Defeat Yhorm: What Changes
After defeating Yhorm the Giant, the immediate pressure on Irithyll of the Boreal Valley lifts, but the larger war against the Lords of Cinder continues. Yhorm’s defeat removes a major obstacle, grants you the Giant’s Claw, and opens paths that were previously blocked by both physical barriers and story gates. Understanding how the world reacts and what flags are set helps you plan efficient routes to the remaining endings and essential content without backtracking.
Immediate Consequences in Boreal Valley
Once Yhorm falls, you can safely return to the Church of Yorm nearby to speak to Yuria of Ritual for a guaranteed Covetous Gold Serpent Ring drop, if you haven’t already. In the larger cathedral area, you can now reach the shortcut behind the illusory wall near the fog gate, giving you fast access to the High Wall of Lothric and Firelink Shrine. These shortcuts remove earlier bottlenecks and let you consolidate gear and prepare for the push toward the final areas.
Shortcut Activation Details
- Return to the Church of Yorm to unlock the Yuria covenant reward drop
- Illusory wall behind the fog gate becomes accessible, bypassing a large section
- Bonfires now connect more safely across Irithyll and the High Wall
Unlocking Lord of Cinder and Ending Paths
Yhorm is one of the four Lords of Cinder who must be defeated to reach the final endings. His defeat brings you closer to linking the fire, and each additional Lord slain opens dialogue options and paths in Firelink Shrine. Prepare for multiple ending choices by speaking to key NPCs such as the Fire Keeper, who will offer guidance once all Lords are downed. The base game features several endings that depend on your actions before and after this point.
Ending Checklist Overview
| Ending Type | Key Requirement | Typical Access Point |
|---|---|---|
| Link the Fire | Defeat all Lords of Cinder, kindle First Flame | Firelink Shaltar, Fire Keeper |
| Become Ashen One (Linked) | Linked ending completed, ascend throne | Firelink Shrine throne |
| Dark Soul | Refuse linking, embrace dark | Firelink Shrine after Lords defeated |
| Frenzied Flame | Consume First Flame fully | High Lord Wolnir or Dancer of the Boreal Valley path |
| Ariandel Pilgrimage | Proceed to Ariandel after Lords progress | Undead Settlement, Irina at Church of Filianore |
High Wall of Lothric and Road to the Dancer
With Yhorm cleared, you can traverse the previously blocked bridge segments and confront the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, the boss guarding a central covenant and a key to progressing toward the Firelink throne. She drops the Dancer’s Dance, an invaluable ring that adds an extra death counter, useful for challenging content. Clearing this area also unlocks the High Wall bonfire series and gives access to more NPCs who offer insight and trades relevant to endgame preparation.
Post-Dancer Priority Actions
- Upgrade major gear at the Giant Blacksmith before throne room pushes
- Consolidate healing items and resistance gear
- Speak to Ludleth of Courland to unlock the Lloyd’s Talisman, which increases your item slot
- Verify NPC locations, as some shift after key events
Firelink Shrine and Final Preparations
As you clear Lords and reposition bonfires, Firelink Shrine becomes a central hub. Use this space to level, reinforce your build, and manage your goods. Certain NPCs, such as Andre of Astora and various merchants, will appear or relocate based on progress. Managing your estus allocation, spell selection, and flask investment here can dramatically improve your odds in the throne room encounters that follow Yhorm.
Critical Items After Yhorm
| Item | Where Obtained | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Giant’s Claw | Yhorm the Giant | Enables rolling while blocking, improves stability |
| Dancer’s Dance | Dancer of the Boreal Valley | Extra death limit, useful for kindling and retries |
| Lloyd’s Talisman | Ludleth of Courland (post-firelink unlock) | Increases item slot by one |
| Covetous Gold Serpent Ring | Yuria of Ritual in Church of Yorm | Boosts item discovery and gold pickup radius |
| Lord’s Catalyst | Firelink Shrine merchant or High Lord Wolnir | Enables powerful sorcery and spell buffs |
Long-Term Progression and Alternative Content
Beyond the main throne path, Yhorm’s defeat opens optional arcs such as the Aldrich, Devourer of Gods pilgrimage, which requires proceeding through the Demon Ruins and Irithyll Dungeon. Those routes may expose you to earlier bosses and new covenant opportunities, giving you flexibility in how you approach level scaling and build planning. Flag management becomes important here, as certain quest steps rely on whether specific bosses have been killed or NPCs are alive.
Planning Your Route After Yhorm
- Consolidate your build around your intended ending path
- Use Firelink as a staging point for High Wall, Irithyll, and Ariandel
- Track which Lords are slain to avoid missed dialogue
- Consider NG+ if you want to explore alternative covenants and item routes
Conclusion: Secure the Shrine, Choose Your Ending
After Yhorm, your main tasks are to clear obstacles across High Wall and Irithyll, manage bonfire connections, and prepare for the remaining Lords of Cinder. Use the newly opened shortcuts and item rewards to stabilize your gear and estimate risk for the throne room. By tracking NPC availability and quest flags, you can reliably pursue any ending in the base game and retain the flexibility to experiment with alternate routes in NG+.