How to get to Smoldering Lakes? Dark Souls III Guide

Smoldering Lakes are an optional location that you can access when you destroy the wooden bridge in Catacombs of Carthus. Use it to get down, and find the entrance right behind the chamber occupied by the demon.

As soon as you run through the bridge, hit the pole to destroy the construction.

The area will remind you of the cave in Catacombs of Carthus. Head towards the wooden bridge but before you pass it, turn right. You will come across Anri who is still looking for Horace. When you get back to the bridge, all of the skeletons will raise. Run through the bridge and strike poles that hold the entire bridge. The construction will collapse, and so will your pursuers.

You can use the fallen bridge as a ladder. Go a little further to meet a demon from The Undead Settlement.

Fighting the demon

You will find the demon in the lower part. Use the fallen bridge as a ladder.

This time Siegward won't help you. This fight is a tough one: not only will the creature breath fire, jump and slam with its massive body, but it also will strike with a powerful weapon. If you want to fight the beast the traditional way, stay close to his knees and avoid incoming attacks.

If you are lucky enough, the skeletons will deal with the beast for you.

You might have noticed the raising skeletons. If you run down, away from the demon, an army of these creatures will respawn. Instead of attacking them, dodge incoming blows and drag them towards the demon. At least some of them will fight the demon. Your only objective is to run between them and stay alive. Skeletons may not be durable, but if you wake all of them up, they can even kill the demon. If you perform a couple blows yourself (while the beast is occupied with skeletons), you should get rid of the creature in no time.

Furthermore, if you know some powerful spells, which are not related to pyromancy, you can escape the demon to a nearby corridor, through which the demon won't be able to follow you (see screenshot). Attack from a safe distance as long as you can. Make sure to stand near the entrance, in case the creature breaths fire. Combine both strategies to slay the beast. You will be rewarded with Demon's Soul and about 5.000 souls. Apart from that, there is also a Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier and a Large Titanite Shard downstairs. Access the next corridor and find Old Sage's Blindfold and Witch's Ring at its end.

A little further you will come to a bonfire and a path leading to an optional location: Smoldering Lakes.