Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel - Rope Bridge Cave, Ariandel Chapel and unlocking Depths of the Painting
Our complete walkthrough and boss strategies to Dark Souls 3's first DLC.
You'll reach the Rope Bridge Cave bonfire after you've finished the opening Snowfield area, which gives you a spot of light respite before the Rope Bridge. If you need help with other parts of the DLC, then see our Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel guide and walkthrough.
Rope Bridge and Ariendel Chapel
As you crest the hill turn right to find a small cave containing the Rope Bridge Cave bonfire. Light it, rest and resupply if needed, and then cross the bridge - the praying enemies here won't attack you so you can safely backstab them if you wish as you work your way up to the building ahead.
Talk to the NPC by the door, then head inside and light the Ariendel Chapel bonfire before talking to Friede.
Head back outside, talk to the knight again, and then make your way back to the bridge. Take a couple of swings at the rope supporting it on the right, wait for the dust to settle, then use the bonfire to travel back to Rope Bridge Cave.
Depths of the Painting - how to unlock the optional arena
If PvP holds no interest to you then the following section can be skipped entirely, but if you want to access the Undead Matches PvP arena you'll need to take a short detour.
After knocking down the bridge, instead of using the bonfire to cross to the other side, stand close to the edge and use the collapsed bridge to climb down to the platform below.
Follow the path to the right then drop down onto the snow covered roots and branches below until you reach a long one that curves ahead and to the right. Follow it round, tackle the Follower that will emerge when you reach solid ground, then follow the narrow stone ledge until you come to some more roots and continue your descent, eventually reaching the glacier below.
Head towards the crab but keep to the left of the area to find the small alcove containing the Depths of the Painting bonfire. While you're here though...
- Defeat the crabs and head down the ravine behind them to find the Snap Freeze sorcery spell guarded by a few walking trees. The upward slope to the right of the ravine leads to a ladder that will eventually take you back up to the far side of the bridge via a Titanite Slab.
From the bonfire head out and right, following the edge until you drop down into an icy meadow at the base of a tower. Head towards the tower and prepare for your first boss fight, the Champion's Gravetender and Gravetender's Greatwolf.