Matchmaking
The tiers used for deciding who you can summon and invade are constrained by both Level and Reinforcement Level in Dark Souls III. As Level increases and equipment grows stronger, you will move up the tiers, restricting you to your current tier.
The flow regarding online multiplayer matching is as follows:
- Players who can only connect on certain network types (especially NAT3) are disregarded.1
- Players who do not match regulation versions are disregarded
- With the host as a basis, players with characters who are outside a certain level range are disregarded.
- Players in a different region are disregarded
- With the host as a basis, players who have their strongest maximum upgraded weapon surpass a certain range are disregarded.
- Only during password matchmaking can players match ignoring both character level and weapon upgrade level as long as they have matching passwords.
1. If your network type is currently NAT3 (strict), you may be able to open internet browsers but chat functions and online game connections can be limited so we recommend checking the notes below.
- Have a global IP address outside of NAT.
- Enabled UPnP settings.
- If UPnP is disabled, unlocking the port is necessary.
Even if your NAT type is 1 (open) or 2 (moderate), there are times when it will be difficult to connect with other players.
2. Going to system > network settings > cross region matching and setting it to Matchmaking ON can enable matching with players from another region.
Level
During Co-op play, matching will be easier the closer one is to the hosts' level or higher.
During PvP, either the invader and the host will be around the same level, or the invader is matched to a higher level host.
| Summons | Upper Limit If Soul Level < 351 | Lower Limit If Soul Level < 351 |
|---|---|---|
| Soul Signs | Soul LevelHost × 1.1 + 10 | Soul LevelHost × 0.9 - 10 |
| Way of Blue | Soul LevelHost × 1.1 + 15 | Soul LevelHost × 0.9 - 15 |
- The sign summons level limits apply to regular, white summon signs, Warriors of Sunlight summon signs, and Mound-makers summon signs.
- Way of Blue level limits apply to hosts in the Way of Blue covenant who summon Blue Sentinels or Blades of the Darkmoon.
| Invaders | Upper Limit If Soul Level < 351 | Lower Limit If Soul Level < 351 |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Spirit | Soul LevelInvader × 1.1 + 20 | Soul LevelInvader × 0.9 |
| Mound-maker | Soul LevelInvader × 1.15 + 20 | Soul LevelInvader × 0.9 |
| Covenant | Soul LevelHost × 1.1 | Soul LevelHost × 0.8 - 20 |
- Dark Spirit level limits apply to players invading via Cracked Red Eye Orb or Red Eye Orb, who are not Mound Makers.
- Mound Maker level limits apply in this case to Mound Makers invading via Cracked Red Eye Orb or Red Eye Orb.
- Covenant level limits apply to hosts invaded by Watchdogs of Farron or Aldrich Faithful.
Soul Level 351. As of Regulation 1.35 the Upper Limit is removed if you're Soul Level 351 or above - but without a password you will not be able to do matchmaking with anyone below Soul Level 351.
Weapon Reinforcement
Players who are widely separated in terms of their highest reinforcement level do not get matched with each other. Only in Password Matching do these terms not take effect.
Now, regardless of whether or not the item is in your inventory or how many of said item you currently bring, the highest level you ever upgraded a certain Weapon, Shield, or Catalyst until now will become the basis for this system to take place.
As of regulation 1.13, the adjustments are as follows, compared both ways:
| Host | Connects To |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 - 1 |
| 1 | 0 - 2 |
| 2 | 1 - 3 |
| 3 | 2 - 4 |
| 4 | 3 - 6 |
| 5 | 4 - 7 |
| 6 | 4 - 8 |
| 7 | 5 - 9 |
| 8 | 6 - 10 |
| 9 | 7 - 10 |
| 10 | 8 - 10 |
Unique or Boss gear are counted for double their shown amount.
Source:2
Password Matching
When you use Password Matching to summon/invade somebody, tier restrictions are not enforced. However, higher leveled phantoms will be scaled down to lower leveled hosts' strength.
Player Count
By default, the maximum Player Count in a world is four (one invader and two summons/blues), including yourself. If you use the Dried Finger, this is increased to six (two invaders and three summons/blues).
Summon Signs placed by the Red Sign Soapstone can by default allow two invaders into the world, and five with Dried Finger.
Note: Crucifixion Woods of the Road of Sacrifices and the area past Pontiff Sulyvahn in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley allow one more invader and one less summon/blue into the world. This is due to these areas being auto-summon covenant zones.
Host of Embers
Summoners must be a Host of Embers to be able to summon other players.
Co-op
The White Sign Soapstone may allow players to be summoned into other worlds by an embered host for Co-op as an allied phantom with the goal of defeating the area boss. Souls received from the boss will be reduced to 25% of their original value.
Note: Allied players are incapable of hurting or parrying each other, and may Buff each other or heal others with Miracles.
PvP
The Red Eye Orb (or cracked variant) and the Red Sign Soapstone may allow players to invade other worlds for PvP as an invading phantom with the goal of defeating the embered host and/or allied phantoms. As an invader in another's world, most enemies cannot be hurt or hostile to the player and vice versa, except through the host's use of a Seed of a Giant Tree.
Certain Covenants may affect invasions, or have their own auto-summoning invasion system entirely.
Undead Match
If the Champion's Bones are burned at the Firelink Shrine Bonfire, players may enter the Undead Match with the phantom color of their selected Covenant, and compete in PvP at various selected arenas to earn badges.
Notes
- As of Patch 1.05.1, Regulation 1.09, NPC invaders (except for Mound-makers) will not invade if Steam is in Offline mode3.
- Invading players stuck on an enemy may phase through them after enough time of attempting to move past them.
- Enemies that are naturally hostile or able to hurt other enemies will be able to damage invading phantoms.
- In the Painted World of Ariandel, wolves may follow invading phantoms or their sounds, possibly due to a glitch.
- Allied enemies may be healed or buffed, and auto-summoned Covenant Phantoms may heal or buff each other.
Passives
Other players shown through the passive methods below will almost always show a different, generalized version of their equipment based on type. E.G. all Reapers are represented by the Great Scythe, and Armors shown may not be as they seem.
Bloodstains
Bloodstains show where another player died and replays their last actions.
Ghosts
Other players can be shown in the game world as non-interactive ghosts fading in and out, and by a bonfire, a more clear representation of the player may be shown. These are recorded actions of other players shown on a delay.
Messages
Players can leave Messages on the ground through the menu. Messages from other players may be rated either Good or Poor, and players restore 50% HP when their Message is rated Good. Ten Messages may be placed per character.
Note: Messages left on the ground will be visible to other players regardless of whether the player or character who left it is online, and the oldest Messages placed when the limit of 10 is surpassed will be deleted if not protected.
Icons
Developer Messages show a bell icon, while user-created Messages have various badges as an icon. Which badge is displayed will change with the number of Good ratings it has received. Appraisals are the total number of Good and Poor ratings.| Icon | Rating | Icon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
N/A |  |
201 - 300 |
 |
0 - 100 |  |
301 - 500 |
 |
101 - 200 |  |
501+ |
Options
Note Format may be changed by pressing the correct button with the menu opened, allowing Gestures to be added and/or longer Messages. Various templates may be chosen, and many more pre-selected words are available. Messages may additionally be protected, preventing their deletion and adding a small icon nearby them in the menu.
Legacy
Prior to App: 1.13
Co-op play
- Via Sign Summoning: A (Summoners level) Max: A + 10 + (A x 0.1) Min: A - 10 - (A x 0.1)
- Way of the Blue: B (WoB hosts level) Max: B + 10 + (B x 0.1) Min: B - 10 - (B x 0.1)
PvP
- Invading as dark spirit: C (Invaders level) Max: C +20 + (C x0.1) Min: C -(C x0.1)
- As a Moundmaker: D (Invaders level) Max: D +20 + (D x 0.15) Min: D - (D x 0.1)
- As a covenant invader: E (Invaders level) Max: E +(E x 0.1) such as Farran/Aldritch Min: E - 20 - (E x0.2)
Weapon Reinforcement
| Lower weapon | Higher weapon |
|---|---|
| 0 | +2 |
| 1 | +3 |
| 2 | +4 |
| 3 | +5 |
| 4 | +6 |
| 5 | +8 |
| 6 | +9 |
| 7 | +10 |
| 8 | +10 |
| 9 | +10 |
| 10 | +10 |
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