How to summon in Dark Souls 3?
To summon other players in Dark Souls 3, you need to be Embered (use an Ember), the area's boss must still be alive, and you must be online. Look for glowing summon signs on the ground, usually near bonfires and boss fog gates, and interact with one to bring that player into your world. NPC summon signs work the same way and often appear right before boss fights.
Step by step
- Go online. Online play on consoles requires PlayStation Plus or an Xbox Game Pass tier that includes online multiplayer; on PC it works through Steam.
- Use an Ember. Being Embered boosts your HP and lets you summon. It also makes you invadable.
- Find signs. White signs are cooperative players, gold signs are Sunlight covenant helpers, red signs are for duels.
- Interact with a sign and wait for the phantom to arrive. You can have more than one helper at a time.
- Enter the boss fog together.
Why you can't see summon signs
- The area boss is already dead in your world — summoning is disabled there.
- You're not Embered.
- Level or weapon gap. Matchmaking only shows players close to your soul level and highest weapon upgrade.
- You're offline or the game failed to connect; check the network settings.
- Low population in that area — wait, rest at a bonfire to refresh, or try a different spot near the boss.
Summoning friends
Both players set the same multiplayer password in the network settings. Passwords loosen the level matching, so friends far apart in level can still play together.
NPC summons
Some NPCs leave summon signs near specific bosses. They appear only if you've met the NPC and progressed their questline far enough, and they work offline as well.
FAQ
How do I place my own summon sign?
Use the White Sign Soapstone (you get it early, near Firelink Shrine) and stand near a bonfire or boss area. You'll be summoned into other players' worlds.
Can you still summon in Dark Souls 3 in 2026?
Yes, as long as the online servers are running. The PC servers were taken offline in 2022 over a security issue and later restored.
Can you summon offline?
Only NPC phantoms. Summoning other players requires an online connection.
Where do I get Embers in Dark Souls 3?
Enemies drop them, the Shrine Handmaid sells them, and you are Embered automatically after defeating a boss or helping another player beat one as a summon.
Can I place my summon sign if I've already beaten that boss?
Yes. A dead boss only stops you from summoning in your own world; you can still put down your sign to help others there.
Why does a summon sign disappear when I try to use it?
The player may already have been summoned by someone else or disconnected. Try another sign.