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Dark Souls 2 walkthrough: a complete guide to all locations and bosses

We walk you through From Software's dark RPG, revealing Lifegems, souls, weapons and armour as you take on the brutal bosses of Dranglaec.

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Dark Souls II is a tough game. It's punishing boss fights, purposefully vague direction and brutal combat make for a thrilling combination, but sometimes we all have to admit we need a little help. There's no shame in that, so we're helping out with a guide to the world of Dranglaec.

We'll update this walkthrough as we go - it's a huge world to explore - and add more details on locations and techniques for boss fights over the coming weeks, as well as advice on classes and other tips.

In the meantime, you can find a round-up of all the review scores for Dark Souls II right here, and keep an eye on Dave Cook's journey through the game in our journal entries, which also include some top advice from a franchise veteran.

Darks Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 1: Things Betwixt and Majula.

Darks Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 2: Forest of Fallen Giants.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 2.5: A Shortcut From The Forest of the Fallen Giant to The Lost Bastille.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 3: Heide's Tower of Flame.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 4: No-Man's Wharf.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 5: The Lost Bastille.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 6: Sinner’s Rise.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 7: Belfry Luna.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 8: Huntsman’s Copse.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 9: Undead Purgatory.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 10: The Gutter.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 11: Black Gulch.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 12: Grave of Saints.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 13: Shaded Woods.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 14: Doors of Pharros.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 15: Brightstone Cove Tseldora.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 16: Return to Huntsman’s Copse.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 17: Harvest Valley to Earthen Peak.

Dark Souls 2 Walkthrough Part 18: Earthen Peak.

And here's Dave's growing Dark Souls 2 journal, containing plenty of tips and insight into completing the game:

Dark Souls 2 Journal #1: The first ten hours have been painful.

Dark Souls 2 Journal #2: Into The Lost Bastille and the trouble with threes.

Dark Souls 2 journal #3: getting dirty in The Gutter and passing level 100.

Dark Souls 2 journal #4: spiders, windmills and a lot of lava.

Dark Souls 2 journal #5: playing silly buggers in Drangleic Castle and beyond.

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