Dark Souls 2 Ring guide - where to find each ring, and their effects explained

Dispelling Ring

Increases magic, lightning, fire, and dark defense. Can be purchased from Royal Sorcerer Navlaan in Aldia's Keep.

First Dragon Ring

Increases HP, stamina, and maximum load. Received upon reaching Rank 2 in the Company of Champions. See our Dark Souls 2 covenants guide for more information.

Second Dragon Ring

Increases HP, stamina, and maximum load. You'll need to buy the Ring of Whispers from Sweet Shalquoir in Majula for this. From the Shaded Ruins bonfire in Shaded Woods, head up the slope and turn left. Enter the crumbling building, go downstairs, and exit to a small, sandy area. Out here is Manscorpion Tark, who will only talk to you if you're wearing the Ring of Whispers. Do so, and he'll give you this.

Third Dragon Ring

Increases HP, stamina, and maximum load. This is found in the Dragon Shrine. First, proceed until you encounter a hammer and sword/shield knight together. Take them out, then look for a ledge with boxes. Bust them up, then drop down and follow this path to encounter a hammer-wielding knight. Take him out, then enter the door beyond to find a chest containing the ring.

Flame Quartz Ring

Increases fire resistance. Can be purchased from Rosabeth of Melfia in Majula.

Flame Quartz Ring +1

Increases fire resistance. You'll find this in Forest of Fallen Giants after obtaining the Iron Key from the Iron Keep. With this in your possession, you can open the locked door near The Last Giant boss room. Follow the path and bear left to encounter a fire lizard blocking your path on a slope. Take him out, and you'll find yourself in the flaming area near the Cardinal Tower bonfire. The chest down here contains the ring.

Flame Quartz Ring +2

Increases fire resistance. Received from defeating the Guardian Dragon in New Game Plus.

Gower's Ring of Protection

Nullifies backstab damage. You can only get this in New Game Plus. In Shaded Woods, in the foggy area near the Ruined Fork Road bonfire are three ghost soldiers. They occasionally drop this ring when killed.

Hawk Ring

Increases range of bows and crossbows. You'll find this in Forest of Fallen Giants after obtaining the Iron Key from the Iron Keep. With this in your possession, you can open the locked door near The Last Giant boss room. Follow this path to reach the fire pit below the Cardinal Tower bonfire. One of the corpses here holds the ring.

Illusory Ring of the Conqueror

Makes left hand weapon invisible. Finish the game without dying.

Illusory Ring of the Exalted

Makes right hand weapon invisible. Finish the game without using a bonfire.

King's Ring

Open the King's Gates. This is needed to complete the game anyway, but you'll find it after the battle with Velstadt. Loot the corpse in the next room to find it.

Leo Ring

Strengthens thrust weapon counter attacks. Obtained from defeating Old Dragonslayer.

Life Ring

Increases maximum HP. This is found near the Cardinal Tower bonfire in Forest of Fallen Giants. Head to the room near Pate - the one with the ballistas. Climb the ladder down here to find a door you can't open. But wait - attack the door, and soldiers on the other side will open it for you. Take them out, then open the chest in here for the ring.

Can also be chosen as a gift when starting the game.

Life Ring +1

Increases maximum HP. This is found in the Iron Keep. From the Threshold Bridge bonfire, move ahead into the keep proper. When you reemerge outside, follow the left balcony to a greatbow-wielding knight. You'll have to first drop down the corner here to access the ladder, but when you do, you can climb up to the knight's perch and find a chest containing this ring.

Life Ring +2

Increases maximum HP. This is found near the Crumbled Ruins bonfire in the Shrine of Amana. Proceed through the area until you're near the next fog gate. Instead of going through, follow the left edge of the area to some branches you can bust through. Back here is a cyclops; kill it, then loot the nearby corpse for this ring.

Lingering Dragoncrest Ring

Increases spell duration. Can be purchased from Straid of Olaphis at the Straid's Cell bonfire in The Lost Bastille.

Lingering Dragoncrest Ring +1

Increases spell duration. Can be dropped by the Desert Sorceress enemies in Earthen Peak.

Lingering Dragoncrest Ring +2

Increases spell duration. Received after killing 100 Black Phantoms.

Old Sun Ring

Explodes at damage threshold. Found in Shaded Woods. At the Ruined Fork Road bonfire are three paths. Take the foggy, rightmost one. Hug the right side of the area until you come upon the chest that contains this ring.

Name-Engraved Ring

Easier to connect to players who chose the same god. Can be purchased from Sweet Shalquoir in Majula.

Northern Ritual Band

Increases spell use, but reduces HP. You can find this in the lower, flooded part of Sinner's Rise. When you step off the elevator and into the water, enter the first alcove on the right. You can discover a rather large fake section of the wall interacting with the back section. Step outside, then turn left to pick this off a corpse.

Northern Ritual Band +1

Increases spell use, but reduces HP. Can be purchased from Carhillion of the Fold in No-Man's Wharf.

Northern Ritual Band +2

Increases spell use, but reduces HP. You'll find this inside Aldia's Keep proper. Head to the second floor, and go behind the stairs. Some spirits will burst from the mirrors, so take them out before looting the corpse back here for the ring.