Dark Souls 3: 12 Crucial Tips & Tricks The Game Doesn't Tell You

3. How To Get 'Free' Bonus Levels

After you've first been carried by the demons to the Undead Settlement, take the time to journey down and back on yourself, towards the collapsed bridge and find Yoel amongst the other pilgrims.

He'll pledge his allegiance to you and then be found back in Firelink Shrine, where talking to him will give you an extra character level - at a price. Every time you do this, you'll find a Dark Sigil in your inventory, which makes a 'Hollowed' stat appear in your Status screen every time you die.

Although it has no gameplay hinderance, you'll forever look zombified and be in the 'hollow' state - unless you can locate a 'Fire Keeper Soul' and give it to the Fire Keeper next to the main bonfire. Doing so opens the ability to 'heal' the Dark Sigil, but at a cost representative of how many times you've died to this point.

You can use Yoel's ability for five extra levels, but I'd recommend seeking out the Fire Keeper soul so you can remove the Sigil straight after each time. You can find said soul in the tower behind the Firelink Shrine, which is accessed by nabbing the Tower Key from the Shrine Handmaid for 20,000 souls.