8 Best Optional Areas In Dark Souls Games, Ranked

Summary

• The best optional areas in Dark Souls offer exciting challenges and rewards.
• Frigid Outskirts in DS2, Ash Lake in DS1, and Smouldering Lake in DS3 stand out.
• Corvian Settlement, Untended Graves, and Consumed King’s Garden in DS3 are intriguing.

The Dark Souls franchise has amassed a large following over the course of its lifespan, as it presents players with fast and slow bosses to take on, tons of side quests to complete, and a broad range of different weapons, armor sets, and spells to take advantage of.

Throughout Dark Souls‘ history, players have had the chance to pick from various classes, some of which are better than others, to explore the different areas available to them. Many areas are frustrating and not memorable, whereas others are full of excitement and challenges that, while tough, always feel rewarding. Here are some of the best optional areas in the Dark Souls games.

8

Frigid Outskirts

Dark Souls 2

• Home to Lud and Zallen
• An area that’s often debated, as some love it and others hate it

Dark Souls 2 is considered by many to be the black sheep of the franchise, as it’s, arguably, the least enjoyable of the lot. However, even then, it still manages to give players an entertaining experience that those who have taken on the title can confirm.

The Frigid Outskirts is an optional area that is home to the pair of challenging bosses, Lud and Zallen, the King’s Pets, and while they’re not the hardest foes in the entire game, they do represent a significant threat and will most likely require players to face them more than once to emerge victorious. Lud and Zallen can be rather fast, so using some of the heaviest weapons in this title that have also been carried over to the sequel might not be a great idea. However, if players manage to get a few hits in, they can take them down quickly.

7

Ash Lake

Dark Souls

• Can be accessed through the Great Hollow
• Brings the Siegmeyer of Catarina questline to an end

The Ash Lake is also a very interesting location in the original Dark Souls. It can be accessed through the Great Hollow area and serves as a way to finish the Siegmeyer of Catarina questline, so if players are following it, they will not want to skip this area despite it not being mandatory.

In the Ash Lake, players will have the chance to face the Black Hydra, which, while not very challenging, can pose a significant threat to them, so they’ll want to bring along one of the most powerful weapons in the game.

6

Smouldering Lake

Dark Souls 3

• Players will have to face the Carthus Sandworm
• Tons of valuables in the area

The Smouldering Lake is, arguably, one of the most frustrating areas in the entirety of Dark Souls 3, as not only will players have to traverse through a watery body that will make them slower, but also deal with the Carthus Sandworm and an annoying ballista that fires bolts at them from a distance.

In most cases, this area should not be skipped as there are tons of valuables in it, including a couple of Undead Bone Shards that can greatly increase the HP they recover from consuming Estus Flasks. The Carthus Sandworm is one of the trickiest bosses in the entire Dark Souls trilogy. Not because it’s extremely challenging, but rather due to how hard it can be to kill it through normal means. Players’ best bet in this case is to try to get the ballista bolts to hit the worm to bring it down as quickly and effortlessly as possible.

5

Painted World Of Ariamis

Dark Souls

• Great area for Soul Farming
• This world inspired the Painted World of Ariandel in Dark Souls 3

The Painted World of Ariamis is a very interesting area in the original Dark Souls and its proud tradition was carried over to Dark Souls 3 through the Painted World of Ariandel, home to Sister Friede, one of the fastest bosses in the third installment. While the former is not nearly as extensive as the latter, it still has some peculiar aspects to it that make it a great optional area.

This area is also great for Soul Farming, as there are enemies called Phalanxes that players can kill for 500 Souls each.

4

Corvian Settlement

Dark Souls 3

• The Crow Talons can be obtained here
• Challenging, fast enemies

Having discussed the Painted World of Ariandel earlier, it’s only fitting that another optional area on this list would be located inside it. The Corvian Settlement lies in the heart of the Painted World of Ariandel and is full of both strange, harmless creatures and dangerous Corvian guardians that will put players’ skills to the test.

As opposed to other areas in Dark Souls 3, this one doesn’t have as much to discover. However, it is the location where the Crow Talons can be obtained, which are an excellent Dexterity weapon and one of the best claws in the entire game.

3

Untended Graves

Dark Souls 3

• Home to Champion Gundyr
• Players can get the Coiled Sword Fragment here, which allows them to return to the last bonfire they used.

The Untended Graves area is probably one of the hardest to discover in the entirety of Dark Souls 3, as it not only lies behind a false wall, but said wall is also located in an optional area that will be discussed later.

This area lies in complete darkness and players must explore it at their own risk as there are Grave Wardens, dogs, and other foes that are quite dangerous. The Untended Graves section is also home to Champion Gundyr, a much stronger version of Iudex Gundyr, the first boss in the game.

2

Consumed King’s Garden

Dark Souls 3

• Home to Oceiros, the Consumed King
• This area also leads to the Untended Graves section

The Consumed King’s Garden is loved by some and hated by many, but this doesn’t mean that it’s not one of the greatest optional areas in Dark Souls 3. It can be accessed through Lothric Castle after players defeat the Dancer of the Boreal Valley and has many dangers lurking in the shadows.

At the end of this area, players will have to face Oceiros, the Consumed King, who can be very fast and has an unsettling design. When players beat him, they should rest at the bonfire that appears in the boss arena and then hit the wall right behind it to access the Untended Graves secret area.

1

Archdragon Peak

Dark Souls 3

• Home to the Nameless King
• Players can kill the Ancient Wyvern in this area with a single plunge

Lastly, there is Archdragon Peak, which is not only one of the greatest kept secrets in Dark Souls 3, but also requires the “Path of the Dragon” Gesture to access it. This Gesture can be obtained at the Consumed King’s Garden once Oceiros has been defeated.

Archdragon Peak has one of the biggest difficulty spikes in the entire game, not only because of the area enemies encountered there, but also because of the final boss of this location, the Nameless King, who is considered by many to be one of the toughest bosses in the trilogy.