Mastering the Moonlit Ruins of Anor Londo in Dark Souls 3

Anor Londo in Dark Souls 3 is one of the most poignant locations in the entire series. Once the radiant City of the Gods bathed in perpetual sunlight, it now stands as a frozen, decaying tomb integrated into the uppermost heights of Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. For returning players, it is a haunting walk down memory lane; for newcomers, it is a brutal gauntlet guarded by legendary foes and a Lord of Cinder.

This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of how to navigate its treacherous architecture, defeat its inhabitants, and uncover the secrets buried beneath the moonlight.

Reaching the Legendary City: The Path from Irithyll

Anor Londo is not accessible until you have defeated Pontiff Sulyvahn. After the battle, exiting the back of the cathedral leads you into a massive courtyard filled with the corpses of giants. This area is notoriously known as "Gank City" by the community due to its popularity for PvP invasions and the relentless deacons raining fireballs from the balconies.

To reach the city proper, you must navigate the following:

The Giant's Courtyard: Two of the giants in this yard are still alive. While slow, their stomp attacks deal massive damage. It is often safer to sprint past them toward the stairs on the left.
The Deacon Walkway: A long balcony filled with Deacons of the Deep who spam fireballs. If you are a melee build, rushing them is essential. Beware of two Drang Knights guarding the entrance to the inner building; they use dual-wielded spears and hammers with high aggression.
The Easterner’s Ashes and Greatbows: Before heading into the city, explore the lower rooftops. You will encounter Silver Knights with Greatbows, a callback to the infamous archer section of the first game. The Easterner’s Ashes can be found here, which are vital for upgrading weapons as they unlock the purchase of Large Titanite Shards at the Shrine Handmaid.
The Rotating Tower: The final gate to Anor Londo is a massive stone tower that must be rotated via a lever. Once the bridge connects, you will find the Anor Londo bonfire at the base of the familiar great stairs.

Understanding the New Atmosphere: Lore and Decay

In Dark Souls 3, Anor Londo represents the terminal decline of the Age of Fire. The sunlight, which players discovered was an illusion created by Dark Sun Gwyndolin in the first game, has finally faded. The city is now shrouded in a cold, blue moonlight, symbolizing the triumph of the "Deep" and the influence of the Pontiff.

The most striking visual cue of this decay is the state of the main cathedral. The grand hall where Ornstein and Smough once stood is now waterlogged, covered in debris and strange, black sludge. This sludge is a manifestation of Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, a cleric who developed a taste for human flesh and eventually ascended to godhood by consuming the old gods of Anor Londo.

Enemy Guide: Surviving the Sentinels of the Moon

The enemy density in Anor Londo is low, but the individual threat level of each mob is high.

Silver Knights

The iconic Silver Knights return, wielding either a straight sword and shield or a spear.

The Spear Knight: Found on the main stairs. Their charge attack has high tracking. The best strategy is to parry their initial thrust or roll behind them for a backstab.
The Sword Knight: They utilize lightning-infused weapon arts. Be wary of their three-hit combo, as the final hit is often delayed to catch panic-rollers.
Red-Eyed Variants: These possess higher HP and damage. They are excellent for farming Proofs of a Concord Kept, though the drop rate is notoriously low.

Deacons of the Deep

In the main cathedral hall, you will find clusters of Deacons. Unlike the ones in the Cathedral of the Deep, these variants deal higher magic damage.

Strategic Tip: They are extremely susceptible to physical damage. Using a weapon with a wide horizontal swing can clear groups quickly.

Slimes and Rotten Flesh

The floor of the cathedral is littered with masses of writhing flesh. These enemies have high physical resistance but are extremely weak to fire. If you are not a Pyromancer, keeping a torch or a fire-infused dagger in your off-hand can make short work of them.

Deep Accursed

A single, terrifying spider-like creature hangs from the ceiling of the main hall. It can inflict Curse, which results in instant death.

Combat Experience: The best way to handle this beast is to trigger its drop, then immediately retreat to the doorway. It cannot pass through the narrow entrance, allowing you to use ranged attacks or long-reaching weapons like the Washing Pole or Greatlance to kill it safely.

Joining the Covenants: Secrets and Invisible Paths

Anor Londo is the hub for two of the game’s most important covenants.

The Aldrich Faithful

To join this covenant, you must find the hidden ladder in the courtyard with the giants (before reaching the rotating tower).

Inside the building, strike the illusory wall in the corner.
Descend into a waterlogged basement guarded by two Sulyvahn’s Beasts (the "Crocodile-Dogs"). This is one of the hardest non-boss encounters in the game.
Pro Tip: Use a bow to lure one beast at a time. Fighting both at once is almost certain death. Once defeated, they drop the Ring of Favor.
Speak to Archdeacon McDonnell in the corner to join the covenant, which tasks you with defending Anor Londo from trespassers.

The Blades of the Darkmoon

This covenant is hidden behind one of the most famous secrets in the series.

Go to the rotating tower while it is in its "up" position.
Walk off the ledge toward the isolated tower in the distance. There is an invisible bridge connecting the two.
Follow the straight path (you can drop Prism Stones to verify the floor) and drop onto the balcony of the tower.
Here, you will meet Company Captain Yorshka. If you have the "Darkmoon Loyalty" emote (obtained from Sirris of the Sunless Realm), you can join the Blades of the Darkmoon. This covenant is the primary way to earn the powerful Darkmoon Blade miracle.

Boss Analysis: Aldrich, Devourer of Gods

Aldrich is a Lord of Cinder and the final obstacle of the area. He is a "glass cannon" boss—he deals massive magic and fire damage but has a relatively low health pool.

Phase 1 Mechanics

Aldrich primarily uses sorceries. He will summon "Soul Spears" and a small rain of arrows.

The Arrow Rain: In Phase 1, the arrows follow a stationary line. Simply roll behind him to avoid damage.
Lifehunt Scythe: If you stay too close, he will summon a scythe to heal himself while damaging you. This move is telegraphed by a circular glow; roll backward to avoid the life-steal.

Phase 2 Mechanics

After losing 40% health, Aldrich ignites himself. His melee attacks now trail fire, and his arrow rain becomes significantly more dangerous.

The Infinite Arrow Rain: In Phase 2, the arrows will track the player for several seconds. Do not panic roll. Instead, run in a wide circle or a large "U" shape around the arena. Do not stop until the sound of the arrows hitting the floor ceases.
Weaknesses: Aldrich is extremely weak to Fire and Lightning. Using Charcoal Pine Resin or Gold Pine Resin provides a significant DPS boost. He is also susceptible to the Vow of Silence miracle, which completely prevents him from using magic for a duration, trivializing the fight.

The Tragedy of Anri of Astora

Anor Londo serves as the climax for Anri of Astora’s questline, which has two very different endings depending on your choices:

The Usurpation of Fire Ending: If you are following Yuria of Londor’s quest, you will meet a pilgrim at the entrance of the "Darkmoon Tomb" (hidden behind an illusory wall at the base of the rotating tower). Here, you perform a "marriage" ritual with Anri, which involves a ceremonial sword and grants you three Dark Sigils. This is a dark, tragic conclusion required for the "Usurpation of Fire" game ending.
The Co-op Ending: If you helped Anri in the Catacombs and didn't kill the pilgrim in Irithyll, you can find Anri's summon sign outside the main cathedral gates. You will be summoned to their world to help them defeat Aldrich. After the battle, you can find Anri’s sword at Firelink Shrine (given by Ludleth) or encounter a hollowed Anri at the Cathedral of the Deep or near the Smouldering Lake.

Item Checklist: What Not to Miss

While exploring, ensure you have collected these high-value items:

Sun Princess Ring: Found in the original "Gwynevere" chamber behind Aldrich’s arena. It provides slow HP regeneration.
Estus Shard: Found in a chest in the corner of the main cathedral hall (bottom floor).
Brass Armor Set: Found in the Darkmoon Tomb after the illusory wall.
Giant's Coal: Found on the corpse of the Giant Blacksmith (rest in peace). Give this to Andre to unlock Lightning, Crystal, and Simple infusions.

Summary of Anor Londo Strategy

Anor Londo is a test of both combat skill and environmental awareness. To succeed:

Use Fire damage against the slimes and Aldrich.
Master parrying for the Silver Knights.
Don't fight both Sulyvahn’s Beasts at once in the Water Reserve.
Run, don't roll, during the second-phase arrow rain.
Explore the invisible bridge to join the Darkmoon Covenant.

FAQ

How do I open the main cathedral doors in Anor Londo? The main doors are locked from the inside. You must enter through a side broken window on the left side of the cathedral (reachable from the rotating tower path), climb the rafters, and drop down to the main floor. The lever to open the doors is located to the left of the giant fog gate.

Why can't I talk to Company Captain Yorshka? You need the "Darkmoon Loyalty" emote to interact with her. This is obtained by following Sirris of the Sunless Realm’s questline. If you killed Sirris or failed her quest, you may have to wait until New Game Plus to join the covenant.

What is the best weapon for Aldrich? Weapons that deal high fire damage, such as the Old King's Great Hammer or any weapon buffed with Carthus Flame Arc, are excellent. Fast weapons like the Sellsword Winblades with fire resin allow you to get multiple hits in during his recovery animations.

Is Ornstein or Smough in Dark Souls 3? Not as active bosses. Smough’s armor can be purchased after defeating Aldrich, and his Great Hammer is found in a chest in the Irithyll manor. Ornstein’s armor and spear are found in Archdragon Peak, suggesting he left Anor Londo long ago in search of the Nameless King.

How do I farm Proof of a Concord Kept? The most efficient way is to equip the Symbol of Avarice, Gold Covetous Serpent Ring, and use Rusted Coins while killing the two Silver Knights on the Anor Londo stairs repeatedly. It is a very rare drop, so high Item Discovery is mandatory.