Dark Souls 3 Titanite Scale: Scale Farming & Location

Titanite Scales are used to upgrade special weapons, shields, and catalysts, which cannot be upgraded through traditional means.

As this differs from the regular upgrades you do with titanite, this kind of reinforcement is called “Unique Reinforcement.”

These weapons include all of the Soul-Transposed Weapons, i.e., weapons obtained from transposing the souls of bosses through Ludleth at Firelink Shrine. Certain unique weapons also have their upgradability gated behind Dark Souls 3 Titanite Scales, which are as follows:

• Crescent Moon Sword
• Curse Ward Greatshield
• Dragonrider Bow
• Dragon Tooth
• Eleonora
• Sage’s Crystal Staff
• Shield of Want
• Tailbone Short Sword
• Tailbone Spear
• Storm Ruler
• Dragonhead Shield
• Dragonhead Greatshield
• Earth Seeker

Titanite Scales reinforce all of the above-mentioned weapons upto +4. You can carry out the final +5 reinforcement with a Titanite Slab.

To make it simple for you, you need a total of 15 titanite scales to get any soul-transposed or unique weapon to +4 – 1 scale for +1, 2 scales for +2, 4 scales for +3 and lastly, 8 scales for +4.

Upgrading Different Weapons

In this guide, we focus on Andre’s equipment upgrades, which depend on having the right upgrade materials and sufficient souls. For most weapons, you use Titanite shards for +1 to +3, Large Titanite shards for +4 to +6, and Titanite Chunks for +7 to +9.

Unique weapons, however, are enhanced from +1 to +4 using Twinkling Titanite and Titanite Scales in Dark Souls 3. Finally, every weapon reaches its maximum enhancement with a Titanite Slab; for a quick reference, consult Fextralife’s Upgrade diagram.

Titanite Scales Location Dark Souls 3

In Dark Souls 3, Titanite Scales are crucial for enhancing unique weapons and shields. Acquiring 15 scales for a weapon to +4 is challenging, but this guide will help you.

Shrine Handmaid (NPC)

You can purchase Titanite Scales from the Firelink Shrine’s Shrine Handmaid for 20,000 souls each. After getting the Dragon Chaser’s Ashes in Archdragon Peak, give them to her.

To find the ashes, exit the room to the left of the Great Belfry bonfire (where you fight Nameless King). Follow the path to the sparkling dragon body stone, hugging the left edge.

The ashes are to the left of the first archway, on a corpse guarded by a Rock Lizard. Notably, the Shrine Handmaid’s stock of Titanite Scales is unlimited.

Enemies

Dark Souls 3 has two sources for Titanite Scales. The Rock Lizard in Archdragon Peak drops them and is weak to Magic and Strike damage, resistant to debuffs, and provides 150 souls, Twinkling Titanite, and Titanite Scales.

The Ringed Knights in The Ringed City offer Titanite Scales but are weak to Frost, Dark, and Strike damage, and immune to various debuffs. Be cautious when dealing with them.

Natural occurrences

Apart from the sources mentioned earlier, you also come across a total of 67 naturally occurring Titanite Scales across the world of Dark Souls 3. Let’s break down where exactly you can find them in certain areas:

Cemetery of Ash (5x):

• 1x dropped by a Ravenous Crystal Lizard in the cemetery. (Video Location)
• Receive 1x by trading a Blacksmith Hammer with Pickle-Pee and Pump-A-Rum.
• Receive 3x by trading Avelyn with Pickle-Pee and Pump-A-Rum.

Farron Keep (2x):

• 2x dropped by a Ravenous Crystal Lizard, in the shortcut between the Farron Keep Perimeter bonfire and Crucifixion Woods.

Cathedral of the Deep (1x):

• 1x dropped by a Ravenous Crystal Lizard outside the cathedral down by the moat. At the base of the hall with the giants, there’s a door that leads outside. Jump off the ledge and go through the gap to get out and it will be to the right.

Smouldering Lake (1x):

• 1x found in the catacomb maze under the lake, in the room with the Basilisks.

Irithyll of the Boreal Valley (1x):

• 1x found on a corpse before the Silver Knight archers, after the Pontiff Sulyvahn bonfire. It’s on top of the building that hides the entrance to the Water Reserve bonfire.

Irithyll Dungeon (3x):

• 1x dropped by a Crystal Lizard in a hallway near the first exit.
• 2x dropped by a Mimic chest in a side passage on the lower level with many Jailers.
• Dropped by Wretch (rare drop)

Consumed King’s Garden (3x):

• 1x found on a corpse under the staircase, in the shortcut area that leads back to the start of the level.
• 2x found in two chests in the same room, after the Oceiros bonfire.

Untended Graves (3x):

• 2x dropped by each of 2 Ravenous Crystal Lizards in Untended Graves (in the same location as the Lizards in Cemetery of Ash).

Lothric Castle (10x):

• 1x found in a chest near the Dragons, guarded by an Outrider Knight.
• 1x found on a corpse under the right-hand Dragon (seen from Dragon Barracks), the dragon has to be killed to reach it.
• 3x dropped by a Mimic chest, at the back of the dark room at the top of the stairs, after the dragons.
• 1x found on the balcony outside the dark room with the Mimic. (Temp Video timestamp 1h 11m)
• 1x found in a chest, in the chapel with a shortcut lift, right next to the Dragonslayer Armour boss.
• 3x found in a chest in the Warriors of Sunlight covenant room.

Grand Archives (13x):

• 1x found on a body at the top of a bookcase, in the corner of the room with the giant wax basin.
• 1x to the left at the top of the staircase, in the dark room past the large wax basin.
• 1x on top of a bookcase beside the shortcut ladder on the second floor, drop down to it from the balcony above.
• 1x in a corner of the room with the illusory wall hiding the Outrider Knight, past the Crystal Sage’s second location.
• 1x behind a bookcase next to the ladder leading down to the bridge, in the room with the illusory wall.
• 2x dropped by a Crystal Lizard on a bookcase near the large wax basin, drop down from the bridge to reach it.
• 3x in a chest in the room with several Scholars above the first shortcut lift, the area where Orbeck’s body can be found.
• 3x on a roof outside the Crystal Sage’s second location, next to where Greirat’s Ashes may appear, jump down to it from the area with the Corvians.

Archdragon Peak (9x):

• 2x on 2 separate corpses, up the left stairs after the Dragon-Kin Mausoleum bonfire, on the outside near a Rock Lizard.
• 1x from a corpse up the stairs from the Dragon-Kin Mausoleum bonfire, outside of where two Serpent Men ambush the player.
• 3x in a chest near a Crystal Lizard right before the second Wyvern, before the Great Belfry bonfire.
• 3x dropped by the Wyvern past the Dragon-Kin Mausoleum.

The Dreg Heap (2x):

• 1x on a pile of books behind where you drop down from the first crumbling floor.
• 1x after Earthen Peak Ruins bonfire, around the roots of the giant tree, drop down into a broken tower to grab it.

The Ringed City (13x):

• 1x from a corpse behind the starting point of The Ringed City.
• 1x from a Crystal Lizard after dropping down to avoid the Ruin Knight Phantoms.
• 2x from 2 separate corpses near Iron Dragonslayer.
• 1x after the shortcut at the Ringed City Streets Bonfire, where you drop down to the Dragonhead Greatshield.
• 2x in the first cave after the Bridge where you first encounter Darkeater Midir.
• 2x after dropping down to avoid Darkeater Midir’s spray of fire.
• 1x from a Crystal Lizard on a crumbling floor before the Shared Graves bonfire.
• 1x on the bridge after the second encounter with Darkeater Midir.
• 2x from a Crystal Lizard on the stairs after the second encounter with Darkeater Midir.

Tips To Farm Titanite Scale

Enemy

To farm Titanite Scales in Dark Souls 3, focus on the Rock Lizards in Archdragon Peak. They are a reliable source. Alternatively, you can farm Ringed Knights, but this requires The Ringed City DLC, and their drop rate is only 9.1% from sword/spear knights.

Location

To begin farming Rock Lizards for Titanite Scales, head to the Great Belfry Bonfire in Archdragon Peak. Eliminate the Man-Serpent Summoner in the adjacent room, proceed through the archway leading outside, and locate a group of 4 Rock Lizards down a short flight of stairs.

The Sweet Spot

Bait the Rock Lizards to the right ledge (with broken handrails) to group them together. This minimizes your vulnerability to their Flamethrower attack, which can penetrate walls but is easily predicted and has limited range.

Then, pick them off from higher ground to the right, where the flamethrower attack can’t reach you.

Gear

When farming Rock Lizards efficiently, gear selection is crucial. First, maximize your Item Discovery, a stat affecting item drops. Equip the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, acquired on Siegward of Catarina’s quest in Irithyll Dungeon.

Use any Rusted Coins you have, and consider investing in the Luck stat to raise Item Discovery (1 point of Discovery per point of Luck).

Weapon

For effective Rock Lizard farming, I recommend using the Crystal Sage’s Rapier in combination with Wrath of the Gods. This duo streamlines Titanite Scale farming in Dark Souls 3. Stock up on Ashen Estus Flask, aggro all four Rock Lizards, and spam Wrath of the Gods from your strategic position.

When they have low HP, switch to the Crystal Sage’s Rapier for its +50 Item Discovery bonus. You can equip it in your left hand while two-handing your right-hand weapon, making it versatile.

My Thoughts

Titanite Scales in Dark Souls 3 introduce a captivating twist to gear upgrading, especially with the “Unique Reinforcement” system. They enhance Soul-Transposed Weapons i.e., Boss weapons.

To optimize Titanite Scale farming, boosting Item Discovery with the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, Rusted Coins, and Luck is crucial. Rock Lizards in Archdragon Peak are your best bet, thanks to their reliability and the Crystal Sage’s Rapier with Wrath of the Gods for efficient farming.

In my opinion, Titanite Scales are more than just an upgrade item; they symbolize the game’s complexity, encouraging exploration and strategy in the process. Embrace the hunt and relish the journey as much as the rewards it bestows.