Ashes of Ariandel is the first of two DLCs in Dark Souls 3. It was released on October 25th. To access this DLC, interact with Slave Knight Gael at the Cleansing Chapel Bonfire in the Cathedral of the Deep. This expansion takes place in a new area called the Painted World of Ariandel, featuring new challenges, enemies, and lore for players to uncover.
- On April 21st, DARK SOULS III: The Fire Fades GOTY Edition was released, which includes the base game as well as both expansions, Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
- Ashes of Ariandel launched October 25th on PS4, Xbox One and PC for $14.99, or is part of the Season Pass.
- Initial screenshots can be found in this article.
- Due to an error of releasing the DLC for testing, it was available for download, to owners of the Season Pass, during the patch on October 20th/21st between 1:00 UTC and 7:00 UTC. The DLC was quickly removed from the store to await its initial release date.
DS3 Ashes of Ariandel DLC Information
Journey to the snowy world of Ariandel and encounter new areas, bosses, enemies, weapons, armor set, magic spells and more. Will you accept the challenge and embrace the darkness once more?
"I've seen your kind, time and time again. Every fleeing man must be caught. Every secret must be unearthed. Such is the conceit of the self-proclaimed seeker of truth. But in the end, you lack the stomach. For the agony you'll bring upon yourself..."
Journey to cold and gentle Painted World of Ariandel, a home for the forlorn and the lost, and uncover the secret of the rot corrupting this land. You, the Ashen One, must show this world flame to burn the rot away. And perhaps, one day, it will house another painting, of a cold, dark, and gentle place, to make someone a goodly home.
How to Access the DS3 DLC
In order to access Ashes of Ariandel, players must purchase and download the DLC, then proceed to speak to an NPC at the Cleansing Chapel Cathedral of the Deep. Speak to himthen agree to be given a rotten scrap of painting at which point you will be transported to the beginning of the DLC. If you complete the events of The Ringed City before this then a piece of a painting will be at the corner of the shrine instead. Note: You do not need to do the DLC to complete the game or any of the trophies of the game.
PS4 Users: If you purchased the Season Pass, you must go to the Dark Souls 3 add-on page for Ashes of Ariandel on the PlayStation Store and download each DLC individually.
What's new in the Ashes of Ariandel DLC?
The main feature of the DLC is the new location called the Painted World of Ariandel, which serves as the primary setting of this expansion. This new location introduces new Bosses, Weapons, Shields, Spells, Armor, Items, and NPCs, all of which are listed below. The DLC also includes a new PvP arena for multiplayer combat, adding an additional layer of challenge and excitement for players.
New PvP arena access in DS3 Ashes of Ariandel
To access the new PvP arena, progress through the Chapel of Ariandel and take the side path that leads to the optional boss arena. Defeat the optional boss to receive the Champion's Bones item. Burn this item at the bonfire in Firelink Shrine. Afterward, you can access the Undead Match from the Bonfire Menu, allowing you to engage in multiplayer combat in the new PvP arena.
Ashes of Ariandel DS3 Index
Ashes of Ariandel Screenshots
Anonymouslate to the party but the dlc is disappointing imo, however the final cutscenes were gas
- Anonymous
Short but in my opinion better made than ringed city, that dlc just benefits str builds
- Anonymous
bro when ı beat the dlc ı thought ı was mıssıng some bosses
- Anonymous
There's way too many knights and wolves in the areas but otherwise it's nice. I really liked the corvian settlement level design
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
i dont have the dlc yet but i want to get it mostly for the crow quills/talons lol they seem badass
- Anonymous
The only thing I don't like about this DLC is the wolves and Norse guys in the snow. Just seem boring and unnecessary. Maybe the snow areas could of been empty / barren just to add to the atmosphere. Everything else is top notch. Vilhelm, Corvian village, flies under the church, Friede boss battle... it's all great.
- Anonymous
im pretty sure you can also access ashes of ariandel after ringed city
- Anonymous
I used homeward bone and traveled out of the DLC without stopping by any bonfire, I went back and the guy is no longer there. How can I re-enter the DLC again?
- Anonymous
i homeboned my way out of the DLC without stopping on a bonfire. The guy is not there anymore, how can i access this DLC again?
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
Giant dead tree in a snowy area, colosseums, rot everywhere, bunch of giant-like Nordics who worship a beast that regrows buds on its horn, giant birds, crabs, and doggos, cantle-like trees, talk of an Ethereal oak and dragons, slavish like guys with red hoods, a place you burn with fire, forlorn (DS2 PTSD), a spell with disks of faith, mentions of Chaos, becoming a mad spirit & sin, cults who wanted to kill the go-Sorry!
I was just muttering myself about Elden Ring.
- Anonymous
I know everyone seems to hate this DLC, but I love it. I got DS3 the year it came out and quit almost immediately because I ran into the ice lizard and it killed me and I was like forget this. I picked it back up last year and have fallen in love with the Souls games since then, beating this one a few times as well as a few of the other games. But what really hooked me to the series was this DLC. This was the first time the story popped for me, and I actually wanted to learn wtf was going on. I just love the world within a painting and how it's a microcosm of the whole Dark Souls themes. It's perfect.
- Anonymous
people who say this DLC is fun are probably the same people who run from a bonfire to another and don't explore
- Anonymous
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You can farm Large Titanite Shards early if you're up for the challenge. The Corvid Knight under the bridge near the Corvid Village is very easy to cheese from the ladder a short ways past it. Use your favorite projectile attack with reckless abandon, or go ham with Boulder Heave and the Sage's ring.
- Anonymous
Disliked the dlc after entered once and Meeting the millwood supermans. Each ng just whent in for the ash of the captain. Cent last time i gave it a try. Dlc is short but hard mostly cause of the millwoods for me. Its like fighting a modern mbt with a fry Pan. The rest was ok. Friede was bit hard Till i found out how to conter her vanish move after that it was doable.
- Anonymous
Ds 3 is in my opinion bout to learn enemy behavior abuse chances and be patient for the right moment to strike... this dlc is pure garbage that doesnt fit into ds3. bullshit masses of enemys and insane vikings with endless hp and moves that insta kill ya.
- Anonymous
Hidden body and slumbering dragoncrest ring = a nice walk in the park (mostly)....
- Anonymous
Something tells me the enemy spam and the fact it's nearly impossible to pull aggro from one or two enemies at a time is to make up for how short this DLC is.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
By far the worst dlc I've ever played. Glorified suicide runs for loot. Caused me to stop playing ds3 indefinitely.
- Anonymous
If you liked DS2 and its constant 1v10 fights, obnoxious enemy placement and hyper aggressive 2000 HP enemies, boy do I have a DLC for you!
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
The environments are beautiful, and there are some cool weapons, but the amount of annoying and ganking enemies here just makes this seem more like a big chore than a legitimate challenge. There's also only one boss (the other "boss" is just a generic npc with mobs you've already faced before)
- Anonymous
looks pretty, but its just annoying, compared to main game experience it just feels like its designed to fck you up so you *fun* is prolonged... im just glad im through it
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
I just started to play ds3, after playing fo so long ds1 and 2. I got scared after i read the reviews here about this dlc. Anyway i gave it a try at level 70 character quality build with claymore lvl 10 black knight shield lvl 5 and long bow lvl 9. If you take your time and pull one enemy at a time it is possible to pass the area and get lots of good loot. I died a few times of course but it was fun.
- Anonymous
This is the worst DLC in the Souls series in my opinion. Doesn't mean it's bad, it just doesn't stand up to all the other additional content FromSoftware has put out in the other games.
- Anonymous
It is worth it solely for the the sister friede boss and her dope scythe
- Anonymous
Scusate ma io non riesco a trovare l accesso. Ho finito prima the ringed city ma non so da dove si accede
I've heard the biggest criticism isn't so much the quality as a lack of it. It may not have the most quantity of content, but I think what's there is fairly good. The ice aesthetic is gorgeous, Sister Friede and Father Ariandel are probably the closest things to Bloodborne if you don't have a Ps4/Ps5 to actually play Bloodborne, and a lot of the enemy designs are pretty neat.
- Anonymous
Great. Touch the picture, he said. It'll be fun, he said. I'm at level 31 and have the feeling I'm doomed.
- Anonymous
Is there no information about the first npc in the start cave? The guy that reminds Crestfallen Warrior from DS1.
- Anonymous
Is this worth buying? Someone told me it was bad a while ago, but it looks fun and has some cool weapons.
- Anonymous
Beginner here: so when should I go through this? I assume that most people did it after they beat the base game. But I´m wondering if it pays to do it earlier, since you can right after reaching the Cathedral
- Anonymous
he is inside of a house in the corvian settlement he is like one of those featherless bastards except he talks if you beat the dlc and kill friede and then go back to him he gives you a titanite slab
- Anonymous
Who is "The Crow"? Why are they listed yet i can't find anything on google for them and there isn't a wiki page?
- Anonymous
You read this comment, and you wasted your own time doing so. Nice going.
- Anonymous
Can you not enter the DLC if you kill the npc in the chapel? Cuz I did that
- Anonymous
Can anyone help me I have bought The season pass and installThe dlc and i cant play it
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Different opinions are often met with hurt feelings rather than sincere understanding of why there's criticism. So with 110% seriousness and sincerity; It's pretty, the combat and terran mix things up, it IS interesting. However it's not worth 15$, 10 max. It's short with only 2 Bosses. It was designed so that your time is spent exploring a few multi-level enviorments and looking for loot. Not time spent on actual content. 2nd) It's INTENTIONALLY designed so that several key items, weapons and access to casteble Frost Aux are placed here. Meaning it's an intentional attempt to remove stuff that should be in the regular game to goad you into buying it. This is barely above microtransaction in my eyes. If you like a game that's great but to understand how it's made means you understand better what you think is good and bad. By the way, DLC was bought for me as a gift. Otherwise I'd refused to let them or buy it all.
- Anonymous
Just downloaded both DLC's but am a bit of way through a play through, up to the catacombs, can i still access the DLC on this playthrough or do I have to start a new one
- Anonymous
When DLCs are made, they're usually designed to be stand-alone experiences. What impresses me more is that both AoA and TRC are both narrative halves of each other. Each stand up on their own with their respective styles and experiences, but together they complete a new chapter. It seems so obvious and novel, but almost no other DLCs are designed to recombine like this.
- Anonymous
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I killed the npc in the church (Cause I was curious) Soo, how would you enter the DLC?
- Anonymous
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This DLC sucks, ringed city is actually decent unlike this trash.
- Anonymous
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So if you go to the dreg heap first. Before you even access the painted world... gael will be gone and you cant access it..
- Anonymous
Anyone else still trying to figure out what that elevator at Snowy Mountain Pass is for?
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
So in the beginning of the DLC after dying once near the cave you spawn in, I heard humming went back in the cave and found an NPC that no one seems to have listed before. He was sitting on the fly crap and was saying i should lay in it. Anyone know who this is?
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
They should've merge Ashes of Ariandel with The Ringed City, definetely....we would basically have The Old Hunerts 2.0, as far as the overall quality goes. I mean....6 bosses, a crapload of new stuff, the online feature....if all of this were part of a single dlc, it would have been worth the price...
- Anonymous
You get to roleplay Surtr from norse mythology. traveling to another realm and burning the crap out of it. Lit
- Anonymous
If anybody is willing to give me souls (soul of a great champion,etc) to level up my other Characters I'm willing to drop you dlc weapons pm me on psn Yousef_sonoforyx
- Anonymous
The reason why they made the second dlc longer and harder because they did not want to hear everyone bi-tch and complain any more.
- Anonymous
Stop complaining and play the *****ing game. Plus dlc's are not meant to be like another game. Most dlc's are just a new mission and a new area. So stop *****ing how short the dlc is.
- Anonymous
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The box hasn't spawned or the painting and I have both dlc so idk what to do and I need help
- Anonymous
why is this article so worthless? most other stuff on this site is pretty good. how about telling how to initiate the dlc? that should be obvious....
- Anonymous
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Anyone have repeated weapons of this dlc i want them psn:mechamobibo
- Anonymous
Someone should come play this game with me. My Xbox name is : KingDizzyYT and I am in need of help!!!
- Anonymous
What's wrong with people who speedrun this as fast as they can, then complain about how short it is?
You cant even enjoy it like that.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Loved the DLC however the difficulty was a bit low even on NG+ and it was really much to short. Usually when you want more its a good thing but finishing it blind in under 3 hours felt a bit lackluster, would still recommend though.
- Anonymous
can i acces the dlcs if i have beaten soul of cinder but havent gone into new game plua?
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
I rushed to get to the end of the game to play the ringed city DLC and have just gotten to the slave knight gael boss fight but now i can't enter the first DLC. Any clues as to why this is happening or will killing slave knight gael just close off the first DLC for this playthrough?
- Anonymous
Im having problems with going into the snowfield. It loads but then freezes at the loading screen help please.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
I have wierd symbols(Looks like 3 embers next to each other) next to the bonfire selection, if i try to teleport somewhere. It seem to change which bonfires are affected. Does someone know what they are, and what they do? im really confused.
- Anonymous
Can you summon people into the dlc who don't have it (like in dark souls 2)? And yeah it was a little short for dlc but it added much needed arena- which needs more maps and perhaps other modes that are more akin to d2's arena for team matches
Bought today ... Finished it in a couple of hours.. got all new stuff.. after seeing what they did in the old hunters i expected much more.. i guess it's always 1 DLC per game but this time they split it in 2 parts just so they could milk us some more.. will think twice before buying next souls game
- Anonymous
Worst DLC FromSoftware has ever released. Glad I got this DLC gameshared.
I started ng+ a day before I bought dlc. now I'm just at the second boss ng+. do I have to wait until I get to the
cathedral of the deep and talk to npc before I can enter the dlc. the cathedral isn't on my travel log anymore
since I started ng+.
THANKS for the HELP!
- Anonymous
Guys i would like to ask a question. I dowloaded and installed the dlc but when i am not connected to the Internet it says ad on must be installed again. Does it mean i have to be Online to play? Cause that really gets me angry, i mean i dowloaded the thing, why i cannot play when i'm not connected to Internet? Thanks
- Anonymous
i can't enter to the dlc the npc does not show up. does anybody know why?
- Anonymous
I killed all the npcs in NG on the original game...Are there vendors in the DLC?
- Anonymous
I happen to think the 'anime' weapon arts were amazing. I love anime, possibly to the point where I'm considered a weeaboo. I sometimes pretend I'm playing a Dark Souls anime, and the weapon arts just make me feel like a badass. It fits perfectly, and there's no harm in having a few weapons like that.
- Anonymous
weapon arts are too goofy for Dark Souls. This isn't anime territory but they pushed that stuff into it without any need and goes over the top with the DLC weapons. All in all PvP feels old and uninspired. It could be so much more but all they have basically 1v1 in different variations. No capture the flag, king of the hill, castle rush. Nothing. And what is your reward to get gold in the arena? Also nothing. No armor, no weapons. In mmorpgs you call that ultra late game. When there is nothing more to explore or to do and you have to invent events for yourself because lack of content. But in Dark Souls this "ultra late game" begins after 10h...
- Anonymous
Can someone place a summon sign at snowy mountain pass please?
- Anonymous
Place a summon sign at corvian settlement bonfire please, I need help! On PS4
- Anonymous
Can I get some help please? Place summon sign at corvina village bonfire please
- Anonymous
Do you have to start a new game In order to access the DLC or can it be accessed at any time ?
- Anonymous
The Old Hunters DLC was supposed to be 2 part as well. Patience guys. They are taking their time making the DLC worthwhile. You just enjoyed the first half of it. The second is coming and it's gonna be GLORIOUS
"Ashes of Ariandel launched October 25th." Sooooo... 2020? 2023? 2024? 2006? What year bro.
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