Grand Archives

DARK SOULS III guide · After defeating the Dragonslayer Armour

The Grand Archives is a multi-story library that serves as the final path leading to the high ramparts of Lothric Castle. You must unlock the front doors, navigate the curse-inflicting library interior, and ascend to the rooftop pathways to face the final Lord of Cinder. Unlocking shortcuts and surviving rooftop ambushes leads to Prince Lothric and Younger Prince Lorian.

Items

0/8

On Black Hand Gotthard's corpse directly in front of the: Grand Archives Key, Gotthard TwinswordsOn Black Hand Gotthard's corpse directly in front of the main entrance doorsCrystal Scroll: Dropped by the Crystal Sage located inside the archivesEstus Shard: On the archives roof, found on a balcony area guarded by GargoylesUndead Bone Shard: Sitting in a chair on the wooden beams near the roof of the libraryTitanite Slab: Rewarded after pulling a lever behind a bookshelf on the upper library floorTitanite Slab: Dropped by the Golden Winged Knights on the domed rooftopTitanite Slab: Found at the bottom of the elevator shaft shortcut outside the Twin Princes' boss room

Secrets

0/3

Dunk your head into the large wax vats found throughout the archives to gain a wax coating that temporarily prevents the ghostly curse hands from inflicting curse.Illusory wall located on the upper floor of the archives; striking it reveals an Outrider Knight guarding the Soul Stream sorcery.On the high roof near the birdcage, you can drop into the cage and onto the rafters below to reach the Blessed Gem and Hunter's Ring.

Enemies

Scholar

Weak to Magic

Coats you with hot wax and shoots soul arrows; their attacks can inflict curse if ghostly hands are present.

Gargoyle

Weak to Strike, Lightning

Uses spears or hammers, often ambushing from the edges of rooftops.

Golden Winged Knight

Weak to Dark, FrostSteal / drop Titanite Chunks, Titanite Slabs

Three tough knights patrolling the domed roof; susceptible to Rapport.

Outrider Knight

Weak to Fire, DarkSteal / drop Outrider Knight Set

Highly aggressive hidden miniboss behind an illusory wall.

Lorian, Elder Prince and Lothric, Younger Prince

Weak to Lightning, FrostSteal / drop Soul of the Twin Princes

Final Lord of Cinder encounter; requires defeating Lorian before targeting Lothric on his back in the second phase.

Shops and people

Orbeck of Vinheim: Sells advanced sorceries if given the Crystal Scroll obtained in this area

Tips

Use the Rapport pyromancy on the three Golden Winged Knights on the roof to make them fight each other for easy souls and upgrade materials.
Dip your head in the wax basins before exploring new sections of the interior to neutralize the curse hands extending from the bookshelves.
Unlock the large elevator to the right of the Twin Princes' boss fog gate to establish a direct shortcut back to the Grand Archives bonfire.

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Consumed King's Garden

Untended Graves

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