Dark Souls walkthrough

UNDEAD PARISH PART 2

When you reenter the church after resting at a bonfire, all enemies except for the Tower Shield knight will be back. If you head through the side entrance, you should be able to avoid the stronger foes. Check the altar to your right to find a Fire Keeper’s Soul. This will come in handy back at Firelink Shrine.

Continue past the altar and past the stairs you see on your right (though that is the path to your objective). Hop onto the elevator in front of you. This takes you back to Firelink Shrine; now you have an easy way to get from there to the Parish. If you descend the stairs near the bonfire in Firelink Shrine and speak to Anastacia of Astora, you can use the Fire Keeper’s Soul to reinforce your Estus Flasks. This increases the healing properties of each flask you drink.

Return to the elevator, take it back up the Parish, and take the ascending stairs you passed earlier (be wary of an enemy on the staircase). After proceeding through the corridor at the top of this staircase, you’ll encounter the sorcerer. He’ll be protected by a swarm of undead, so backtrack through the corridor killing off the weaklings until all that remains is the sorcerer. Once that happens, he poses little risk if you get close enough.

If you continue to climb the stairs in the Parish in a counterclockwise fashion (as opposed to climbing the ladder to the Belfry Gargoyle boss), you’ll come upon a flimsy wooden door. Smash through it and climb the stairs beyond to find Knight Lautrec of Carim locked in a cell. You’ll need the Mystery Key, found earlier, to set him free. Be aware that doing so means he will return to Firelink Shrine and kill Anastacia of Astora. However, even if you don’t free him, he’ll escape after you defeat the Belfry Gargoyle and still kill Anastacia. The benefit to freeing him now is that he becomes available for summoning in the Belfry Gargoyle boss fight, though we recommend summoning Solaire instead.

Return to the second floor of the church and look for a series of ladders leading up. These lead to a fog door beyond which is the Belfry Gargoylesboss fight. We highly recommend you are in human form before this fight, since in this state you are allowed to summon either Knight Lautrec of Carim or Solaire of Astora by touching one of their summon symbols found on the ground before the fog door. We suggest summoning Solaire for reasons that are important later in the game.

BOSS: BELFRY GARGOYLES

As soon as the fight begins, focus on defeating the first gargoyle as quickly as possible. Solaire should serve as a distraction while you use your Pyromancy or Firebombs from a distance. Alternatively, you can enchant your weapon with lighting by using the Gold Pine Resin, as the gargoyle is extremely susceptible to lighting attacks.

Once you’ve half-killed the first gargoyle, another will appear. Again, maintain focus on the first gargoyle and knock it out as quickly as you can; you don’t want to fight two of these beasts simultaneously for any longer than is necessary.

If Solaire survives, you’ll earn a Sunlight Medal. If he is vanquished, don’t worry; you just don't get the medal. Also, if you manage to destroy the tail of either gargoyle, you will earn a Gargoyle Tail Axe. While not especially powerful, and not even half as powerful as the Drake Sword, it is a rare weapon. If you fail to obtain it here, you will have a chance later in the game.

Once victory is achieved, run across the roof, climb the ladder, and ring the bell. Congratulations! Now it’s time to head back to Firelink Shrine. Note: after descending the second ladder of the bell tower, you’ll notice a man in black. Do not strike him. This is Oswald of Carim, an NPC very important to covenant and multiplayer matters. There’s not much to do with him now, so just return to Firelink Shrine. Or…