How to Trade

A complete guide to exchanging items with other players using the multiplayer systems in FromSoftware's Soulsborne games.

Contents
Overview Using SoulTrader General Steps (All Games) Password Matchmaking Games Dark Souls II — Name-Engraved Ring Bloodborne — Important Note What Can't Be Traded Weapon Upgrade Restrictions Tips & Etiquette Quick Reference Table

Overview

There is no built-in trading menu in any Soulsborne game. Instead, players use the multiplayer summoning system to join each other's worlds and then drop items on the ground for the other player to pick up. Most modern titles feature password matchmaking, which bypasses level restrictions and makes it easy to connect with a specific person.

Using SoulTrader

  1. Create a trade offer on the game page listing what you're offering and what you want in return. Include your platform, character name, and a preferred meeting point.
  2. Wait for someone to accept your offer, or browse existing offers and accept one that interests you. When accepting, provide your own character name and preferred meeting point.
  3. Coordinate with your trade partner. Once a trade is accepted, both players' Discord names are shared so you can message each other to arrange the handoff. Contact details are visible in the My Trades page.
  4. Meet in-game at the agreed meeting point. Use the summoning method for your game (see below) to join each other's world.
  5. Drop the items and pick up what your partner drops for you.
  6. Confirm the trade on SoulTrader. Both parties must confirm for the trade to be marked as complete. The creator has 24 hours to confirm after the acceptor accepts.
  7. Leave feedback to help build your trade partner's reputation.
Discord is required. You must set your Discord name in your profile before creating or accepting trades. Your Discord name will be shared with anyone you agree to trade with so you can coordinate the exchange.

General Steps (All Games)

The core process is the same across all games that support item trading:

  1. Agree on a location — choose a meeting point both players can access. Hub areas are usually safest.
  2. Set the same password (or equip the Name-Engraved Ring in Dark Souls II) so you match with each other instead of strangers.
  3. The host must be in the correct form (Human, Embered, etc.) and have the area boss alive. The host waits to see the summon sign.
  4. The phantom places their summon sign using the White Sign Soapstone (or equivalent). The host then interacts with the sign to summon them.
  5. Drop items from your inventory using the “Leave” or “Discard” option. The other player walks over the item to pick it up.
  6. Reverse roles if both sides are trading items — the phantom returns home and re-summons to drop their items.
Passwords are case-sensitive. Make sure you and your trade partner type the exact same password, including capitalisation.

Password Matchmaking Games

These games have a password system that lets you bypass level restrictions and match with a specific player.

Elden Ring

  • Summon item: Tarnished's Furled Finger (cooperator places sign) — obtained early in the Stranded Graveyard.
  • Host uses: Furlcalling Finger Remedy to reveal signs (crafted from 2 Erdleaf Flowers).
  • Password: Set in the Multiplayer menu. Bypasses all level and weapon upgrade restrictions.
  • Host form: None required — just use the Furlcalling Finger Remedy.
  • Boss requirement: The area boss must be alive for the host to summon cooperators.
  • Alternative: Use the Duelist's Furled Finger (red sign) for invasion-free trading — works even if the boss is dead.
  • Item limit: A maximum of 8 items can be on the ground at once; the 9th will cause the oldest to disappear.

Dark Souls III

  • Summon item: White Sign Soapstone — purchased from the Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine.
  • Password: Set in Network Settings. Bypasses Soul Level and weapon upgrade restrictions. Higher-level phantoms are scaled down.
  • Host form: Must be Embered (use an Ember item or defeat a boss). You'll see a fiery glow on your character.
  • Boss requirement: Area boss must be alive for White Sign summoning. Use the Red Sign Soapstone if the boss is dead.
  • Matchmaking region: Set to Global or Unrestricted in Network Settings for the widest reach.

Dark Souls: Remastered

  • Summon item: White Sign Soapstone — given by Solaire of Astora after defeating the Taurus Demon.
  • Password: Set in Network Settings (added in the Remaster; the original did not have this). Bypasses Soul Level and weapon upgrade restrictions.
  • Host form: Must be in Human Form (reverse hollowing at a bonfire, costs 1 Humanity).
  • Boss requirement: Area boss must be alive for the host to see summon signs.
  • Matchmaking region: Set to Global for cross-region matching.
Original Dark Souls (PTDE) does not have password matchmaking. Players must be within Soul Level and weapon upgrade range of each other to see signs. This makes trading harder — coordinate carefully with your partner on character level before attempting to meet.

Demon's Souls (PS5 Remake)

  • Summon item: Blue Eye Stone — obtained from the Maiden in Black after defeating the first boss (Phalanx).
  • Password: Set in Settings > Network. Bypasses Soul Level restrictions.
  • Host form: Must be in Human Form (revived via the Maiden in Black or by defeating a boss as a phantom).
  • Phantom form: Must be in Soul Form to place a Blue Eye Stone sign.
  • Boss requirement: Area boss must be alive (password may bypass this).
Rings cannot be traded in the PS5 Remake. This is a Remake-specific restriction — the original PS3 version allowed ring trading.

Dark Souls II — Name-Engraved Ring

Dark Souls II does not have a password matchmaking system. Instead, it uses Soul Memory (the total number of souls your character has ever earned) to determine who you can connect with.

How to Match with a Specific Player

  1. Purchase the Name-Engraved Ring from Sweet Shalquoir (the cat merchant in Majula) for 5,500 souls.
  2. Both players equip the ring and select the same god from the list of ten options.
  3. This filters out most other players and expands the Soul Memory matchmaking range, making it much easier to find each other.
  4. The host must be in Human Form (use a Human Effigy or defeat a boss as a phantom).
  5. Place a summon sign with the White Sign Soapstone (found in the Forest of Fallen Giants).
Soul Memory matters. Even with the Name-Engraved Ring, both players must be within an expanded Soul Memory range. Use the Agape Ring (5,000 souls from Straid of Olaphis) to stop gaining Soul Memory if you need to control your matchmaking tier.

Additional Notes

  • The Small White Sign Soapstone summons you as a Shade (shorter session), but works even if the area boss is dead.
  • Make sure the Human Effigy effect is not active at the bonfire — it blocks all multiplayer. You can cancel it at any bonfire.
  • Do not be in the Covenant of Champions — it blocks all co-op summon signs.
  • Original Dark Souls II and Scholar of the First Sin are on separate servers and cannot connect with each other.
  • Set cross-region play to Allowed in Network Settings.

Bloodborne — Important Note

Bloodborne does not support item trading. Unlike other Soulsborne titles, players cannot drop, leave, or transfer items to other players in Bloodborne. The only item that can be placed on the ground is the Shining Coin, which is a decorative marker and cannot be picked up by others.

Bloodborne trades on SoulTrader are for co-op assistance — helping each other defeat bosses, clear Chalice Dungeons, or progress through the game together.

How Bloodborne Co-op Works

  • Host uses: Beckoning Bell (costs 1 Insight).
  • Helper uses: Small Resonant Bell.
  • Password: Set in Settings > Network. Bypasses level range entirely.
  • Chalice Dungeons: Use the Short Ritual Root Chalice at the Makeshift Altar to join another player's dungeon remotely.
  • Session ends: When the boss is defeated, either player dies, or a Silencing Blank is used.

What Can't Be Traded

Every game restricts certain items from being dropped or picked up by other players:

Category Details
Spells & Abilities Cannot be traded in any game. Sorceries, Miracles, Pyromancies, Hexes, Incantations — all are non-transferable.
Key Items Quest-critical items, keys, progression items, and story objects cannot be dropped.
Boss Souls Cannot be dropped in DS2, DS3, or Demon's Souls. In Elden Ring, Remembrances are not droppable.
Upgrade Materials Cannot be traded in DS2 or DS3. Can be traded in DS1, Elden Ring, and Demon's Souls.
Covenant Items Turn-in items (Sunlight Medals, Proofs of Concord, etc.) cannot be traded in DS2 or DS3.
Rings (Demon's Souls Remake) Rings specifically cannot be traded in the PS5 remake. They can be traded in all other games.
Multiplayer Items Soapstones, Red Eye Orbs, and similar items generally cannot be dropped.

Weapon Upgrade Restrictions

In Elden Ring, Dark Souls: Remastered, and Dark Souls III, the game tracks the highest weapon upgrade level you have ever owned. You cannot pick up a weapon that exceeds this level — even with password matchmaking.

  • Elden Ring: Tracked separately for regular weapons (+0 to +25) and somber weapons (+0 to +10). Your highest-ever upgrade level is permanently recorded.
  • Dark Souls III: Boss and Twinkling Titanite weapons count at double the regular level (e.g. +3 boss weapon = +6 regular). Approximately ±2 upgrade tiers without password.
  • Dark Souls: Remastered: Special weapons (Twinkling/Dragon/Boss weapons) count as +5 at base level. Picking up certain weapons (e.g. Black Knight weapons) immediately sets your tier.
Dark Souls II has no weapon upgrade restriction for trading. You can freely receive any weapon at any upgrade level, regardless of what you've previously owned.

Tips & Etiquette

Quick Reference Table

Game Summon Item Host Requirement Password Item Trading
Elden Ring Tarnished's Furled Finger Furlcalling Finger Remedy Yes Yes
Dark Souls III White Sign Soapstone Embered Yes Yes
DS: Remastered White Sign Soapstone Human Form Yes Yes
Demon's Souls Blue Eye Stone Human Form Yes Yes
Dark Souls II White Sign Soapstone Human Form No (Name-Engraved Ring) Yes
Bloodborne Small Resonant Bell 1 Insight + Beckoning Bell Yes No (co-op only)

For further reference, see the community wikis: Elden Ring · Dark Souls · Dark Souls III · Dark Souls II