Magic has always held a strange position in Dark Souls: while many believe that it's integral to the story and lore of the world, there are just as many who claim that using magic is the Dark Souls equivalent of "Easy Mode." Either way, magic will always have an impact on how you play — whether it's how you use it, or how your enemies do.
As was the case in previous entries, Dark Souls 3 demands that players work for their magic. Sure, you may receive a basic spell or pyromancy at the start of the game, but if you want the biggest, most powerful spells in the game, you're going to have to find its respective vendor. Sorcery, miracles, pyromancy: each magic class has its own specific teachers — and there's a good chance you'll miss them if you don't know where to look.
That's where our guide comes in: if you've been trying to focus on one specific form of magic, but just can't find the right NPCs, we're here to help. From the opening hours of the game to the final stretch, here's how to find every magic-based NPC in Dark Souls 3 — but first:
SPOILER WARNING:
We'll be going over every trainer in the game, so if you want to go in blind and try to find all of these guys for yourself, bookmark this guide and come back if you need help.
Now, without any further adieu:
Yoel of Londor
Location:
• Undead Settlement
Specialty:
• Sorcery
The game's first sorcery teacher isn't all that hard to find, but he's extremely easy to miss. Yoel of Londor's true purpose may lie outside of sorceries, and he doesn't stick around Firelink Shrine for very long, but he serves as a great way to learn more advanced spells early on in the game.
After the fight with Vordt of the Boreal Valley, you'll find yourself on the outskirts of the Undead Settlement. Your first instinct may tell you to run straight down the stairs and into the village proper, but ignore that for the time being: instead, head down the stairs and turn back toward Castle Lothric.
If you continue down to the end of the busted-up bridge, you'll find a crowd of dead pilgrims — it may look like everyone's dead, but one of the bodies on the right side of the bridge is still moving. That's Yoel — just speak to him, accept his service, and he'll move back to the Firelink Shrine. You can find him in a small alcove — if you're looking toward the thrones, he'll be on the right.
Irina of Carim
Location:
• Undead Settlement
Specialty:
• Miracles
Finding Irina of Carim, the game's primary Miracle vendor, can be a bit tricky. You'll probably come across her relatively early in the game, but actually getting to her isn't so simple.
You'll first need to find the Mortician's Ashes, which is located just off of where you first run into the giant arrows. Stick to the uphill side of the battlefield, and you'll find a path right to them. Bring the ashes back to the Shrine Handmaiden, and she'll offer up the Grave Key.
Head back to the Dilapidated Bridge bonfire, then head into the sewers. Just past the giant rats is a small door; use the Grave Key and head in. Watch out for skeleton swordsmen (they have a tendency to form behind you), and continue along the path until you find Irina. Talk to her, and she'll warp back to the Firelink Shrine. She'll be on the side opposite of the shrine as Yoel, in a similar alcove.
Now that Irina is back at home base, you can bring her Braille tomes to expand her available Miracles. Just watch out — depending on what you buy, her ward may not approve of you.
Cornyx of the Great Swamp
Location:
• Undead Settlement
Specialty:
• Pyromancy
Much like Yoel, the pyromancer Cornyx isn't all that hard to find. In fact, you can see him well before you actually reach him — just be prepared to fight through some Hollows first.
At first glance, it may seem impossible to reach Cornyx, as there's seemingly no way up to the rooftop he's trapped on. Of course, there's a secret path: in the village that's guarded by three fire-bombing Hollows, look over the side. Eventually, you'll find a small path to drop down to — once you do, follow the path until you reach the Cliff Underside bonfire.
From there, the way to Cornyx is pretty linear: head up to the rooftops, kill the fire-bombers and head around back. Cornyx will be stuck in a cage: simply talk to him, and he'll head back to the Firelink Shrine.
Cornyx will appear next to the blacksmith Andre back at Firelink, and will offer you a Pyromancy Hand for your efforts. Like with Irina, bringing Cornyx pyromancy tomes will open up more powerful spells for you to learn.
Orbeck of Vinheim
Location:
• Road of Sacrifices
Specialty:
• Sorcery
Orbeck, Dark Souls 3's primary sorceries vendor, is unique in that recruiting him requires specific stats: he won't accept your offer if he thinks you're too dumb.
From the Crucifixion Woods bonfire, head into the ruins. If you stick to the left-hand side of the building, you'll eventually find a stairwell leading up to a small study — Orbeck will be studying inside. However, he'll only accept your offer to move to the Firelink Shrine if you have a high enough Intelligence stat — thankfully, he only requires 10 Intelligence, meaning that even low-level characters should be able to recruit him without any major issues.
Back at the shrine, Orbeck will request that you find sorcery scrolls — but unlike the other vendors, he'll leave if you don't bring him any. Make sure to retrieve at least one of the sorcery scrolls before beating any four bosses, and you'll ensure that Orbeck stays put.
Karla
Location:
• Irithyll Dungeon
Speciality:
• Pyromancy, Sorcery, Dark Miracles
Karla is easily the most unique vendor in the game. Not only will she teach the player a number of high-level pyromancies (spells that Cornyx can't even handle), but she can also teach sorceries and Dark miracles, if given the proper tomes. The only real problem is actually getting to her: you'll need to make it all the way down to the Profaned Capital just to find the key to her cell.
From the first bonfire of the area, head into the toxic swamp. Ignore the enemies here and run straight through — once you reach the church, head up the ladder and onto the roof. There'll be a high-level NPC waiting to attack you; once you've dispatched him, continue up the path, and you'll find the Jailer's Key Ring.
Head back to the Irithyll Dungeon bonfire and make your way to the ground floor. Either fight or run past the pack of jailers — if you're coming from the large doorway, Karla's cell will be on the left side of the room. Talk to her, and she'll appear back at Firelink Shrine to the left of Andre's blacksmith shop.
As previously mentioned, she'll accept pyromancy tomes that Cornyx cannot — and unlike many of the other NPCs, she won't run off and get herself killed at any point.
That's it for magic vendors! Of course, there are plenty of other NPCs to find — if you're having trouble with some of the game's sidequests, make sure to check out our various NPC guides!
For more on Dark Souls 3, head on over to our in-depth coverage hub.
