# Darkroot Garden
Darkroot Garden (**黒い森の庭**) is a [Location](https://darksouls.wiki/books/locations) in[Dark Souls](https://darksouls.wiki/books/splash/page/overview). It is reached after location, and before location.
### Information
The **Darkroot Garden** is a dense forest located past the [](https://darksouls.wiki/books/locations/page/undead-parish)[Undead Parish](https://darksouls.wiki/books/locations/page/undead-parish). This area is home to formidable enemies, key bosses like **[Moonlight Butterfly](https://darksouls.wiki/books/bosses/page/moonlight-butterfly)** and **Great Grey Wolf [Sif](https://darksouls.wiki/books/bosses/page/great-grey-wolf-sif)**, and significant [NPCs](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs) such as**[Alvina](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs/page/alvina) the Cat** and **[Shiva](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs/page/shiva-of-the-east) of the East**. It also contains the **[Covenant](https://darksouls.wiki/books/covenants) of Forest[Hunters](https://darksouls.wiki/books/classes/page/hunter)** and leads to the **[Darkroot Basin](https://darksouls.wiki/books/locations/page/darkroot-basin)**. Exploration requires caution, as the area includes hidden paths, ambushes, and environmental hazards.
### Area Bosses
##### Moonlight Butterfly
- **Location**: Stone bridge in the Darkroot Garden.
- **Drops**:
- **10,000 Souls**
- **Watchtower [Basement ](https://darksouls.wiki/books/items/page/basement-key)[Key](https://darksouls.wiki/books/items/chapter/keys)**
- **[Divine Ember](https://darksouls.wiki/books/weapon-upgrades/page/divine-ember)**
- **Strategy**:
- Use ranged attacks or summon **[Beatrice](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs/page/witch-beatrice) the Witch**.
- Avoid or block its magic projectiles.
- Attack when it lands on the bridge to recharge its energy.
##### [Great Grey Wolf Sif](https://darksouls.wiki/books/bosses/page/great-grey-wolf-sif)
- **Location**: Behind the large glowing door in the Darkroot Garden.
- **Drops**:
- **[Soul of Sif](https://darksouls.wiki/books/mechanics/page/soul-of-sif)**
- **Covenant of [Artorias](https://darksouls.wiki/books/bosses/page/artorias-the-abysswalker)** (ring)
- **Strategy**:
- Stay under its belly to avoid most attacks.
- Use fire-based attacks for increased damage.
### Enemies
##### Tree Spirits
- **Appearance**: Resemble trees and ambush the player.
- **Drops**:
- Moss Clumps (Green, Purple, or Blooming)
- **Strategy**:
- Strike preemptively when spotted in their dormant state. Weak to [Pyromancies](https://darksouls.wiki/books/items/chapter/pyromancies).
##### Great Stone Knights
- **Appearance**: Large, armored knights that use powerful melee and magic attacks.
- **Drops**:
- 600 Runes
- Stone [Greatsword](https://darksouls.wiki/books/weapons/chapter/greatswords) (2%)
- Stone [](https://darksouls.wiki/books/armor/chapter/armor-sets)[Armor](https://darksouls.wiki/books/armor) Set (2%)
- **Strategy**:
- Use ranged attacks or dodge their slow swings.
- Avoid their AoE spells.
##### Forest [Hunter](https://darksouls.wiki/books/classes/page/hunter) NPCs
- Includes warriors like:
- **[Pharis](https://darksouls.wiki/books/enemies/page/pharis)**: Drops Twin [Humanities](https://darksouls.wiki/books/items/page/humanity),**Pharis's Black [Bow](https://darksouls.wiki/books/weapons/chapter/bows)** and **Pharis's Hat**.
- **[Clerics](https://darksouls.wiki/books/classes/page/cleric)**: Use healing miracles.
- **Rogues**: Attempt backstabs.
- **Strategy**:
- Lure one at a time to avoid being overwhelmed. There is also a rune farming method that can be used to lure them into running off a cliff and instantly dying, enabling the player to farm 1000-5000 souls per enemy.
##### [Giant](https://darksouls.wiki/books/enemies/page/giant) Cats
- **Location**: Found near the bridge in the Basin.
- **Strategy**:
- Avoid their spinning roll attack by staying near narrow passages.
##### [Mushroom People](https://darksouls.wiki/books/enemies/page/mushroom-child)
- **Appearance**: Small and large humanoid mushrooms.
- **Drops**:
- Gold Pine Resin
- Magic Ember (from the chest near their location)
- **Strategy**:
- Large Mushrooms hit hard; stay at range.
### NPCs
##### Alvina the Cat
- Found in the stone building near the [Forest Hunter](https://darksouls.wiki/books/covenants/page/forest-hunter) area.
- Grants access to the Forest Hunter covenant.
##### [Shiva of the East](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs/page/shiva-of-the-east)
- Appears after joining the [Forest Hunters](https://darksouls.wiki/books/covenants/page/forest-hunter).
- Moves to [Blighttown](https://darksouls.wiki/books/locations/page/blighttown) later in the game.
- Drops:
- **Murakumo**(if [killed](https://darksouls.wiki/books/mechanics/page/death))
##### [Witch Beatrice](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs/page/witch-beatrice)
- Summon sign is located beneath the staircase before the Moonlight Butterfly boss fog.
- Assists with magic attacks.
### [Items](https://darksouls.wiki/books/items)
##### Key Items
- **Seal of Artorias**:
- Sold by [Andre](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs/page/andre-of-astora) for 20,000 Souls to open the Seal in the Darkroot Garden.
##### Armor
- **Stone Armor Set**:
- Found near the entrance to Sif’s area.
##### [Rings](https://darksouls.wiki/books/rings)
- **[Wolf ](https://darksouls.wiki/books/rings/page/wolf-ring)[Ring](https://darksouls.wiki/books/rings)**:
- Found past a hidden path near the Moonlight Butterfly route.
- Increases [Poise](https://darksouls.wiki/books/mechanics/page/poise) by 40.
##### [Weapons](https://darksouls.wiki/books/weapons)
- **Pharis's Black Bow**:
- Dropped by Pharis in the Forest Hunter area.
##### Upgrades
- **Divine Ember**:
- Found after defeating the Moonlight Butterfly.
### Walkthrough
#### From Undead Parish
1. Exit through Andre's smithy.
2. Bypass or kill the **Titanite Demon**.
3. Navigate the forest path and defeat the **Tree Spirits**.
4. Unlock the **Seal of Artorias** door using **20,000 Souls** from Andre.
5. Use the hidden bonfire near the door to rest.
#### To Moonlight Butterfly
1. Take the side path past the Seal of Artorias.
2. Summon **Beatrice** for assistance.
3. Fight the **Moonlight Butterfly** on the bridge.
4. Collect the **Divine Ember** and **[Watchtower Basement Key](https://darksouls.wiki/books/items/page/watchtower-basement-key)** from the rooftop.
#### To Sif
1. Enter the glowing door in the forest after defeating the Butterfly.
2. Approach the grave to initiate the boss fight.
3. Collect the **[Covenant of Artorias](https://darksouls.wiki/books/rings/page/covenant-of-artorias)** upon defeating Sif.
### Covenants
##### [Forest Hunter Covenant](https://darksouls.wiki/books/covenants/page/forest-hunter)
- **Leader**: Alvina the Cat.
- **Location**: Inside the stone structure near the hidden bonfire.
- **How to Join**:
- Speak with Alvina and answer "Yes" to her questions.
- **Benefits**:
- Forest Hunter NPCs become non-hostile.
- Grants the **[Cat Covenant Ring](https://darksouls.wiki/books/rings/page/cat-covenant-ring)**, which summons the player to invade trespassers.
- **Penalties**:
- Attacking Forest Hunter NPCs or allies will result in being branded a traitor. Use absolution from **[Oswald](https://darksouls.wiki/books/npcs/page/oswald-of-carim) of Carim** to rejoin.
### Shortcuts
##### **Hidden [Bonfire](https://darksouls.wiki/books/mechanics/page/bonfires)**:
- - Found near the Seal of Artorias. Attack the wall on the left of the sealed door to reveal it.
##### **Alternate Path to Sif**:
- - Bypass the Seal of Artorias by traveling through the Basin.
### Soul Farming
##### **Forest Hunters**:
- - After opening the Seal of Artorias, bait Forest Hunter NPCs to the ledge and force them to fall for easy Souls.
##### **Stone Knights**:
- - Farm near the bonfire in the forest for consistent Souls and armor drops.
### Notes
- Defeating the area bosses (Moonlight Butterfly and Sif) affects multiplayer invasions in the area.
- The **Cat Covenant Ring** summons players to defend the forest.
### Trivia
- Sif’s relationship with Artorias is central to the game’s lore. His appearance changes slightly when encountered after the [](https://darksouls.wiki/books/dlc/page/artorias-of-the-abyss)[DLC](https://darksouls.wiki/books/dlc).
- The Forest Hunters’ half-visible aesthetic is meant to evoke the ghostly atmosphere of the cursed forest.
---