Demon's Souls came out alongside the launch of the PlayStation 5 on November 12th, 2020. As one of the few true exclusive next-gen launch titles for the console, plenty of newcomers are entering the brutal adventure with no prior experience with FromSoftware's games. For better or worse, Bluepoint's remake of the 2009 classic retains almost every facet of the original adventure to a fault.
The enigmatic design and head-scratching level layouts remain unchanged. With this in mind, many will need help navigating the hardest to understand parts to prevent wasting a bunch of time. One aspect of the game which can really screw you over is the merchants. While most sell similar items, their prices vary greatly. The following guide will help you sort out who the best merchants are for which items and how to access them. Additionally, we'll give you a couple of tips on how to amass souls quickly in order to actually buy what you want from these merchants.
Updated On August 15th, 2021, By Jason Wojnar: As more people find a coveted PS5, more and more players are experiencing the masterful remake of Demon's Souls. If you never played the original PS3 Demon's Souls, it will be a tough go of it during the first playthrough. Fortunately, guides like these are here to help you through the hardest parts.
To make it a little easier for newcomers, we decided to update this list to help you find the most important information faster. Most importantly, we answer a question about selling items many newcomers might ask. Even though you cannot traditionally sell items, there is a way to safeguard some souls for those who die a lot.
Can You Sell Items In Demon's Souls?
- You cannot sell items in Demon's Souls
- The best way to store souls safely is by not consuming the Soul items until you are ready to spend souls
If you're looking to sell items in Demon's Souls, you are out of luck. It is impossible to exchange your items for souls in this PS5 exclusive. The game does not want to give you a way to store souls for a less punishing death.
There is one thing you can do, however. There are items called Souls which are of varying sizes. Consuming these awards you souls to spend on items or levels. To make sure these do not go to waste, only consume a Soul when you are ready to spend them.
Boldwin
- The first merchant you meet
- He is in the nexus on the first floor
- Upgrades equipment
At the start of the game, the only merchant you will have any access to is Boldwin, a blacksmith in the Nexus. He upgrades your equipment, but you'll need to find Ed in order to unlock the special advanced upgrades.
Up until then, however, Boldwin will suffice and is a solid source of Green Grass and Fresh Spices. These two items are perfectly good early on in the adventure, but you'll soon find them too weak to have any positive effect. Additionally, the early levels are littered with these consumables, so you should be able to avoid having to buy too many if you are efficient enough of a player.
Filthy Man
- Sells Hardstones and Sharpstones in the beginning area of 2-1
- Sells more valuable upgrade resources in his second location
The Filthy Man is found in two spots and sells different wares depending on the location in which he is found. Both are simple enough to spot, but the first place is a true breeze to find. He is clearly visible after walking up the stairs in 2-1.
His most valuable possessions here are the Hardstones and Sharpstones used for weapons. For more valuable upgrade materials, proceed further into the world and beat the Armor Spider Boss. After going into the Stonefang Tunnel take a left and venture through the labyrinthine until you reach a room where you are walking on wooden platforms with a lake of lava below. You'll know you're in the right room if Patches the Hyena is also there with a huge Bearbug. In this room, he sells even more upgrade materials.
Filthy Woman
- Found in 5-1
- Best place to buy Pine Resin
This merchant will beg and plead for you to buy something from her. Unfortunately, her wares are not appealing and what she does have can often be bought for cheaper elsewhere. The only thing she really has of value is Pine Resin, which adds fire damage to an equipped weapon.
With many bosses exhibiting a weakness to flame, having these might be just the edge you need to best a particular bout if it has been giving you trouble. The easiest place to find this character is in 5-1. She is along the main path towards the boss but is admittedly far into the area. Still, if you are leveled up enough the enemies here should give you no trouble at all.
The Once Royal Mistress
- Found in the fourth floor of the prison in 3-1
- Sells spices for the best prices
This merchant is important for anyone focusing on a magic build. Even with a Fragrant Ring, you'll want plenty of spices in your inventory to quickly recoup magic from all the spells you'll be casting when devastating enemies. The Once Royal Mistress has the best prices for the Aged Spices.
She is found in 3-1 on the fourth floor of the prison. After lifting the first gate on the floor go down the stairs and you'll have to find a key for the second gate where a Mind Flayer is waiting. Go through the small hallway and then straight into the other section of cells. She'll be in one of the cells ahead. Once you are close, you can hear her singing. She sells Aged Spices for 1,000 souls.
Patches The Hyena
- Found in the Stonefang Tunnel (2-2)
- Sells healing items for a good price
This scoundrel is constantly up to no good, but you'll want him in the Nexus regardless because you will not be able to find quality healing items for any cheaper price. He is first found in the Stonefang Tunnel (2-2), the same area as the second Filthy Man encounter.
Finding him here will bring him back to the Nexus, letting you buy items from him. He also shows up in 4-2, though this encounter is optional and you do not need to do it in order to buy from him in the hub. He sells Full Moon Grasses for 1,000 souls, which is a good price for a solid amount of health. You'll definitely want to stock up on these for some of the later boss encounters.
How To Amass Souls
- The Reaper in 4-2 is the first place to farm souls
- Return to the Storm King boss arena after beating it and kill the Storm Beasts with the Storm Ruler quickly for the best farming location
There are two great places to farm for souls, and you'll want to do one or the other depending on how far you are. Both are located in the fourth Archstone, and the first one is earlier on in the world.
At the beginning of 4-2 is a Reaper who drops between four and six thousand souls depending on world tendency.
The second one is at the very end of the Archstone where you fight the Storm King. After beating the boss and completing the Archstone, Storm Beasts still spawn here and they can be easily taken out with the Storm Ruler's ranged attack, which is only available in this area. Since the Archstone is right there in the middle of all the monsters, it takes no time at all to reload the enemies. Do this with the Ring of Avarice equipped and you can net well over one hundred thousand souls in just a few minutes.