Dark Souls 3 Estus Flask guide: Where to find all Estus Shard and Undead Bone Shard upgrades

The Dark Souls series has always been full to the bloody brim with abhorrent monsters eager to slice and maul you, and Dark Souls 3 – released in the UK and US for Xbox One, PS4 and PC on 12 April - is bled of the same leaky veins.

Through all the terror and punishment, the trusty Estus Flask has remained the main source of health recovery, with a well-timed swig in a frantic boss-battle often deciding the balance between achieving victory and becoming closely acquainted with the preceding bonfire.

While the Estus Flask and its focus points-restoring Ashen counterpart share a low starting count, rare Estus Shards increase the number of flasks at your disposal, while Undead Bone Shards increase their potency and total health replenishment.

Below, IBTimes UK has compiled a detailed list of the locations (including late-game spoilers) of every Estus Shard and Undead Bone Shard in Dark Souls 3. First, let's take a look at how you use them...

Dark Souls 3: How to upgrade your Estus Flasks and Trophy / Achievements

There are 11 Estus Shards and 10 Undead Bone Shards scattered throughout Dark Souls 3's derelict bastilles and shallow caves. Players who manage to complete the game and start New Game + will notice the Shards respawn due to the increased difficulty.

To increase your flask count you will need to give the Estus Shards to Andre the Blacksmith in the Firelink Shrine, the Undead Bone Shards on the other hand will need to be burned in the Shrine's central bonfire. Handing over all 11 Estus Shards to Andre will also award you with the Trophy/Achievement 'Ultimate Estus', while collecting the 10 Bone Shards nets 'Ultimate Bonfire'.

Dark Souls 3: Estus Shard full location list

High Wall of Lothric

Found in the tavern-like room before you reach the Winged Knight and where you obtain the Cell Key that frees Greirat. Sat on top of an anvil.

Undead Settlement

At the base of the large tree in the opening where multiple enemies watch over a fire – the first Undead Matron you encounter is crouching over it. Slightly ahead of the balcony on with Loretta's Bone and ahead of the main Undead Settlement bonfire.

Road of Sacrifices

From the Crucifixion Woods bonfire head toward the ruins that leads to the Crystal Sage. Instead of entering the building, go round the left hand side, drop down and the shard will be on your left.

Farron Keep

Head toward the broken, half-submerged bridge directly ahead of the bonfire if you head toward the Road of Sacrifices. You will spot the glowing shard item next to a few poisonous slugs.

Cathedral of the Deep

Starting from the Cleansing Chapel bonfire, turn around and head outside. Up the stairs to the right is an obelisk surrounded by praying monks and between them lies the Estus Shard.

Smouldering Lake / Demon Ruins

A tricky one to find. There is a hidden door in the same room as the Old King's Antichamber bonfire (the arch that looks out of place). Hit it, go through and take the first left and you will eventually come across a skeleton holding the shard.

Irithyll Dungeon

Inside a Mimic chest across from the bridge once you exit the dungeon. Once over the bridge head left through the door and drop down into the tunnel. Avoid the cells and down the steps. Go through the archway on the right to find the Mimic chest. Don't open it, just kill it straight away. Also don't get eaten.

Anor Londo

From the main Anor Londo bonfire head up the stairs and through the huge double doors. In the darkened room, stick to the left wall and you will find the chest holding the Estus Shard (not a Mimic this time, phew). You might want to clear the room of Deacons, slime bags and whatever that thing on the ceiling is first.

High Wall of Lothric

Technically you can get this earlier, but that would require tackling the Dancer of the Boreal Valley in the first few hours (good luck with that). After the Dancer falls, light the bonfire and head up the ladder in front. Up the stairs on the left you will find an elevator. Jump off half way and head right to find the shard.

Lothric Castle

Take the lift from the Grand Archives bonfire, but turn around as you exit onto the rooftops. Head around to the right side and head across the roofs. When the structure begins to curve go up the stairs and around to the right to a series of archways. Through the second arch you will find the shard at the end of the balcony on a corpse.

Firelink Shrine

Buy the Tower Key from the Handmaid and ascend the curved stairs in top right of the Shrine. About halfway there is a set of arches (if you see mist doors wait a little while). Head out and open the tower door. Go up the spiral staircase and drop off the crumbling bridge to your left. Drop down again past Pickle Pee's nest, turn around and go through the arch. In here you will find the final Estus Shard among the rafters over the main Shrine room. For an added bonus go across from the entrance and hit the invisible wall and beyond lies a Covetous Silver Serpent Ring.

Dark Souls 3: Undead Bone Shard full location list

Undead Settlement

From the Dilapidated Bridge bonfire go over to the white tree where the spears fall (or fell if you have made friends with the tower's giant). Jump over to the right and the shard is near the edge.

Cathedral of the Deep

Warp to the Cleansing Chapel, head through the graveyard and over the bridge. Near another white tree you can find the shard on a tombstone that seems to be falling off the cliff.

Road of Sacrifices

Down from the Keep Ruins bonfire you'll see a bunch of slugs occupying the base of a tower. In the middle of the slimy horde you will spot the shard.

Catacombs of Carthus

After you find the first skeleton-filled rolling ball of death, kill the skeleton in the fancy hat at the bottom of the stairs and the ball will explode when it hits the grate ahead. Loot the shard it drops.

Smouldering Lake

Kill the huge worm thing. This is much easier to accomplish if you have stopped the arrow barrage by progressing through the Demon Ruins.

Demon Ruins

Easy to find, hard to get to. There are a lot of fireball-hurling enemies here. From the Demon Ruins bonfire go inside and head down the small staircase. Make a sharp left and roll for your life. The shard is in the very back left, but be careful of the fiery sludge that drops.

Irithyll of the Boreal Valley

Spawn at the Church of Yorshka, go down to the cliff area and hug the right wall. Behind the tombstone lies the shard, but kill the winged beast first.

Irithyll Dungeon

Shortly after you kill the first Gargoyle you can reach the Profaned Capital bonfire. The shard is on a corpse nearby.

Lothric Castle

From the Dragon Barracks bonfire, head up the stairs towards the dragon and drop off the left side of the thin bridge. Turn around to find the shard underneath the bridge.

Lothric Caste

Take the lift near the Grand Archives bonfire and then the left staircase leading up upwards. Go through the archive, drop down from the balcony and follow the rooftop path past the gargoyles. When you spot a broken window, go inside and on your left a withered corpse reading a book holds the final Undead Bone Shard.

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