This event has been an annual occurrence since at least 2017. The Souls community comes together for a new playthrough of Dark Souls II on a brand new character, whilst engaging in as much PvP, Co-op, and general online activity as possible. This makes it a great time to join covenants (except for one, more on this shortly), farm covenants, leave messages, and even jump in with buddies for the full Souls experience without worry of missing the thrill of invasions and player-to-player interactivity.

The event starts around late February every year. This year, the agreed upon start date is February 23. We are aiming to be done by March 11, but this is not an official date and there will be plenty of people playing afterwards, so take your time.

• Scholar of The First Sin edition is recommended, but not necessary. Vanilla Dark Souls II also gets some activity though.
  
  
• Start a new character. Try a new build, switch up the order you clear areas in, whatever. Just play the game and help get the word out!
  
  
• Purchase the Name-Engraved Ring from Sweet Shalquoir (the talking cat) in Majula. It costs 5,000 souls. This ring allows you to connect to players who choose the same god as you, whilst making it much harder to connect to players who don't have this ring or pretty much eliminating matchmaking from players who chose a different god. The agreed upon god for this event is Kremmel, God of Struggle. Choose this god if you wish to have the best chance to experience this event.
  Small Note: Wearing this ring hides all NPC summon signs. Take it off to reveal them. You can also take it off after connecting with other players and will not suffer any consequences for it.
  
  
• Write "Don't give up, Skeleton" at the bonfire in Majula. Upvote every other message you see that says this. It's tradition.
  
  
• Kill the three little pigs in Majula. Do this for two reasons: It's funny and considered tradition. Secondly, they have a small chance to drop Cracked Red-Eye orbs used for invasions. Once you kill them 12 times, they are replaced by Undead Boars with a higher chance to drop Cracked-Red Eye Orbs. After killing these new guys enough times, they are replaced by a Giant Undead Boar that has a guaranteed drop rate of three Cracked Red-Eye orbs. This is only true for Scholar of The First Sin edition of the game.

• The designated PvP area is, as is tradition, the bridge at the beginning of Iron Keep. You will find the most invasions and summon signs here.
  
  
  
  Things NOT To Do
  
  
  • DO NOT disconnect from PvP/Co-Op once initiated by closing the game/shutting off your PC. If you do this repeatedly, you will be disconnected from the online servers for that playthrough. The only way to remedy this if it happens is by using the Bone of Order consumable you get at the start of the game. You get one.
    
    
  • Try not to farm souls excessively. Soul Memory is a numerical stat that matches you with people with similar numerical values. ANY souls collected, used, unused or lost, permanently increase the numerical value of Soul Memory. Buy the Agape Ring from Straid of Olaphis near the end of Lost Bastille if you are trying to farm items from enemies. It costs 5,000 souls, only becomes available once Soul Memory is above 30,000 and you need a Fragrant Branch of Yore to depetrify Straid. More on this below.
    
    
  • Do not join the Covenant of Champions if you plan on doing Co-Op. Being in that covenant disables Co-Op and NPC summoning, only leaving you open to invasions. Do join if you're a sadist, I guess.

As mentioned above, Soul Memory is the primary factor in player matchmaking. Any souls gained are permanently added to it, with no way of lowering it. Below are the different ranges at which you will be paired. The Name-Engraved Ring expands your matchmaking ranges by a bit.

1. 0 - 9,999
2. 10,000 - 19,999
3. 20,000 - 29,999
4. 30,000 - 39,999
5. 40,000 - 49,999
6. 50,000 - 69,999
7. 70,000 - 89,999
8. 90,000 - 109,999
9. 110,000 - 129,999
10. 130,000 - 149,999
11. 150,000 - 179,999
12. 180,000 - 209,999
13. 210,000 - 239,999
14. 240,000 - 269,999
15. 270,000 - 299,999
16. 300,000 - 349,999
17. 350,000 - 399,999
18. 400,000 - 449,999
19. 450,000 - 499,999
20. 500,000 - 599,999
21. 600,000 - 699,999
22. 700,000 - 799,999
23. 800,000 - 899,999
24. 900,000 - 999,999
25. 1,000,000 - 1,099,999
26. 1,100,000 - 1,199,999
27. 1,200,000 - 1,299,999
28. 1,300,000 - 1,399,999
29. 1,400,000 - 1,499,999
30. 1,500,000 - 1,749,999
31. 1,750,000 - 1,999,999
32. 2,000,000 - 2,249,999
33. 2,250,000 - 2,499,999
34. 2,500,000 - 2,749,999
35. 2,750,000 - 2,999,999
36. 3,000,000 - 4,999,999
37. 5,000,000 - 6,999,999
38. 7,000,000 - 8,999,999
39. 9,000,000 - 11,999,999
40. 12,000,000 - 14,999,999
41. 15,000,000 - 19,999,999
42. 20,000,000 - 29,999,999
43. 30,000,000 - 44,999,999
44. 45,000,000 - 999,999,999 (Virgin ♥♥♥♥♥♥ tier)


Here is a list of approximate Soul Memory values you will be at when exploring the areas of the game. Dark Souls II is more linear, but this is not set in stone and can vary from player to player. I recently found some action on both SM level 37 and 23 characters in a relatively early area.

SMT 7 (70 – 89k) - - - - - - - - - No Man’s Wharf, Lost Bastille, Heide’s Tower

SM 8 (90 – 109k) - - - - - - - - FotFG, No Man’s Wharf, Lost Bastille

SM 9 (110 -129k) - - - - - - - - -FotFG/Huntsman, No Man’s Wharf, Lost Bastille

SM 10 (130 – 149k)- - - - - - - -FotFg, No Man’s Wharf, Lost Bastille/ Heide’s Tower

SM 11 (150 – 179k)- - - - - - - -No Man’s Wharf, Lost Bastille, Heide’s Tower

SM 12 (180 – 209k)- - - - - - - -No Man’s Wharf, Lost Bastille, Heide’s Tower

SM 13 (210 – 239k)- - - - - - - -No Man’s Wharf, Lost Bastille, Heide’s Tower

SM 14 (240 – 269k)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Lost Bastille, Huntsman

SM 15 (270 – 299k)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Lost Bastille, Huntsman

SM 16 (300 – 349k)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Lost Bastille, Huntsman

SM 17 (350 – 399k)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Lost Bastille, Huntsman

SM 18 (400 – 449K)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Iron Keep, Huntsman

SM 19 (450 – 499k)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Lost Bastille, Huntsman

SM 20 (500 – 599k)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Iron Keep, Brightstone Cove

SM 21 (600 – 699k)- - - - - - - -Harvest Valley, Iron Keep, The Gutter & Gulch

SM 22 (700 – 799k) - - - - - - - Drangleic Castle, Iron Keep, Brightstone Cove

SM 23 (800 – 899k)- - - - - - - -Iron Keep, The Gutter & Gulch, Brightstone Cove

SM 24 (900 – 999k) - - - - - - --Iron Keep, The Gutter & Gulch, Brightstone Cove

SM 25 (1M – 1.099M)- - - - - -- Drangleic Castle, Iron Keep, Lost Bastille

SM 26 (1.1M – 1.199M)- - - - -- Drangleic Castle, Iron Keep, The Gutter & Gulch

SM 27 (1.2M – 1.299M)- - - - -- Amana, Drangleic Castle, Brightstone Cove

SM 28 (1.3M – 1.399M)- - - - -- Amana, Drangleic Castle, Iron Keep

SM 29 (1.4M – 1.499M)- - - - -- Amana, Drangleic Castle, Undead Crypt

SM 30 (1.5M – 1.749M)- - - - -- Amana, Drangleic Castle, Dragon Aeire & Shrine

SM 31 (1.750M – 1.999M)- - ---Drangleic Castle, Sanctum City, Dragon Aeire & Shrine

SM 32 (2M – 2.249M)- - - - - - -Amana, Drangleic Castle, Dragon Aeire & Shrine

SM 33 (2.250M – 2.499M)- -- -- Drangleic Castle, Sanctum City, Dragon Aeire & Shrine

SM 34 (2.5M – 2.749M)- - - -- - Brume Tower, Sanctum City, Eleum Loyce

SM 35 (2.750M – 2.999M) - - -- Brume Tower, Drangleic Castle, Sanctum City

SM 36 (3M – 4.999M)- - - - - - -Drangleic Castle, Iron Keep, Eleum Loyce

SM 37 (5M – 6.999M)- - - - - - -Brume Tower, Drangleic Castle, Eleum Loyce

• Remember that Sweet Shalquoir can manage your covenants. She will display your current rank (as there is no other way to immediately see it) and absolve sin. You still need to offer Rat Tails, Dragon Scales and Sunlight Medals to the respective covenant leaders though.
  
  

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