Dark Souls III: Boss Progression

Read this only when you want route spoilers

The opening line is Iudex Gundyr, then Vordt of the Boreal Valley. From the High Wall, the main road reaches the Undead Settlement and Road of Sacrifices. Crucifixion Woods splits: the right-hand route reaches Farron Keep without Crystal Sage, while the left-hand route through Crystal Sage leads to the Cathedral of the Deep. The Deacons provide the progression item that opens the later Irithyll gate, so the cathedral is required even though it is not on the direct road to Farron.

From Farron, defeat the Abyss Watchers to enter the Catacombs of Carthus. High Lord Wolnir points you into Irithyll. The Distant Manor bonfire branches to the Dungeon and Profaned Capital before Pontiff Sulyvahn; that route leads to Yhorm. Pontiff instead opens the Anor Londo route to Aldrich. Both are required Lords of Cinder, so clear the branch that suits your current build and return to the other with more Estus and a stronger weapon.

The final base-game stretch

After the required Lords are in place, the story opens the way through Lothric Castle. The critical line is Dancer, Dragonslayer Armour, the Twin Princes, then Soul of Cinder. Several bosses and side areas remain optional, including routes that start from the early settlement or Irithyll. They are worth exploring for gear and NPC progress, but you do not need to defeat every named boss to finish the base game.

Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City sit outside this sequence. Treat their bosses as expansion content and enter only when you want that challenge, not because a base-game route list makes them look adjacent. For the damage preparation behind a difficult fight, see Weapon Upgrades or return to Getting Started.