Valley of the Drakes

Valley of the Drakes (飛竜の谷) is a Location in Dark Souls. 

Information

Valley of the Drakes serves as a connecting area between New Londo Ruins, Blighttown, and Darkroot Garden. The area is narrow and requires caution to avoid falling to your death.

Enemies

Lightning Drakes

• Description: Small, blue dragons that breathe lightning.
• Attacks:
  • Bite: Close-range melee attack.
  • Sweeping Lightning Breath: Wide, sweeping lightning attack.
  • Straight Lightning Breath: Long-range, linear lightning attack.
  • Aerial Lightning Breath: Used while flying.
• Weaknesses:
  • Poison: Can be safely poisoned from a distance with poison arrows.
  • Bleed: Effective due to their susceptibility to bleed buildup.
• Drops:
  • Dragon Scale (Low drop rate).

Dragon Zombie

• Description: A massive undead dragon found near Blighttown's edge. Does not respawn after being defeated.
• Attacks:
  • Poison Breath: Wide-area attack, slow but deadly.
  • Arm Swipes: Close-range melee attacks.
• Weaknesses:
  • Poison Breath is slow, leaving openings for ranged attacks.
  • Safe spot: Climb the narrow ledge near the Blighttown entrance for a vantage point.
• Drops:
  • Dragon Scale (Guaranteed drop).

Items

Weapons

• Astra Straight Sword: Found near the right hand of the Dragon Zombie. Can be acquired without defeating the enemy, though it is risky.
• Beatrice's Catalyst: Found after defeating the Four Kings in the direction of the bridge to the Valley of Drakes.

Shields

• Dragon Crest Shield: Found near the right hand of the Dragon Zombie. Accessible with or without engaging the enemy.
• Spider Shield: Located on the bridge occupied by a drake.

Armor

• Bandit Set: Found alongside the Spider Shield on the bridge with the drake.
• Witch Set: Appears along with Beatrice's Catalyst after defeating the Four Kings and heading towards the Valley of Drakes.

Rings

• Red Tearstone Ring: Located near the three drakes, atop a long ladder near the large gate.

Consumables

• Humanity: Found near one of the drakes along the cliffside path.
• Soul of a Brave Warrior: Found near the Dragon Zombie's left hand. Retrievable without combat, though it may require sacrificing a life.
• Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier: Found near the iron door leading to New Londo Ruins, closer to the Blighttown side.

Key Items

• New Londo Ruins Key: Required to access certain shortcuts, such as the connection between New Londo and the Valley of Drakes.

Walkthrough

From Darkroot Garden

1. Use the elevator behind the bonfire cave to enter Flying Dragon Valley.
2. Encounter the first Lightning Drake immediately after arriving.
3. Continue across the bridge to face another Lightning Drake. Three more wait further in.
4. Avoid engaging multiple drakes at once; lure and fight them one at a time.
5. Ignore the large gate leading to New Londo Ruins as it cannot be opened from this side.
6. Cross the bridge or head left to encounter the Dragon Zombie and progress toward Blighttown or New Londo Ruins.

From Blighttown

1. Exit the elevator and continue upward to reach the opposite side of Flying Dragon Valley.
2. Encounter a Lightning Drake and the Dragon Zombie near the cliff path.
3. Proceed straight to find the iron door to New Londo Ruins (requires the Master Key or New Londo Ruins Key).
4. The treasure near the Dragon Zombie includes Astora’s Straight Sword and Dragon Crest Shield.

From New Londo Ruins

1. Enter through either of two routes:
   • Firelink Shrine-side Door: Requires Master Key or New Londo Ruins Key.
   • Watergate: Opens after using the Seal Key to drain New Londo.
2. For the Firelink Shrine-side Door, proceed through the cliffs to encounter the Dragon Zombie and reach the Blighttown path.
3. For the Watergate, advance toward Darkroot Garden while defeating Lightning Drakes.

Shortcuts

None explicitly present, but the Master Key unlocks the door between New Londo Ruins and Flying Dragon Valley, providing early access.

Soul Farming

Lightning Drakes:

• Each Drake provides a moderate amount of souls.
• Repeatedly lure and defeat the three drakes near the large gate for a safe farming loop.
• Use ranged attacks like poison arrows for a safer approach.

Notes

• Falling hazards are a constant threat due to the narrow pathways.
• Poison arrows are highly effective against both Lightning Drakes and the Dragon Zombie.
• The Dragon Crest Shield and Astora’s Straight Sword are valuable early-game items for players seeking good elemental resistances and Divine weapon properties.

Trivia

• The Dragon Zombie is one of the few unique enemies that doesn’t respawn after being killed.
• The Red Tearstone Ring found in this area is one of the most useful rings for high-risk players, providing increased attack power at low health.