Keys


Key Template

is a Key in Dark Souls. It unlocks the

Usage

this key is used in the

Location

this key is found in the

Notes

Trivia

Annex Key


In Game Description


Key to the annex in the
Painted World of Ariamis.

In the wintery painted world,
there is a structure resembling an
old cathedral; its annex serves
as a type of storehouse.

Availability


Behind an illusory wall in the sewers/tunnels in the Painted World of Ariamis. These are accessed via the well in the courtyard with the Phalanx. The solid looking section of wall around the left of the first turn is the one to look for.

Alternatively, destroy the wall to the left of the switch in the large sewer area (with the Skeleton Wheels). Turn right, past the illusory wall, then left. You will encounter another Skeleton Wheel. The key is the item at the end of this corridor.

Opens


The storage annex in the Painted World of Ariamis

Archive Tower Cell Key


In Game Description


Key to the cell of the Duke's Archive Tower.

The Archive Tower, once a trove of precious tomes and letters, became a prison after the onset of Seath's madness. The serpent men who guard the prison know not the value of what they hide. In the basement of the tower are the writhing "mistakes" of the terrifying experiments which were conducted there.

Availability


Dropped by the Serpent Soldier outside your cell

Opens


Escape from the prison after battling against Seath The Scaleless in The Duke's Archives

Archive Tower Extra Key


In Game Description


Extra key to a cell in the Duke's Archive Tower.
Perhaps the serpent men were careless, for there are several keys scattered about which fit Archive Tower cells.

Availability


Found on a corpse in the prison section of The Duke's Archives, dropping from the third accessible cell in the fourth.

Opens


Many prison cells in the Archive Tower in The Duke's Archives

Archive Tower Giant Cell Key


In Game Description


Key to the giant cell below the Duke's Archives Tower.
The giant cell once imprisoned countless maidens, but is now empty, save for a few key persons. They struggle to uphold their sanity, as the horde of "mistakes" writhe at a fearfully close proximity.

Availability


The Duke's Archives, near the exit to the Crystal Cave

Opens


The giant cell behind the Pisacas at the bottom of the Archive Tower in The Duke's Archives. Free Big Hat Logan

Archive Tower Giant Door Key


In Game Description


Key to the giant door leading out from the uppermost floor of Archive Tower, which now serves as a prison.

The key's design resembles not the key of a prison; indeed, the tower was once no prison at all, but a trove of precious tomes.

Availability


Found in the prison section of The Duke's Archives. The key is in a chest behind the gramophone, guarded by two Serpent Soldiers and a Serpent Mage.

Opens


Unlocks the large doors at the ledge above the ladder, at the top of the stairs in the prison section of The Duke's Archives

Basement Key


In Game Description


Opens the narrow passage leading below
at the far face of the great bridge in
the Undead Burg.

The lower Undead Burg is a treacherous place.
Do not turn your back on the wily thieves, or
the wild dogs who serve the Capra Demon.

Availability


Found on a corpse on the stairs leading up to the church in Undead Parish, next to the lever that opens the gate back to the area with the Armored Tusk

Opens


The door near the bridge with the Hellkite Dragon that leads down to the lower section of the Undead Burg

Big Pilgrim's Key


In Game Description


Key to the inner door of the Undead Asylum
main hall. Big key belonging to a chosen
Undead pilgrim.

But this chosen Undead knows not what
this pilgrimage has in store.

Availability


There are three way to get the key:

Opens


Large door in the Asylum Demon's chamber in the Undead Asylum.

Blighttown Key


In Game Description


Key to Blighttown from the Depths of the
Undead Burg. Swallowed by the Gaping Dragon.

As its name suggests, Blighttown is a place
of great pestilence. Even the polluted
inhabitants of the Depths are aware of its
dangers, and built this mighty door in hopes
that they could remain safely separated.

Availability


Defeat the Gaping Dragon in the Depths

Opens


The large double doors near to where Domhnall of Zena sits in the lower level of depths that lead to Blighttown

Broken Pendant


In-Game Description


Half of a broken stone pendant.
The vine appears to originate from Oolacile.

A powerful magic can be sensed from this
ancient stone. Yet men of this time can
neither manipulate nor sense its power,
which has a distinct air consisting of
both reverence and nostalgia.

Availability


The Duke's Archives Crystal Golem drop

  1. Rescue Dusk of Oolacile from the Golden Crystal Golem behind the Darkroot Basin Hydra
  2. Obtain the Lordvessel at Anor Londo and place the Lordvessel in the Firelink Altar
  3. Warp to Anor Londo and take the path leading to The Duke's Archives. Take the first elevator up into the Archives
  4. You will find a Crystal Golem in the foyer area just before the library with a mob of Undead Crystal Soldiers. Kill the Crystal Golem for the Broken Pendant.

Use


Allows a portal to Sanctuary Garden (thus accessing the Additional Content) to spawn in the Darkroot Basin, in the cove near Dusk's Golden Crystal Golem.

Notes


Cage Key


In Game Description


Key to the hanging cage in Sen's Fortress.

If a hapless adventurer becomes fatigued during an imprudent attempt to overcome the fortress, the serpent men will not kill him, but lock him up in a lonely cage. Eventually, unless they have forgotten, they drag the victim off to who-knows-where.

Availability


Found in Sen's Fortress

Accessed by descending the tower which contains the Crestfallen Merchant. Guarded by a Serpent Mage.

Opens


Crest Key


In-Game Description


Bent Crest Key.
The grooves of the crest are enchanted,
the door sealed with a powerful spell.

Use


Open the locked door above the Knight Artorias arena that leads to Hawkeye Gough

Availability


Oolacile Township Mimic drop

Getting the key


  1. When you get into the area with many Bloatheads. If you climb down the stair case, you will find a door on the right. It is advised to kill the Bloatheads first, especially the two Bloathead Sorcerers.
  2. Climb up the stair case from door, and you will encounter another Bloathead.
  3. Afterward, you will find yourself in a room with a wooden plank on the left.
  4. Walk up to the plank and look left.
  5. You will find a room with a table, couple chairs, a fire place and a chest, that is the Mimic.
  6. Roll into that room from the plank.
  7. Kill the Mimic for the key.
  8. You will find a door to the far side of the room, and that will lead to a balcony with broken railing.
  9. If you drop down to the roof and walk around to the right, you will find twin Humanity. Walk back and drop down using the roof ledges to return to ground level without taking damage.

Getting the key - via shortcut


  1. Start at the Oolacile Township waypoint. Go straight forward, take the elevator down.
  2. Turn to the left when you exit it and go into the building with the multiple Bloatheads.
  3. If you go slightly to the right and look to the left, you'll see an open doorway with a stone staircase. Climb up the stairs, go out on the wood platform.
  4. You'll have to roll over the beam to get to a somewhat lower one.
  5. There's a Mimic Chest on the right of the fireplace. Kill the Mimic, collect the Key.

Crest of Artorias


In Game Description


This crest opens a door in the Darkroot Garden sealed by ancient magic.

This door leads to the grave of Sir Artorias the Abysswalker. Many adventurers have left for the grave, but none have returned for they make easy prey for local bandits,
With such dangers, the crest can do more harm than good in the hands of the uninitiated.

Availability


Use


Opens the large sealed, glowing door in the Darkroot Garden

Notes


Dungeon Cell Key


In Game Description


Key to the dungeon of the Undead Asylum to
the North.

A mysterious knight, without saying a word,
shoved a corpse down into the cell, and on
its person was this key. Who was this knight?
And was was his purpose? There may be no
answer, but one must still forge ahead.

Availability


Found on the corpse thrown by Oscar, Knight of Astora in your dungeon cell in Undead Asylum

Opens


Your dungeon cell in the Undead Asylum

Key to New Londo Ruins


In Game Description


Key to the iron bars separating the ruins of
New Londo and Drake Valley.

The ruins of New Londo were blocked off,
for the cursed ghosts posed danger to life
and spirit, and the legends speak of a
terrible Dark that was sealed away.

Availability


Found in a chest in Blighttown near the entrance to the Valley of Drakes

Opens


Gate between New Londo Ruins and the Valley of Drakes

Key to the Depths


In Game Description


Key opening the door from the lower
Undead Burg to the Depths.

Those banished from the Undead Burg eke out
their existence in the Depths, a damp lair
with no trace of sunlight. Nearly half of
the Depths form a perilous flooded labyrinth.

Availability


Defeat the Capra Demon in the Lower Section of Undead Burg

Opens


The door in the Lower Section of the Undead Burg that leads down to Depths

Key To The Seal


In Game Description


Key to the floodgates of New Londo, which seal away the Four Kings who fell to Dark.

The Sealers flooded New Londo to banish the Darkwraiths and the Four Kings. The agonizing decision was made with the realization that countless lives, and the robust culture of the city, would be lost. The victims now roam the ruins as ghosts.

Availability


Use


Opens the gate that gives access to the lever controlling the giant door holding back the water in the New Londo Ruins

Master Key


In Game Description


This universal key opens any basic lock.
Tool of the trade for thieves.

But in the cursed land of the Undead,
most doors are better left unopened.

Availability


Unlockable Doors


Location Path Original Key Notes
Undead Burg Door behind three Hollow Warriors atop the stairs past the bridge with the firebombing Hollow Warriors. Residence Key Leads to a chest with 3 Gold Pine Resin.
Undead Burg After climbing the stairs to the tower leading to the Taurus Demon, go straight through the door opposite Watchtower Basement Key Leads down to hostile NPC Havel the Rock.
Door behind Havel opens to the bottom of Darkroot Basin where the Crystal Golems are.
Undead Parish Lautrec's cell. Mystery Key Only useful if the player sequence breaks by using the Valley of Drakes shortcut, since the Mystery Key is found along the path to Undead Parish.
Depths Opens the door to the only bonfire in the area. Sewer Chamber Key Early access to the bonfire if the player doesn't drop down the chute to the Giant Undead Rat.
Sen's Fortress Opens the cages in the hidden area behind the sleeping Serpent Soldier Cage Key Early access to Big Hat Logan and Soul of a Hero.
New Londo Ruins Opens the door to the Valley of Drakes. Key to New Londo Ruins Early access to Astora's Straight Sword and Dragon Crest Shield.
This particular shortcut enables massive sequence breaking (see below)

New Game Plus


Once the player acquires this key, it remains with them when even after entering NG+

Notes


Sequence Breaking


The Valley of Drakes shortcut is not only the first door that can be opened with the Master Key, it's also the most important. It enables the player to sequence break, gaining useful loot and making several areas (and its bosses) optional.

Mystery Key


In Game Description


The purpose of this key is unknown.
Resembles a basic prison cell key.

Availability


Found in Undead Parish. After fighting the Armored Tusk, pass down the stairwell. Found on a corpse before ascending the ladder at the end of the room.

Opens


Needed to save Knight Lautrec of Carim, who is in a small cell on the second floor in the church located in the Undead Parish.

Peculiar Doll


In Game Description


A strange doll in strange dress.

There once was an abomination who had
no place in this world. She clutched this
doll tightly, and eventually was drawn into
a cold and lonely painted world.

Availability


Inside the very first cell you start the game in. You cannot get the Peculiar Doll during the tutorial, however. You must revisit the Undead Asylum later on to find it.

Opens


Allows access to Painted World Of Ariamis, through the big painting covering the wall of the church in Anor Londo

Notes


Crossbreed Priscilla may be the 'abomination' the item's description refers to

Residence Key


In Game Description


Key to a residence in the Undead Burg.
Simple, sturdy design of the locks in
the Burg keep out unwanted visitors.

But this is a standard key in these parts,
and will open several residences.

Availability


Opens


Notes


Sewer Chamber Key


In Game Description


Key to the sewer chamber in the Depths.

In any community, a few bad apples are sure
to exhibit insatiable greed. If they were
turned Undead, and banished to the Depths,
would they reconsider their ways?

Use this key to see for yourself.

Availability


Found in the Giant Undead Rat chamber in Depths

Opens


Door to the Bonfire in Depths

Undead Asylum F2 East Key


In Game Description


Key to the iron bars on the east side of the
second floor of the North Undead Asylum.

The Undead Asylum is a giant Undead prison,
segmented by countless iron bars.

Even if an Undead were to escape from a
cell, passage to the outside world would
not be gained easily.

Availability


Opens


Gate on the Eastern side of the second floor in the Undead Asylum

Watchtower Basement Key


In Game Description


Key to the basement of the watchtower in
the Undead Burg.

The basement of the watchtower forms a stone
cell. There are rumors of a hero turned
Hollow who was locked away by a dear friend.
For his own good, of course.

Availability


Found on the body of a dead smith after defeating the Moonlight Butterfly in Darkroot Garden

Opens


Door1 leading from the bottom of the Watchtower in the Undead Burg's main section to the Darkroot Basin

or, if you're coming the other way,

Opens the tower door next to the lake in Darkroot Basin, which leads directly to Havel the Rock's lair in Undead Burg

Footnotes 1. Having the Master Key unlocks this door also