Ziggurat of Dust

Your objective in this area is to open the passage to obtaining the Dart Brand. First, you must defeat The Dried King, one of two bosses in the area. Outside of the Ziggurat, you will find an item that allows you to complete Fern's quest line. Defeating The Bloodless Prince, the other boss of the area, would allow you to meet the Scarecrow and advance its quest line. The upper part of the Ziggurat of Dust contains the Ashen Effigy, one of the best great shields in the game. Collect this shield if you prefer a board and sword type of combat.

Upper

35. Upper Ziggurat of Dust, Salt and Sanctuary

Start from the sanctuary of the Ziggurat of Dust. You will explore the upper half of the area. Proceed left to find a Bound Arrox. If it runs away from you, then leave it alone. Otherwise dispatch of the enemy. Light your Torch to activate the Hardlight Brand, jump and bounce off the vertical platforms to reach the top. Head left to find another Bound Arrox, above which is a lever. You cannot directly reach the lever, but must ascend various platforms then drop down to find the lever. Pulling the lever would extend a vertical platform that allows you to jump onto and bounce off in order to reach the top, where you would find an obelisk. To the left of the obelisk is a grated gate. Interact with the obelisk and navigate your way down and right, then head up and left and drop down to find the lever behind the gate. Pull the lever to open the shortcut to The Dried King.

From the sanctuary of the area, continue left and you should be outside of the Ziggurat, standing on a platform. Ascend the structure and then down to find the Bag of Earth. This item is required to complete Fern's quest line. Return to the Village of Smiles, locate Fern, and give him the Bag of Earth to receive a reward. The reward given depends on how you answer his questions.

Notable loots:

• Ashen Effigy. One of the best great shields in the game. Can block 100% of arcane and holy damage, and has high physical and elemental defense. While blocking with the shield, any physical attack would be reflected to the attacker, who would take a percentage of the physical damage. Found near the left-most entrance to upper Ziggurat of Dust. Start from the sanctuary of the area and proceed left until you see a shiny.
• Charred Doll x 3
• Flame Barrage. A Spell that summons a stream of fire. Dropped by a Mimku underneath the arena of The Dried King.
• Stone Charm. Boosts your stagger damage. Can only be reached by interacting with an obelisk.
• Stone Guide. Can only be reached by interacting with an obelisk.
• Bag of Earth. Found above and outside of the Ziggurat of Dust. Give to Fern in exchange for a reward.

The Dried King

36. The Dried King, Salt and Sanctuary

This boss primarily deals fire damage. Equip the Impen Crest Ring to boost your fire defense. Buff the Obsidian Pillar VII with a Blessed Page.

Defeat the boss, head left and up a passageway to find the Black Sands Sorcerer. Exhaust his dialogue and answer "Yes" to his question to be gifted the Dart Brand. Exhaust his dialogue again and answer "Yes" to his question to advance his quest line.

You should now be able to equip the Chain Hauberk while remaining below 70% equip load. Upgrade the Chain Hauberk as high as you can. If necessary, farm enemies in the area for salt and invest in skills that increase your Endurance and hence your maximum equip load.

Lower

37. Lower Ziggurat of Dust, Salt and Sanctuary

You will now explore the lower half of the Ziggurat of Dust. Start from the sanctuary of the area, head left to find a Bound Arrox who stands on a platform. Drop down the platform and you should see a red wall to your left. Light your Torch to activate the Redshift Brand to allow you passage through the red wall. Enemies in the area are weak against fire. Equip the Impen's Charm to deal fire damage and/or buff your weapon with (Imperial) Pitchfire.

The lower half of the Ziggurat of Dust can be tricky to navigate. You must interact with an obelisk and proceed in a roundabout manner to open various levers that unlock a number of gates. One of the gates opens a passage to the area boss. Proceed to the depth of the area to find a lever guarded by Drowned Porcelain x 3. Pull the lever to activate the nearby elevator. Ride the elevator up to find a passageway leading to the sanctuary of The Far Beach.

Notable loots:

• Stone Blacksmith. On a platform, guarded by a Lietch and Spear Imp x 2.
• Amber Idol x 2. One is dropped by a Mimku. The other is located next to a Drowned Porcelain.
• Bloodluster's Ring. Can only be collected by interacting with an obelisk and circle back to a platform underneath the treasure.
• Warhorn
• Pack of Salt
• Stone Mage
• Burning Sky Ring. Reduces the Focus cost of Spells.
• Stone Cleric
• Silver Leaf

The Bloodless Prince

38. The Bloodless Prince, Salt and Sanctuary

The boss is weak against holy damage. Buff the Obsidian Pillar VII with a Blessed Page. Equip the Defender's Ring to boost your defense against Strike damage.

Defeat the boss and head left to rest at the shrine of the area. Further left you will find Scarecrow.