Multiplayer | Basics Dark Souls II Guide

1v1 on blue arena

Dark Souls 2 has multiplayer mode (requires permanent connection to the internet), which sort of mixes with singleplayer. In nearly every place and time, the player can summon others to help him, may be attacked by invaders or can challenge others to fight on the arena. You can also encounter less direct forms of interaction with the community, like for example massages on the ground, illusions of other players, bloodstains marking the place where somebody died, etc. The only way to leave the multiplayer is to disconnect from the internet.

Below you will find a short description of the most important aspects and items in multiplayer:

• Cooperative Gameplay - We can summon other players to help us clear locations and fight with bosses. We can also place summon signs to help other players in their worlds. The time of co-op is 40 minutes maximum and all the summoned players are sent back after the death of the host or clearing the locations/defeating the boss.
• Illusions - Sometimes you can encounter light blue illusions of players that are currently in the same location as you are. You cannot interact with them, but you can watch them for a short while and for example make a gesture. Illusions disappear after a few seconds.
• Spirits at bonfires - When resting at bonfires, you can see other players that are doing the same in the moment. These visions are much more detailed than illusions and you can see their gear or even the form in which they currently are. However, similarly to illusions, you cannot interact with them, but they are nice company for a lone wanderer.
• Messages - They are various kinds of information left by other players from the Dark Souls 2 world. They appear as glowing orange signs on the ground. Some of them contain useful tips on killing difficult opponents or finding secret passages and items. Be careful however, because some of them might actually be deceiving, leading you to dangerous paths or deadly traps. The maximum amount of messages that a player can leave is 10. After exceeding this number, older messages are replaced by newer ones.
• Bloodstains - During your journey, you can notice red bloodstains left on the ground. When you activate them, you will be able to see the last few seconds from the life of some unfortunate player. It can serve as a form of a warning against dangerous locations, traps. Etc.
• White Sign Soapstone - Allows you to place a summon sign to help other players clear a locations or fight a boss. You obtain it from Mild Mannered Pate'a.
• Small White Soapstone - works the same way as normal soapstone, but it summons for a shorter period (15-20 minutes).
• Red Sign Soapstone - places a red summon sign, which is used for duels between players.
• Cracked Red Eye Orb - used for invading other players' worlds.
• Cracked Blue Eye Orb - Lets you invade the world of a sinner. Available only for members of the Blue Sentinels covenant.
• Dragon Eye - Only for the Dragon Remnants covenant. Places a special duel sign.
• Black Separation crystal - Allows you to banish a phantom from your world or to escape other worlds.
• Crushed Eye Orb - used for attacking traitor NPCs.
• Bone of Order - Deletes the penalty for illegal disconnections during multiplayer.