How to Get Estus Shards in Dark Souls 3
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How to Get Estus Shards in Dark Souls 3
Tips for Managing Your Estus
Collecting all 11 Estus Shards and upgrading your flask to the maximum 15 charges is one of the most impactful character improvements in the game — far more than most stat investments at equivalent soul cost. Make it a habit to explore every area thoroughly before fighting a boss, since even finding one or two extra shards can be the difference between a successful attempt and repeated deaths. The extra souls spent buying the Undead Settlement shard from the Shrine Handmaid are always worth it.
FAQ
⚡ Quick Answer
All Estus Shard Locations
There are 11 Estus Shards in Dark Souls 3 — each one increases your total Estus Flask uses by 1, up to a maximum of 15. The easiest early ones are in the High Wall of Lothric (on a corpse near the first bonfire) and in the Undead Settlement (sold by the Shrine Handmaid after giving her the Mortician’s Ashes). Take each shard to Andre at Firelink Shrine to upgrade your flask.
1
High Wall of Lothric — on a corpse on the roof of the building with the first bonfire, near the area where the fire-breathing wyvern perches. Drop down from the roof to find it on the ledge below the dragon.
2
Undead Settlement — find the Mortician’s Ashes in the graveyard near the Dilapidated Bridge bonfire and give them to the Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine. She will then sell an Estus Shard for 1,000 souls.
3
Road of Sacrifices — in the swamp area, inside a building near the Halfway Fortress bonfire. The shard is on a corpse on the ground floor of the structure surrounded by Evangelists.
4
Cathedral of the Deep — on a corpse on the roof of the cathedral, accessible after opening the main doors and climbing up through the interior. Navigate the rooftop gargoyle section and look for the shard near the edge overlooking the main entrance.
5
Farron Keep — in the poison swamp, near the ladder leading up from the swamp to the Keep Ruins bonfire area. Hug the right wall from the Old Wolf of Farron bonfire and search the small islands in the swamp.
6
Smouldering Lake — below Irithyll, in the lava lake area reached through the Catacombs of Carthus. Found on a corpse near the entrance to the lake, close to the giant ballista.
7
Irithyll of the Boreal Valley — in the Church of Yorshka area. From the Church of Yorshka bonfire, exit and turn right — the shard is on a corpse on the path leading toward the lake shortcut.
8
Irithyll Dungeon — in the main dungeon cell block, on a corpse in one of the large cell rooms on the lower level. This area is heavily patrolled by jailers — move carefully and collect the shard without alerting multiple enemies at once.
9
Consumed King’s Garden — in the toxic pool area before the Oceiros fog gate. The shard sits on a corpse at the edge of the toxic swamp floor — grab it quickly to minimise poison buildup.
10
Grand Archives — inside the Grand Archives building in Lothric Castle. From the first bonfire inside the archives, climb to the upper floors and look for the shard on a corpse near the wax pool used to protect against the curse books.
11
Untended Graves — the secret dark version of the Cemetery of Ash, accessed through a hidden wall in the Consumed King’s Garden area. The shard is near the dark Firelink Shrine, on a corpse close to the entrance of the area.
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Give shards to Andre immediately: each shard must be handed to Andre the Blacksmith at Firelink Shrine to activate the extra flask charge. Carrying shards in your inventory does nothing — always visit Andre after finding one.
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Prioritise early shards: the High Wall and Undead Settlement shards are the easiest to get. Having 3–4 flasks instead of the starting 3 makes a significant difference against early bosses like the Abyss Watchers.
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Balance Estus vs Ashen Estus: Andre also lets you split your total flasks between regular Estus (health) and Ashen Estus (FP for spells). If you are not using spells, put all charges into regular Estus for maximum healing in tough fights like the Nameless King.
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Bone Shards also exist: alongside Estus Shards, collect Undead Bone Shards and burn them at the Firelink Shrine bonfire to increase how much HP each flask restores. Both upgrades are equally important — more charges and more healing per charge.
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You cannot miss shards permanently: all Estus Shards remain available throughout the entire playthrough — none are missable or locked behind NPC questlines. You can collect any shard at any point as long as you can reach the area.
How many Estus Shards are there in Dark Souls 3?
There are 11 Estus Shards in total across the base game. Collecting all 11 and giving them to Andre raises your maximum Estus Flask count from the starting 3 to a maximum of 15 charges per bonfire rest.
What do I do with Estus Shards in Dark Souls 3?
Take each Estus Shard to Andre the Blacksmith at Firelink Shrine and select the option to reinforce your Estus Flask. Each shard adds one additional charge to your total flask count. Shards sitting in your inventory do not provide any benefit until handed to Andre.
What is the earliest Estus Shard in Dark Souls 3?
The earliest is on the High Wall of Lothric, on a corpse on the rooftop near where the fire-breathing wyvern perches. It is accessible within the first 30 minutes of the game and requires no keys or special items to reach.
Can you miss Estus Shards in Dark Souls 3?
No — all Estus Shards remain available throughout the entire game and are not tied to missable events or NPC questlines. You can collect any shard at any point as long as you can access the area where it is located.