Dark Souls 3 doesn’t just punish your reflexes; it punishes your curiosity and your kindness. Among the game’s many convoluted NPC arcs, the questline of Anri of Astora stands out as the most tragic and mechanically fragile. One wrong turn, or one “helpful” swing of your sword, can permanently lock you out of the game’s most complex ending: The Usurpation of Fire. While most players focus on the bosses, the real challenge is navigating the silent triggers that determine whether Anri becomes your greatest ally or your most heartbreaking sacrifice.
The Two Fates of Anri: “Slayer” or “Lord of Hollows”?
Before we get to the mistake, you must understand that this quest has two distinct endings. One path allows you to help Anri fulfill their destiny of slaying Aldrich, Devourer of Gods. The other—the one required for the “Usurpation of Fire” trophy—ends in a dark wedding ceremony.
The “Critical Mistake” almost always happens at the intersection of these two paths. If you are aiming for the Lord of Hollows ending, your instinct to protect Anri is actually what will ruin the quest.
The Fatal Choice: The Pilgrim in the Church of Yorshka
This is where 90% of quest failures occur. When you reach the Church of Yorshka bonfire in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley, Anri will be resting in the corner.
The Pilgrim in Disguise
In the corner of that same room, disguised as one of the many statues, is a Pilgrim from Londor.
- The Mistake: Many players, sensing a threat or following a guide for a different ending, attack and kill this pilgrim.
- The Result: Killing the pilgrim saves Anri’s life, but it instantly fails the Usurpation of Fire ending. Yuria of Londor will leave Firelink Shrine, and your path to becoming the Lord of Hollows is severed.
What You Must Do Instead
If you want the “Dark” ending, you must leave that pilgrim alive. You must allow the “assassination” to take place later. It feels wrong—it feels like you’re failing a friend—but in the world of Dark Souls, power often requires the ultimate betrayal.
The Horace Dilemma: Silence is Golden (Sometimes)
The second most common mistake occurs in the Smouldering Lake. Anri is searching for their companion, Horace the Hushed. You will find Horace in a cave at the bottom of the lake, but he has gone “Hollow” and will attack you on sight.
How to Handle Horace Correctly
- Kill Horace: You must put him out of his misery in the Smouldering Lake.
- The Mistake: If you kill Horace and then tell Anri where he is, the quest continues normally. However, if you don’t kill Horace and tell Anri where he is, Horace will kill Anri. This ends the questline prematurely and leaves you with nothing but a bitter taste in your mouth.
Pro-Tip: The safest route is to kill Horace and never mention his location to Anri until they move to the next location (Irithyll).
The “Wedding” Ceremony: The Final Step
If you left the pilgrim alive and kept your hollowing levels high (by drawing out true strength with Yoel of Londor), you will eventually be told by Yuria that your “spouse” is ready.
Navigating the Darkmoon Tomb
- Location: Go to the secret area behind the illusory wall at the base of the Anor Londo rotating elevator.
- The Rite: You will receive the Sword of Avowal from the pilgrim standing at the entrance.
- The “Mistake” to Avoid: Do not attack the pilgrim here either. Walk to the end of the hall and interact with Anri to complete the rite.
Summary Checklist for the “Perfect” Dark Ending
To ensure you don’t waste 30 hours of gameplay, follow this strict checklist:
- Do Not kill the pilgrim in the Church of Yorshka.
- Do kill Horace in the Smouldering Lake.
- Do Not tell Anri about Horace until he is dead.
- Do make sure you have 5 Dark Sigils before Yoel of Londor dies.
- Do speak to Yuria of Londor regularly to trigger the “marriage” dialogue.
By avoiding these critical errors, you ensure that the Age of Fire finally comes to an end, and you take your place as the true ruler of the Hollows.
GGC