How to Invade in Dark Souls 3
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How to Invade in Dark Souls 3
Invasion Tips
Invasions are one of the most unique aspects of Dark Souls 3’s design — a built-in PvP system that places you directly into another player’s journey with full combat stakes. The learning curve is steep at first since hosts often have summoned phantoms giving them a numbers advantage, but experienced invaders use the environment, area knowledge, and psychological pressure to compensate. The Mound-Makers covenant is the best starting point for new invaders since it offers the most match flexibility without restricting you to a single playstyle. Check out the best builds to find a setup that suits your invasion style.
FAQ
⚡ Quick Answer
How to Start Invading
Use a Red Eye Orb (infinite invasions, found in Undead Settlement) or a Cracked Red Eye Orb (single use) to invade other players as a Red Spirit. You can only invade worlds where the host is in Ember form. The Red Eye Orb is obtained by joining the Mound-Makers or Rosaria’s Fingers covenant, or by defeating the Abyss Watchers.
1
Get a Red Eye Orb. The reusable Red Eye Orb is found in the Undead Settlement — given by Leonhard after speaking to him at Firelink Shrine and receiving Cracked Red Eye Orbs from him. Alternatively, join Rosaria’s Fingers covenant in the Cathedral of the Deep for the Red Eye Orb as a covenant reward. You can also use single-use Cracked Red Eye Orbs early on — Leonhard gives you 5 for free at the start.
2
Be in Hollow form (not Ember). You cannot invade while Embered — invading requires you to be in your base Hollow state with reduced max HP. This is the default state when you die or choose not to use an Ember. If you are currently Embered, simply die once or wait for it to wear off.
3
Use the Red Eye Orb from your inventory. Open your inventory, select the Red Eye Orb, and use it. Your character will hold it up and begin searching for a host to invade. The game matches you with an Embered player in the same area — invasions are area-specific, so the orb searches within the zone you are currently standing in.
4
Wait for the match. A loading screen will appear and you will be transported into the host’s world as a Red Spirit. Your goal is to kill the host. You win by killing them — you lose if the host kills you, uses a Dried Finger to summon more helpers, or reaches a boss fog gate, which automatically ejects all invaders.
5
Collect your rewards. A successful invasion rewards you with Proofs of a Concord Kept if in the Blades of the Darkmoon covenant, or Pale Tongues for Rosaria’s Fingers. Even without a covenant, successful invasions give souls and drop items from the host. Failed invasions cost nothing — the Red Eye Orb is reusable.
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Best areas for invasions: High Wall of Lothric, Farron Keep, Undead Settlement, and Irithyll of the Boreal Valley are consistently the most active invasion zones due to their popularity with new players and the density of ember use in those areas.
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Use the environment: as an invader you know the area layout better than most hosts. Lead them toward hazards — ledge drops, enemy ambushes, and arrow traps. The Anor Londo archer ledge and the spinning blades in the Grand Archives are classic examples of environmental kills.
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Soul level matching: invasions match players within roughly ±20% soul level. To invade a specific range — for example the popular low-level meta — stop levelling at the target SL and keep your weapon upgrade level within the expected range for that bracket.
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Mound-Makers for flexible invasions: the Mound-Makers covenant lets you invade both Hollow and Embered worlds, including worlds that have summoned white phantoms — making it the most reliable for finding active matches. Join by speaking to Hodrick in the Undead Settlement cage.
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Fast weapon for PvP: straight swords dominate PvP in Dark Souls 3 due to their range, speed, and low stamina cost. The Lothric Knight Sword and Dark Sword are the most commonly used invasion weapons for their reliable trading and rollcatch potential.
How do I get the Red Eye Orb in Dark Souls 3?
The reusable Red Eye Orb is obtained from Leonhard at Firelink Shrine after he gives you Cracked Red Eye Orbs and you speak to him again after using them. You can also get it by joining Rosaria’s Fingers covenant in the Cathedral of the Deep, or by defeating the Abyss Watchers as a member of the Watchdogs of Farron.
Can you invade while Embered in Dark Souls 3?
No — you must be in Hollow form (not Embered) to use invasion items. You can only invade players who are currently Embered. If you are Embered yourself, you can only be invaded or summon other players, not initiate invasions.
What happens when you invade someone in Dark Souls 3?
You enter their world as a Red Spirit with the goal of killing the host. If you succeed you return to your world with souls and possibly covenant items. If the host kills you, you are sent back to your world with no penalty since the Red Eye Orb is reusable. The invasion also ends if the host enters a boss fog gate.
What is the best covenant for invading in Dark Souls 3?
The Mound-Makers covenant is generally the best for consistent invasions because it can invade both Hollow and Embered worlds, including co-op sessions. Rosaria’s Fingers is best if you specifically want Pale Tongue rewards. The Watchdogs of Farron and Aldrich Faithful trigger automatic invasions in specific areas without needing to manually use an orb.