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Travel through Aldia’s Keep to Dragon Aerie, cross Dragon Aerie, then continue into Dragon Shrine. The Ancient Dragon is at the shrine. Speak to it to receive the Ashen Mist Heart; you do not need to fight it for that item. Defeating it drops a Soul of a Giant, a different item from the Ancient Dragon Soul found in Dragon Memories.
How to reach the Ancient Dragon
- Progress through Aldia’s Keep until you reach Dragon Aerie.
- Traverse Dragon Aerie and enter Dragon Shrine. The Shrine Entrance bonfire is on the route through the area.
- Advance through Dragon Shrine’s guarded route and archway to reach the Ancient Dragon.
Enemy placement may vary by edition; the available location references do not establish edition-specific arrangements.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - PlayStation 4 | $21.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dark Souls II: Design Works | $28.34 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - Xbox One | $29.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dark Souls: The Complete Collection (Graphic Novel) | $19.66 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (PS4) | $22.20 | Buy on Amazon |
Choose whether to talk or fight
| Your goal | What to do | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Get the Ashen Mist Heart | Speak with the Ancient Dragon. | You receive the Ashen Mist Heart without starting a fight. |
| Get the Ancient Dragon’s Soul of a Giant | Defeat the Ancient Dragon. | The dragon drops a Soul of a Giant. |
The Ancient Dragon is optional for obtaining the Ashen Mist Heart. If you attack and kill it before speaking with it, the item reference says it drops the Ashen Mist Heart instead.
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Other ways to obtain a Soul of a Giant
The Dragon Shrine boss is one source, not the only one. Three more Souls of a Giant are found in the Memories of Orro, Vammar, and Jeigh. These memories are accessed using the Ashen Mist Heart, so speaking to the Ancient Dragon can help you pursue those alternate sources without defeating it.
#1 Best Overall
- All 3 DLC Pack Contents: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King
- Additional NPCs Added For Enhanced Story Experience To Assist Guiding Players Through Level
- Parameter Setting Adjustments for Improved Balance
- Augmented Item Descriptions
- Increase in Maximum Online Players
Do not confuse the two dragon souls
A Soul of a Giant is not the same item as the Ancient Dragon Soul. To find the Ancient Dragon Soul, use the Ashen Mist Heart to enter Dragon Memories through the memory entrance in Duke’s Dear Freja’s boss room, then examine the dragon’s head. The Dragon Shrine boss drop is specifically a Soul of a Giant.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The undead curse continues to spread across the kingdom of Drangleic in the ultimate Dark Souls II experience
- Features the game's 3 DLC chapters: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King
- Also includes an array of brand new content, including an expanded story featuring additional in-game events
Rank #4
Rank #3
- All 3 DLC Pack Contents: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King
- Additional NPCs Added For Enhanced Story Experience To Assist Guiding Players Through Level
- Parameter Setting Adjustments for Improved Balance
- Augmented Item Descriptions
- Increase in Maximum Online Players
Rank #2
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