Gravelord Black Phantoms

General Information

Members of the Gravelord Servant Covenant have the ability to infect other players' worlds with Gravelord Black Phantoms. They will only appear for players who are in NG+ or higher.¹²

Black Phantoms are recognizable for glowing dark red in color. These special Black Phantoms do not replace normal stage enemies, but instead appear as newer, more difficult enemies that are not normally there. Although they have doubled health and inflict more damage than regular enemies, they reward the same amount of souls and carry the same random drops.

They will last in a player's world until the Gravelord Servant who is responsible dies or quits their game³, unless the players are disconnected from each other first. If the infected player goes offline, "offline gravelording" is induced. There are no varying degrees of infection. If infected, the same enemies will always appear in the same locations in a given level. They are known to be relatively rare, typically unseen in a single playthrough of the game.

Method for spawning Black Phantoms

Video Guide & Documentation

To see black phantoms in your own world, find a partner who is a member of the Gravelord Servant Covenant to infect your world, and make sure you perform the following tasks and meet these conditions:

• The player who wants to see black phantoms should be NG+ or higher (the Gravelord servant does not have to be in NG+).
• The two players must be within coop range.
• Before using an Eye of Death, the Gravelord should summon the victim through the Red Sign Soapstone or White Sign Soasptone. This will sync the players online and keep them connected.
• Immediately after the victim returns to their world (the host can kill them or use the black separation crystal), the Gravelord should use an Eye of Death.
• Sometimes taking up to ~45 seconds, the victim should then be able to see the Gravelord's summon sign and Black Phantoms in their world.

Offline/ Disconnected Gravelording

Players will often assume that their game has glitched, resulting in what they believe is a permanent Gravelord infection that manages to last for days or longer. However, there isn't sufficient evidence to support that such a glitch actually occurs. Instead, players who believe they've received a permanent infection are most likely unaware of the mechanics of offline/ disconnected Gravelording, which allows the player to unwittingly prolong the infection.

• If an infected player loses connection with the Gravelord Servant before they die or quit properly, the Black Phantoms will still appear in their world.
• While offline, an invisible timer is set to exactly 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes pass, the "Disasters are gone…" message will appear and permanently end the infection.
• Resting at a bonfire, dying or quiting/reloading the game will reset the timer. This can be used to indefinitely prolong the appearance of the phantoms.

List of Gravelord Black Phantoms

Area	Enemies	Location	Confirmation
Undead Burg	2 BP Zombies (Axe and Sword) 1 BP Zombie (Axe) 1 BP Undead Soldier (Sword) 1 BP Undead Soldier (Spear)	By the top and bottom of the steps to the courtyard from the bonfire By the ladder leading to the three firebomb Zombies on the wooden platform By the archer in the small tower By the bottom of the firebarrel trap stairs	Video
Lower Undead Burg	2 BP Undead Assassins	Between the two assassin ambush areas	Video
Undead Parish	3 BP Hollows (Sword) 1 BP Heavy Knight 1 BP Baldur Knight (Rapier)	In the underground passage with the hollows Outside elevator to firelink In the room with the three Balder Knights	Video
Darkroot Garden	4 BP Giant Stone Knights 1 BP Large Mushroom & 2 Small Mushrooms 1 BP Large Mushroom & 2 Small Mushrooms	Throughout the open area before the Moonlight Butterfly After exiting the bridge past Alvina's room By the Enchanted Ember chest	Video 1 Video 2
The Depths	1 BP Butcher 4 BP Hollows (Torch) 1 BP Hollow (Torch) 2 BP Rats 1 BP Rat 2 BP Rats 3 BP Rats	By the door before the steps leading to the first Slime Behind bottom of the first steps, in large group of hollows, two in water pit with dogs In the slime hallway, at the opposite end from the bonfire doorway In the hallway after the first ambush ratbox By the tunnel entrance near the Channeler On the ledge above the giant rat miniboss In the area with the regular Rats and Slimes outside the Blighttown entrance	Video
Blighttown	1 BP Infested Ghoul 1 BP Infested Ghoul 1 BP Infested Ghoul 2 BP Infested Ghouls 3 BP Infested Barbarians 2 BP Infested Barbarians	After the three barbarians, headed from the Depths entrance By the ladder connecting upper & lower Blighttown, same level as Parasitic Wall Hugger Area by the Blowdart Sniper nearest the upper bonfire By the regular Barbarian and Ghoul near the whip In the swamp, near the treebranch path to the Great Hollow In the swamp, near the rockthrowing Barbarians	Video 1 Video 2
Sen's Fortress	1 BP Serpent Mage 2 BP Serpent Soldiers 1 BP Serpent Soldier 1 BP Serpent Soldier 1 BP Serpent Soldier 1 BP Serpent Mage 1 BP Serpent Mage 2 BP Serpent Soldiers	Outside the Crestfallen Merchant room, by the broken walkway jump Bottom of Crestfallen Merchant tower, by the Serpent Mage protecting the Cage Key End of pendulum axe bridge with the several axes closely in a row After the corridor with second arrow trap, shooting you from behind End of the first bridge in Sen's Fortress, to the right By the Black Sorcerer set On the ledge near the Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring Before the first bridge in the level	Video 1 Video 2
New Londo Ruins	1 BP Darkwraith 1 BP Darkwraith 1 BP Darkwraith 1 BP Darkwraith 1 BP Darkwraith 1 BP Darkwraith	Before the fog gate where regular Darkwraith is standing in the drained area In the hallway by the base of the elevator near the first Mass of Souls By the chest with the Very Large Ember Opposite the illusory wall in the drained area Inside the room containing two regular Darkwraiths and the second Mass of Souls On the bridge leading to the Four Kings fog gate	Video
Anor Londo	2 BP Sentinels 1 BP Sentinel 1 BP Silver Knight (Sword) 2 BP Silver Knights (Spear) 2 BP Silver Knights (Sword) 1 BP Silver Knight (Sword) 1 BP Silver Knight (Spear)	In each hall near the first Anor Londo bonfire In front of the doors to the great hall End of the hallway that connects the great hall to the area with the Titanite Demon By the regular Silver Knight (Greatbow) on the roof By the regular Silver Knight (Greatbow) on the balcony beneath the roof By the regular Silver Knight (Sword) on the floor with the Solaire bonfire At the top of the spiral staircase headed from the Solaire bonfire	Video 1 Video 2 Video 3
Painted World of Ariamis	1 BP Bloated Undead 2 BP Bloated Undead 2 BP Bloated Undead 3 BP Bonewheel Skeletons 2 BP Bonewheel Skeletons 2 BP Bloated Undead	On the landing before the first Bloated Undead of the level Inside the room with several regular Bloated Undead On the Annex rooftop by the Dark Ember Inside the underground room with the lever In the underground tunnels On opposite ends of the staircase where Xanthious spawns	Video
The Duke's Archives	2 BP Pisacas 1 BP Channeler 1 BP Channeler 1 BP Channeler 1 BP Channeler 4 BP Crystal Golems	Inside the Pisaca room On the balcony with the twinkling titanite Next to the chest with the Strong Magic Shield Far end of the top floor in the first hall, a couple floors above the mimic chest By the top of the long ladder (bookcase shortcut), on a ledge adjacent to the archer Located throughout the field	Video
The Catacombs	2 BP Skeletons (Falchion and Scimitar) 1 BP Skeleton (Scimitar) 1 BP Skeleton (Falchion) 2 BP Skeletons (Falchion and Scimitar) 2 BP Skeletons (Falcion and Scimitar) 3 BP Skeleton Wheels	In the open area, shortly beyond the first Necromancer door After the first rotating bridge, by the second Necromancer Protecting the lever that opens the second Necromancer door Outside the exit leading to the second rotating bridge Inside the Titanite Demon area, in a nook on the lefthand side Far end of the Skeleton Wheel area on ground level	Video
Tomb of the Giants	1 BP Giant Skeleton 2 BP Giant Skeletons 1 BP Giant Skeleton 1 BP Skeleton Dog 1 BP Giant Skeleton 1 BP Skeleton Dog 1 BP Skeleton Dog 1 BP Skeleton Dog 1 BP Skeleton Dog	Shortly after the first regular Giant Skeleton near the tomb entrance In the tomb containing the Large Divine Ember By the tall ladder with the regular Giant Skeletons (sword & archer) Shortly before the first regular Skeleton Dog After the first fog gate, near the regular Skeleton Dog and Giant Skeleton (archer) After the first fog gate, near the regular Skeleton Dog and Giant Skeleton (archer) Near the regular Skeleton Dog and Giant Skeleton before the 2nd bonfire Path connecting 2nd bonfire with ladder Before ladder leading out from the dark area	Video
Demon Ruins	2 BP Capra Demon 3 BP Capra Demons	In the group of the regular Capra Demons On the large staircase with the Stone Demons	Video
Lost Izalith	3 BP Chaos Eaters	In the pit with the other Chaos Eaters	Video
Kiln of the First Flame	5 BP Black Knights (Greatsword, Greataxe, Halberd, Sword & Greatsword)	Each are paired with the 5 regular Black Knights	Video

Black Phantoms in Additional Content Areas

Area	Enemies	Location	Confirmation
Royal Wood	1 BP Scarecrow (Plow) 2 BP Stone Guardians 2 BP Scarecrows (Shears) 1 BP Scarecrow (Shears) 1 BP Scarecrow (Plow) 1 BP Stone Guardian 3 BP Scarecrows (Plows & Shears)	By the first two Scarecrows in the level In the first forest area (near the Giant Mushroom location in Darkroot Garden) Overlooking and inside the ambush area (Cat area in Darkroot Garden) Below the small drop after the second bridge Near the treetrimming Scarecrows Guarding the 2nd elevator near the two regular Stone Guardians Area overlooking Oolacile Township to the left of the boss fog gate	Video
Oolacile Township	1 BP Bloathead Sorcerer 2 BP Bloatheads 1 BP Bloathead Sorcerer 1 BP Bloathead 1 BP Bloathead Sorcerer 1 BP Chained Prisoner	On the platform with the 4 regular Bloatheads, near the beginning of the level On the platform with the regular Bloathead & Bloathead Sorcerer, near Chester's invasion spawnpoint On the rooftop with the Crystal Lizard Inside the first building after the long narrow bridge, far wall from top of steps Inside the ground floor of the large building with many Bloatheads, near the other Bloathead Sorcerer In a corner at the opposite end of the corridor with the regular Chained Prisoner	Video
Chasm of the Abyss	1 BP Chained Prisoner 1 BP Chained Prisoner	In the first group of Bloatheads Bottom of descending walkway near first group of Humanity Phantoms	Video

Chained Locations

A few areas in the game are "chained", meaning a Gravelord infection in one area will cause the player to be infected in several areas at once:

• The Undead Burg / Lower Undead Burg / Undead Parish
• Royal Wood / Oolacille Township / Chasm of the Abyss
• Darkroot Garden / Darkroot Forest
• The Duke's Archives / Crystal Cave

Additional Notes

• The Crystal Cave is the only online, multiplayercapable location where no Gravelord Black Phantoms spawn. If you Gravelord this area you'll infect Duke's Archives and the outside area.
• The Great Hollow, Ash Lake, Undead Asylum, and The Valley of Drakes are nonmultiplayer locations where Gravelord infections cannot occur.

Footnotes

1. Heavy testing confirms that while regular NG players will be able to see and invade a Gravelord Servant's Gravelord Sign, and also recieve the "Disasters are gone…" message, the Black Phantoms will almost never spawn for them. NG+ or higher is required for them to appear. On very rare occasion, some have reported seeing the Black Phantoms in a regular NG. This is so uncommon and not yet able to be replicated, that some believe it is probably a rare glitch.

2. This also seems to be confirmed by this interview, but Miyazaki does say "almost true", insinuating there is more to the mechanic than simply NG+

3. In addition to dying or quitting, most events that cause a loading screen for the Gravelord Servant will also cancel the infection. This includes Homeward Bone and bonfire warping.