How Does Multiplayer In Dark Souls 2 Work?

Dark Souls 2 has an unique multiplayer system in which players can invade into each others worlds. This can happen in various ways and with different purposes. You can invade your opponents world with the mission to vanquish them, or you can join other players to engage in jolly cooperation. PvP in Dark Souls 2 can be a lot of fun if you take the time to practice the mechanics. In between backstabs, parries, zoning, and dodging there is a lot of potential to outplay your opponents and it can be very satisfying to win  a close duel with a fellow player.

Like I’ve said there are a lot of options and opportunities to invade other champions, but most of them are through these Covenants.

Heirs of The Sun

These guys are all about the White Sign Soap Stone and helping other players out through the difficult boss fights, although you do not need to be a member to put down a White Sign Soap Stone.

The Way of The Blue

Dark Souls 2 does not have a safe mode that will protect you from invades, so if you are not keen on player vs. player combat you might want to opt to join this Covenant. The Way of The Blue will help players in need by sending them a Blue phantom which is also a player to fight off your invader. This way you can either gang up on the poor invader, or you can sit back and watch the PvP minded players duke it out.

The Blue Sentinels

If you join this covenant you can be summoned to help the players who are in need of protection against nasty invaders. You will probably have the advantage in most fights because your host can opt to join the fight against the red phantoms.

The Bell Keepers

This Covenant is dedicated to protect certain areas of the game. When you join The Bell Keepers you will be granted a ring, if you choose to wear this ring you can be summoned at any time to fend off tresspassers. A nice perk for joining The Bell Keepers is that there will be non-stop action because PvP minded people will purposefully tresspass.A second perk of joining is the fact that every time you defeat a foe you will gain a Titanite Chunk. This is why I recommend joining the Bell Keepers first if you are into PvP to upgrade all your weapons and armor.

The Rat Covenant

Upon joining this covenant all of the enemies in the Doors of Pharros area will be non-hostile towards you. If you equip the ring given to you by the Rat King you will periodically force other players into your world as grey spirits. All the NPC’s in your world will be able to attack them, which puts you at a really big advantage. Now the fun part of this all is that every time you defeat a grey spirit you will receive a Pharrus stone, and these stones can be used to activate more traps, or add more mobs to the area, making it your own little fun house of death.

The Brotherhood of Blood

As might expect this is the covenant that is mostly focused on invading and killing players. You may use Cracked Red-Eye Orbs to invade players in any zone that allows PvP. To restock up on these orbs you can opt to fight in the arena against fellow members of The Brother of Blood.

Soap Stones

Another way into the world of someone else (besides covenants) is to put down a Soap Sign. There are two different kind of Signs, a red one that will summon a player with intend to kill you, or a white one that will summon a player with intent to help you. Choose wisely.