Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King – Cave of the Dead, Afflicted Graverobber, Ancient Soldier Varg, Cerah the Old Explorer

Firstly, go over the big bridge in Shulva – the same one where the dragon attacked the two enemies previously. Use the Eternal Sanctum Key to open the door on the left.

As soon as you enter this room two sorceresses will attack. beat them down and open the two chests for 10 Dried Roots and a Lightning Clutch Ring. go up the ladder at the end and up the stairs in front of you. There’s another ladder on the left where three insect enemies will attack when you climb up.

Now go up the other ladder here and open the chest for a Sanctum Shield. Go back down the ladder and left at the junction, then across the bridge to enter Shulva, Sanctum City again.

As you approach the end of the bridge Rockshield Baldyr attacks. He’s quick with a spear and uses ranged attacks if you go too far away so get past him and fight in the open area to better use the space around you. When his first spear attacks have finished, circle around him and hit back. When he attacks again roll or defend with a shield and continue the process.

Now light the bonfire just past the bridge and go forward to the glowing pillar near the cave. Hit it to move the lift for easy access to the Cave of the Dead from the starting point of Shulva. Now go into the cave nearby.

Cave of the Dead

Go through the mist and drop down to the room, continuing through the next room where you have to drop down again. There’s a room at the end of this hallway with three enemies, a bunch of holes in the ground (which lead to other areas) and three petrified statues. Be careful here.

From above, shoot ranged attacks through the holes in the floor to kill as many enemies as possible. Now drop through and finish them off. In the corner of the room grab the three Bonfire Ascetics, and in the other corner take the two Brightbugs. In the chest are three Petrified Somethings.

There’s only one cave you can go through here, then drop down into another room. fight the two enemies and keep moving through the cave. Use any ranged attacks you have to attack the petrifaction statues up against the wall. Take your time and calculate your attacks and you’ll get through. A worm will attack from the middle of the cavern where there’s a hole, so look out for that too.

There’s an alcove on the right near the worm hole with three Alluring Skulls. Now go through the mist at the end for a fight with not one, not two, but three bosses.

Boss Battle: Afflicted Graverobber, Ancient Soldier Varg, Cerah the Old Explorer
Reward: Twinkling Titanite (3), Petrified Dragon Bone (3), Titanite Slab

Varg will rush you as soon as you enter, and Graverobber will be right behind. Varg uses a large shield and a large weapon and he’s wearing heavy armour to add to the intimidation. The good thing is it all makes him slow and open to counter after every attack. Make him your number one target to begin with, unless he’s some distance the others are much closer to you.

The Afflicted Graverobber uses two swords and is very swift so it’s best to switch to a large weapon as it will unbalance him. Otherwise circle and attack using a shield for extra defense. When he pauses, take advantage with one or two strikes. Basically, don’t use a weapon that takes too long to strike. You also have a lot of space to move around here so use that to your advantage.

Cerah is more than likely to hang back and attack with a bow, so once Graverobber and Varg are dead move in on her. She’ll change to a longsword and is agile and quick with it. But her lunging attacks require a lot of recovery time, during which you can get a couple of hits in.

If it looks like your health is getting low, use the rock formations to hide behind and use a healing item. An alternative plan of attack is to ignore Varg and Graverobber and hit Cerah hard as she doesn’t move around much. attack, and when the other two close in just run off and let them chase you. While they play catch up you can storm back to Cerah and hit her again.

Also look out for Varg. If you move around him a lot he puts his shield behind his back and uses his weapon with two hands, making it easier to strike him.

Once all three are dead go through the cave and collect three Blackweed Balms on the left and a chest with a lower Skirt. Drop down through the opening and you’re back in Shulva, Sanctum City, near the bonfire that led to the Cave of the Dead.