Mound-makers

For the covenant item, see Mound-makers (item).

The Mound-makers is a covenant in Dark Souls III.

In-Game Description

The mound-makers wish only to add to their mounds, becoming mad spirits whether summoned as co-operators or invaders.

They are blithe to those around them, for in their minds, any kill might lead to another shackle.

Requirements

To join the covenant as early as possible, the player must not have defeated the Curse-rotted Greatwood before joining. The Greatwood may be fought at no penalty once the covenant is joined.

If the Greatwood has already been defeated, the player must instead complete an NPC questline that is available only after defeating three of the four Lords of Cinder.

How to join

The Mound-makers can be joined in the Undead Settlement, where they can find an optional area with a non-hostile Hollow Manservant carrying a cage on its back. By examining the hollow, the player will enter the cage and be transported to the Pit of Hollows, below the Curse-rotted Greatwood's boss arena. This Manservant will be hostile if the Greatwood has already been defeated, and can thus not be interacted with.

Once there, the player must talk to a character found there, named Hodrick, who stands next to the covenant's Sacrificial Altar and who will give them the Mound-makers covenant item. If talked to again, he will give the player a Homeward Bone, which is required to leave the area without losing any souls or Embers.

Benefits

While invading as a Mound-maker, the player will appear as a Mad Phantom, and their summon sign and aura will take on a purple color. As a Mad Phantom, the player may invade or be summoned into a world, where they can either fight the host, or help them by fighting the enemies throughout the area. The player may also kill a single white phantom to complete the session.

Completing an invasion or summoning session will reward the player with a Vertebra Shackle, which can be offered to the altar in the Pit of Hollows to rank up within the covenant. The method of entering the host's world has no effect on what the Mound-maker must do to complete the session.

Further rewards are granted upon leveling up:

Rank	Vertebrae offered	Rewards
+0	-	Nothing
+1	10	Bloodlust
+2	30	Warmth