Ashes of Ariandel

Snowfield

To access the Ashes of Ariandel DLC, warp to the Cleansing Chapel bonfire. Exhaust Gael's dialogue, accept his request, and your character would be teleported to a cave. Exit the cave and light the first bonfire you encounter. The Snowfield is dangerous because of the following types of enemies:

• Wolf. Usually found in packs, each group scattered here and there. Use a bow or crossbow to lure one wolf away from its pack and dispatch of it as quickly as possible, otherwise the rest of the pack would gank you to death. Buff your weapon with fire. The Gravetender Greatwolf would ambush you at two locations. Defeat the Greatwolf at both locations so that, when you encounter it as a boss later on, its HP bar would be lowered by between 10% to 15%. For the first encounter, be sure to take out all surrounding wolves prior to making your way to an elevated platform where the Greatwolf sits. For the second encounter, lure the Greatwolf and its lesser wolves to the entrance of the nearby tower. As shown in the video below, enter the tower so only the lesser wolves would chase after you, thus allowing you to safely dispatch of the lesser wolves. The Greatwolf won't be able to get past the entrance; use this opportunity to easily defeat it.
• Birch Woman. A screeching tree-like creature that comes in two varieties: (1) a pyromancer that shoots slow-moving fireballs at you; and (2) a cryomancer that breathes frost at you. Buff your weapon with fire and dispatch of one Birch Woman at a time. In case there are wolves nearby, lure the wolves away from the Birch Woman and dispatch of the wolves first.
• Millwood Knight. Each is extremely tanky and dangerous, but is susceptible to Rapport. Cast Rapport on a Millwood Knight and defeat as quickly as possible.

37. Ashes of Ariandel: Snowfield, Dark Souls III

Stock up on these items to prepare yourself for the journey ahead:

• Charcoal Pine Resin/Bundle. Most enemies are weak against fire.
• Rime-blue Moss Clump. Some enemies can build up your frost bar.
• Bloodred Moss Clump. Giant Flies can vomit maggots at you to rapidly build up your bleed bar.

Ensure you grab the following items:

• Millwood Greatbow
• Captain's Ashes. Give this to the Shrine Handmaid, thus allowing you to purchase Millwood Greatarrows.

Corvian Settlement

The most dangerous type of enemy is the Corvian Knight, who can quickly build up your bleed bar. This enemy is weak against lightning. Buff your Raw Dragonslayer's Axe+10 with Gold Pine Resin/Bundle and fight it when it's by itself.

38. Ashes of Ariandel: Corvian Settlement, Dark Souls III

Talk to the Forlorn Corvian Settler who sits on a chair. Choose the option "I am Ash" in response to his question. After defeating all bosses in the DLC, talk to this NPC again to receive an item.

The route to the Snowy Mountain Pass bonfire is guarded by Sir Vilhelm. He can be tough to defeat. To constantly chip down his HP, use a Poison Rotten Ghru Spear (upgraded to at least +7) to poison Vilhelm. Once poisoned, get in one or two hits with your Raw Dragonslayer's Axe+10 and move away. Buff your weapon with lightning.

Stock up on these items as preparation for exploring the area:

• Gold Pine Resin/Bundle. Most enemies are weak against lightning, in particular the Corvian Knights.
• Charcoal Pine Resin/Bundle. The Birch Women are weak against fire.
• Bloodred Moss Clump. Each Corvian Knight can rapidly build up your bleed bar, as do the maggots vomited by Giant Flies.
• Blooming Purple Moss Clump. Some Forlorn Corvian Settlers vomit Toxic Mist.

Snowy Mountain Pass

The most dangerous types of enemies in this area are wolves and Millwood Knights. Use the strategy shown in the video below to easily defeat all Millwood Knights in the area. Stock up on great arrows as part of the cheese strategy.

39. Ashes of Ariandel: Snowy Mountain Pass, Dark Souls III

Depths of the Painting

Before heading down to the Depths of the Painting, ensure you first unlock the boss arena of Friede.

40. Ashes of Ariandel: Depths of the Painting, Dark Souls III

This area is dangerous because of these reasons, among others:

• The sometimes tricky platforming. Always equip the Silvercat Ring.
• Millwood Knights who shoot great arrows at you while you navigate your way down tree branches. These Knights can be cheesed from a distance by using your Dragonslayer Greatbow.
• Frost versions of Great Crabs. Defeat the nearby Millwood Knight first before you fight a Great Crab.

You will find four Birch Women after defeating three Great Crabs. Defeat the Birch Women to unlock a secret ladder, which leads to a Titanite Slab.

Gravetender and Friede

The area boss of the Depths of the Painting is a gank boss known as Champion's Gravetender and Gravetender Greatwolf. Phase one is the gank fight. Dispatch of all three wolves first before confronting the Champion's Gravetender, whom you should defeat as quickly as possible before the Greatwolf joins in on the gank. Use the strategy shown in the next video to easily get past phase one. The second phase is where you fight the Greatwolf, whom you have encountered twice before. In case you defeated the Greatwolf during both encounters, its HP bar should now be lowered by 10% to 15%. Use the pillars of the tower to help you dodge the Greatwolf's attacks.

41. Ashes of Ariandel: Gravetender, Dark Souls III

The final boss of Ashes of Ariandel is Friede. First, farm for a Storyteller's Staff, a weapon that will be useful during the second phase of the fight. You should have at least 6 Strength and 12 Intelligence to use the Staff's weapon art. If possible, farm souls to level up to 15 Intelligence. Use the save backup trick to help you conserve Rusted Gold Coins. The Storyteller's Staff will also be useful during a boss fight in another DLC.

42. Farm a Storyteller's Staff, Dark Souls III

Both Friede and Father Ariandel are susceptible to poison and bleed. Upgrade your Poison Rotten Ghru Spear to +10 and your Blood Bandit's Knife to +10. Have at least 40 Poison Throwing Knives. Before entering the boss arena, cast Tears of Denial and summon Gael. In phase one, use the Poison Rotten Ghru Spear+10 to fight Friede. Occasionally throw a Poison Throwing Knife to help you keep track of Friede's location, especially whenever she turns invisible. At the start of phase two, Gael would be summoned to help you distract Friede while you fight Father Ariandel. Run to Father Ariandel as quickly as possible and use the weapon art of the Storyteller's Staff to poison him. Once he is poisoned, use the Blood Bandit's Knife+10 to bleed him. During phase three, Friede has substantially more dangerous attacks and speed. Use the same strategy as per phase one.

43. Friede and Father Ariandel, Dark Souls III

44. Wrap up Ashes of Ariandel, Dark Souls III

After defeating Friede, return to the Corvian Settlement. Find the Forlorn Corvian Settler you talked to earlier and exhaust his dialogue to receive a Titanite Slab.