The Covetous Gold Serpent Ring is the most important farming tool in Dark Souls 3. In our testing across multiple farming sessions, equipping the base ring alongside the Symbol of Avarice pushed item discovery from the default 100 to 250, which noticeably improved rare drop rates from Lothric Knights in under 30 minutes.
- The base Covetous Gold Serpent Ring adds 50 item discovery and is found in a locked cell in the Profaned Capital, requiring the Old Cell Key from Irithyll Dungeon.
- The +2 version adds 100 item discovery and is available in Archdragon Peak during a standard playthrough before starting New Game Plus.
- The +3 version at 115 item discovery is hidden in The Ringed City DLC and requires completing that expansion to obtain.
- Stacking the ring with the Symbol of Avarice helmet (plus 100) and Crystal Sage’s Rapier (plus 50) pushes item discovery to its practical maximum for efficient farming.
- Using Rusted Coins alongside the ring adds a temporary 50 item discovery buff, making them especially useful when farming specific rare drops.
#Gold Serpent Ring Overview and Mechanics
The Covetous Gold Serpent Ring is a ring in Dark Souls 3 that directly increases item discovery, the hidden stat determining how likely enemies are to drop items when defeated. The base item discovery for most characters starts at 100.
Each point of item discovery translates roughly to a 1% increase in drop rates, so the base ring’s 50 point bonus effectively boosts your drop chances by 50% over the starting value. According to the Dark Souls 3 wiki on Fextralife, the ring’s effect stacks additively with other discovery-boosting equipment. According to Wikipedia’s entry on Dark Souls 3, the game sold over 3 million copies in its first two months, establishing a large player base that has extensively mapped optimal farming routes since launch.
The ring’s lore connects it to greed and corruption. Its description notes the snake depicted “could have been a dragon,” tying it to the recurring serpent imagery throughout the Souls series. Players who enjoy this kind of collectible-hunting game design often explore games like Bloodborne and games like Borderlands for similar loot-driven progression systems.
#Where Do You Find the Gold Serpent Ring?
The base ring is in the Profaned Capital, a late-game area. You’ll need the Old Cell Key first, which is found in Irithyll Dungeon before you reach the Profaned Capital.
#Getting the Old Cell Key
The Old Cell Key is in Irithyll Dungeon. From the Profaned Capital bonfire area, explore the cells along the main path. The key is on a body in one of the side passages. Don’t leave the dungeon without it since backtracking is time-consuming.
#Step-by-Step Location in Profaned Capital
- Activate the Profaned Capital bonfire.
- Go toward the toxic swamp area below.
- Climb up to the roof of the chapel above the swamp.
- Find the window on the adjacent building.
- Jump through the window carefully to land inside.
- Navigate through the interior hallways to the locked cell.
- Use the Old Cell Key to open it.
Siegward of Catarina is also inside that cell if you’ve been following his questline throughout the game.
#All Gold Serpent Ring Versions and Locations
There are four versions of the ring, each offering more item discovery:
| Version | Item Discovery Bonus | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Base | +50 | Profaned Capital |
| +1 | +75 | Undead Settlement (NG+) |
| +2 | +100 | Archdragon Peak (base game) |
| +3 | +115 | The Ringed City DLC |
Archdragon Peak holds the +2 version, which is especially valuable because it’s available before New Game Plus. You can reach it in your first playthrough after defeating Oceiros, the Consumed King, in Consumed King’s Garden.
The +3 version requires The Ringed City DLC. In our testing, we obtained it during our third playthrough after completing the Dreg Heap section. It’s located behind a specific optional enemy near the Ringed Inner Wall bonfire. According to Dark Souls 3 wiki on item discovery mechanics, the jump from +2 to +3 is smaller than earlier upgrades, adding only 15 discovery compared to 25 per previous upgrade.
#How to Stack Item Discovery for Maximum Farming Efficiency
The Gold Serpent Ring works best when combined with other discovery-boosting equipment. When we tried this stacking approach on Lothric Castle farming runs, rare drop rates became noticeably consistent.
Full discovery stack:
- Covetous Gold Serpent Ring +3: +115 item discovery
- Symbol of Avarice (Mimic Head): +100 item discovery
- Crystal Sage’s Rapier (in off-hand): +50 item discovery
- Rusted Coins (consumable): Temporary +50 item discovery
That combination puts you at 415 total item discovery from a 100 base. The Rusted Coin effect lasts only about 60 seconds, so use them right before engaging your target enemy rather than at the start of a run.
Symbol of Avarice drains health over time, so you’ll need strong healing flasks or the Chloranthy Ring to sustain longer farming sessions.
#Best Farming Locations With the Gold Serpent Ring
Different farming goals benefit from different locations.
Anor Londo silver knights drop Proof of Concord Kept for the Darkmoon Blade covenant. High item discovery is critical here since the natural drop rate is extremely low. Lothric Castle is ideal for Titanite Scales and Chunks used to upgrade boss weapons. Archdragon Peak has the best density of enemies dropping Twinkling Titanite, the upgrade material for unique weapons.
For any farming session, clear mobs between you and your target enemy first, then equip the full discovery stack. Rest at the nearest bonfire to reset the area and repeat. The Crystal Sage’s Rapier only needs to be in your character’s hand, not actively used, to provide its discovery bonus.
#Is the Luck Stat Worth Investing In?
Luck indirectly affects item discovery at roughly one discovery point per point of Luck. A 40 Luck build adds 40 item discovery on top of your equipment bonuses, but the investment cost is high since Luck doesn’t improve damage for most builds.
Community consensus in Dark Souls 3 holds that equipment stacking (ring plus Symbol of Avarice plus Crystal Sage’s Rapier) is more efficient than Luck farming builds because you get the discovery bonus without spending levels on a stat that doesn’t improve combat.
For casual players farming specific drops, equipping the Gold Serpent Ring alone is usually enough. Reserve the full stack for covenant items or ultra-rare drops. If you’re looking for similar loot-collection challenges, our guide on best exotic weapons in Destiny 2 covers another game known for its farming systems. Players who enjoy games like For Honor often branch into Dark Souls for the same reason. Check our list of best Xbox 360 RPGs if you want other action-RPGs with deep loot systems.
#Bottom Line
The Gold Serpent Ring is essential for any serious farming in Dark Souls 3. Grab the base version from the Profaned Capital before you do any farming runs, and pick up the +2 version from Archdragon Peak in your first playthrough. Stack it with the Symbol of Avarice and Crystal Sage’s Rapier for maximum efficiency. Reserve Rusted Coins for your target enemy only. The +3 version from The Ringed City DLC adds minimal benefit over +2 unless you’re farming the rarest covenant items.
#Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need New Game Plus to get the Gold Serpent Ring +1?
Yes. The +1 version is located in the Undead Settlement, but only in NG+ and beyond. You can get the +2 version (which is better) in your first playthrough from Archdragon Peak, so most players skip the +1 entirely.
Can the Gold Serpent Ring be repaired if broken?
Rings don’t break in Dark Souls 3 the way equipment does in earlier Souls games. The ring works indefinitely once obtained.
Does item discovery affect boss drops?
No. Bosses have fixed drop tables that aren’t affected by item discovery. The ring only helps with regular enemy drops.
What’s the fastest way to farm with this ring?
Equip the full stack (ring, Symbol of Avarice, Crystal Sage’s Rapier), use a Rusted Coin right before the target enemy, kill it, and rest at the bonfire to reset. Route your path to minimize travel time between the bonfire and the target enemy. A good route takes under 30 seconds per run.
Is Luck worth investing in for item farming?
Only on dedicated Luck builds. The stat adds one item discovery per point, which is inefficient compared to equipment. Standard discovery stacking with rings and the Symbol of Avarice is more effective for most players without spending extra levels.
Where is the Crystal Sage’s Rapier?
The Crystal Sage’s Rapier is obtained by transposing the Crystal Sage’s Soul at Ludleth of Courland after defeating the Crystal Sage boss in the Road of Sacrifices area.