Facing Pontiff Sulyvahn in Dark Souls III is a memorable and challenging moment for many players. This boss is aggressive, fast, and known for punishing mistakes. Fortunately, summoning allies can make the fight more manageable. Whether you’re summoning NPCs or other players, the right preparation and knowledge can make a huge difference. Knowing how to get summons for Pontiff Sulyvahn is essential if you want a smoother battle or simply want to enjoy a co-op experience. This guide explores all the ways to summon allies before this boss fight and what you should do to increase your chances of success.
Where to Find the Pontiff Sulyvahn Boss Fight
Location Overview
The battle against Pontiff Sulyvahn takes place in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley. This zone becomes accessible after obtaining the Small Doll from the Cathedral of the Deep and passing through the barrier at the bridge. As you progress through Irithyll, you will eventually reach the Pontiff Sulyvahn bonfire, which is located just outside the boss room.
Preparation Before Entering
Before you attempt to summon allies, ensure the area is mostly cleared. This allows you to safely explore and find summon signs without interruption from enemies. Also, restore your Estus and check that your equipment is properly optimized for a high-speed, high-damage boss encounter.
Conditions for Summoning Help
Use an Ember
To summon phantoms in Dark Souls III, your character must be in an Embered state. If you are not Embered, you will not see any summon signs. You can use an Ember item from your inventory to activate this state. Once you do, your HP increases slightly and summon signs become visible.
Online Play Requirements
If you wish to summon other players instead of NPCs, you must be online and connected to the game servers. Make sure your NAT type allows for multiplayer and your game is updated. If you have matchmaking filters on, such as passwords or region locks, those may limit who you can summon.
Hollow Status Note
Unlike in previous Dark Souls titles, being hollowed does not affect your ability to summon in Dark Souls III. Only the Embered state is necessary for summoning allies, so you do not need to reverse hollowing or cure any conditions to proceed.
Summonable NPCs for Pontiff Sulyvahn
Black Hand Gotthard
One helpful NPC for this fight is Black Hand Gotthard. His summon sign is located right outside the fog wall near the Pontiff Sulyvahn bonfire. He wields twin swords and can deal a good amount of damage while also drawing aggro from the boss. To summon him:
- Make sure you are Embered
- Locate his summon sign near the fog gate
- Summon him before entering the boss fight
Anri of Astora
If you are following Anri’s questline, she may also be available as a summon, depending on your progress. Her summon sign can appear near the same location if the conditions of her storyline are met. To ensure she is available:
- Speak with Anri in earlier locations like the Catacombs of Carthus
- Don’t interfere negatively with her storyline
- Be Embered when reaching the summon point
Summoning Other Players
Cooperative Play Tips
Player summons can be more versatile than NPCs. Look for golden or white summon signs outside the Pontiff boss room. If you don’t see any, try these tips:
- Wait a few minutes and refresh the area by resting at the bonfire
- Use a Dried Finger to allow more phantoms to join
- Disable password matchmaking to see more random summon signs
- Check your connection and ensure you’re online
Using Password Matchmaking
If you have friends who are willing to help, you can set a password in the network settings and share it with them. This makes their summon sign visible only to you and bypasses level range restrictions for co-op. You must still be Embered for this to work, and your friends must place their sign near the fog gate.
Best Practices When Summoning for Pontiff Sulyvahn
Summon Limit
Without using the Dried Finger, you can summon up to two phantoms. With the Dried Finger active, you may summon a third helper, but this increases the chance of invasion by hostile players. Make sure you’re prepared to handle invaders or keep your team size smaller if you want to avoid PvP interruptions.
Boss Scaling
Keep in mind that the boss’s health and damage resistance increase slightly when phantoms are present. While summoning makes the battle more manageable due to team coordination, it does not make the boss easier in terms of stats. Effective teamwork is still essential for victory.
Phantom Etiquette
If you’re summoning strangers, it’s a good idea to greet them with gestures. Let them prepare, apply buffs, or use items before charging into the fog. Clear out nearby enemies to avoid an ambush, and enter the boss fight together for the best chances of survival.
Benefits of Summoning Help
Distraction and Pressure
Pontiff Sulyvahn is known for his aggressive fighting style and can overwhelm solo players with rapid sword combos and illusions. With summoned allies, you can divide his attention and reduce your risk of being stun-locked. Phantoms can draw aggro while you heal or position yourself safely.
Increased Damage Output
With multiple players attacking the boss from different angles, you increase your overall damage per second. This shortens the length of the fight and reduces the chance of error. Time your attacks with your allies for greater impact, especially during phase transitions.
Learning Opportunity
Watching other players deal with Pontiff’s moves can help you learn his patterns. Even if you fail the first time, seeing how others dodge, block, or counterattack can improve your understanding of the fight and make solo attempts more effective later on.
What to Do After Defeating Pontiff Sulyvahn
Unlocking Anor Londo
Once you defeat Pontiff Sulyvahn, you’ll gain access to a new area that leads toward Anor Londo. This is a major story milestone in Dark Souls III and offers new challenges, loot, and lore. Be sure to explore the new area thoroughly and return to Firelink Shrine to level up and reinforce your gear.
Rewards and Souls
Defeating Pontiff grants a large amount of souls and the Soul of Pontiff Sulyvahn. You can use this boss soul to craft powerful weapons or consume it for a large soul bonus. Check with Ludleth of Courland at Firelink Shrine to see your available transposition options.
Summoning help for Pontiff Sulyvahn can make this notoriously difficult boss battle much more approachable. Whether you rely on helpful NPCs like Black Hand Gotthard or choose to summon real players through online co-op, having allies at your side gives you a significant advantage. Remember to stay Embered, check your connection settings, and be aware of nearby summon signs. With good preparation and smart teamwork, you can defeat Pontiff Sulyvahn and continue your journey deeper into the twisted world of Dark Souls III.