Dark Souls II's HundoDex

Iron Keep

A castle sinking into lava, held by Alonne Knights; home to the Smelter Demon and the Old Iron King.

  • Suggested level: 50–70

Bosses

  • Smelter Demon: Bring fire resistance; once its sword ignites it burns you just by being near, so finish it quickly.
  • Old Iron King: Fight on the narrow ledge over lava; dodge his fire beam and hit his hands and head when he leans in.

Bonfires

  • Threshold Bridge
  • Ironhearth Hall
  • Eygil's Idol

Items found here

Walkthrough: Iron Keep / Belfry Sol

  • With enough fire resistance, dash under the steps by Threshold Bridge for a Human Effigy. A Bonfire Ascetic sits on the platforms below the bridge; drop off and hop across
  • Crossing the bridge triggers NPC invasions: Fencer Sharron first, then Armorer Dennis on a later pass
  • Inside, go upstairs and, if you can take the heat, run under the fire for the Iron Key
  • Down the hallway meet Magerold of Lanafir: Jester's pieces, Bandit pieces, Cursebite Ring, Human Effigy items, Charcoal Pine Resin, Rusted Coins, the Hello Carving, Thank You Carving, I'm Sorry Carving and Very Good! Carving, Fall Control, Dark Hail and Darkstorm
  • Magerold of Lanafir burns Skeptic's Spice or Simpleton's Spice to lower spell stat requirements
  • Later, bring the Petrified Egg to Magerold of Lanafir to join the Dragon Remnants
  • Spend 10,000 souls with Magerold of Lanafir (or kill him) for the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring+1
  • Upstairs take the Pharros' Lockstone on the left, open the hidden door on the right for Fire Arrows and the next hidden door by the ballista
  • Snipe the Alonne archer on the right, follow the walkway and drop to pull the first lever
  • Up the steps to the right, drop for a Soul of a Proud Knight and Repair Powder; climb the ladder to the chest with the Life Ring+1 and Twinkling Titanite
  • Over the bridge, jump to the pillar for a Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier and Red Leech Troches
  • Drop, pull the second lever and shut off the furnace fire at the top of the steps
  • With fire protection, the chest at the bottom of the steps holds the Phoenix Parma; the furnace corpse has Large Titanite Shards and a Petrified Dragon Bone
  • Return over the bridge and make the jump to the steps for another Petrified Dragon Bone; climb the ladder for the Zweihander without wasting a lockstone
  • Defeat the Smelter Demon; summon Lucatiel of Mirrah at the fog (3rd fight). Reward: Smelter Demon Soul and 32,000 souls
  • Through the door, grab the Porcine Shield and Flame Butterfly items and light Ironhearth Hall
  • Maughlin the Armourer now sells the Smelter Demon set
  • Go back into the arena after resting: The Pursuer waits there and drops the Ring of Blades+1
  • Down the ladder outside grab an Old Radiant Lifegem and Green Blossom
  • Cross the bridge and pull the lever to lower the platform toward the lava
  • Through the door, a Pharros' Lockstone reveals a hidden ladder to the Thunder Quartz Ring+1
  • Take the one-way drop and light Belfry Sol Approach; up the ladder the Belfry Guard offers the Bell Keepers covenant
  • In Belfry Sol, ring the bell and collect three Simpleton's Spice around the tower, plus Immolation from the roof chest
  • Down the steps a corpse has a Human Effigy and Triclops Snake Troches
  • Before dropping from the ledge, a hidden door on the right leads to chests with the Grand Spirit Tree Shield, Protective Chime and Black Knight Greatsword
  • Back in Iron Keep, pull the lever again and shoot down the Alonne archers
  • Kill the Crystal Lizard and follow the walkway (lava pressure plates) to a Large Soul of a Proud Knight and Radiant Lifegem
  • With fire protection, a Fire Seed lies below the steps and a chest holds Chaos Storm
  • Hug the platform edges for a Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier, then fight the invader Oliver the Collector at the ladder
  • Along the walkway a chest has Destructive Greatarrows; kill the three Alonne archers upstairs (no lockstone needed)
  • Collect the Titanite Shards, Fire Arrows, Simpleton's Spice and the Black Knight Greataxe
  • Drop to the third walkway for a Cracked Red Eye Orb and Torch, then keep dropping to the cauldron rim for the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring
  • Outside the fog gate a corpse holds a Large Soul of a Nameless Soldier and Monastery Charm
  • Past the two Ironclad Soldiers, cross the fire trap room via the corner ladders, switch off the flames and light Eygil's Idol
  • Downstairs pick up the lightning Short Bow +1, then defeat the Old Iron King; summon Manhunter O'Harrah in the statue hall. Reward: Old Iron King Soul and 48,000 souls
  • In the building, take the Petrified Something and light the primal bonfire (Iron Keep Bonfire)
  • In Majula, Stone Trader Chloanne now sells unlimited Titanite Shards and some Large Titanite Shards
  • In Majula's outskirts, talk to Benhart of Jugo at his new spot to learn Joy, pull the lever and survive the ambush
  • In the next room, the right door hides an Estus Flask Shard; the left door leads to a bonfire
  • NG+: Old Iron King also drops the Old King Soul (traded to Straid for Blinding Bolt)
  • NG+: Magerold of Lanafir sells the Dragonrider set, and a dark Half-Ironclad near Eygil's Idol can drop the Drakekeeper's Great Hammer
  • NG+: the forge chest has Twinkling Titanite and the chest guarding the Thunder Quartz Ring+1 becomes a mimic