Dark Souls 3: how to recruit NPC trainers and complete their quests

Trainers? Catch 'em all with our Dark Souls 3 NPC guide.

Dark Souls 3: how to recruit NPC trainers and complete their quests

Dark Souls 3 is stuffed full of interesting characters, many of whom have something to offer you besides a friendly face in the wilderness. Whether you're looking to add a new vendor to your collection at Firelink Shrine, complete a side story, unlock more services or just secure some help for a tough boss fight, our guide to NPCs and trainers has you covered.

We will necessarily be discussing spoilers throughout, so be wary. Each entry will be separated by images, and the guide will progress in order of first appearance on a normal playthrough (with the exception of the Fire Keeper, who you'll find at the very bottom) - but entries will touch on endgame events and story material. You've been warned.

The list only details major NPCs whose services and survival are affected by player actions, or who play an important role in possible endings. Those whose existence merely relates to questlines of other NPCs, or who are unaffected by either the deaths of bosses or the player's interactions with them, are detailed within the appropriate entries where applicable. For information on Andre the Blacksmith, Ludleth of Courland and the Shrine Handmaid, please see our Firelink hub guide. For covenant NPCs, see the covenants guide.

Note that if you kill NPCs their quests become unavailable, but you can usually obtain their unique items and inventory by returning their ashes to the Shrine Handmaid - or sometimes automatically.

If you're looking for information on a specific NPC and would rather avoid accidental spoilers of the others on this page, or are seeking details of an invading NPC phantom, we've got a quick and dirty reference list of Dark Souls 3 NPCs, too.

This page is a work in progress. More information will be added as and when it is discovered.

Get the Twinkling Dragon Head Stone from Hawkwood

Hawkwood is resident at Firelink Shrine when you first arrive, and can be found either seated on the stairs or outside the side entrance near some graves. His dialogue reveals a little about the Undead Legion and Farron Knights. He can be summoned to aid you in the Oceiros boss fight.

Speak to Hawkwood when you first arrive at Firelink Shrine to receive the Collapse emote.

Speak to Hawkwood after defeating the Abyss Watchers to receive the Farron Ring.

Sometime after defeating the Abyss Watchers, Hawkwood will leave Firelink Shrine. Hawkwood's Shield can then be found near the graves outside the shrine.

To progress Hawkwood's quest, touch his summon sign near the third bonfire at Archdragon Peak. If you collect the Twinkling Dragon Torso Stone from Archdragon's Peak and then speak to Andre the Blacksmith, you'll be able to duel Hawkwood at the Abyss Watchers bonfire. If you win, he'll give you the Twinkling Dragon Head Stone. If you lose, he'll take the Twinkling Dragon Torso Stone from you. You can come back and have another go to try and win both stones, though.

It is permitted to refer to Hawkwood as "Awkward" on any and all occasions. He is available for summoning in the Consumed King's Garden.

Obtain the Red and Black Eye Orb from Leonhard

Leonhard is a mysterious NPC found leading against Lothric's throne in Firelink Shrine. He'll give you five Cracked Red Eye Orbs the first time you have a chat.

Obtain a Pale Tongue by invading and killing another player (or perhaps by picking one up near an optional boss in Undead Settlement) and return it to Leonhard to receive the Lift Chamber Key. Use this to access the Darkwraith under Tower on the Wall. Speak to Leonhard after killing the Darkwraith to receive the Applause emote and the Red Eye Orb; the latter allows for unlimited invasions.

Leonhard suggests you join Rosaria's Fingers. (Note: joining Rosaria's Fingers will prematurely end Sirris's questline; see her entry below.) If you accept the Red Eye Orb from him and join the covenant, you'll find Leonhard at the door to Rosaria's Bedchamber when you offer a Pale Tongue to Roasaria.

When you visit a third time, Rosaria will be dead and you can collect the Black Eye Orb from her body. Don't worry: you can still access covenant services at Rosaria's bed, and you can revive her later if you want.

You can use the Black Eye Orb in the highest room above the Aldrich boss arena, you can invade and battle Leonhard. You'll receive the Crescent Moon Sword and the Silver Mask, as well as Rosaria's Soul. Use this to revive her, or transpose into the Bountiful Sunlight miracle.

Recruit Greirat of the Undead Settlement

A useful vendor who sells a number of goods not available elsewhere, Greirat of the Undead Settlement is the first NPC most players will encounter outside Firelink Shrine - provided they explore thoroughly. To recruit Greirat, search High Wall of Lothric for the Cell Key and release him from his prison, and agree to deliver a ring for him.

Advance his storyline by finding Loretta's Bone in Undead Settlement. Return this key item to the thief. The next time you return to Firelink Shrine Greirat will be temporarily unavailable as a vendor, but speaking to him with net you the Curl Up emote.

Some time later Greirat will be back to his cheerful self, and will offer to go out pillaging. Agree to this request and he'll be sent from the Shrine - but will return with new items to sell. Sending Greirat on this journey may be a factor in the later appearance of Unbreakable Patches.

The second time Greirat goes out to pillage there's a chance he may be killed, and his body left near the Church of Yorshka bonfire in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. The exact conditions of his death are not yet known, but seem to be related to Patches and Siegward of Catarina. To keep Greirat alive during his second journey, complete Siegward's questline up to his adventures in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley and do not speak to Patches while Greirat is away. Greirat will return after you defeat Pontiff Sulyvahn.

Greirat can make a third scavenging trip, but at this stage it seems he will always die in the process. His body can be found on a rooftop in the Grand Archives in Lothric Castle.

If Greirat is killed, you can loot Greirat's Ashes from his body. Deliver this key item to the Shrine Handmaid and she will offer Greirat's inventory for sale.

Unlock the secret ending with Yoel and Yuria of Londor

Major spoilers.

Yoel of Londor is a pilgrim and a basic sorcery vendor who plays an important role in unlocking the third ending. To recruit Yoel, you must visit him near the Foot of the High Wall bonfire as soon as possible; if left alone, he will die.

Yoel of Londor will offer to "draw out" the player's "true strength" - which awards one attribute point at no extra cost. Accepting this service marks the player with the Dark Sigil, which afflicts the player with Hollowing on each death. Yoel offers this service up to five times as the player become more hollow; reach 20 Hollowing to unlock all five free levels. When you have all five Dark Sigils you'll receive five levels of Hollowing each time you die.

Yoel dies either when the player defeats an as yet undetermined number of bosses or after the player secures five Dark Sigils. There are no known negative consequences to this as long as you have already obtained all five Dark Sigils.

If the player has obtained all five Dark Sigils when Yoel dies and has not cured them (see the Fire Keeper entry below), Yoel is replaced by Yuria. Yuria maintains Yoel's inventory and has several unique items of her own, including a Divine Tome of Carim and the Dark Hand weapon. Speaking to her when she first appears rewards you with the Dignified Bow emote. Further dialogue with Yuria includes hints as to how to achieve the third ending.

If you heal the Dark Sigil at any point (see the Fire Keeper entry below), Yuria will leave, and the third ending will be closed off. If the player instead maintains a good relationship with her, she can be summoned to aid in the final boss fight - and the third ending will remain open.

Yuria has a negative opinion of Orbeck of Vinheim. If Orbeck dies (see his entry below), the player can bring his ashes to Yuria to receive the Morion Blade.

Learn rare pyromancy from Cornyx of the Great Swamp

The primary pyromancy trainer, Cornyx "Corny" of the Great Swamp is an essential vendor. Once unlocked, he awards the player a Pyromancy Flame, and can upgrade Pyromancy Flames as well as selling you new pyromancy spells.

Recruit Cornyx in Undead Settlement by letting him out of a cage and accepting his services.

Speak to Cornyx twice at Firelink Shrine to receive the Welcome emote.

Bring the Great Swamp Pyromancy Tome, Carthus Pyromancy Tome and Izalith Pyromancy Tome to Cornyx to unlock new and powerful pyromancy spells.

Mysteriously, if you summon the NPC spirit Great Swamp Cuculus in Smouldering Lake and defeat Old Demon King, you can collect the Spotted Whip and Cornyx's Armour set from near the cage in Undead Settlement where you first met Cornyx.

Rescue Irina of Carim to unlock dark miracles

Irina and Eygon of Carim come as a pair, although only Irina will move into Firelink Shrine permanently. Recruit this useful, upgradable miracle vendor by rescuing her from her cell in Undead Settlement. Simply speak to Eygon outside the cell once Irina is free to secure his friendship - or at least an alliance.

You can increase Irina's inventory by giving her the Braille Divine Tome of Carim and Lothric Holy Divine Tomb. If you buy all these "good" miracles from Irina, it will push her down the path to becoming a Firekeeper towards the end of the game. You'll find her in the tower near Firekeeper Shrine; she'll leave behind any dark tomes you gave her, so you can hand them over to Karla. Meanwhile, in endgame, Eygon will die in her old cell back in Undead Settlement; you can loot the Morne's Hammer from his body.

You can also give Irina the Londor Braille Divine Tome (sold by Yuria; see her entry above) Deep Braille Divine Tome. If you buy any of the "evil" miracles from these dark tomes, Irina will not become a firekeeper. What happens next depends on how far through the game you are:

• If you are in endgame and Eygon is dead, Irina will stay in her usual place at Firelink Shrine, and you'll need to completely clear her inventory to trigger her final state.
• If Eygon is still alive, Irina will move to the Iudex Gundyr bonfire, where Eygon will be waiting, and hostile.

In either case, Irina will stop offering vendor services. Put on Eygon's gloves (the Morne gloves, available to purchase from Shrine Handmaid after Eygon's death) and touch her when prompted to trigger some extra dialogue. What you do next is up to you.

While Irina and Eygon live and thrive, Eygon is available as a summon on Road of Sacrifices and at the Dragonslayer Armour battle. He will visit you in Firelink Shrine after defeating the Abyss Watchers. If Irina dies or is touched by the darkness, Eygon will become hostile and be unavailable for summoning.

Find Siegward of Catarina's armour

The "onion knights" of Catarina return in Dark Souls 3. You'll first meet Siegward of Catarina when you enter the tower in Undead Settlement. Leave the area (or die) and return and you can meet him on the hidden middle level. From here, you can join him to fight an optional boss, scoring the Toast emote and a cask of Siegbrau, which can be traded with the crow at Firelink Shrine, by chatting with him afterwards.

If you'd like to continue Siegward's quest beyond this point, make sure you send Greirat on his first scavenging trip as soon as possible, as it seems to be linked to Siegward's quest somehow.

Your next encounter with Siegward takes place just outside Cleansing Chapel in Cathedral of the Deep. If you don't find Siegward in the well immediately, spend a few hours clearing out Cathedral of the Deep up to the second shortcut, but no further. If he has not yet appeared by this time, and you've already done everything previously listed in our walkthrough, go spend a few hours grinding or farming in earlier regions, and come back. He should turn up eventually.

When Siegward does appear in the well, you'll learn he doesn't have his armour. You can purchase this from Unbreakable Patches for about 10,000 souls total. Patches can be encountered further into Cathedral of the Seep or at Firelink Shrine; see his entry for details. Return Siegward's armour to him in the well before defeating Deacons of the Deep to advance the quest.

Meet Siegward again in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. From the Distant Manor bonfire, look for a room leading off a small sewer near the lake. Exhaust his dialogue.

You'll next find Siegward in Irithyll Dungeon. Look for a pit full of rats (careful, they respawn) near a sleeping giant and speak to Siegward through a window. To rescue Siegward, start at the Profaned Capital bonfire and look for a blue peaked roof on a house in a swamp. Look from this roof to the stairs to spot an open window you can leap to. This leads to Siegward's cell.

If you complete Siegward's quest up to this point, he will join you for the boss battle against Yhorm the Giant, pretty much winning the fight for you. Speak to him once more after the battle and exhaust his dialogue. Siegward dies shortly after the Yhorm the Giant fight. You will receive the Catarina armour set as a result.

Note: image above is fan art of Siegmeyer of Catarina. We weren't able to trace the original artist. Please get in touch for credit!

Marry Anri of Astora

Major spoilers.

Anri of Astora is a prince or princess and a romantic interest of sorts; their gender will always be opposite of the player. (Since Dark Souls 3 lets you alter your appearance significantly after selecting a gender, and there are no other in-game ramifications, you can manipulate this to suit your romantic ideals.) The full details of Anri's quest are still under investigation, but they are a key figure in unlocking he third ending.

You first meet Anri and companion Horace the Hushed at the Halfway Fortress. Speak to them both to secure their later appearances and collect the Blue Sentinels covenant sigil.

Return to Firelink Shrine after defeating Deacons of the Deep to have another chat with Anri.

Look for Anri in the Catacombs of Carthus to learn they have lost Horace. Find Horace in Smouldering Lake via Abandoned Tomb, then speak to Anri again at a second location before you beat High Lord Wolnir. You choices in this area have profound consequences, as detailed below.

• Leave Horace alive, do not speak with Anri before beating High Lord Wolnir:
  Anri dies in the Catacombs of Carthus after you defeat High Lord Wolnir. This is a premature end to their quest and you do not obtain any unique loot or outcomes.
• Leave Horace alive, speak with Anri before beating High Lord Wolnir:
  Anri leaves the Catacombs of Carthus and their story continues, but Yuria leaves Firelink Shrine and the third ending is closed off.
• Kill Horace, speak with Anri before killing High Lord Wolnir:
  Anri gives you the Ring of the Evil Eye, leaves the Catacombs of Carthus and their story continues. The third ending remains available.

Meet with Anri again at the Church of Yorshka bonfire in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. The quest now branches; there is an pilgrim disguised as a statue in this room you can elect to kill or ignore - and you must decide now, as Anri leaves the area shortly.

• Kill the pilgrim in the room:
  Collect the Chameleon spell. This will cause Yruia to leave Firelink Shrine and close off the third ending. Look for a summon sign on the way to the Alritch boss fight and you will be transported to Anri's world to help them kill the boss (return to your own world if things go badly, as you want Anri to live). Speak to Ludleth after defeating Anri's version of Aldlrich to receive Anri's Straight Sword. If you visit the Smouldering Lake after this, Anri will attack you.
• Leave the pilgrim alone:
  Seek out Anri at Darkmoon Tomb; use the lever near the Anor Londo bonfire and go down the stairs. If Yuria is still present in your game (see her entry above), you will be able to marry Anri, unlocking the third ending. Return to this location to collect the Chameleon spell and, some time later in the game, Anri's Straight Sword.

Learn advanced sorceries from Orbeck of Vinheim

An advanced sorcery vendor, Orbeck of Vinheim is encountered between Crucifixion Woods and Crystal Sage. You need an intelligence attribute of ten before he'll agree to relocate to Firelink Shrine.

Orbeck's inventory expands as you bring him sorcery scrolls. You must bring him at least one scroll before challenging any of the Lords of Cinder, or he may leave the shrine and vanish forever.

Speak to Orbeck after buying spells from him. He will award the Young Dragon Ring, the Slumbering Dragon Ring and the Silent Ally emote as you purchase all his goodies.

Complete Orbeck's quest by bringing him every scroll: Sage's Scroll, Golden Scroll, Crystal Scroll and Logan's Scroll. If you buy everything he has after this, he will leave Firelink Shrine and die; you can loot his body in the Grand Archives, and return his ashes to the Shrine Handmaid to purchase his coat. Alternately, present his ashes to Yuria for a unique sword.

Orbeck is the Official Best Friend of the Honourable League of Cheeseburger Assassins.

Ally with Sirris of the Sunless Realms

Warning: in any build of the game prior to v1.03, touching Sirris's summon sign will cause a crash.

You first encounter Sirris when you return to Firelink Shrine after chatting with Anri of Astora and Horace the Hushed at the Halfway Fortress. She is not friendly.

Once you have Sirris's respect, you can summon her for three boss fights: Abyss Watchers, Deacons of the Deep and Lothric Younger Prince. If you join Rosaria's Fingers at any point, Sirris will become hostile; she'll no longer be available for summoning, and her questline will end prematurely.

Win Sirris's respect by collecting the Dreamchaser’s Ashes near the Old Wolf of Farron bonfire and returning them to the Shrine Handmaid. On your next visit to Firelink Shrine, Sirris will appear and grant you the Darkmoon Loyalty emote, which you'll need for the Blades of the Darkmoon covenant.

Encounter Sirris again near the Irithyll of the Boreal Valley bonfire. Rest at the bonfire, then return to the bridge guarded by a wolf beast and look for her summon sign. Activate it to be transported to her world, and aid her in defeating invading dark spirit Creighton. Return to Firelink Shrine and Sirris will give you the Silvercat Ring and a Blessed Mail Breaker.

After defeating Aldrich, return to the Pit of Hollows bonfire and activate Sirris's summon sign to defeat Holy Knight Hodrick - the real one, not the phantoms you may have encountered earlier in the game. Sirris will pledge her loyalty to you after this. (This also unlocks the Mound-makers covenant for those who missed it earlier.) Return to this area after travelling away to collect Hodrick's set.

Speak with Sirris in Firelink Shrine and she will express her satisfaction and readiness for death. Sometime after this, search the ledge between Firelink Shrine and Iudex Gundyr where a grunt is staring out into the distance to collect the Sunset Shield. Later, Sirris will die, and the Sunless Realm set will be available at the Shrine handmaid. At this point, the Sunless Talisman will appear on the same ledge where you got the shield.

Reunite with Unbreakable Patches

The best-loved Souls NPC returns, and as usual, Unbreakable Patches is here to screw you over. He's also got some great, unique gear in his inventory, though, and is vital to Siegward of Catarina's quest.

Your first chance to encounter Unbreakable Patches is near Rosaria's Bedchamber in Cathedral of the Deep. His appearance here seems to depend on Siegward of Catarina and Greirat of the Undead Settlement's sidequests, but the exact mechanics are not known. He will ask you to cross the bridge and withdraw it when you do; you'll take damage from the fall and likely be attacked by the enemies below. Return to Patches to accept his apology.

Patches may not appear at the above location if you approach from a different direction. If you can't find Patches at the Cathedral of the Deep but need Siegward's armour, return to Firelink Shrine. Purchase the Tower key if you have not done so already, and explore it thoroughly. Travel away and back again, and enter the tower again; Patches will lock you in. Use a Homeward Bone (or die) and you'll find Patches in the upper reaches of Firelink Shrine, on the same side as Leonhard and the side exit. He'll apologise again; if you say you won't forgive him, he'll give you a Rusted Gold Coin and the Prostration emote - but it's not yet clear if this has consequences.

If you haven't triggered either of Patches' appearances but have defeated Abyss Watchers and Deacons of the Deep, he'll appear in Firelink Shrine independently.

If Patches is sitting down when you approach him at Firelink Shrine (travel away and back after your first conversation at the Shrine to trigger this) he'll give you the Patches Squat emote.

Patches has some bearing on Greirat of the Undead Settlement's survival. If you wish to keep Greirat alive, never tell Patches where the thief has gone; in fact, it's best not to speak to him at all while Greirat is away on adventures, but this won't necessarily guarantee Greirat's safety. Patches will reactivate as a vendor after you beat the next boss; Greirat will return from this trip if Siegward of Catarina is around to save him (see Siegward's entry above).

Save Irina by recruiting Karla

Karla is something of a back up NPC; she can be used to keep Irina of Carim alive, while still being able to purchase the spells Irina only sells if you risk her death. She sells both sorceries and pyromancies.

Recuit Karla by unlocking her cell in Irithyll Dungeon; the key can be found at Profaned Capital.

Give the Izalith Pyromancy Tome and the Grave Warden Pyromancy Tome to Karla to expand her inventory. Cornyx will not accept these tomes.

Although she'll refuse at first, you can press Karla to accept the Londor Braille Divine Tome and the Deep Braille Divine Tome. This will ensure Irina's survival while still allowing you to purchase the spells contained therein. There seem to be no negative consequences.

Unlock a secret ending through the Fire Keeper

Major Spoilers.

The Fire Keeper can do more than merely level up the player. You can bring her two gifts, each with important ramifications for the ending you see:

• Purchase the Tower Key from the Shrine Handmaid and retrieve the Fire Keeper's Soul from the top of the tower. Return this to the Fire Keeper and she will be able to heal the Dark Sigil. This will close off Ending #3: Usurp the Flame, prevent you from hollowing, and send Yuria of Londor packing.
• Retrieve the Eyes of a Firekeeper from the Untended Graves bonus area. Gift these to the Fire Keeper and speak with her. This will allow you to use a summon sign before activating the bonfire after defeating the final boss, unlocking Ending #2: The End of Fire.