How many DLC did DS2 get?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

Dark Souls II received a grand total of 3 major DLC expansions over 2014, comprising the "Lost Crowns" trilogy:

  • Crown of the Sunken King (released July 22, 2014)
  • Crown of the Old Iron King (released August 26, 2014)
  • Crown of the Ivory King (released September 30, 2014)

Each additional episode added substantial new areas to explore, challenging bosses to test your mettle, fun weapons and armor sets to discover, and continued the cryptic lore established in the main game.

Below I‘ll analyze each Dark Souls II DLC pack in detail, including release info, content highlights, critic and player reviews, and my personal experiences playing them. Strap in, this will be an epic deep dive!

Crown of the Sunken King

The Sunken King DLC launched first on July 22, 2014, priced at $9.99 USD. Let‘s break down everything it added:

New Area: Shulva, Sanctum City – A puzzling underground temple and city buried under poisonous water. Loaded with traps and challenging enemies.

Bosses:

  • Elana, Squalid Queen
  • Sinh, Slumbering Dragon
  • Dragon‘s Sanctum Keymasters (x3)

Weapons:

  • Sanctum Crossbow
  • Sanctum Repeating Crossbow
  • Spider Fang
  • Dragon Stone

Armor Sets:

  • Imperious Set
  • Vengarl‘s Set

Critics praised the Sunken King for its beautifully haunting new environments, intense dragon boss battles, and strong level design incentivizing exploration. Gaming site IGN rated it a 8.8/10, saying "Shulva is packed full of devious contraptions and lethal enemies guarded by draconic sentinels, making this a fantastic and surprisingly expansive addition."

Many players loved navigating Shulva and uncovering its secrets. However some felt annoyed by poison traps, and Human Effigy drop rates in the DLC area. Overall reception was highly positive.

From my experience, exploring eerie Shulva and battling ancient beasts within reminded me of my first steps into Lordran so long ago. I relished mastering new weapons like the Sanctum Crossbow, and the Dragon battles were appropriately epic. A great start to the Lost Crowns trilogy!

Crown of the Old Iron King

Soon after Sunken King launched, the second DLC Crown of the Old Iron King debuted August 26, 2014 – once again for $9.99. Building on Dark Souls II‘s lore of egotistical kings paying for their arrogance, this chapter focused on the Old Iron King from eons past:

New Area: Brume Tower – Formerly the seat of the Old Iron King‘s power, now a dangerous sprawling fortress. Also includes optional challenge area The Gutter.

Bosses:

  • Smelter Demon
  • Sir Alonne
  • Aged Smelter Demon (Optional)
  • Fume Knight (Optional)

Weapons:

  • Ashen Warrior Sword
  • Iron King Hammer
  • Roaring Halberd
  • Smelter Sword

Armor Sets:

  • Alonne Knight Set
  • Imperious Set
  • Insolent Set
  • Rustic Clothing Set

Reviewers praised the immense Brume Tower for its challenging enemies and brilliant level design. One notable heavy-hitter was new optional boss Fume Knight, considered possibly the toughest foe in the entire series [1]. Players loved battling iconic knight Sir Alonne and new twists on Smelter Demon.

My first forays into Brume Tower kicked my butt hard. But slugging it out against diabolical baddies like Fume Knight to earn spectacular weapons like Smelter Sword made victory exceptionally sweet. Superb risk vs reward balance perfect for us masochistic fans!

Crown of the Ivory King

The epic trilogy concluded with Crown of the Ivory King on September 30, 2014. Once more $9.99, this final DLC focused on the tragedy of the Ivory King and his Loyce Knights from ages ago:

New Area: Frozen Eleum Loyce – A frigid city of ice, inhabited by relentless knights still guarding their long dead lord. Also optional challenge cave The Horsef*** Valley.

Bosses:

  • Burnt Ivory King
  • Lud & Zallen (Optional)
  • Aava the Kings Pet (Optional)

Weapons:

  • Loyce Greatsword
  • Charred Loyce Greatsword
  • Ivory Straight Sword
  • Ivory King Ultra Greatsword

Armor Sets:

  • Ivory King Set
  • Loyce Set
  • Charred Loyce Set

The Loyce Knights left a strong impression on players with their somber backstory and ferocious combat. Legend goes if enough knights are rescued, they may even come to your aid against the imposing Burnt Ivory King boss [2]. Critics again praised level design focused on co-op play.

The frigid city of Eleum Loyce tested my skills to their limit. My heart raced when the Burnt Ivory King dramatically rose from a pit of chaos fire. And the sense of camaraderie when Loyce Knights joined my fight remains a series highlight. From Software saved arguably the best for last!

Critics Hail Superb Value

Reviewers marveled at the scope and quality of Dark Souls II‘s Lost Crowns DLC trilogy, with all three earning strong review scores:

DLC EpisodeMetacritic Score
Crown of the Sunken King88%
Crown of the Old Iron King89%
Crown of the Ivory King88%

Considering each sold for only $9.99 individually, critics praised FromSoftware for amazing value – adding 30+ hours of fresh late-game content to extend Dark Souls II‘s lifespan. Gamers who already sunk 60+ hours into the base game were hungry for more.

Notable reviewer quotes include: "Quantity and quality in spades." – GameSpot and "A must-buy for any self-respecting Dark Souls 2 fan." – IGN.com

The Definitive Dark Souls II Experience

While the Lost Crowns DLC was not included in the original 2014 release of Dark Souls II, modern game bundles do contain everything.

2015‘s Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin release compiled the base game plus all 3 DLC packs. Later PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch bundles also include the full experience.

For anyone interested in playing or understanding the entire Dark Souls II journey, grabbing Scholar of the First Sin or a bundle release is highly recommended. The Lost Crowns trilogy offers some of the most imaginative environments, epic weapons and armor, and memorable boss fights in series history!

The Bottom Line

Dark Souls II received a total of 3 major DLC expansions:

  • Crown of the Sunken King
  • Crown of the Old Iron King
  • Crown of the Ivory King

Each DLC earned strong review scores and praise for adding substantial new content in big new areas to explore. They extended Dark Souls II‘s lifecycle by 30+ hours for hungry fans.

For the complete experience with all DLC included, pickup the Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin version on modern platforms. Discover the full majesty, challenge and secrets Drangleic has to offer!

Sources:

[1] https://www.thegamer.com/dark-souls-2-hardest-bosses/

[2] https://darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com/Burnt+Ivory+King

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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