What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
If you accidentally hit an NPC in Dark Souls and they are still alive, they can usually be brought back to normal. The standard fix is to request Absolution from Oswald of Carim, who becomes available in the Undead Parish after you ring the Bell of Awakening. Absolution costs 500 souls for each point of your Soul Level. If the NPC is dead, Absolution cannot bring them back, so the living-or-dead question decides which path applies.
Living or dead: the distinction that decides your options
The first thing to check is the NPC’s state. The community-maintained Dark Souls Wiki, hosted on Wikidot, describes Absolution as a way to reset hostility for most NPCs who turned on the player. It does not restore an NPC the player has killed. If the character has died, their services and any quest role may stay unavailable for the rest of that playthrough. Absolution mechanics reference
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Dark Souls Trilogy (PS4) | $38.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - PlayStation 4 | $21.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition - Xbox One | $24.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Dark Souls: Remastered (Nintendo Switch) | $43.79 | Buy on Amazon |
So there are two situations:
- Alive but hostile. Request Absolution from Oswald, as described below.
- Killed. Absolution will not revive them. Plan around their absence.
Why the NPC turned hostile
The same mechanics reference states that most NPCs become hostile when the player removes more than 10% of their HP. This is a community-maintained figure that has not been checked against official documentation or every game edition, so treat it as the reference’s stated rule rather than a guarantee. In practice, the lesson is simple: a single careless swing can be enough to flip an NPC, and you should not assume a light hit is harmless.
How to request Absolution
- Stop attacking and retreat. Get out of the NPC’s reach so you do not kill them while they are still hostile. Player discussions recommend running away as a way to reduce risk. Treat this as sensible caution, not a guaranteed safe method. Reddit question
- Reach the Undead Parish bell tower and ring the Bell of Awakening. If you have not rung it yet, do so. Oswald appears there after the bell is rung. Oswald of Carim reference
- Speak with Oswald and choose “Request Absolution.” The wiki gives the price as 500 souls multiplied by your Soul Level, which you can read on your character’s status screen. Absolution mechanics reference
- Return to the NPC and check their state. Confirm they are no longer hostile before continuing. The reference documents exceptions, so do not assume every character will reset.
What Absolution costs
The price scales with your character’s level, not with the NPC you hit. The wiki gives two worked examples. Both are game-mechanic figures from the Dark Souls Wiki, with no publication date stated.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- DARK SOULS REMASTERED - Then, there was fire. Re-experience the genre-defining game that started it all. Return to Lordran in the beautifully remastered game in high definition, 60 fps with single-player or online multiplayer with dedicated servers. Includes the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
- DARK SOULS II: SCHOLAR OF THE FIRST SIN - Prepare to Die again. The second installment of the series includes the base Dark Souls II plus all three DLCs: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King.
- DARK SOULS III: THE FIRE FADES - Now only embers remain… Dark Souls III is the final journey in the series where players can fight through intense combat solo or team up for in co-op or PvP multiplayer. Includes the award-winning game and both DLC chapters: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
- ALL ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS - Visit the EP!C corner to download the music of the Dark Souls saga composed by Motoi Sakaraba and Yuka Kitamura. 110 tracks and more than 6 hours to listen and take back any Dark Souls fan to the intense boss fights and the best moments of their deadly journeys.
| Soul Level | Absolution cost (500 souls × Soul Level) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 5,000 souls |
| 100 | 50,000 souls |
Because the cost climbs with level, a late-game character will need far more souls than an early one. Have enough souls on hand before you travel to Oswald.
What Absolution cannot fix
- Killed NPCs. Absolution does not resurrect them.
- Special cases. The reference notes characters whose state ordinary Absolution does not reset.
- Story outcomes. Paying the fee resets hostility for most NPCs. It does not guarantee every quest or storyline result will change.
Protect your route to Absolution
The Sin mechanics page on the same wiki advises avoiding the killing of Oswald, since he is the route to Absolution. Keep that in mind if you are fighting in the area around him. Sin mechanics reference
Rank #2
- All 3 DLC Pack Contents: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King
- Additional NPCs Added For Enhanced Story Experience To Assist Guiding Players Through Level
- Parameter Setting Adjustments for Improved Balance
- Augmented Item Descriptions
- Increase in Maximum Online Players
Scope of this guidance
The mechanics described here come from the Dark Souls Wiki, which is community-maintained and does not state a publication date for the figures cited. They describe the original Dark Souls game. Confirm the steps and prices in the edition you are playing before relying on exact numbers, especially if you are using a remaster or a different release.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Delve into an epic dark fantasy universe stricken by decline and the Curse
- Each playthrough surprises you with new challenges and unexpected facets of the game
- Hundreds of unique combinations of weaponry, armour, magic and crafting options to create your own play style and gaming experience
- From your first steps to mastery, build your character while refining your playing skills. Learn to strategise freely and experience the rewarding taste of overcoming daunting foes
- Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Rank #3
- The Complete Dark Souls III Experience All on One Disc: Includes the award-winning base game, PLUS both complete DLC expansion chapters: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
- Intense Combat Action: Challenging, genre-defining gameplay. Diversified combat action allows players to craft their own unique style.
- Team up for some jolly good cooperation or test your ability in PvP battle: All PvP maps unlocked and accessible. Improved online matchmaking functionality.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
