quite a task. Players will need to either ring both Bells of Awakening or obtain the Fire Keeper Souls in Undead Parish and Blighttown. When one of those conditions is met, Knight Lautrec, regardless of being freed in Undead Parish, will murder Anastacia of Astora—the Fire Keeper of Firelink Shrine.

Interacting with Anastacia's corpse will grant a Black Eye Orb. Head to Anor Londo and reach the room just before Ornstein and Smough's boss arena. The Black Eye Orb should begin to vibrate. Use it to invade Knight Lautrec and his small posse. Killing Lautrec will end the invasion and grant players Anastacia's Fire Keeper Soul. Since players can only fortify Estus Flasks at Firelink Shrine, players can't use her Fire Keeper Soul to enhance their flasks unless they enter NG+. It is recommended to return Anastacia's soul to her body to relight Firelink Shrine.

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