Kiln of the First Flame

Kiln of the First Flame (大墓) is a Location in Dark Souls. It is only accessible after the player has placed all four Lord Souls in the Lordvessel. 

Information

The Kiln of the First Flame serves as the final stage of Dark Souls. It becomes accessible after placing the four Lord Souls (or equivalent shards) in the Lordvessel at Firelink Altar, opening the grand door leading to this ultimate arena. The path is straightforward, with minimal exploration and five Black Knights guarding the approach to the final boss, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. Be cautious of frequent PvP invasions in this area if you remain in human form.

Area Bosses

Mandatory

Gwyn, Lord of Cinder

• Location: Found at the end of the Kiln of the First Flame.

• Attack Patterns:

  • Fast, sweeping melee attacks.
  • A grab move that deals significant damage.
  • Leaping slash and thrust attacks to close distance quickly.

• Strategies:

  1. Parry and Riposte:
     • Gwyn’s attacks are predictable and can be parried with proper timing.
     • Equip the Hornet Ring to amplify critical damage.
     • Recommended weapons: fast-striking weapons with high critical bonuses (e.g., Bandit’s Knife with Occult infusion).
  2. Circle and Strike:
     • Keep close to Gwyn and circle around to bait grab attacks or slashes with long recovery times.
     • Punish his missed attacks with quick weapon strikes.
  3. Tank and Smash:
     • Use heavy armor like Havel’s Set and the Iron Flesh pyromancy for increased defense.
     • Engage directly, focusing on sustained melee damage.
  4. Summon Help:
     • If you completed Solaire’s questline, his summon sign will appear near the third Black Knight.
     • Use Solaire as a distraction to land attacks on Gwyn.
  5. Pyromancy Barrage:
     • Equip Great Combustion or Great Fireball with a fully upgraded pyromancy flame.
     • Use Iron Flesh for added protection during close-range casting.

• Drops:

  • Soul of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (used to craft the Great Lord Greatsword or consumed for 20,000 souls).

Enemies

Black Knights:

• • Found in five variations along the path to Gwyn:
    • Sword Black Knights (x2): Drop Black Knight Sword, Black Knight Shield, and Titanite Chunk.
    • Greatsword Black Knight: Drops Black Knight Greatsword, Black Knight Shield, and Red Titanite Chunk.
    • Greataxe Black Knight: Drops Black Knight Greataxe, Black Knight Shield, and White Titanite Chunk.
    • Halberd Black Knight: Drops Black Knight Halberd, Black Knight Shield, and Blue Titanite Chunk.
  • Respawn at the Kiln's bonfire, making them excellent for farming Titanite Chunks.

Wandering Humanity Phantoms:

• • Rarely appear on the bridge under certain conditions.
  • Drop Humanity or Twin Humanities.

Items

Armor

• Black Knight Armor Set:
  • Located on the right side of the narrow path near the third Black Knight.
  • Includes the full Black Knight Set, known for its high fire resistance.

Upgrade Materials

• Titanite Chunks:
  • Dropped by all Black Knights (red, blue, white, and standard varieties).

Weapons

• Black Knight Weapons:
  • Each Black Knight has a chance to drop their respective weapon.

Walkthrough

• Accessing the Kiln:

  • Place the Lordvessel at the Firelink Altar after acquiring the four Lord Souls.
  • The grand door at Firelink Altar opens, revealing the Kiln.

• Navigating the Path:

  • Fight through five Black Knights on a straightforward path to Gwyn.
  • Engage each Black Knight carefully, as they hit hard and can overwhelm unprepared players.
  • Use the nearby bonfire to rest and prepare for the final encounter.

• Optional Summon:

  • If Solaire of Astora survived his questline, his summon sign appears just past the third Black Knight.

• The Final Encounter:

  • Enter the fog gate to face Gwyn, Lord of Cinder.
  • Choose your preferred strategy to defeat him and prepare for the ending.

Covenants

This area does not host any specific covenants, but actions taken here—such as choosing to link the flame or walk away—may influence lore interpretations tied to covenants such as the Darkwraiths or Warriors of Sunlight.

Soul Farming

Black Knights:

• Farmable at the Kiln’s bonfire.
• Each knight drops 1-3 Titanite Chunks (specific types based on their weapon).
• Excellent for upgrading weapons or farming rare Black Knight weapons.

Notes

• The Kiln’s atmosphere reflects the remnants of the Age of Fire, with ashen terrain and a somber tone.
• Defeating Gwyn triggers an unskippable ending:
  • Link the Flame: Rekindle the First Flame and prolong the Age of Fire.
  • Leave the Flame: Walk away and usher in the Age of Dark.

Trivia

• The Kiln of the First Flame is designed to evoke themes of finality and sacrifice.
• Gwyn’s Theme is a melancholic piano piece, symbolizing his tragic fall from a great Lord to a hollowed guardian.
• The Black Knight Set found here is one of the most iconic armor sets in the game, favored for its lore and resistances.