High Wall of Lothric: A Comprehensive Dark Souls 3 Walkthrough

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Overview

This comprehensive guide provides a detailed walkthrough for the High Wall of Lothric area in Dark Souls 3. It covers enemy encounters, collectible item locations, secrets, shortcuts, and strategies for defeating the boss, Vordt of the Boreal Valley. Whether you're a new player or a seasoned veteran, this guide will help you navigate the High Wall of Lothric and prepare you for the challenges ahead.

1. Introduction to the High Wall of Lothric

You'll begin your journey through the High Wall of Lothric after exiting the Firelink Shrine. The area consists of interconnected ramparts and towers surrounding the city. This walkthrough will guide you through each section, highlighting key points of interest and potential dangers.

2. Exploring the Ramparts

1. Initial Bonfire: Upon entering the High Wall, proceed down the stairs to find the first bonfire. This will serve as your checkpoint and respawn location.

2. Right Path (Dead-End): To the right of the bonfire, a broken section of the rampart overlooks the next area. Eliminate the Hollow Archer stationed on the platform to prevent ranged attacks.

3. Enemy Encounter: The area below is patrolled by two Bone Hounds, a large axe-wielding Hollow, and a halberd-carrying Hollow. Lure the Bone Hounds up the stairs first to avoid attracting the attention of the other enemies.

4. Locked Door and Estus Flask: The stairs downward lead to a locked door and a Hollow holding an Estus Flask. This area will become a shortcut later in the game. Loot the corpse nearby to obtain a Soul of a Deserted Corpse.

5. Far Staircase: Exercise caution when ascending the far staircase, as one of the Hollow worshipers will transform into a mutated beast. If you can't kill it before it transforms, use firebombs or dodge its attacks to strike at its body. Clear out the other worshipers and collect the Longbow and 12 Standard Arrows from the corpse near the crumbled stairs.

3. Heading Down the Spiral Stairs

1. Worshipers and Watchman: As you descend the spiral stairs, be aware of the numerous worshipers, a soldier on the right, and a lantern-carrying watchman.

2. Lantern-Carrying Watchman: The watchman will alert nearby enemies if he spots you. Eliminate him quickly or lure the enemies to you one at a time.

3. Dragon Corpse: Don't worry, the dragon is long dead and won't harm you. Loot the corpse on the left in the middle for a Soul of a Deserted Corpse.

   

4. Exploring the Building Under the Dragon

1. Tower Ascent: You can either enter the building under the dragon or climb the tower above him.

2. Tower Enemies: If you choose to climb the tower, be prepared for another watchman, reinforcements hiding among the dragon's corpse, a bombardier, and a shielded soldier. Defeat them to claim the Binoculars at the top of the tower.

3. Alternate Entrance: Look around the dragon’s left wing for an alcove you can drop down onto. You’ll find an alternate entrance to the building complete with a corpse holding 2 Gold Pine Resin.

4. Building Interior: Inside the building, eliminate the soldier on the left and the shield-carrying enemy behind the crates on the right. Collect 2 Firebombs from a corpse near one of the tables.

5. Rubble Doorway: The other door is blocked by rubble, but you can see what's waiting for you on the other side: Trouble.

6. Lower Room: Descend the ladder to the lower room and exit through the side door. Nab the Soul of a Deserted Corpse near the exit.

7. Corridor Encounter: As you leave, you’ll see the stairs up on the left, and a corridor on the right - with two hollow blocking your path. One is an archer and the other a spear-and-shield wielder. Try and bait them and don’t let them call for backup

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5. The Dragon's Fire

1. Dragon's Breath: As you ascend the stairs, a dragon will swoop down and ignite the upper area with its fiery breath. Retreat and allow the enemies to burn.

2. Corridor Strategy: If you attempt to traverse the corridor on the right, the dragon will prepare another blast. Run back and let him ignite the group at the far end of the corridor, creating a clear path.

3. Item Collection (Brave and Crazy): If you're feeling adventurous, you can try to grab the four items in the middle of the tower wall while it's engulfed in flames: A Claymore, a Large Soul of a Deserted Corpse, a Club, and an Ember. Consider jumping off the balcony when the dragon starts its fiery breath.

6. The Mimic Chest

1. Empty Building: Inside the building, you'll find a chest on the bottom floor.

2. Mimic Encounter: Be cautious, as the chest is actually a Mimic. These enemies are tough and have long kicks and swipes.

3. Deep Battle Axe: If you defeat the Mimic, you'll receive the Deep Battle Axe, a powerful early-game weapon with extra dark damage.

4. Ladder Escape: If you prefer to avoid the Mimic, climb the ladder to the opposite end of the room and open the door from that side.

   
   

7. Lothric Knight Encounter

1. Soldiers and Knight: This area features two sitting soldiers and an imposing Lothric Knight who patrols the stairs.

2. Lothric Knight Strategy: Ensure that the knight is alone before engaging him, as he is a formidable opponent. He employs long strings of attacks, shield bashes, and weapon skills.

3. Defeat the Knight: Carefully avoid his attacks and strike when he is vulnerable. You can also lure him into the building and jump down below to force him to climb the ladder, exposing him to your attacks.

4. Soul of a Deserted Corpse: After defeating the knight, grab the Soul of a Deserted Corpse and proceed into the building ahead.

8. Hollow Thief Ambush

1. Dragon Observation: Don't try to poke the dragon from behind, as it won't appreciate it.

2. Hollow Thief: As you enter the building, be wary of the Hollow Thief lurking in the shadows on the left. He will lunge at you from behind if you're distracted.

3. Firebombs: Before venturing further, collect the 3 Firebombs on the outstretched plank.

4. Thief Encounter: Look down to spot another thief walking about, with another huddled in the corner. Drop down from above and eliminate the first enemy, then be prepared to face the other.

   
   

9. Tower on the Wall Bonfire

1. New Bonfire: After finding the Tower on the Wall Bonfire, a new character, Ringfinger Leonhard, will appear in Firelink Shrine. He will encourage you to invade other players and give you 5 Cracked Red Eye Orbs.

2. Bonfire Location: Head out the door on the right and up the stairs to find the new Bonfire, as well as a corpse in the corner holding a Titanite Shard.

3. Ladder Descent: Before exiting through the door, descend the ladder to face a halberd-wielding Hollow.

4. Prison Area: One door is locked, but there's a ground floor exit leading to a prison.

10. Prison Exploration

1. Explosive Barrels: Bum rush the Hollow here, as he’ll try to rig some explosive barrels by tossing a firebomb your way.

2. Throwing Knives: Look around the room to spot a corpse with 8 Throwing Knives before you head into the prison.

3. Thief Ambush: Be ready to defend from the left as a thief will jump out at you.

4. Sealed Door: The door in front is sealed next to a corpse holding a nice Mail Breaker knife, so go right instead down the stairs and into another prison that holds a single captive. The door is locked for the moment, but remember its location as you head back up the tower and out onto the ramparts.

11. Rooftop Traverse

1. Hollow Ambush: As you leave the tower through the middle exit, be wary of two approaching Hollows that will try to ambush you if you distract yourself on the worshippers - one from the ladder, and one that hops over the railing.

2. Soul of a Deserted Corpse: Once they’ve been dealt with, look to the side of the building entrance to find a corpse holding a Soul of a Deserted Corpse.

3. Rooftop Worshipers: Make your way across the rooftops, which is riddled with more worshippers, and one in particular who is ready to mutate into another one of those monstrosities. He’s near the back with his arms raised high, so single him out and charge him to kill him before he can transform - or get ready for another hard-fought battle (make use of the firebombs you’ve been collecting!).

4. Firebombs and Large Soul: Pick up the Firebombs off a corpse on the rooftops, and make your way to the far side. From the ladder down, look left to spy a corpse dangling over the edge that holds a Large Soul of a Deserted Corpse.

12. Crystal Lizard and Alternate Paths

1. Crystal Lizard: Just around the corner from this corpse is an alcove behind the window that hides a little Crystal Lizard, so chase it down in order to kill it and get a Raw Gem for your trouble.

2. Platform Archers: Heading down the ladder, be warned that two archers with crossbows wait for you on a platform behind the ladder.

3. Rooftop Awning: A small rooftop awning above the plaza holds a corpse with 3 Black Firebomb - just watch you don’t fall into the plaza where a giant Winged Knight is waiting.

4. Ladder Ambush: There’s a ladder past the two archers where two more Hollow will try to ambush you from over the railings, and a corpse with 3 Firebombs. The ladder here will take you down to the plaza and two more Hollow - but there’s more to find through one other path that also leads to the plaza.

13. Lothric Knight Barracks

1. Patrolling Knight: Look behind the ladder you came down on to enter the building you were on top of. This room contains another patrolling Lothric Knight - this one armed with a long spear.

2. Corner Corpse: Defeat him and look for a corpse in the corner with a Soul of a Deserted Corpse.

3. Hollow Watchman: There’s an alcove here on the side that leads up some stairs where you can spot an archer waiting for you - However if you note the light source coming from the left of the door, you can get the drop on a Hollow watchman just around the corner.

4. Undead Hunter Charms: Ambush him before he can signal another soldier hiding behind the urns, and then dodge the archer’s crossbow bolts and take him out too, finishing the soldier last if he wasn’t alerted in time. Breaking open the urns around the soldier will reveal 2 Undead Hunter Charms.

5. Thief and Titanite Shard: The last room up here leads to where you found the sealed door near the Prison area, with a Thief waiting to the right, a Hollow coming over the rail to the left, and a corpse on the left holding a Titanite Shard.

14. Barracks Exploration

1. Open Barracks: Head back past the room the Lothric Knight came out of to find a large open barracks area with several patrolling enemies downstairs.

2. Green Blossoms: You can break through the barrels on the first right to find a walkway balcony far above them with a corpse at the end holding 2 Green Blossoms, or continue straight, but watch for the soldier who will ambush you on the first alcove on the left - search the room he was in to find a Broadsword behind some crates.

3. Silver Eagle Kite Shield: Head out the door and down the stairs to enter the second floor balcony of the large room. Before heading down the stairs, go right through a small door to find a chest guarded by a thief, and open it to find a Silver Eagle Kite Shield.

4. Firebomber: It’s worth killing the other soldier sitting down by the end of the balcony - as he’ll start hurling firebombs when he wakes up, something you don’t want when tackling the opponents downstairs.

5. Enemy Luring: Speaking of downstairs, its time to carefully pull the enemies to the stairs so you can fight them in a safe environment.

6. Astora Straight Sword: Lure the dog first as it will often detect you as it wanders by the stairs. Take either the halberd soldier on the left when he comes up his set of stairs (another Bone Hound is sitting at the bottom of the same stairs so be careful), or wait until he’s down them to lure the axe wielder coming in through the right door. Once each of them has been taken in turn, get the last axe soldier in the far corner. Now that the enemies are dealt with, quickly return back to the third floor and go down the long balcony to the very end, where you’ll find you’re able to drop down to the second floor balcony that is separated. There’s a chest right in front of you containing an Astora Straight Sword.

7. Titanite Shard and Estus Shard: There’s plenty else to loot in this room, starting with a corpse under the stairs behind some crates that has a Titanite Shard. Look for a table on the other side of the wall and inspect to find a much needed Estus Shard to reinforce your flask.

8. Cell Key: Finally, down the stairs where the Bone Hound was lurking is a Cell Key. Don’t we know of someone imprisoned around here?

15. Greirat the Thief

1. Prison Rescue: Since the next area can be lethal, you may want to backtrack to the prison and open the cell to speak to the thief.

2. Greirat's Request: His name is Greirat, and he’s got a favor to ask - find an old woman named Loretta in the Undead Settlement and give her a Blue Tearstone Ring.

3. Firelink Shrine: Since you’ll be going that way eventually - and he’s promised to make it worth your while, you might as well accept his request. He’ll teleport off, where you can find him at the Firelink Shrine later.

16. Winged Knight Plaza

1. Foreboding Plaza: Now it’s time to finally enter the foreboding plaza where the very rotund Winged Knight is patrolling.

2. Rapier: He makes a wide patrol of the fountain, and if you’re feeling squeamish, you can linger behind him and slip out the other side. If dropping down from the barracks balcony, beware a Hollow who is sitting in the alley alongside a corpse holding a Rapier.

3. Winged Knight Strategy: Going against him can be very tough: He’s got a wide arc attack that will require some great dodging to block, and will usually alternate overhead lunges and wide sweeping attacks. He’ll also charge forth in an attempt to do a large overhand swing. Wait until the last moment to duck around behind him and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get in a backstab. Watch out when he starts to emit light - he’ll call down rays of lightning all around him that can be difficult to predict. He also has an extremely deadly weapon art whirlwind attack - if you see him wind up, get out of his way fast!

4. Embers: When at last the knight falls, search the plaza to find two corpses with an Ember apiece.

17. Courtyard Approach

1. Stairway Ambush: Leaving the plaza behind, watch for an ambush on the right by an archer up the stairs and a Hollow to the left of the stairs.

2. Rooftop Access: Before braving the large courtyard beyond, it’s worth it to head up the stairs instead. Up the first flight, head right to find a rooftop access with a Large Soul of a Deserted Corpse on the roof, and another corpse on a nearby awning with a Ring of Sacrifice that will require a bit of jumping (if you didn’t kill the Winged Knight, watch you don’t fall into him!).

3. Green Blossoms: Continuing up the second flight of stairs you’ll come to a small length of an area with one soldier, and four weak but fast Hollow that will climb over the sides to ambush you. After killing them, check behind the left side of the doorway you came in through to find a corpse with 3 Green Blossom.

4. Shortcut Elevator: Enter the far doorway to find an elevator leading back up to the High Wall, where that locked door was to the right of the first bonfire - hooray for shortcuts!

5. Throwing Knives: Don’t forget to grab 6 Throwing Knives from the corpse behind the elevator on the top floor on your way back down.

18. Courtyard Knights

1. Soul of a Deserted Corpse: Returning back to where you left off, our time in the High Wall is almost done. First of all, grab the Soul of a Deserted Corpse on the left just before entering the courtyard.

2. Dangerous Knights: All that’s left is a large courtyard area with several patrolling and very dangerous knights.

3. Knight Patrols: Two Lothric Knights alternate walking near the edifice on the left, while others patrol the stairs down on the right.

4. Knight Strategy: If you want a fighting chance, luring them up to the plaza one at a time may be your best bet. Remember to gauge their move combos, and try getting around behind their thrusts to stab them in the back.

5. Lucerne: Another Lothric Knight stalks the path on the far side, passing by a corpse holding a Lucerne.

6. Red-Eyed Knight: Up a short stairs to the left of the building on the upper end of the courtyard is a solitary Red-eyed Knight standing over the corpses of other knights.

7. Refined Gem: He’s even tougher than the other Lothric Knights, and can even enchant his blade to further his abilities - make sure you get your hits in where it counts, like when he stops to enchant, and bide your time until the enchantment fades. Killing him will wield you a Refined Gem.

8. Lothric Castle Chapel: Now enter the nearby building which appears to be a large chapel that’s part of Lothric Castle.

19. Way of Blue Covenant

1. High Priestess Emma: The High Priestess, Emma, waits for you here, and will tell you to head down the stairs to the great gate and raise the Small Lothric Banner she gives you to travel forward.

2. Way of Blue Covenant: Talk to her again and she’ll also give you the insignia of the Way of Blue Covenant, which will let you join the covenant and have blue sentinels assist you when invaded by other players.

20. Final Descent

1. Spear Hollows: Now for the final push. Head down the long staircase and contend with the two spear wielding Hollows, making note of the archer lurking on the right at the first landing.

2. Summon Sign: Do be sure to notice the open railing above him that you can use if you return this way and don’t want to contend with the Lothric Knights. At the bottom of the stairs, take note that if you have used an Ember, and have defeated the Master Swordman outside Firelink Shrine, you might just spot a white summon sign on the floor near the entrance - letting you summon him to assist you for this upcoming fight.

3. Boss Arena: Enter the large causeway and head to the apparently sealed gate to begin your first real boss fight.

21. Boss Fight: Vordt of the Boreal Valley

1. Vordt's Attacks: Vordt is a large, imposing man-beast that runs close to the ground on all fours with his giant mace. He’ll use it to deal a ton of damage in wide arcs and slamming it on the ground - and damage from it will cause frost to build up, and frostbite is something you’ll want to avoid, as it lowers your damage absorption and slows stamina regeneration.

2. Close-Range Strategy: Despite his large and threatening status, Vordt will prefer to keep you at arm’s reach, swatting at you with either his mace or free hand. Because of this, one of the better tactics you can employ is to get in his face, and more importantly his backside. Get up close and wait for him to begin one of his forward arc attacks, and dodge roll towards and behind him if you can. As he finishes his attack, you’ll be able to start dealing damage without fear of getting hit - as he doesn’t have any attacks that can reach behind him. Instead, he’ll often pivot and scamper back, forcing you to give chase or risk being in his preferred range of attack. He’ll repeatedly try to put distance on you when threatened, so make sure you have stamina enough to close the gap.

3. Transformation: When he gets to around half health, he’ll undergo a transformation of sorts - he’ll let out a tremendous roar of fury as his eyes begin to glow. Get a few hits in, but be ready with some stamina for some evasive maneuvers. Vordt will begin to charge back and forth like a bull, and can deal a ton of damage fast if you aren’t ready for it. With good timing, you should be able to dodge roll past him as he charges - he’ll usually perform the charge three times. At the end of his last charge, he’ll pivot and begin drawing in energy as he raises his head and brings it down on his left. At this point, immediately start sprinting with whatever stamina you have to the left of him. Vordt will begin blasting super icy breath in a huge arc with surprising distance, starting at his left and ending on his right. If you can get behind him before he starts, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your most powerful attack and hit him square in the behind.

4. Final Attacks: When he’s not doing that, his attacks will become even faster and frenzied - watch for sparks when he embeds his weapon and rakes it across the ground for massive damage. As long as you keep staying behind him and dodge his forward attacks, you can stick to him like glue and take him down.

5. Rewards: Defeating him will earn you the Soul of Boreal Valley Vordt (don’t use it to gain souls just yet!) as well as opening the great gate. If you have the banner, step upon the ledge looking down over the settlement below to summon some familiar helpers to get you to the next area, the Undead Settlement.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing the High Wall of Lothric! You have successfully navigated the treacherous ramparts, defeated numerous enemies, and overcome the formidable boss, Vordt of the Boreal Valley. With the Small Lothric Banner in hand, you are now ready to venture into the Undead Settlement and continue your journey through Dark Souls 3.

Aug-16-2025