Dark Souls Remastered: Base-Game Progression

Ring the two bells

From Firelink Shrine, take the Undead Burg route to Taurus Demon, Undead Parish, the Bell Gargoyles, and the first Bell of Awakening. The standard lower route then runs Lower Undead Burg, Capra Demon, Depths, Gaping Dragon, Blighttown, Quelaag, and the second bell. The bells open Sen’s Fortress. A Master Key or later-world detour can change that order, but a new player should treat those as deliberate shortcuts, not missing objectives.

Sen’s Fortress leads to Iron Golem and Anor Londo. Defeat Ornstein and Smough, receive the Lordvessel, and use it to open the yellow fog gates. This is where the game becomes flexible: the four Lord Soul routes are not one hallway. Duke’s Archives leads to Seath; Tomb of the Giants leads to Nito; Demon Ruins and Lost Izalith lead to Bed of Chaos; and New Londo Ruins leads to the Four Kings after you have drained the water.

Finish without losing the map

Return each Lord Soul to the Lordvessel, then the Kiln of the First Flame opens for Gwyn. The Artorias of the Abyss content in Remastered is an optional expansion route. Its entrance and bosses do not replace any base-game Lord Soul requirement.

Keep Firelink as your repair and route-planning hub. The early loop is explained in Getting Started; Andre’s upgrade choices are in Andre and Embers. When a path feels wrong, ask which bell or Lord Soul it serves before forcing another run through it.