Online Matchmaking

All of the multiplayer items in Dark Souls will pair players within a specific range of levels, though the ranges are different between the original and remastered versions of Dark Souls. There are also varying requirements for successful use of each item.

Level Range Formulas in Dark Souls Remastered

White Sign Soapstone, Eye of Death, Dragon Eye, & Red Sign Soapstone

These four items use the standard co-op range. Players can be paired with others who are relatively near their level, using what is commonly referred to as the "10 + 10%" calculation. The range is calculated from the host's perspective.

x +/- (10 + 0.1x)

• Level 50 can summon: 35 - 65
• Level 100 can summon: 80 - 120

Red Eye Orb, Cracked Red Eye Orb, & Blue Eye Orb

These items have a lopsided invasion range, allowing an invader to invade higher than they can lower. The range is calculated from the invader's perspective.

x - 0.1x (lower level limit)
x + (20 + 0.1x) (upper level limit)

• Level 50 can invade: 45 - 75
• Level 100 can invade: 90 - 130

Cat Covenant Ring & Darkmoon Blade Covenant Ring

These items have a lopsided invasion range. Similar to the other invasion items, but with a wider range and they are instead calculated from the host's perspective.

x - (20 + 0.2x) (lower level limit)
x + 0.1x (upper level limit)

• Level 50 can be invaded by: 20 - 55
• Level 100 can be invaded by: 60 - 110

Weapon Level Matchmaking in Dark Souls Remastered

Not present in the original version of Dark Souls, a weapon level matchmaking system has been introduced to prevent players with drastically-different levels of gear from pairing.
Both the Soul Level (SL) ranges and Weapon Level (WL) ranges have to match for two players to connect.

Notes on Weapon Level Matchmaking

• It is not possible to decrease your weapon level. As soon as you've acquired a new-highest weapon upgrade, that is permanently flagged for your character. Dropping weapons or moving them into the Bottomless Box will not change it.
• The regular Pyromancy Flame is treated as a "regular" weapon. The Ascended Pyromancy Flame starts at weapon level 15, and remains there with further upgrades.
• Armor upgrades, rings, spells, and other items will not increase or affect weapon level.
• It is possible to pair with another player outside of your weapon level range if the connection occurs very-soon after a player has upgraded their weapon.
• As rare weapons are counted as +5 and already infused weapons count as +10, picking up an ingame rare weapon from a drop, chest, or merchant will automatically raise your weapon level to +5, and picking up one of the infused weapons dropped by a mimic will increase your weapon level to +10.
• The official guide has a description of the weapon level matchmaking which can be seen here. This has been tested to be incorrect and the above chart is correct. Reddit made a spreadsheet here, all of which is reflected above.
• The Crystal Straight Sword, Crystal Greatsword, Crystal Shield which are either sold by Domhnall of Zena or dropped by the skeletons in The Duke's Archives are fixed at WL0. Weapons that are ascended to Crystal are WL10 and look like normal weapons. This includes the Crystal Halberd inside the Mimic near the start of Anor Londo and the Crystal Knight Shield inside the mimic in The Duke's Archives.

Password Matchmaking in Dark Souls Remastered

In the network settings, players may set a password to make pairing with a friend easier.

• Coordinating a password will bypass both Soul Level and Weapon Level ranges for the White Sign Soapstone and Red Sign Soapstone, allowing an infinite range for both items.
• Setting a password will mask other white and red soul signs from view, and also prevent your signs from being sent to random players.
• 'Overleveled' summons (players outside of the normal ranges) will receive a debuff when paired with a lower-level host.
• Dragon Signs, Gravelord Signs, and other forms of multiplayer are not affected by the password system. This means they will neither bypass level ranges, nor be masked from view.

Level Range Formulas in Original Dark Souls

The level range formulas are always calculated from the perspective of the player using the multiplayer item, not the host. For the given formulae below, x = the level of the player using the corresponding item.

White Sign Soapstone, Eye of Death & Dragon Eye

These three items use the standard co-op range. Players can be paired with others who are relatively near their level, using what is commonly referred to as the "10 + 10%" calculation.

x +/- (10 + 0.1x)

• Level 50 can be matched with: 35 - 65
• Level 100 can be matched with: 80 - 120

Red Sign Soapstone & Cat Covenant Ring

These two items use the same calculation as the above items to find out the lowest levels they can be paired with, but there is no upper-level restriction. This allows users of these items to be paired with anyone that is a higher level, all the way up to the max level.

x - (10 + 0.1x), or any level higher

• Level 50 can be matched with: 35 - 713
• Level 100 can be matched with: 80 - 713

Red Eye Orb & Cracked Red Eye Orb

Similar to the Red Sign Soapstone, these items can pair an invader with a host slightly below their level, or all the way up to max level. The difference is that the red eye orbs use a different formula for the lower-level limit, invading only 10% below the invader's level. This results in a smaller level range.

x - 0.1x, or any level higher

• Level 50 can be matched with: 45 - 713
• Level 100 can be matched with: 90 - 713

Blue Eye Orb & Darkmoon Blade Covenant Ring

These items use the co-op range to calculate the highest level that can be invaded, but a unique formula allows Darkmoon invaders to go considerably far downwards.

x - (50 + 0.2x) (lower-level limit)
x + (10 + 0.1x) (upper-level limit)

• Level 100 can be matched with: 30 - 120
• Level 200 can be matched with: 110 - 230

Connection Requirements & Tips

• Common PvP levels determined by unofficial, meta-game standards are 100, 120, and 125.

Level Range Calculators

Level Range Calculator for remastered version (website) - Input any level or weapon upgrade to find out all of the possible level ranges for each multiplayer item.
Level Range Calculator for original version (website) - Input any level to find out all of the possible level ranges for each multiplayer item.