What to Do With Boss Souls in Dark Souls 3
See which Dark Souls III boss souls can be transposed and what you give up by consuming them for souls.
What to Do With Boss Souls in Dark Souls 3
Boss Souls in Dark Souls III are more than consumables. Many can be exchanged for distinctive weapons, rings, or spells through Soul Transposition, while consuming them grants ordinary souls once and removes the option to craft that item. If you are unsure which reward helps your build, keep the Boss Soul in your inventory until you've seen the choices.
Unlock transposition first
Defeat the Curse-Rotted Greatwood in the Undead Settlement to obtain the Transposing Kiln, then give it to Ludleth of Courland at Firelink Shrine. Ludleth sits on one of the thrones. This unlocks the menu for turning eligible Boss Souls into equipment. The Greatwood is optional for main progression, but its kiln is important if you want these particular rewards.
Decide between the two rewards
A boss soul may present alternatives, and a single copy cannot buy every option. The Soul of Boreal Valley Vordt, for example, can lead to Vordt's Great Hammer or Pontiff's Left Eye. The Soul of the Rotted Greatwood can be used for Hollowslayer Greatsword or Arstor's Spear. These are concrete build decisions: inspect stat requirements, scaling, and whether you can wield the weapon before choosing.
When consuming makes sense
If neither transposition option interests you and you are committed to a build, consuming the soul can be a legitimate choice. But the ordinary souls gained are replaceable; the unique transposition opportunity usually is not within that playthrough. Players collecting achievements or trying unusual builds should be particularly conservative.
Planning for future playthroughs
Keep a small note of what you crafted and what you skipped. Some rewards matter for specific trophy paths, and New Game Plus allows additional boss encounters. Do not assume every boss soul transposes into two items or that a reward exists in all game editions; check the relevant soul's actual options.
Example transposition choices
| Boss Soul | Choice A | Choice B |
| Vordt | Vordt's Great Hammer | Pontiff's Left Eye |
| Curse-Rotted Greatwood | Hollowslayer Greatsword | Arstor's Spear |
| Crystal Sage | Crystal Sage's Rapier | Crystal Hail |
Do not pick only because a reward sounds impressive. Inspect stat requirements, scaling, FP costs, and whether the alternative would solve a real problem for your character. These examples are not a complete transposition encyclopedia; other souls have their own options.
Related reading
For background and nearby questions, continue with all Dark Souls 3 endings, Defeat Iudex Gundyr in Dark Souls 3, and Beat the Curse-Rotted Greatwood in Dark Souls 3.
Frequently asked questions
Should I consume Boss Souls?
Only when you are confident you do not want their unique transposition choices for this playthrough.
Where do I exchange Boss Souls?
Give the Transposing Kiln to Ludleth of Courland at Firelink Shrine.
How do I get the Transposing Kiln?
Defeat the Curse-Rotted Greatwood in the Undead Settlement.
Can I reverse a transposition?
Not normally within the same encounter; consider the reward choices carefully before spending a unique boss soul.