If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Crown of the Sunken King - Cave of the Dead, worm, Brightbugs, Alluring Skulls

Our guide to surviving the Cave of the Dead, and grabbing every last bit of loot left lying around this gloomy underworld.

There are plenty of goodies to be grabbed in the Cave of the Dead, but taking them can be a deadly affair. Follow our guide if you want to make it safely through to the next boss fight, and clean up on loot while you're at it.

Cover image for YouTube video[60fps] Dark Souls 2 PS4 vs Xbox One Gameplay Frame-Rate Test
[60fps] Dark Souls 2 PS4 vs Xbox One Gameplay Frame-Rate Test

The Cave of the Dead

Go through the cave and walk through the mist when you reach it. Now jump down into the room in front of you, and carry on until you have to drop down once more. When you reach the end of the new corridor you find yourself in, you'll have to kill a trio of enemies. Watch out for the holes in the floor as you fight them.

Assuming you've got some ranged weaponry to hand, you can actually use these holes to kill some of the enemies waiting for you below. Circle around each one, pick off as many creatures as you can, then jump down and kill any that are remaining. Take the cluster of Bonfire Ascetics from one corner of this room, the pair of Brightbugs from another, then take all of the Petrified Somethings from the chest.

No make your way through the cave that's just perpendicular to the chest you've just looted. When you reach the end of it, jump down into the room beneath you. Kill the enemies ahead of you, then keep heading through the cave - watch out for the petrification statues as you go. You might want to use ranged attacks to clear these threats before you get near them, and keep your eyes peeled for the hole with the worm in it.

Just past the worm is a little alcove that you can take some Alluring Skulls from. Just make sure you grab them quickly so that you don't run afoul of the petrification statue. Once you've got them, walk through the misty door to start an intimidating fight against three bosses.

Head back to the first page of this article for the rest of our Crown of the Sunken King guide.