How to farm souls? | Basics Dark Souls Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
There is one interesting place in the game, where you can farm souls and which can be accessed early in the game (or at least in the first part of the game). This place is located in the further part of Darkroot Forest behind the door marked with the seal (there is a bonfire nearby, hidden behind the disappearing wall).
In order to use this method, you have to buy Crest at blacksmith Andrei and open the passage - you'll get an access to a place with large amount of souls. You can only use this while you're not a member of Forest Hunter, because you'll be killing their allies.
Farming looks as follows:
1) You start at the bonfire in the forest and go outside through the door marked with the magic sign.
2) Jump from the stairs and run into the forest.
3) Keep on the left edge (of the slope) and run towards ruins (where you can find Alvina, the cat)
4) Along your way lure all local enemies - mage, axe warrior and 2-3 invisible opponents.
5) Make sure that enemies are following you and slowly go back to the stairs, with all opponents still following you.
6) Move to the stairs from the edge side - try to fit into a corner behind the stairs.
7) Your opponents should walk onto the stairs (instead running after you from the edge side) and try to jump over you - but it won't do any good. Enemies will fall into an abyss and you'll get souls.
8) Sometimes enemies fall down to your ledge - just raise your shield then and block their attack to push then to the abyss.
You can also harvest, around 500 souls at Undead Burg. Climb up the ladder next to the bonfire. Then, climb up the stairs to the bridge with the dragon on. Walk onto the bridge and return to the stairs quickly. The Dragon will start belching fire and it will kill the soldiers guarding the bridge. If you want to repeat this maneuver, take rest at the bonfire and repeat. This is a good option in the situation, in which you are short on money and cannot buy souls from the merchant. If you want to level up this way, it is quite cumbersome, due to the small amount of souls that you receive.