The Covenant of Champions is a challenging in-game faction found in Dark Souls II, specifically designed to provide players with an immediate and significant increase in difficulty, emulating a New Game+ experience from the very beginning of a playthrough.
What is the Covenant of Champions?
Joining this covenant fundamentally alters the game's difficulty curve. It makes the game significantly harder by increasing the damage dealt by enemies along with the health they have, essentially giving players a New Game+ feel without the need to play through the entire game to do so. This presents a formidable test for even seasoned players, pushing their combat skills and strategic thinking to their limits.
Core Mechanics and Impact
The Covenant of Champions modifies several key gameplay elements, creating a uniquely arduous experience:
- Enhanced Enemy Prowess: Enemies gain a substantial boost to both their hit points (HP) and attack power, making every encounter more perilous and demanding precise execution.
- Disabled Co-op Play: A critical aspect of this covenant is that joining it disables all co-op play. This means players cannot summon friendly phantoms for assistance with bosses or challenging areas, forcing them to tackle all obstacles solo.
- Immediate Difficulty Spike: Unlike the traditional New Game+ cycle, which requires completing the game, the difficulty increase is instantaneous upon joining, regardless of how far the player has progressed.
- Unique Progression and Rewards: Members of the covenant can gain ranks by offering "Awestones," which are rare drops from enemies while under the covenant's effects. Higher ranks may grant access to unique items and gestures, most notably the Ring of the Vanquisher for reaching the highest rank, which allows for powerful bare-fisted combat.
Who is it For?
This covenant is primarily intended for:
- Challenge Seekers: Players looking for the ultimate test of their Dark Souls II skills.
- Solo Players: Those who prefer to overcome obstacles without relying on summoned allies.
- Veterans: Experienced players who find the standard difficulty insufficient.
How to Join
The Covenant of Champions can be joined by interacting with the Victorious Stone Knight statue located near the gaping pit in Majula, the main hub area. Choosing to "Pledge to the Covenant" will immediately activate its effects.
Comparison: Standard Play vs. Champion Covenant
To illustrate the difference, here's a brief comparison:
| Feature | Standard Play (Offline/Online) | Covenant of Champions (Online/Offline) |
|---|---|---|
| Enemy Health | Standard | Significantly Increased |
| Enemy Damage | Standard | Significantly Increased |
| Player Summons | Enabled (friendly phantoms for help) | Disabled (no friendly phantoms) |
| Player Invasions | Enabled (by hostile players) | Enabled (by hostile players) |
| New Game+ Feel | Only after completing game | Immediate upon joining |
| Rewards | Standard progression | Unique covenant rewards (e.g., Awestones, Vanquisher's Seal) |
The Covenant of Champions fundamentally transforms the game from a challenging action RPG into an unforgiving trial, offering a unique and often brutal experience for those brave enough to pledge their allegiance.
