Valley of Drakes

A rocky gorge patrolled by undead drakes, linking New Londo, Darkroot Basin and the top of Blighttown. Several rare items sit on its ledges.

Suggested level: 30–45

Items found here

Astora's Straight Sword: Lying by the Undead Dragon in the Valley of Drakes; the Master Key opens an early route there.
Beatrice's Catalyst: With the Witch set on a ledge in the Valley of Drakes, after the Four Kings are dead.
Dragon Crest Shield: Lying under the snout of the sleeping Undead Dragon in the Valley of Drakes.
Spider Shield: Bandit starting shield; on the Valley of Drakes bridge to New Londo, or in the Depths above the giant rat.
Brigand Hood: Bandit starting gear; on the stone bridge to New Londo in the Valley of Drakes.
Brigand Armor: Bandit starting gear; on the stone bridge to New Londo in the Valley of Drakes.
Brigand Gauntlets: Bandit starting gear; on the stone bridge to New Londo in the Valley of Drakes.
Brigand Trousers: Bandit starting gear; on the stone bridge to New Londo in the Valley of Drakes.
Witch Hat: On a ledge opposite the cave into Blighttown in the Valley of Drakes, after the Four Kings.
Witch Cloak: On a ledge opposite the cave into Blighttown in the Valley of Drakes, after the Four Kings.
Witch Gloves: On a ledge opposite the cave into Blighttown in the Valley of Drakes, after the Four Kings.
Witch Skirt: On a ledge opposite the cave into Blighttown in the Valley of Drakes, after the Four Kings.
Red Tearstone Ring: On top of the big gate area in the Valley of Drakes.

Walkthrough: Firelink Shrine

Light the bonfire for the Enkindle achievement and talk to the Crestfallen Warrior sitting near it.
Talk to Petrus of Thorolund for a Copper Coin. You may join the Way of White here if you like.
Around the shrine itself: souls, Humanity, Firebombs, Homeward Bones, a Morning Star, a Talisman, Cracked Red Eye Orbs and Lloyd's Talismans.
Sweep the graveyard for souls, the Zweihander, the Winged Spear, the Caduceus Round Shield and the Binoculars. Watch out for the skeletons.
Spend your souls, then take the stairs and elevator down to New Londo Ruins. Talk to Rickert of Vinheim in his cell and loot the souls, the Estoc and the Transient Curses nearby.
Make a brave run past the ghosts into the ruins to grab a Fire Keeper Soul.
Give the soul to Anastacia of Astora in the cell below the shrine to reinforce your Estus Flask.
On the Valley of Drakes bridge an Undead Dragon lies in wait. Sprint for the soul on the right, then Astora's Straight Sword and the Dragon Crest Shield.
Died there? Grab your souls, carry on down the valley and ride the lift up to the Darkroot Basin bonfire.
A Black Knight stands near the basin bonfire; it drops a Blue Titanite Chunk and guards the Grass Crest Shield.
Climb through the basin and collect the Hunter Set, the Longbow and its arrows, and kill the Crystal Lizard quickly before it flees.
Keep climbing to the Undead Parish, light the bonfire above Andre and ride the elevator back down as a shortcut to Firelink Shrine.
Pick up the Undead Asylum F2 West Key on the Firelink roof, then ride the crow back to the asylum to open the west door and loot the Rusted Iron Ring.
Heading up to the Undead Burg, check the arches below the aqueduct for souls and a Ring of Sacrifice.

Walkthrough: Blighttown and Quelaag's Domain

Move slowly: Blowdart Snipers shoot poison darts from the shadows.
Make a running jump to the post to reach the Iaito.
Light the Blighttown Catwalk bonfire.
Drop below where the Iaito was for Blooming Purple Moss Clumps, cross the swaying bridge for Humanity, then return to the bonfire.
Past the bonfire, beware the trap floor next to a soul: it collapses.
Climb up to take the Shadow Set.
Move into the next section, watching for a Blowdart Sniper on a high ledge.
Go down the longest ladder, deal with the sniper and grab the Eagle Shield.
Up top, shoot the Parasitic Wall Hugger from a distance; the Power Within pyromancy waits below it.
Squeeze through the hole in the wall and climb down toward the boss fog gate.
Turn back and drop down to grab the Whip.
Drop again and follow the walkways toward the swamp, killing another sniper on the way.
Next to that sniper lie the Wanderer Set and the Falchion.
The swamp slows you badly, so equip the Rusted Iron Ring before the bottom and dash to the bonfire.
Light the Blighttown Swamp bonfire and open the chest in its tunnel for a Dragon Scale.
The swamp floor hides the Pyromancer Set, the Poison Mist pyromancy, Large Titanite Shards, the Server and some souls.
Up the big branch that leads to the Great Hollow are the Plank Shield on a body and Twin Humanities behind a fake wall.
The Infested Barbarians hurling boulders drop the Great Club when slain.
Giant Leeches are a decent optional source of Large Titanite Shards and Green Titanite Shards.
Climb the waterwheel, take two ladders and circle the ledge to kill the Blowdart Snipers.
A ladder leads down to some dogs; past them lies a Fire Keeper Soul.
Return to the bonfire as a human. Maneater Mildred invades; kill her for the Butcher Knife and Humanity.
Defeat Chaos Witch Quelaag.
If you defeated Maneater Mildred, her summon sign is next to the fog gate.
Ring the second Bell of Awakening in Quelaag's Domain.
Go down, strike the illusory wall and talk to Eingyi. Answer yes so he steps aside; if you answer no, reload and try again.
Eingyi sells Poison Mist and Toxic Mist only after an egg-head in Blighttown infests you.
With 11 or more Intelligence, Eingyi gives you a Pyromancy Flame.
Eingyi can also upgrade your Pyromancy Flame.
Talk to the Daughter of Chaos and optionally join the Chaos Servant covenant.
As a Chaos Servant, offering 30 Humanity opens a shortcut into Lost Izalith.
Reinforce your Estus Flask here with any Fire Keeper Soul you hold.
Light the Daughter of Chaos bonfire, then return to the swamp bonfire.
Optional co-op around levels 25–40.
If Quelana of Izalith is in the swamp, she can upgrade your Pyromancy Flame and sell pyromancies.
On a second climb up the wheel, a thin branch off the first ladder leads to the Crimson Set, the Tin Banishment Catalyst and the Remedy sorcery.
At the very top of this shanty town lies the Key to New Londo Ruins.
The exit opens onto the Valley of Drakes; bring the Undead Dragon down from range with arrows or magic.
Head back to Firelink Shrine.
If Lautrec is still alive he has now killed Anastacia. Pick up the Dingy Set and the Black Eye Orb from her cell.
The Crestfallen Warrior has new things to say; chat with him.
Talk to Griggs of Vinheim to buy sorceries (10 Intelligence needed).
Talk to Laurentius of the Great Swamp for a Pyromancy Flame, upgrades and pyromancies.
Talk to Petrus of Thorolund to buy miracles.
Before they set off, speak with Reah of Thorolund and her guards Vince of Thorolund and Nico of Thorolund.
Kingseeker Frampt now sits by the bonfire; he swaps items for souls.

Walkthrough: New Londo Ruins and The Abyss

Visit the Undead Merchant (Female) in the aqueduct, buy all her Transient Curses and put them in your item slots.
Head down to New Londo Ruins.
On the way to the wooden bridges, the now hollow Crestfallen Warrior attacks.
Use a Transient Curse and keep it on your item bar to see when it wears off.
In the first part of the ruins, grab the Parrying Dagger and kill the Banshee for two Transient Curses.
Go through the fog gate.
Kick the ladder down, climb down and kill the two ghosts below so they stop rising through the floor.
Ghosts surface from the water near the house; clear them before you go in.
Climb the ladder in the fireplace and talk to Ingward for the Key to the Seal; he sells more Transient Curses.
Downstairs, a ledge holds the Cursebite Ring.
The far door leads to a Green Titanite Shard and Humanity; a jump onto the roof reaches a Rare Ring of Sacrifice.
The Key to the Seal opens the flood tower. Turn its lever clockwise and the water drains away.
Climb the tower for the Composite Bow and large arrows.
A lever and lift bring you down to the gate on the Valley of Drakes side.
The drakes here guard the Bandit Set and the Spider Shield, and a ladder leads up to the Red Tearstone Ring.
Go through the buildings and the fog gate into the drained city.
Kill the Darkwraiths and the Mass of Souls, grab the Humanity and trigger the lift shortcut to the start of the ruins.
Up through the small side door is a chest holding the Very Large Ember.
Out through the big door below: souls and six Cracked Red Eye Orbs.
An illusory wall nearby hides a chest with a Titanite Chunk.
Clear the next Darkwraiths and Mass of Souls and open the chest for another Titanite Chunk.
Equip the Covenant of Artorias ring before going down.
Drop into The Abyss and defeat the Four Kings.
Witch Beatrice can be summoned behind a pillar if you summoned her for the Moonlight Butterfly.
Optional co-op around levels 60–75.
If you have not placed the Lordvessel through Frampt, talk to Darkstalker Kaathe in the Abyss. Joining the Darkwraith covenant gives the Dark Hand.
Andre of Astora can use the Very Large Ember; warp to the Undead Parish and upgrade.
With the kings gone, the Witch Set and Beatrice's Catalyst appear in the Valley of Drakes below Firelink Shrine.
Pack three or more Purple Moss Clumps, then warp to the Daughter of Chaos bonfire.
Siegmeyer of Catarina is now stranded in the Blighttown swamp; giving him the moss earns the Pierce Shield.
Behind the chest at the top of the big branch is an illusory wall; strike it to enter The Great Hollow.