Shulva, Sanctum City

To access this DLC, collect the Dragon Talon found in the Pit at Majula. The Dragon Talon is behind a pair of stone doors that can be opened with the Forgotten Key obtained from killing the two Elite Giants at the Black Gulch. Equip the Silvercat Ring to help you survive the fall down the Pit. Laddersmith Gilligan should now be at Majula, sitting next to the Pit. Pay him a few thousand souls so he would install three ladders down the Pit. You only need the most expensive (and longest) ladder from his shop. Use the longest ladder to help you navigate to the stone doors that sequester the Dragon Talon.

50. Shulva, Sanctum City, Dark Souls II: SotFS

As preparation for exploring this DLC, stock up on arrows and Poison Moss. Poison Moss is especially useful in the DLC because enemies can inflict the poison status effect. Have a bow and hundreds of arrows ready. You will use them to activate various stone mechanisms. A bow and arrows are necessary to access the Tower of Prayer bonfire. The bonfire is located at the top of a tower, accessible only by raising various stone platforms that can be easily activated by shooting arrows.

51. Dragon's Sanctum, Dark Souls II: SotFS

The first Sanctum Knight x 2 you encounter initially appear as apparitions that you can't hit, but they can attack you. You must destroy their hollowed armours, which are resting on raised platforms, in order to deal damage to the Sanctum Knights. Each hollowed armour have a red aura around it. Use a bow and arrows to destroy the hollowed armours, thus allowing you to deal damage to the first two Sanctum Knights.

52. Lair of the Imperfect, Dark Souls II: SotFS

Light the Hidden Sanctum Chamber bonfire, which as its name suggests can be tricky to find. From the Hidden Sanctum Chamber bonfire make your way to the Lair of the Imperfect bonfire. On your way, you would be invaded by Jester Thomas who uses pyromancy. Equip a ring to boost your fire defense and buff your weapon with lightning. The Imperfect are large creatures that look like T-rex without arms. They can be poisoned and are weak against lightning. You might want to farm them for Dragon Scales and/or Titanite Slabs.

Above the arena of the boss Elana is the Sanctum Interior bonfire, hidden behind an illusory wall. This bonfire is the nearest check point to Elana. The Cave of the Dead is the gauntlet area of the DLC. This area is filled with statues that spit a substance capable of building up your petrify metre. Equip as many items as possible to boost your petrify defense, e.g. the Ash Knuckle Ring and the Ring of Resistance(+0, +1). The Ring of Resistance can be obtained from Cromwell the Pardoner when you have at least 35 Faith and exhaust his dialogue. The Ring of Resistance+1 is found in another DLC.

Notable loots:

• Dragon Stone. In an iron chest, accessible by opening a stone door. Unlock the door by using a bow and arrows to activate a nearby stone switch. The chest is located near an area covered with spikes and guarded by various Sanctum Knights. Deactivate the spikes by triggering a stone switch located high above at the ceiling. Near the Lair of the Imperfect bonfire is a large circular disc. Insert the Dragon Stone into the disc to open the passage to two bosses of the DLC.
• Eternal Sanctum Key. Located in a room with various hollowed armours of Sanctum Knights. Break the armour sets to allow you to deal damage to the Sanctum Knights. The key opens the passage to the Priestess' Chamber bonfire and a boss of the DLC. On your way to the Priestess' Chamber bonfire, you would be invaded by Rockshield Baldyr while you cross a bridge to the bonfire. Run across the bridge as quickly as possible to light the bonfire, then deal with the invader. Baldyr uses Lloyd's Talismans to prevent you from healing via your Estus Flask, but you would still be able to heal using Lifegems.
• Dragon Scale. Rare drop from The Imperfect. You don't need to farm Dragon Scales from The Imperfect if you don't want anything from the Dragon Remnants covenant. Ranking up in the Dragon Remnants covenant doesn't affect any Steam achievements. Use Poison and Lightning Arrows against The Imperfect.
• Titanite Slab. Rare drop from The Imperfect. Don't farm Titanite Slab from The Imperfect. The best location for farming Titanite Slabs is near the King's Gate bonfire at Drangleic Castle. The Stone Soldiers near the King's Gate bonfire have a high drop rate for Titanite Slab.
• Brightbug x 2. Found on a corpse at the Cave of the Dead. Stack as high petrify resistance as possible because the various statues in the area can build up your petrify metre.
• Flower Skirt. Inside a chest that is accessible after defeating the boss at the Cave of the Dead. While equipped, the Flower Skirt grants you two points in Vigor and one point in Endurance. The item isn't as useful for a high level character as it is for a low level character. For an SL1 character, one extra point in Endurance is a blessing.
• Crown of the Sunken King. Available after defeating Sinh.

Graverobber, Varg, and Cerah

54. Cave of the Dead, Dark Souls II: SotFS

This is a gank boss, where you must fight three NPCs at the same time. Take out Cerah the Old Explorer first, i.e. the one who uses a great bow. Buff your weapon with lightning. Equip the Ash Knuckle Ring because a number of statues within the boss arena can build up your petrify metre.

Elana, the Squalid Queen

53. Elana the Squalid Queen, Dark Souls II: SotFS

This boss uses hex and can summon minions to assist her. Stack as high dark defense as possible, e.g. equipping the Dark Quartz Ring(+0, +1, +2, +3). Use a fast weapon and buff it with magic. Summon one NPC phantom to help you distract the boss or her minions. Progress in Benhart's quest line by summoning him for this fight and ensure his survival. By now Benhart should have assisted you against two different bosses and have survived both fights. In that case, you don't need to summon Benhart for the fight against Elana.

Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon

55. Sinh the Slumbering Dragon, Dark Souls II: SotFS

This boss tends to fly from one end of the arena to the other. Sinh's fireball attack can build up your toxic metre so be sure to carry plenty of Poison Moss. Attacking the boss can cause your weapon to rapidly lose durability. Having a bunch of Repair Powder is necessary to prevent your weapon from breaking and/or equip the Bracing Knuckle Ring(+0, +1, +2). Attacking the neck and head won't cause as much durability loss as attacking other parts of Sinh's body. Try to always stay in front of the boss to bait the fire breath, then run in for a hit or two. Use a fast weapon if you can or a weapon that has a vertical downward swing. Buff your weapon with lightning. Magic and dark are also effective, but fire should only be considered a last resort.

Defeat Sinh and grab the Crown of the Sunken King.