Titanite Scales in Dark Souls 3: The Key to Unleashing Unique Weapons

Peer closely at a Titanite Scale‘s jagged, molten edges glinting in the flickering firelight. This unassuming shard of scale hides vast potential – a crucial step along the path to awakening Lothric‘s most legendary armaments hidden in the souls of fallen foes.

Titanite Scales push unique weapons and catalysts to their full potential in Dark Souls 3 via the "Unique Reinforcement" upgrade path, an alternative to Standard and Raw infusion. Boss soul transpositions, rare loot rewards, special tail cuts, and more are unlocked to terrifying new heights with scales guiding the way to +4 and beyond.

So for Ashen Ones determined to incinerate their enemies with the True Profaned Flame or split an army‘s worth of heads with Friede‘s Great Scythe, let‘s illuminate the journey toward gathering enough Titanite Scales to make those dreams reality.

What Are Titanite Scales And What Can You Use Them For?

Titanite Scales share the same molten origin as their more common cousins like Titanite Shards – likely the calcified blood of ancient dragons crystallized into weapon-enhancing scale form over epochs of unimaginable heat and pressure.

But unlike mundane Titanite, these special scales attune closely with legendary and boss soul weapons. Exactly why remains one of Lothric‘s arcane mysteries – a secret likely entombed in untold eons of history from the Age of Ancients to the current fading Age of Fire.

Regardless of origins, when a covetous Unkindled gathers enough Scales and exchanges them with Andre the Blacksmith, incredible power awakens in weapons infused with the souls of the divine, the cursed, and worse.

Including upgrades all along the arduous path to fully unlocking a special armament‘s potential at +4, here is the full Titanite Scale collection required per weapon:

Once a unique weapon hits +4, only the might of a Titanite Slab can unleash its final dormant lethality at +5 – a milestone nearly as challenging to achieve as gathering those first 15 elusive Scales!

What fearsome instruments of destruction feed on Titanite Scales then? Here is a small sampling:

• Friede‘s Great Scythe – Grants the elegant aggression of Sister Friede herself
• Twin Princes‘ Greatsword – Channels the combined wrath of Lothric and Lorian
• Profaned Greatsword – Unleashes the Phoenix‘s purifying flame
• Yhorm‘s Greatshield – Emits the giant‘s skillful barrage of Storm Ruler shockwaves
• Crystal Chime – Harnesses Seath‘s ancient moonlight sorceries

And over a dozen more of similarly legendary potential – all awakened by devoted Tarnished willing to scale the perilous heights of Lothric‘s remains harvesting enough of these precious scales.

Now that the power of Titanite Scales is clear, let us illuminate the journey toward collecting enough to meet an Unkindled warrior‘s ambitions!

Locating Those Elusive Scales Across Lothric

Many nightmarish demons and false legends must fall before enough Titanite Scales materialize for unlocking a special weapon‘s full strength. Here are the bitter – but undeniably rewarding – roads to accumulation:

Direct Purchase

The Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine accumulates a small supply of Titanite Scales gradually – available at the cost of 20,000 souls each. This allows slowly accumulating upgrades over time at no risk beyond coin.

But far more practical means exist for determined Unkindled familiar with the dangerous roads ahead…

Creature Drops

While nowhere near 100% certain, defeating specific powerful foes nets Titanite Scales as semi-rare drops:

• Rock Lizard – ~7% drop rate. Magic-resistant ambush predator located in Archdragon Peak guarding item stashes off the main path
• Ringed Knight (Melee) – ~12% drop rate. Heavily armed veteran warriors defending The Ringed City‘s depths who only fall after prolonged, intense duels
• Wretch – Extremely rare drop around 2%. Frail hollowed prisoners locked deep in Irithyll Dungeon‘s vile lower levels – but their jailers likely hoarded scales…

In other words – beasts and warriors formidable enough to make scales drop regularly. But prolonged rotations of systematic elimination churns out a reliable supply over time.

I‘ll cover specific, optimized routes for grinding out Titanite Scales from these creatures soon.

Lootable Corpses

Finally, small clusters of 1-3 Titanite Scales frequent certain corpses and treasure chests hidden along critical moments in the Lothric journey:

• High Wall of Lothric
• Undead Settlement
• Crucifixion Woods/Farron Keep
• Cathedral of the Deep
• Catacombs of Carthus
• Irithyll Valley
• Anor Londo
• Consumed King‘s Garden
• Untended Graves
• Lothric Castle (as well as the Grand Archives and Profaned Capital sealed within)
• Archdragon Peak
• Ashes of Ariandel Painted World
• The Dreg Heap
• The Ringed City

I‘ve documented every single scale‘s location in my Titanite Scale Location Guide – over 65 total found scattered across Lothric!

Combined with drops from regular enemy clears in between runs, this nets over 100 Titanite Scales available in a single cycle.

Now let‘s optimize our acquisition runs against those lucrative foes most likely to rapidly relinquish their scales.

Strategies For Efficient Titanite Scale Farming

Many factors influence Titanite Scale farming efficiency. Let‘s optimize rate by maximizing:

• Item Discovery – Improves drop rates
• Run speed – Complete loops rapidly
• DPS – Eliminate enemies quickly per run
• Repeatability – Choose accessible areas with limited threats

Aligning these criteria, two prime locations emerge:

Archdragon Peak – Defeat groups of weak, slow but magic-resistant Rock Lizards

The Ringed City – Isolate and burst down small packs of formidable Ringed Knights

We‘ll evaluate both options:

Archdragon Peak: Rock Lizard Culling

Rock Lizards pose only moderate danger individually but swarm in packs and attack from range with flame bursts. Luckily, their ambushes often occurs near fatal drops we can exploit.

To align our reliable seven percent scale drops into a quick harvesting cycle at Archdragon Peak:

1. Start from the Great Belfry bonfire
2. Exit left and descend the external stone stairs
3. Four Rock Lizards activate 30 yards ahead – retreat back up top
4. Isolate them in the cramped stair wells they can‘t escape from
5. Unload AoEs and ranged attacks safely from above until all stop moving
6. Repeat the 5-10 minute clear/reset cycle

~85% runs should net at least 1 Titanite Scale.

Further optimizations for an ideal build:

• Pyromancy Flame + Chaos Bed Vestiges – Searing lava hose downs packs rapidly
• Covetous Gold Serpent Ring + Crystal Sage‘s Rapier to boost Item Discovery; swap the rapier in right before landing killing blows for maximum effect
• Shield of Want to boost souls gained during runs – upgrade it later with the farmed scales!
• Lingering Dragoncrest Ring extends consumable durations like…
• Rusted Gold Coins for further Item Discovery stacking
• Magic Clutch Ring, Witch‘s Ring, Great Swamp Ring, and both Fire Clutch and Pyromancy-boosting rings enhance pyromancy damage output significantly

Attuning Power Within also fits the glass cannon blow-everything-up-rapidly approach despite its fragility.

With practice, 10-15 scales per hour reliably flows forth from the ambushed Rock Lizards.

Now let‘s examine an alternative strategy from the infamously difficult Ringed City DLC.

The Ringed City: Sieging the Ringed Knights

Forging further into The Ringed City‘s depths, one discovers the feared Ringed Knights still defending these last vestiges of the bygone days before the First Flame arrived. Though isolated, these noble warriors remain formidable, boasting powerful weapons along with nigh-impenetrable metal armor and cloth seemingly made of stone itself now.

Still, the potential 12% Titanite Scale drop rate tempts our greed. Just be cautious not to get overwhelmed by attacking too large a force at once!

Here is the safest approach:

1. Use the Shared Grave bonfire at the streets‘ lowest level
2. Ride the lifting platform up to the battlements overlooking the swamp
3. Sprint ahead toward the two patrolling Sword-wielding Ringed Knights
4. Use ranged attacks to lure them back and isolate them from the Spear-type knight ahead
5. Apply Lightning to the Swordbearers‘ weakness and burst them down fast with a heavy weapon like Yhorm‘s Machete
6. Repeatedly reset and clear just those two manageable threats over and over

Stay vigilant of the dangerous archers and spear knight that sometimes pursue during the skirmish – avoid being flanked at all costs. But the stackable flat ground here means we can pincer maneuver isolated threats reliably.

Gear-wise, Gold Serpent Ring and a quick step weapon remains ideal as always, along with:

• Dorhy‘s Gnawing to shred the Knight‘s innate lightning defense
• Lightning or Dark damage type weapons to pierce armor
• Caestus in off-hand to parry larger wind up attacks between dodging combos
• Chloranthy Ring for constant stamina pressure
• Prisoner‘s Chain for well rounded stat boosts

I‘ve also heard rumors of a secret technique involving Toxic Mist and duel-wielded Storyteller Staffs practically melting bosses after a couple quick cycles…

Regardless, 10-13 scales per hour reliably flows forth from this tense clash of veteran warriors. Exhilarating but dangerous!

And of course, take occasional breaks to spend those well-earned scales at Andre‘s humble smithing station – the reason for this entire fiery ordeal!

Now let‘s reflect on which approach aligns best with your inner Ashen One.

Archdragon Peak vs The Ringed City: How to Choose Your Strategy

For those seeking safe, soothing reptile farming punctuated by satisfying magical explosions, isolate Rock Lizards and clean house through Archdragon Peak‘s panoramic mountain spires.

If desperately craving a true contest of champions, only the heart-pounding duels against the legendary Ringed Knights can quench that battle thirst.

Either road attracts death from one wrong move – but both grant the means to sharpen an arsenal capable of slaying gods into an even more terrifying apex.

I lean toward bathed in bursting bedlam myself. But the journey is its own reward for untarnished savoring every sight Lothric‘s remains still have left to unveil…

Now for final words before you sail forth on wings of fire and fortune!

In Closing: Unleash Your Weapons‘ True Form

What will you channel your gathering might into once 15 Titanite Scales merge into that transcendent +4 upgrade?

Personally, I crave Friede‘s elegant moveset and limitless combo potential as her Scythe tears raging blizzards through entire battalions.

Perhaps you yearn to wield the combined magical might of Lothric and his elder brother Lorian – The Twin Princes beckon!

Or does Yhorm‘s primal rage when Storm Ruler unleashed compel you? Only one way to find out – plunge into the fiery abyss!

Just know that whatever unique weapon speaks to your warrior spirit, Titanite Scales offer the means to fully awaken that instrument of destiny. Glory awaits!

Now brave Ashen Ones – go forth and gather flame, fury and fortune! Lothric‘s fallen legends languish in unrestful slumber…better put them out of their misery and claim your rewards! Fear not the abyss‘s icy talons – make them fear you instead!!