How to 39k: Why it's Better than SL1

A 39k Soul Memory character is an Agape Ring build with a Soul Memory no greater than 39,999 and a maximum level of 31 to 35 depending on the chosen class. While this is obvious to most players, the process of beginning this run is more technical than can be otherwise stated.

​Obtaining the Agape Ring below this threshold requires three boss victories (two in SotFS), a Pharos' Lockstone and a Fragrant Branch of Yore, while minimizing soul gains from normal enemies until Straid can be reached.

​This guide will be for vanilla DS2 and SotFS. They're very similar but Scholar changes make the Skeleton Lords unnecessary and Antiquated Key easier to obtain, making the run less technical.

Why It’s Better than SL1 Runs:

Versatility and Challenge. Following the setup to obtain the Agape Ring, a 39k build is comparatively versatile in weapon and spell options while remaining minimalistic. The inability to purchase items and reinforcements creates an additional, yet surmountable layer of challenge in combat and traversal. Also completing the game with the hand axe is boring.

Objectives:

• Defeat the Dragonrider in Heide’s Tower with Masterless Glencour (Gain 9,000 Souls)
  
  ---- Semi-Optional: Defeat Licia of Lindeldt (Gain 2,500 Souls)
  
  
• Defeat the Flexile Sentry in No Man’s Wharf with Lucatiel of Mirrah (Gain 10,500 Souls)
  
  
• Obtain the Antiquated Key from Lost Bastille
  
  
• Obtain a Fragrant Branch of Yore from:
  
  ---- [Vanilla] Black Gulch (Requires 22 Vigor / Ideally 4-5 Estus Flasks)
  
  ---- [SotFS] No Man’s Wharf
  
  
• Obtain 1 of 2 Pharos’ Lockstones from the Majula Mansion or the Pit
  
  
• Reach Straid of Olaphis with 5,000 Souls to purchase the Agape Ring

Notes on Completion and Soul Gains:

There are a mandatory 19,500 Souls obtained along this run. This total is derived from defeating the two bosses with summons. Additionally, there are a “semi-mandatory” 7,550 Souls. This total is derived from:

• Knocking Licia off the ledge in Heide’s Tower to avoid paying 2,000 souls to open Huntsman’s Copse.
  
• Defeating the 5 aggressive Rupturing Hollows around Straid’s Cell.
  
  If obtaining these semi-mandatory souls, your total will reach 27,050. This means normal enemies should be avoided where possible until the run is near it's end. Licia can optionally be left alive at the expense of 1-2 levels worth of Souls needed to open the Huntsman's Copse, but gaining the potential to learn Soothing Sunlight. The Rupturing Hollows around Straid can kited carefully or with the help of a friendly Phantom.

Picking a Class:

There are pros, cons and unique aspects to each class, but the most important information of note is the maximum level obtained by each. Assuming Licia is killed for her Rotunda Lockstone rather than paid to open Huntsman’s Copse, the maximum level of each class is:

• Warrior: 34
  
• Knight: 34
  
• Swordsman: 34
  
• Bandit: 33\*
  
• Cleric: 35
  
• Sorcerer: 33
  
• Explorer: 33
  
• Deprived: 31
  
  The Bandit, while having the advantage of starting with a bow, is the only class that does not meet the stat requirements to speak with Straid. Be sure to put two points into Intelligence before attempting to free him
  
  While weapons and armor can be traded, a player can choose to spend souls on spells unique to merchants rather than reach their maximum level. Consider using a third party builder to see if your build can spare the souls.
  
  

Lets Start - Heide's Tower of Flame

(Note Vanilla players must reach a minimum of 22 Vigor in order to survive drops into the pit. This can be circumvented if they have a friend willing to drop the Silvercat Ring, but otherwise Vigor must be raised with each level up. This is optional for SotFS players)

• Avoid all enemies and defeat the Dragonrider with Masterless Glencour.
  
  
• (Semi-Optional) Knock Licia off the ledge and rest at the Bonfire to pick up her Rotunda Lockstone.
  
  Notes-
  
  
• The Old Knight by the boss is easily lured away from Glencour’s sign to quickly enter the fogwall.
  
  
• Licia's casting is easily interrupted by unarmed punches due to her lack of poise. Interrupt each cast and slowly push her from the ledge. Keeping her alive will either cost 2,000 souls to open Huntsman’s Copse or lead to a more difficult fight in Majula.
  
  
• Licia sells several cheap and merchant-exclusive Miracles. Builds intending to use them should purchase them before-hand.

No Man’s Wharf

• Avoid all enemies, call the ship and defeat the Flexile Sentry with Lucatiel of Mirrah.
  
  
• SotFS] Obtain the Fragrant Branch of Yore in the poison jar room.
  
  
• [Vanilla] Obtain the Estus Flask Shard in the poison jar room.
  
  Notes -
  
  
• Enemies don’t pursue far in this area, so they are easily avoidable.
  
  
• A bow can be used to hit the bell and call the ship from a distance. As there is no free early-game bow pickup, this will require a bow wielding player summoned or the starting bow of the Bandit class.
  
  
• ​Running to the boss fog wall as Lucatiel is summoned will stop her from fighting enemies.
  
  
• (Vanilla) Obtain the Firebombs from the illusionary wall in the house beneath Lucatiel’s (Vanilla) summoning sign. Do this before summoning her. They make reaching the Tower Apart area of the Lost Bastille easier.
  
  
• (Vanilla) Contrary or in addition to the Firebombs, obtain the Pyromancy Flame and Fireball spell in the chest after the Flexile Sentry, but before sailing to Lost Bastille. They are potentially more reliable than the Firebombs if a player is willing to reach 10 Attunement, even temporarily.
  

Lost Bastille (First Trip)

• Obtain the Antiquated Key
  
  
• (Vanilla) Obtain the Estus Flask Shard behind McDuff's Bonfire
  
  Notes -
  
  
• Enemies are prone to falling off ledges here when running through as well as making doors and chests difficult to interact with. To make this area easier and avoid having to redo it, enemies should just be killed.
  
  
• (Vanilla) Bypassing the door in Lucatiel's tower and reaching the Tower Apart area for the Antiquated Key can be done in several ways:
  
  -Climbing the ladder outside the tower, falling onto the ledge below, and jumping behind the door.
  
  -Destroying the boxes blocking the door with the Firebombs from No Man's Wharf, the Fireball spell from No Man's Wharf or Iron/Fire arrows as the Bandit Class (Arrows in No Man's Wharf near the first Darkdweller or near the Last Giant Elevator)
  
  
  

Forest of Fallen Giants:

• (SotFS mandatory, Vanilla optional for additional Estus Flasks)
  
  
• -Avoid enemies, reach Cale and exhaust his dialogue to receive the Majula House Key and obtain the Pharos’ Lockstone within.
  
  Notes -
  
  
• Reach the Cardinal Tower Bonfire and obtain the Estus Flask Shard.
  
  
• For the sake of resetting enemies, opening the wall shortcut in this room should be opened before attempting to reach Cale.
  
  
• (Vanilla) if you have not been leveling Vigor to the appropriate minimum of 22, the Soul Vessel in the Majula mansion can be used to correct this. You may use the Pharos' Lockstone Soul Vessel in Lost Bastille to fix this post-run.
  
  
  
  

(Vanilla) Preparing for the Pit

• (This section in optional for SotFS and may be skipped, but mandatory for the Vanilla Fragrant Branch of Yore.)
  
  
• Obtain 22 Vigor (Minimum)
  
  
• Obtain the Blue Seal (Sauldon in Majula)
  
  
• Obtain the Life Ring (starting gift or Forest of Fallen Giants)
  
  
• Several Estus Flasks
  
  Notes -
  
  
• The Life Ring, if not taken as a starting gift, can be obtained in the ballista room in the Forest of Fallen Giants. The ring is behind a one-way door which must be attacked to lure the three enemies inside to open it.
  
  
• Lifegems can be used to survive the Pit drops, but their limited nature and possibility of death makes the resource finite and unreliable.
  
  
  
• Assuming the Majula well, No Man's Wharf and Lost Bastille shards have been obtained, the player may obtain the Cardinal Tower shard as well as obtain House Key from Cale for the Shard in the basement.
  
  
• Sublime Bone dust from the mace-wielding Old Knight in Heide's Tower and outside the Chariot boss room in Huntsman's Copse should be considered as well.
  
  
  

(Vanilla) The Pit / The Gutter / Black Gulch

• (This section in optional for SotFS and may be skipped, but mandatory for the Vanilla Fragrant Branch of Yore.)
  
  
• REMOVE ALL ARMOR AND WEAPONS and drop to the lowest level of the Pit unhollowed with 22 Vigor, the Life Ring and the Blue Seal
  
  
• Obtain the Pharos' Lockstone on the way down the Pit
  
  
• Light the Bonfire in Gutter and run to obtain the Fragrant Branch of Yore just past the corrosive pod drop into Black Gulch
  
  
• (Semi Optional) Light the Grave of Saints Bonfire and return to Majula\*
  
  Bypassing the Grave of Saints requires you to avoid the ledge leading to it's Bonfire (as you won't survive the next fall), dropping instead to the Forgotten Key door. It is however recommended to reach the Grave of Saints bonfire now to avoid needing to Soul Vessel the stats for it later.
  
  The Gutter is easily and quickly traversed via the secret zipline.
  
  Notes-
  
  
• If meeting the bare minimum of Vigor and gear for this drop, do not forget to remove all equipment besides the two rings. You will not survive the fall.
  
  
• If a friend can trade you the Silvercat Ring, the drop can be done easily without having to meet strict Vigor requirements.
  

Lost Bastille (Second Trip)

• -Use a Pharos’ Lockstone to open the cage elevator to Straid’s Cell and reach Straid with 5,000 Souls to purchase the Agape Ring.
  
  Notes -
  
  
• As with the first Bastille trip and assuming you have a comfortable distance from 39k Souls, enemies can be killed on the way to Straid.
  
  
• If you can reach the elevator with 38,699 Soul Memory or less, you’ll have a comfortable final step
  
  
• The two Rupturing Hollows outside the elevator room as well as three of the five in Straid’s Cell will agro. The last two can be avoided by luring the agroed hollows to the stairs and walking slowly to Straid. Killing these five will gain you 1,300 souls.
  
  
• If Soul Memory is an issue, it is possible to run these enemies down the bridge to Sinner’s Rise and double back, unpetrify Straid and jog down the bridge again before speaking to him. Do this at your own discretion.
  
  

Post Agape Ring Shopping List:

• Carefully use consumable souls or planned kills to bring your Soul Memory as close to 40,000 as possible without going over the limit
  
  Rather than contribute souls to your max level, consider purchasing merchant-only spells or buying the Red Soap Stone
  
  
• Kill everything. You can do that now
  
  
• Use the Majula or Lost Bastille Soul Vessel to readjust your stats
  
  
• Receive a free item from Ornifex
  
  
• Obtain the Southern Ritual Band or other attunement slot adding item and farm for spells
  
  
• Bonfire Ascetic from boss rewards
  
  
• Complete Navlaan’s quests without killing anyone (but Gilligan, but we don’t need him)
  
  
• Have a friend buy you the Ring of Pray and/or Ring of Knowledge to boost Faith and Intelligence
  for ‘most’ classes up to the minimum for spicing down
  
  
• Farm Skeptics and Simpleton Spices from the Undead Crypt Witches
  
  
• Summon other people with 39k characters to any area you want to
  
  
• Obligatory “Have Fun!” comments are stupid. This is Dark Souls. We play for the pain.

[UwU Waifu - Senpai]

<3

[JustGoToSleep]

Lovely

[7-11WeenPill]

$🖤$

[Im Stony Rawk!]

Bruh thats a lot of bots in the comments, came to say you have a pretty cool idea!

[Romi ♡]

[Dzhani]

               
                  
                     
                     
                     
             

[the Kraken boss]