Dark Souls 5e

VERSION 0.2
CREDITS
Designer: Kittenhugs
Last updated June 7, 2016

Contents
Running a Dark Souls Campaign.................................2
The World of Dark Souls ..............................................4
Bestiary .......................................................................8
Character Options......................................................13
Spells .........................................................................14
Miscellaneous Back Page ...........................................17

D&D and related product names are property of Wizards of the Coast.
Dark Souls and related product names are property of Bandai Namco Entertainment and FROM Software.
Running a Dark Souls Campaign
Dark Souls is a grim, dark (some may even say, grimdark)
setting. Combat is lethal and the world is bleak. Capturing Level Progression
this in a D&D 5e game takes a special approach. Unlike normal D&D, leveling in Dark Souls is handled by
spending souls. Souls can be lost upon death, becoming
irretrievable in many cases. Leveling can be thus be quite
Player Characters a bit slower in a Dark Souls D&D campaign. This is
Player characters in a Dark Souls setting are likely to all be circumvented by giving souls as treasure in place of other
members of the cursed undead. wealth. After all, in Dark Souls, experience and wealth are
one and the same.
Character Creation
Running a Dark Souls campaign demands several Non-Human Races
considerations from the ground-up, starting with Dark Souls normally only features humans. Some DMs
character creation. may choose to simply limit player characters to humans.
Ability scores. Any form of ability score generation in However, expanding your individual campaign’s lore to
the Player’s Handbook can work well with a Dark Souls include how other races are affected by the spreading of
campaign. However, realize that point buy can lead to the undead curse can add a level of intrigue beyond the
irritating min-maxing, and rolling for stats can create standard Dark Souls lore.
characters that are exceptionally skilled in this grim,
deadly world. Creating Adventures
Equipment. Standard equipment can make the early
game a bit easier. You may consider only allowing a small Encounter Building
selection of items to start with. Try not to limit defensive Dark Souls combat is brutal. Even the smallest creature
and offensive options too much. While Dark Souls is can cause a quick death without proper care. As a DM,
supposed to be difficult, purposely irritating your players encounters should be usually built well into the “hard”
won’t lead to a fun campaign. threshold and beyond. Remember, death is a natural part
No matter how much extra wealth a character has at of the Dark Souls experience.
level 1, they cannot convert them to souls. Their wealth is
actual gold and silver coins, worthless or not. If a Difficulty
character starting with 15 gp was allowed to convert that Many D&D campaigns focus on a steady progression
gold to souls, the campaign would start with them at level toward fighting stronger and stronger creatures. Dark
3 before the game starts, avoiding the high lethality of the Souls does, as well, but having extra options when things
first two levels. go wrong is important. As a DM, you should focus on
having three routes available whenever possible: an easy
Players and Death route, where combat is survivable with relative ease; a
The cursed undead are immune to death. There will be no normal route, the most obvious one where combat is fairly
rerolling characters here: death is a natural part of the challenging; and an advanced route, where combat’s
Dark Souls experience. Death happens to all undead at difficulty threshold is beyond what the player characters
some point or another, and can be of varying consequence. are normally expected to manage.
Losing money, souls, and equipment can be dire, but an
important addition to death is the consequences of The Environment
hollowing. Capturing how the descent into madness Environmental hazards are also a big part of Souls games.
affects them is important for players to remember and for Cliffs, pitfalls, poison swamps, fields of lava, spike-covered
DMs to keep in mind. Rules for hollowing can be found rotating bridges—these are all well-featured in Dark Souls.
further in this document. Players should feel that the environment is actively trying
The rules for the Darksign allow cursed undead to to harm them, like it’s an enemy of its own.
come back to life at the bonfire they last rested at. This
can cause a party to split. It may be advisable to either Treasure
disallow the decision entirely or make it available as a In Dark Souls, gold and silver pieces are worth about as
group decision. much as a rock of the same size. They are usually nothing
more than oddities of a civilization that fell long ago.
When you would give coins and gems as treasure,
instead give souls. In the undead lands, creatures of all

Dark Souls 5e 2
sorts hoard them for power or out of animalistic curiosity. equal to his or her Wisdom modifier, and a barbarian gains
1 copper piece is equivalent to 1 soul. Magic items and extra poise equal to his or her rage damage bonus.
equipment can be found as normal. Stagger. When a creature is the target of an attack roll
with a result of 10 or higher, its poise decreases by 2,
Variant Rules whether the attack hits or not. When a creature’s poise is
less than 0, it is staggered. Attack rolls against a staggered
This section contains optional rules that a DM can instate
creature are made with advantage, and a staggered
for a more “Dark Souls” feel, especially in combat.
creature has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws. A
creature’s poise resets to its normal score at the beginning
Dodge Roll of its turn.
When using this variant rule, player characters with 13 or
higher Dexterity automatically gain the Artful Dodger feat, Shield Parry
detailed later in this document. A character who gains the
This variant rule gives Dark Souls’ shield parrying a
feat in such a way can only benefit from it if their speed is
mechanical and flavorful effect.
not reduced due to encumbrance or from wearing armor.
When a creature attacks a target wielding a shield and
misses, its attack is parried if its attack roll result was
Poise and Stagger equal to or greater than the target’s AC without the shield.
This variant rule attempts to emulate Dark Souls’ stagger
In plainer terms, if the attack roll is equal to the target’s
and poise mechanics.
AC - 2 or AC - 1, it is parried. A creature who uses the
Poise. Each creature has an attribute called poise. A ability of the Defensive Duelist feat increases this range by
creature’s poise score is equal to its Constitution modifier an amount equal to its proficiency bonus.
(minimum 1). A creature in light armor increases its poise When its attack is parried, a creature can’t take
by 1, in medium armor increases its poise by 3, or in actions or reactions until the beginning of its next turn,
heavy armor increases its poise by 5. A creature wielding a and the first attack made against it is made with
shield increases its poise by 2. A Large or larger creature advantage.
increases its poise by 5 for each size category it is above
Medium. When not in armor, a monk gains extra poise

Dark Souls 5e 3
The World of Dark Souls
This section contains rules and lore for playing and
running a Dark Souls campaign. Resting
Bonfires are safe places where travelers can rest. Those
who rest around them sleep soundly and feel stronger
The End of an Age much more quickly than usual. Dangerous hollows and
The world has turned and turned again, and the end of monsters are driven away by the light of its flames unless
this age is nearing. For many years (how many none alive they are actively pursuing you. You can complete a long or
can say), the spreading of an undead curse has wracked short rest at a bonfire in half the time it normally takes.
civilization. Most have already fallen. Those that haven’t If you have an estus flask, you can refill it at a bonfire
soon will. by holding it into the flame for 1 minute. The fire does not
Cursed people are often locked away, out of burn you. Estus collects in the flask from the flames.
civilization’s eyes. This works for a time. Eventually the
number of cursed grows too large, hollows begin spreading The Cursed Undead
throughout the land, and violence breaks out both from
and against them. Society becomes unstable, the nobles You have been cursed with the wretched Darksign. A
find themselves penniless and the poor are left hopeless. tattoo-like mark draws in souls from the environment,
Despair spreads across the land as the gods, once seeming burning at its edges. You have become one of the many
so near, abandon the mortals of this world. cursed undead.
It is not often that undead band together as you are. There is no cure for the Darksign. The might of clerics
For survival, for glory, for rediscovering your past—no and gods have failed to cure it. Mighty mages have
matter the reason, you are gifted beyond other undead, if dedicated their lives to its removal, all for naught. It has
only slightly. Other undead have drawn to you, as you have persisted and spread through unknown means, appearing
drawn to them. Perhaps you can survive in this world, and on humanoids and animals at random, as the world
perhaps you are all destined for more? Is it possible that becomes filled with the ever-mad hollows.
you can kindle the light of hope for this dying world? Despite being known as “cursed undead,” those cursed
by the Darksign are not considered undead for the

Life in a Dying World purpose of effects that specify them.

This section describes specific aspects of a Dark Souls- Hollowing

style campaign world. Aspects outside of the curse’s effects As a cursed undead, you cannot truly die. When you die,
are often quite vague in Dark Souls’ lore. It is thus up to you return to life 1d4 hours later, so long as your body is
the DM to fill these gaps as they will. mostly intact. All your hit points are restored, but
diseases, poisons, and curses you were previously affected
Bonfires by still persist as normal. When you rise after death, you
can choose to rise where you fell or at the last bonfire you
Flame, kindled by the souls of lords, sheds light in this rested at. If you choose to rise at a bonfire, your body and
darkening world. Bonfires serve as points of rest for equipment vanish into ash and reappear around the
wayward travelers. bonfire.
With each death a part of your old self is lost, and you
Fire Keepers slowly descend into madness, becoming a hollow, empty
Bonfires are tended by Fire Keepers. These powerful shell. Your body also begins to decay, your flesh shriveling
beings feed the bonfires with souls and fuel for the sake of and rotting the more you die. While your body is decayed
travelers. as such, you have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion)
Fire Keepers are almost always female humanoids and checks and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
suffer from some disability or disfigurement. Some are A decaying body does not age.
mute, some blind or deaf, some suffer from chronic illness, When you rise after death, make a DC 10 Wisdom
and so on. They are immune to the curse of the undead saving throw. On a failed save, you gain one long-term
and do not age so long as they stay at the bonfire. madness effect. When the effect would end, you must
If a Fire Keeper is killed, her bonfire goes dark. It is no repeat the saving throw. On a failed save, it persists for
longer a safe place to rest and can no longer be used as a another 1d10 x 10 hours. If you fail the initial save by 5 or
normal bonfire can unless the Fire Keeper is restored to more, you gain one indefinite madness effect. The DC for
life or another Fire Keeper takes her place. this save increases by 1 each time you die. The tables for

Dark Souls 5e 4
these effects can be found on page 260 of the Dungeon now wander the world, slowly becoming hollow as their
Master’s Guide. search for knowledge drives them insane.
These madness effects are usually accompanied by
some memory loss. An important childhood memory may Miracles
no longer exist for you, save for an itching feeling of déjà This divine magic is used to heal and conjure the power of
vu. You may forget one of your closest friends or family, or lightning. It is the favored tool of the gods and high lords.
have their memory twisted into something terrible and Some arcane casters are capable of casting miracles, but
traumatic. they are often seen as cheap fakes.
In dire circumstances, you can sacrifice the souls you
hold to return to a bonfire by touching your Darksign and Pyromancies
concentrating as an action. You and your equipment, but This chaotic art calls upon the raw power of nature. Many
not your collected souls, are transported back to the spells that deal or involve elemental damage are
bonfire at which you last rested. considered pyromancies. Pyromancy is seen as barbaric
and crude to many, but its power is undeniable.
The Power of Souls
You can stave off hollowing by collecting souls. Each time Hexes
a creature dies at your hand, either solely or in part, you Hexes draw on a power far darker and deeper than that of
absorb some of their eternal essence through your other magic: the power of Dark. The Dark dwells within
Darksign. As an undead, experience points (XP) you gain the depths of the human soul, the stark opposite to the
are instead collected as these souls. Some monsters may fire and light that led the world in the last age. It is feared
also drop larger souls they have collected, making the and talked of only in hushed whispered, often seen as
actual XP you gain from each creature more variable. occult. Necromancy spells are usually hexes.
At a bonfire, you can spend souls by feeding them to
your Darksign, staving off or reversing hollowing. By Material Components
spending 100 souls, you can end one long-term madness Expensive material components are exceptionally rare, if
effect you gained from hollowing, or you can suppress one they are available at all. DMs may elect to allow
indefinite madness effect for 24 hours. By spending 500 spellcasters to spend souls to cast spells in place of
souls, you can end one indefinite madness effect affecting expensive material components. Spending 1 soul is
you, undo the rotting of your body from dying, or lower the equivalent to 1 gp of an expensive material component’s
saving throw DC for your next hollowing by 1, to a value. Unlike normal components, souls are always
minimum of 10. consumed when used to cast spells in such a way.
Souls can also be used to empower yourself, not just
prevent the madness of your curse. At a bonfire, you can
Estus
spend souls equal to the XP difference between your
current and next level to gain a level. Estus is the essence of the souls of lords that kindles the
You can give souls to someone else like you would an flames at bonfires. Special flasks of thick glass, known as
item, handing them over in various sizes of nearly- estus flasks, can hold this essence in small amounts.
weightless balls of white smoke. In the lands of the cursed These flasks are very rare, as hollows often break them in
undead, souls serve as currency. The base “unit” of one anger once they’re empty.
soul is equal to one copper coin. This also allows souls on As an action, a creature can drink from an estus flask
your person to be taken by other creatures, like any other and expend a hit die. The creature rolls the hit die and
item. If you are defeated by an enemy who knows of the adds its Constitution score, regaining hit points equal to
power of souls, dying will likely leave you soulless and the result. An estus flask can be used 5 times before it
penniless. must be refilled at a bonfire. Fire Keepers can reinforce
estus flasks to restore more hit points or hold more doses,
Magic and Spellcasting though they often require powerful souls or the remains of
righteous beings to do so.
Magic was, in some places, treated as a high art in some Not all cursed undead have access to estus flasks.
countries. Now, it has retreated once again to the realms of Whether or not a party receives one for each member, or
the arcane, mysterious and feared. one for the entire party, or none at all, is up to the DM.

Sorceries
These spells draw from the power of the soul to manipulate
reality. Students of the great colleges of the world that was

Dark Souls 5e 5
 of 3. This bonus is also added to the caster’s spell attack
Environmental Hazard rolls.

Poison Swamps Blue Titanite

Poison swamps can be found in accursed areas. For each Rare
minute you spend walking through muck or each round This chunk of special titanite is a deep blue color. A
spent swimming through water in a poison swamp, you titanite weapon enhanced by blue titanite deals magical
take 1d8 poison damage. This muck and water soaks damage for the purpose of resistance and immunity. Eight
through clothes and boots and blisters the skin; there is hours of dedicated work are required to enhance a weapon
no way to avoid it, save for avoiding the muck and water in this way. A weapon can only be enhanced in this way
altogether. once.

Curses Red Titanite

Rare
This chunk of special titanite looks like blood-soaked stone
Curse of Stone Pestilence
from a distance. A titanite weapon enhanced with a chunk
This terrible curse is caused by the mysterious basilisk. A
of red titanite deals an extra 1d4 points of fire damage
creature afflicted with this curse has its hit points
with each hit. Eight hours of dedicated work are required
maximum cut in half. This curse lasts until it is removed,
to enhance a weapon in this way. A weapon can only be
such as with remove curse.
enhanced in this way once.

Titanite White Titanite

Titanite is a rare ore, said to be the remains of a dead god Rare
of smithing. A creature with access to smith’s tools that it This chunk of white titanite glows with holy light. A
is proficient with can use titanite to imbue weapons and titanite weapon enhanced with a chunk of white titanite
armor with great power. deals a extra 1d4 points of radiant damage with each hit.
If the target is undead, it takes a further 1d4 points of
Titanite Shard radiant damage. Eight hours of dedicated work are
Uncommon required to enhance a weapon in this way. A weapon can
Normal titanite is black and shiny, sometimes hard to only be enhanced in this way once.
distinguish from dark rock, and usually only found in
small, sharp shards. A single titanite shard can be used to Classes
enhance a non-magical weapon, armor, holy symbol,
Like any setting, each D&D class has its role to play in the
arcane focus, or shield by someone with proficiency with
grand scheme of the world.
blacksmith’s tools. Eight hours of dedicated work are
required per titanite shard to enhance a piece of
equipment.
Barbarians
The wilds of the world have always been filled with the
A titanite weapon adds 1 to its damage rolls and can
uncivilized and hectic. They, too, are affected by the curse
be enhanced by special forms of titanite. One titanite
of the undead, with those branded by it chased off into the
shard is required to enhance a weapon in this way. For
wilderness. Barbarians call on an inner strength to
each extra titanite shard used to enhance a titanite
survive, their hollowing feeding into the power of their
weapon, this bonus increases by 1, to a maximum of 7.
rage. While barbarians may die less than others, their rage
A titanite shield increases the wielder’s AC by 1 more
makes them more prone to the madness of undeath.
than normal. Three titanite shards are required to
enhance a shield. A titanite shield cannot be further
Bards
enhanced.
Minstrels often pick up sorceries and miracles alike,
Titanite armor increases the wielder’s AC by 1 more
especially as the world becomes filled with hollows and
than normal. Three titanite shards are required to
ever-more dangerous. Craftiness and charisma can only
enhance a suit of armor. Titanite armor cannot be further
get one so far, as one’s speech becomes less important. A
enhanced.
bard’s versatility allows them to get by, but for how long?
A titanite arcane focus or titanite holy symbol
increases the wielder’s spellcasting save DC. For every two Clerics
shards used to enhance this focus, the wielder’s The might of lords defined the last age. Their followers are
spellcasting save DC increases by 1, to a maximum bonus now left stranded and alone, with little divine help to call

Dark Souls 5e 6
upon. Clerics may not receive their power from a god at all Rangers
anymore, instead guided by their faith and ideals. This
In the last days of the great kingdoms, people skilled in
conflict of faith and hopelessness can lead many clerics
the hunting undead found a well-paying niche. By tracking
astray, while their piety in the face of the curse leaves
down the curse, they helped the ruling class maintain a
many hating the cleric with abandon.
semblance of stability. Now that those nations have fallen,
rangers are left to use their skills to survive.
Druids
While the Darksign largely affects only humanoids, many Rogues
animals become twisted undead, as well. Druids may be
While many fall in the dark times, some thrive. Cutthroats
driven from the wilderness by roving undead. Nature is
and bandits can make an easy living picking souls from
falling apart, yet druids continue to nurture it in what
the dead and weak. Rogues like Greirat and the cleric-
little way they can, trying desperately to wait out this dire
hating Patches speak with silvered tongues, tricking
age.
people to their dooms and delving into lost ruins for goods.
Some rogues hail from a higher calling, royal assassins
Fighters that killed detractors in the last days of dying kingdoms.
Great kingdoms continually fall as the Age of Dark
deepens. Their greatest soldiers are left with nothing to Sorcerers
defend, but their skills keep them alive in the face of
Sorcerers often wield pyromancies, the most ancient and
madness. Only the most skilled fighters can face off such
primal magics. They wield the power of fire, drawn from
hordes, fighting off beasts and demons and undead to eke
within or from the environment.
out a living.
Most sorcerers hail from the Great Swamp, where their
attunement to nature can unlock even greater secrets.
Monks
The monks of Dark Souls came together to fight the curse Warlocks
through meditation and ritual. Few monk schools still
There are vast powers beyond the dying world, and they
exist, those of the past broken by madness and
too desire souls. Warlocks sacrifice their souls and their
superstition. Many monks that travel the lands either seek
sanity for the sake of power and magical secrets, trying to
to share their enlightened teachings with others or have
find a cure to the curse. Many end up even more mad than
long-since realized that the teachings do nothing to
their fellow undead, hollowed yet still yearning for
combat the curse.
knowledge.

Paladins Wizards
Chivalry is long-dead, murdered by the curse. Some,
Sorcery schools were once bastions of knowledge. Be it the
however, have managed to focus the madness of hollowing
ancient school of Vinheim or the Grand Archives of
on sacred oaths, passed down by covenants of knights who
Lothric, mages of all ages came together to research the
seek to uphold good and righteousness in the era of
power of magic and souls. Those schools collapsed many
growing darkness. Paladins gain power through this
ages ago, leaving only the mad to research in never-ending
dedication and stave off the growing madness through will
circles.
alone.
Some students managed to escape, facing the world
Of note is the covenant of the Sunlight Warriors, who
with what little knowledge they had. With experience
seek to spread light wherever they can. They happily
comes greater knowledge and more powerful sorceries,
participate in teamwork, wielding sword, shield, and
helping wizards survive the age of fading fire. Many
miracle to combat the insane hollows and twisted
wizards, however, fall prey to the mad search for
creatures of the world.
knowledge, going hollow as their obsession grows.

Dark Souls 5e 7
Bestiary
Below is a collection of Dark Souls enemies tailored into 5e end of the basilisk’s next turn. This gas otherwise follows the
stat blocks. same rules as that from the basilisk’s Cursed Gas ability.

Armored Tusk Cursed Gas (Recharge 5–6). The basilisk spews gas at a point it
can see within 30 feet of it. A 10 foot radius sphere around the
Large monstrosity, unaligned point becomes heavily obscured for 1 minute. A creature that
ends its turn in the area must make a DC 13 Constitution
Armor Class 18 (plate) saving throw or be petrified for 1 minute. If the creature fails
Hit Points 42 (5d10 + 15) the saving throw while already petrified, the creature dies
Speed 40 ft. and becomes afflicted with the Curse of Stone Pestilence. Until
the curse is removed via remove curse or a similar effect, the
creature’s hit point maximum is halved.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
17 (+3) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 2 (-4) 7 (-2) 5 (-3) These creatures look like giant salamanders with huge,
cartoonish eyes. These eyes are merely a distraction,
Damage Vulnerabilities lightning
largely nonfunctional, to scare away predators. What use
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing
damage from nonmagical weapons that aren’t adamantine they have for scaring away predators is unknown, as their
Senses passive Perception 8 very breath can turn even the strongest of warriors to
Languages — stone.
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Charge. If the armored tusks moves at least 20 feet straight

toward a target and then hits it with a tusk attack on the
Black Knight
same turn, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) slashing damage. Medium humanoid, lawful evil
If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength
saving throw or be knocked prone. Armor Class 20 (plate, shield)
Hit Points 107 ()
ACTIONS Speed 30 ft.
Tusk. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 o hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
20 (+5) 11 (+0) 20 (+5) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 11 (+0)
Someone put this giant boar in spikey plate armor. What a
world. Damage Resistances fire
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Basilisk Languages Common
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Medium aberration, unaligned
Iconic Weaponry. A black knight wields one of three iconic
Armor Class 11 weapons: a greatsword, a greataxe, or a halberd. These
Hit Points 18 (4d8) weapons are incredibly heavy yet wielded by the knight in
Speed 30 ft. one hand.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA ACTIONS

12 (+1) 13 (+1) 11 (+0) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) Multiattack. The knight makes three greatsword attacks, two
greataxe attacks, or two halberd attacks. Alternatively, it
makes one melee attack and one shield bash attack.
Skills Perception +2
Condition Immunities petrified Greatsword (Greatsword Version Only). Melee Weapon Attack:
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12 +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing
Languages — damage.
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Greataxe (Greataxe Version Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to
Standing Leap. A basilisk’s long jump is up to 20 feet and its hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d12 + 5) slashing damage,
high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start. and the target must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or
be knocked prone.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Halberd (Halberd Version Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to
Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage. Whether it hits or not, the hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage.
target’s space becomes filled with smoke-like gas until the

Dark Souls 5e 8
Halberd Spin (Halberd Version Only). Each creature within 10 Magic Weapons. The golem’s weapon attacks are magical.
feet of the knight must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw
or take 11 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage. ACTIONS
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., on target.
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Hit: 16 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
target. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage, and the target
must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked Crystal Blast (Recharge 5–6). The golem slams its hands to the
prone. ground. The ground within 10 feet of it explodes with crystal
formations. Each creature other than the golem in this area
must make DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 18 (4d8)
piercing damage. On a successful save, a creature takes half
Blue Drake as much damage.
Large dragon, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 93 ()
Demons
Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft. A great fire burns beneath earth. A failed experiment to
save this world unleashed fell beasts upon it, dooming it
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA further.
19 (+4) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 12 (+1) 6 (-2)

Skills perception +4 Taurus Demon

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 Huge fiend (demon), chaotic evil
Languages —
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 126 (18d12 + 27)
Speed 40 ft.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., on creature. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
18 (+4) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 6 (-2) 9 (-1) 9 (-1)
Lightning Breath (Recharge 5–6). The drake exhales lightning
in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC Damage Resistances fire
11 Dexterity saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) lightning damage on Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Languages Abyssal
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Crystal Golem ACTIONS

Large construct, unaligned Demon’s Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
one target. Hit: 25 (3d12 + 4) slashing damage. On a hit, the
target must make a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
knocked prone.
Hit Points 35 (4d10 + 56)
Speed 30 ft.
Giant Swing. Creatures within 10 feet of the demon must make
a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or take 11 (1d12 + 4) slashing
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA damage, be knocked back 15 feet, and fall prone.
18 (+4) 9 (-1) 18 (+4) 3 (-4) 10 (+0) 1 (-5)
Taurus Demons are rare creatures from deep below the
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from surface. They wield massive, decrepit greataxes and swing
nonmagical weapons that aren’t adamantine them with terrifying power. They are known to create nests
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, in the thoroughfares of ruined keeps and castles, attacking
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned any hollow unfortunate enough to pass through their
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 territory.
Languages understands the languages of its creator but can’t
speak
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Demon’s Greataxe
The Taurus Demon’s greataxe can be wielded by Medium
Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or effect humanoids with a Strength score of 18 or higher. It deals
that would alter its form. 3d12 damage, but creatures that wield it cannot make
more than one attack with it per round and cannot make
Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws opportunity attacks with it. A Large or smaller creature hit
against spells and other magical effects.
with the Demon’s Greataxe must make a DC 14 Strength

Dark Souls 5e 9
saving throw or be knocked prone. It is otherwise and be knocked prone. Creatures in its space are moved 5 feet
functionally identical to a normal greataxe. to the nearest unoccupied space.

Lightning Blast. Ranged Attack: +5 to hit, range 120 ft., one

Capra Demon target. Hit: 24 (4d8) lightning damage.

Large demon, chaotic evil

Hollows
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 75 (hit dice)
Speed 30 ft.
The cursed undead are functionally immortal, but their
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA curse drains them of goodness and sanity.

18 (+4) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) 11 (+0) 9 (-1)

Cursed Undead Template
Add the following feature to a creature who becomes
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Abyssal cursed by the Darksign.
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Darksign. When this creature dies but its body is not
destroyed, it comes back to life 1d4 hours later.
If the creature had suffered from the curse for long
ACTIONS enough or died enough times, it becomes chaotic and evil.
Multiattack. The demon makes two great machete attacks. It also gains the following feature.
Hollowed. This creature has advantage on saving
Great Machete. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 18 (4d6 + 4) slashing damage. throws to resist being charmed or frightened.
Weaker members of the cursed undead usually have
Double Swing. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one lower Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores
target. Hit: 25 (6d6 + 4) slashing damage, and the target must
compared to their uncursed counterparts. This does not
make a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
affect their Challenge Rating.

Prowling Demon Hollow

Large fiend, unaligned
Medium humanoid (any race), chaotic evil
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 70 (hit dice) Armor Class 9
Speed 15 ft. Hit Points 7 (1d8 + 2)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
20 (+5) 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 2 (-4) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 9 (-1) 12 (+1) 7 (-2) 9 (-1) 8 (+1)

Damage Resistances fire, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing Senses passive Perception 9
damage Languages any one language (usually Common) but doesn’t
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this range), passive speak
Perception 13 Challenge 0 (10 XP)
Languages —
Challenge 5 (XP) Darksign. When this creature dies but its body is not destroyed,
it comes back to life 1d4 hours later.
Trait Name. Trait details.
Hollowed. This creature has advantage on saving throws to
resist being charmed or frightened.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The demon makes two attacks with its staff. ACTIONS
Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
Prowling Leap (recharge 5-6). The prowling demon jumps into
the air, moving up to 30 feet in a straight line. Any creature in Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, range 80/320 ft.,
its space or within 5 feet of it when it lands must make a DC 15 one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
Dexterity saving throw or take 9 (2d8) bludgeoning damage

Dark Souls 5e 10
Flail. This creature makes three melee attacks and its speed ACTIONS
becomes 0 until the beginning of its next turn. Attacks against Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
the creature are made with advantage until the start of its target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage.
next turn.
REACTIONS
Hollows are little more than common folk cursed by the Parry. The soldier adds 2 to its AC against a melee weapon
Darksign. They have died many times over and are little attack against it from a creature it can see.
more than empty shells. They lash out at creatures who
come near them and disturb them, though they will
sometimes gather in large groups, taking solace in their Skeletons
shared despair.
Necromancy has run rampant since the spreading of the
curse. Even before them, the first of the dead gave rise to

Hollow Warrior countless animated skeletons, giving those who served him
in life an eternal place by his side.
Medium humanoid (any race), chaotic evil

Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)

Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2) Bone Tower
Speed 30 ft. Large undead, lawful evil

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
13 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 8 (-1) 9 (-1) 8 (+1) Hit Points 50 (6d10 + 12)
Speed 10 ft.
Senses passive Perception 9
Languages any one language (usually Common) but doesn’t STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
speak 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 3 (-4) 8 (-1) 3 (-4)
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning
Darksign. When this creature dies but its body is not destroyed, Damage Immunities poison
it comes back to life 1d4 hours later. Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this range), passive
Hollowed. This creature has advantage on saving throws to Perception 9
resist being charmed or frightened. Languages —
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
ACTIONS
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft. or
range 20/60ft, one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage.
ACTIONS
Tower of Death. The bone tower flails its many arms and legs
around. A creature that starts its turn or enters a space

Hollow Soldier
within 5 feet of it for the first time on its turn must make a
DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or take 9 (2d6 + 2) bludgeoning
Medium humanoid (any race), chaotic evil damage. This effect lasts until the start of the bone tower’s
next turn.
Armor Class 17 (breast plate, shield)
Hit Points 32 (8d8 + 16) The Tower Falls. The bone tower can fling itself forward to the
Speed 30 ft. ground to smash creatures flat. Each creature in a 10 foot
cube originating from the tower must make a DC 14 Dexterity
saving throw. On a success, the creature is pushed up to 5 feet
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA and out of the area. On a failed save or if the creature cannot
be pushed out of the area, it falls prone and take 16 (4d6 + 2)
16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
bludgeoning damage. The bone tower then falls prone, and its
speed is reduced to 0 until the start of its next turn.
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any one language (usually Common) but doesn’t
speak
Challenge 1 (200 XP) Giant Skeleton
Large undead, lawful evil
Darksign. When this creature dies but its body is not
destroyed, it comes back to life 1d4 hours later. Armor Class 12 (natural armor)
Hit Points 67 (9d10 + 18)
Hollowed. This creature has advantage on saving throws to Speed 40 ft.
resist being charmed or frightened.

Dark Souls 5e 11
 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Damage Resistances lightning
Damage Immunities poison
18 (+4) 11 (+0) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 8 (-1) 5 (-3)
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning Languages Draconic
Damage Immunities poison Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 9
Languages understands Common but can’t speak
Challenge 2 (450 XP) ACTIONS
Multiattack. The serpent makes three melee attacks.

ACTIONS Flamberge. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one

Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) slashing damage.
target. Hit: 20 (4d6 + 4) slashing damage.
Lightning Orb (Recharge 4–6). Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit,
Stomp. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (4d8) lightning damage.
Hit: 11 (1d12 + 4) bludgeoning damage, target must make a DC
14 Strength saving throw or fall prone.

Serpent Warrior
Skeleton Wheel Medium monstrosity, neutral evil

Medium undead, chaotic evil

Armor Class 14 (shield)
Hit Points 66 (hit dice)
Armor Class 12 Speed 30 ft.
Hit Points 13 (2d8 + 4)
Speed 50 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 8 (-1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)
10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 8 (-1) 5 (-3)
Skills Perception +3
Damage Immunities poison
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning Condition Immunities poisoned
Damage Immunities poison Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned Languages Draconic
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9 Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Languages understands languages it knew in life but can’t
speak
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
ACTIONS
Charge. If the skeleton moves at least 20 feet straight toward Multiattack. The serpent makes two melee attacks. Only one
a creature and then hits it with a melee weapon attack, the of these attacks can be a bite.
target takes an extra 10 (4d4) slashing damage and must
make a DC 13 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature is knocked prone. target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Wheelby. The skeleton doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
when it moves out of an enemy’s reach. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage,
and if the target is a creature, it is grappled (escape DC 13).
ACTIONS
Spin. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.

Serpent Mage
Medium monstrosity, neutral evil

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 47 (hit dice)
Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

16 (+3) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 8 (-1) 12 (+1) 16 (+3)

Dark Souls 5e 12
Character Options
This section contains new character options such as feats recognize you as a hollow yourself, but most will leave you
that players can choose from when playing in a Dark Souls alone or offer aid.
campaign.

Backgrounds
Feats
Below is a number of background options that players can Below is a selection of feats players can take to give their
choose from alongside the normal backgrounds in the characters a more authentic Dark Souls feel.
Player’s Handbook. The rules for customizing backgrounds
apply as normal. Artful Dodger
Prerequisites: Dexterity 13 or higher
Hollowed When you are the target of an attack or an effect that
You can choose to take this alongside your other forces you to make a Dexterity saving throw, you can use
background features. The curse has left you ragged and your reaction to move 5 feet without provoking opportunity
half-mad. You gain one indefinite madness effect from the attacks. If you move away from an attack, its attack roll is
Indefinite Madness table. made with disadvantage. If you move away from a
Dexterity saving throw created by an area of effect, you
Kin of the Undead move before the area’s effects take place. If the Dexterity
You can replace your normal background feature with this. saving throw was not created by an area of effect, you
Hollows accept you as one of their kin. Hostile hollows are instead make the saving throw with advantage.
indifferent to you, and otherwise-indifferent hollows are
friendly to you. Some hollows may be too far gone to

Dark Souls 5e 13
Spells
Spell Lists 1 ST LEVEL
Dark orb (necromancy)
The following spells can be made available to players in a
Dark Souls-style campaign. 2 ND LEVEL
Dark weapon (necromancy)
Bard Lifedrain patch (necromancy)

3 RD LEVEL
C ANTRIPS (0 LEVEL )
Homing soul mass (evocation)
Hush (illusion) Soul spear (evocation)
3 RD LEVEL
Homeward (abjuration) Wizard
C ANTRIPS (0 LEVEL )
Cleric
Hush (illusion)
1 ST LEVEL 1 ST LEVEL
Dark orb (necromancy) Dark orb (necromancy)
Homeward (abjuration)
Lightning spear (evocation) 3 RD LEVEL
Homing soul mass (evocation)
2 ND LEVEL
Soul spear (evocation)
Dark weapon (necromancy)
Dead again (necromancy)

5 TH LEVEL Spell Descriptions

Wrath of the Gods (evocation) The spells are presented in alphabetical order.

Druid Dark Orb

1 ST LEVEL 1st-level necromancy

Homeward (abjuration) Casting Time: 1 action

Lightning spear (evocation) Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S
Paladin Duration: Instantaneous

1 ST LEVEL You send a heavy orb of darkness. Make a ranged spell

Lightning spear (evocation) attack against a creature within range. On a hit, the
creature takes 2d6 necrotic damage. The creature must
Sorcerer then make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed
save, the creature is incapacitated until the end of its
C ANTRIPS (0 LEVEL ) next turn.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
Hush (illusion)
slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6
3 RD LEVEL for each slot level above 1st.
Homing soul mass (evocation)
Soul spear (evocation) Dark Weapon
2nd-level necromancy
Warlock
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
C ANTRIPS (0 LEVEL ) Range: Touch
Hush (illusion) Components: V, S, M

Dark Souls 5e 14
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of 4th level or higher, the number of masses
You imbue a weapon you can touch with dark energy. you create increases by two for each slot above 3rd level.
For the spell’s duration, that weapon deals an extra 2d4
necrotic damage with each hit.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a Hush
slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d4 Illusion cantrip
for each slot above 2nd.
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 15 feet
Dead Again Components: S
2nd-level necromancy Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Casting Time: 1 action Choose one creature within range. For the spell’s
Range: 60 feet duration, the creature does not produce any noise from
Components: V, S, M walking, running, flying, or swimming.
Duration: Instantaneous As you level up, you can target more creatures with
this spell. You can target up to two creatures at 5th
Each humanoid corpse within range explodes with dark level, four at 11th level, and eight at 17th level.
energy. Each creature except you within 5 feet of such a
corpse must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature
takes 2d6 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as Life-Drain Patch
much on a successful one. 2nd-level necromancy
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
Casting Time: 1 action
spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the radius of each
Range: 60 feet
explosion increases to 10 feet. The damage increases by
Components: V, S, M
1d6 for each spell slot above 2nd.
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Homeward You create a 10-foot-radius patch of darkness centered

3rd-level abjuration (ritual) on a point within range. For the spell’s duration, that
area is difficult terrain. Any creature that enters that
Casting Time: 1 minute area for the first time on its turn or starts its turn there
Range: 5 feet must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature
Components: V, S, M (bone dust of a hollow) takes 2d6 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as
Duration: Instantaneous much on a successful one. You regain hit points equal
to half the damage dealt.
You and all willing creatures within range during the At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
casting of this spell are teleported to the location at spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the damage increases by
which you finished your last long rest. 1d6 for each spell slot above 2nd.

Homing Soul Mass Lightning Spear

3rd-level evocation 1st-level evocation

Casting Time: 1 action Casting Time: action

Range: Self Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute Duration: Instantaneous

You create five bright-blue souls that float above your You conjure a bolt of lightning. Make a ranged spell
head for the duration. When you cast the spell, and as attack against a creature within range. On a hit, the
a bonus action on each of your turns thereafter, you creature takes 3d8 lightning damage.
can expend one or two of the masses, sending it at a At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
creature within 120 feet of you. For each mass that spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by
targets it, a creature must make a Dexterity saving 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.
throw or take 2d8 force damage.

Dark Souls 5e 15
 successful save. If a creature fails the saving throw by 5
Soul Spear or more, it is also knocked prone.
3rd-level evocation
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
Casting Time: 1 action spell slot of 6th level or higher, the damage increases by
Range: Self (100-foot line) 1d8 for each slot level above 5th.
Components: V, S, M (a small crystal shard)
Duration: Instantaneous

A great soul spear pierces your enemies in a line 100

feet long and 5 feet wide in a direction you choose. Each
creature in the line must make a Dexterity saving
throw. A creature takes 8d6 force damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by
1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.

Wrath of the Gods

5th-level evocation

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous

You create a burst of force around you. Each creature

within 10 feet of you, other than yourself, must make a
Strength saving throw. On a failed save, a creature
takes 8d8 thunder damage and is pushed back 15 feet
away from you, or takes half as much damage on a

Dark Souls 5e 16
Miscellaneous Back Page
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Dark Souls 5e 17